"Did I tell you how pretty you look this afternoon?" Miles asked from the driver's seat of the Chevy, glancing over at Stevie even as he changed gears. Stevie smiled back at him in amusement.
"Once or twice," she teased, flipping down the sun visor so that she could use the mirror to check that her scarlet lipstick was still perfect.
"Well, I mean it," Miles rumbled, clearing his throat. "You're beautiful, Stevie Faith."
In her reflection, Stevie watched the colour rise in her cheeks at the compliment before she turned the visor up again. She was wearing tight black jeans that were artistically ripped at the knees, and an off the shoulder blouse that was a shade of dusty blue, paired with strappy tan-coloured sandals that Myka had forced on her earlier that day. She'd curled her hair and then brushed it out so that it fell in soft waves, before artfully pinning a few strands into place so that the whole look presented as effortless. The red lipstick was a last minute decision. She'd never worn it before, but Stevie wanted this time spent with Miles to feel different than anything they'd done before. She'd known the moment she'd walked down the stairs, and found Miles staring at her in wide-eyed amazement, that she'd made the right choice.
"Where are you taking me, Miles Lattimer?" Stevie asked teasingly, glancing out the window at the passing landscape. "Should I be concerned?"
"You're safe with me, pretty girl," Miles smiled, shooting her a wink that caused Stevie to cough out a laugh. She crept a hand across the console and rested it on Miles's khaki-clad thigh, and felt a sense of satisfaction when her companion's cheeks went as red as her lipstick. The small talk continued as they drove, punctuated by chuckles and shy smiles, until Miles finally turned the Chevy up an unpaved driveway. Stevie shifted in her seat as she frowned slightly at the old barn that came into view.
"The old Smithfield place?" she asked cautiously, trying not to sound confused. It was a property they'd driven past more times than either of them could count, but as far as Stevie could remember, there was no real history or memory for them there. Miles grinned at her as he pulled the truck to a stop.
"Don't worry, I cleared it with the old man before we came out here," he told her. "We're going to have a little picnic. But what we're really here for, is that."
Miles was pointing out of the front window of the car, and Stevie followed the line of his extended finger. When she realised what it was they were looking at, her heart skipped a beat.
"How did you..." she whispered, blinking at Miles as tears prickled at the back of her eyes. Miles reached over and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"Pop, he remembered some of the other things that were out of the ordinary after they took the memory serum," he explained. "He said that Steve and Claudia were particularly fond of the tyre swing that just randomly appeared in the backyard. Apparently it actually only came down when Ma found out she was pregnant."
Cheeks flaming as she thought back to how happy she'd been playing with Steve on their tyre swing, Stevie bit her lip and then let out a small laugh when Miles jumped out of his seat and hurried around the car to open Stevie's door. Together they retrieved the old family picnic blanket and the basket of food Miles had prepared from the back of the truck and then they stepped lightly across the yard so that they could set up their picnic. Settling herself onto a corner of the blanket, Stevie watched with amused admiration as Miles unloaded a spread of food; crusty bread, soft cheese, grapes, strawberries with a chocolate dipping sauce, tortilla chips, salsa, and a bag of Hersheys Kisses, accompanied by a bottle of sparkling apple juice.
"I figured if things were still going well, we could transfer to wine once we got home," Miles commented hesitantly, holding out a plastic champagne flute. Stevie chuckled softly as she accepted her drink, and then tapped the rim of the cup against Miles's.
"To best friends," she toasted with a smile.
"To taking a chance on something more," Miles countered. Stevie tried to hide her blush by bringing her cup to her lips, but it was Miles's turn to chuckle back at her. Clearing her throat as she set her cup aside, Stevie reached for a grape and then popped it into her mouth, tilting her head back to take in the warmth of the late afternoon sun. When she lowered her face again, she fixed Miles with her blue-eyed stare.
"That's a serious look," Miles said hesitantly, biting into a piece of bread and chewing slowly. Stevie grimaced slightly.
"Miles, before we get too into, you know, this," she murmured, "I think we should probably talk this through, like adults."
"Stevie," Miles spoke her name gently, but Stevie shook her head to cut him off.
"Miles, you're my best friend," Stevie stated. "You're more than my best friend. You're everything that's good in my world. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I think you know that's how I feel about you too," Miles told her. Stevie felt her stomach tighten, and she looked down at her fingers, absently twisting the braided gold ring she wore around her thumb.
