Distant Myles by Mandee Mae Page A

stayed right where she was at, letting those two guys do that to her. I backed out of the room, shut the door, and left. I was so mad and so hurt that she would do that to me. If I didn’t leave, I would have killed them both. I got in the car and drove. I stayed away from the house all weekend. She tried to call several times that evening. I finally gave in and answered the phone, only talking long enough to tell her to get her stuff out of my house. She had until Sunday evening or it was going in the trash. I told her that we were obviously over and that I didn’t want to see or hear from her again. That was five years ago.
    “God, Myles. I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.”
    “Thanks,” I tell her, then pause before continuing my story.
    “After dinner the other night, Megan text me. That was the first I’ve heard from her in five years. Just getting that text from her sent me back there. Just hearing from her brought back all that anger. I didn’t want you to see me like that so that’s why I ran out the way I did. I can tolerate a lot of things, but cheating is one thing I can’t ever forgive.”
    “I can understand that, but I wish you would have told me what was going on or at least called me like you said you would. I mean, you just ran out on me. You didn’t call, didn’t text, you didn’t do anything. I thought we were hitting it off and then you just up and vanish like a fart in the wind. Jamie and Caleb were looking at me like I was….well, I don’t know what they were looking at me like, but it didn’t feel good. You leaving like that didn’t make me feel good.”
    She rolls back over and looks at me. “I thought I did something wrong. All this time, I thought I did something wrong.” She is trying to move her arms and talk with her hands while she is yelling at me. I really screwed up. I hope I can fix this.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t call and I’m sorry I made you feel that way. You didn’t do anything wrong. I know you called the other evening when Megan answered my phone. I went up to take a shower after going for a run and when I came back downstairs, she was on the phone with you. She found my spare key and let herself in. She told me she wanted to let the past go and start over again. I pretty much told her to stay the hell away. I don’t ever want to see her again.”
    “No wonder the bitch sounded like she had every right to answer your phone. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it, really I do. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still pissed and hurt. I know she hurt you, but how would you feel if I just ran out on you and didn’t call you for two days, didn’t text you to let you know what was going on? You’d feel pretty shitty wouldn’t you? Listen, what she did to you was terrible, but I’m not Megan. If we are going to see each other, and right now that’s a big if , then I need to see all sides of Myles. Even the pissed off one. Understand?” She tries to sit up enough to lean against the headboard. “Now, hand me the sheet, please?”
    “Sure.” I stand up and pull the sheet up for her so she can cover herself. I would rather she just lay there naked, but I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. I sit back on the bed beside her and reach for her hand. I just need to feel her hand in mine for a bit.
    “After that happened with Megan,
    I closed off. If I dated a woman, I never got too close and never let them get too close. I didn’t want to put myself in that position again. I didn’t want to have those feelings again, but the first time I met you, I knew you were different.” I’m telling her this, trying to watch her face for any reaction she might have to what I am trying to tell her.
    “Amelia, I am usually not so quick to let my emotions get the better of me, but for some reason, you have been able to break through and get to me a way no one else has in quite some time. I really like you. I know you are only here for two weeks,