"I need to tell you the truth about something pretty big," Stevie murmured uncomfortably, and Miles cocked his head. Stevie squeezed her eyes shut.
"Miles, I almost didn't come back," she whispered. Across the blanket, Miles sat up straight, his eyes going saucer-wide.
"You what?" he yelped, and Stevie flinched at the hurt in his tone, but she powered on.
"I've been overwhelmed by so much for so long. There was so much for me to deal with, to work through," she tried to explain. "My emotions were running on a pretty tight string. My dad, he... he was everything I could have imagined. It was like all of my dreams had come true. I was happy in the past, and I honestly could have stayed. A part of me... I wanted to stay."
"I think I'm going to be sick," Miles mumbled, throwing down what was left of the piece of bread he'd been eating. He looked like he'd been punched in the gut, and tears welled up in Stevie's eyes at the fact that she knew she was hurting her friend.
"There was just one problem," she whispered. "Steve, he knew it as well as I did. All he had to do was say it, and I knew I had no option but to come back home."
"And what, pray tell, did he have to say?" Miles muttered grumpily, tugging at a long blade of grass and avoiding looking directly at Stevie.
"Your name," Stevie sighed, and Miles's head shot up.
"I wanted to stay with my dad desperately," Stevie continued with a soft whimper, "but the second he said your name, my heart stopped beating, and that's when I knew that I really didn't have a choice. I couldn't stand the thought of living one more day without you, because I can't work through anything unless you're with me."
Miles's face softened, and when Stevie sniffled, he quickly scooted around the blanket so that he was sitting as close to Stevie as possible.
"I'm sorry," Stevie whispered, dropping her chin. "I just didn't want to lie to you." Her effort not to cry was mostly because of her desperate desire to control her emotions, but partly because she'd spent far too long on her eyeliner to smudge it with tears. Miles reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand, leaving Stevie with no choice but to look into his celery-green eyes.
"I've had a really lucky life so far," Miles stated gruffly. "I've always had everything I've ever wanted, and I've never lost anyone I loved. And then all of a sudden, you were gone, and it was excruciating. I thought I knew everything about you, Stevie, but when you were missing, I learned how it must feel for you every single day. You never told me about that ache you carry around with you, the one in the back of your chest."
"You help me," Stevie murmured back. "You've always helped me. And that's why I've been so scared to do this. If something goes wrong... if I lost you..."
"You could never lose me," Miles cut in, stroking his finger across her cheek. His expression was serious, but Stevie couldn't help but chuff out a laugh.
"That's what my dad said," she murmured.
"Smart man," Miles quipped back, and Stevie giggled as she reached up and toyed with a lock of Miles's hair. She blew out a gentle breath.
"Here's the thing though," Stevie said, and Miles let out a small groan.
"Don't say it," he begged.
"You're not the only one I need, and this is why we need to talk," Stevie persevered. "Much as we'd both like to think otherwise, we're not the only people in this relationship."
Miles screwed up his face.
"You said it," he whined, and Stevie chuffed out a laugh.
"Curse my family," Miles muttered, but there was laughter dancing in his eyes.
"They're my family too," Stevie smiled fondly. "I love them very much."
"And you need to know that you're not going to lose them if things get messy," Miles rumbled, shifting around uncomfortably. Stevie nodded as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I just want us to promise each other, that no matter what happens, no matter what anyone else tries to tell us, that we'll always be truthful with each other," she said. "If something doesn't feel right, we talk about it, and we work it out."
Stevie blushed as Miles picked up her hand and laced his fingers through hers.
"Believe it or not, Stevie Faith, but my world would be pretty dark without you too," Miles murmured, smiling at her fondly. "We're in this together. You jump, I jump, ok? And Lord help me, but let's face it, my family like you better than they like me. If anything goes wrong, it'll be me that ends up lost and alone. You will be absolutely fine."
Stevie chuckled as she shook her head, her cheeks growing warm as she looked down at their intertwined fingers.
"You jump, I jump?" she murmured enquiringly.
"I will always be there to catch you," Miles pledged. "And no matter what, I'll always be your best friend."
The pair sat there for a while, blue eyes studying green ones, cheeks flushed, smiles unwavering, and then Stevie gave Miles's hand a squeeze and got to her feet.
"Are we going to try out the swing or not?" she asked playfully, and then let out a laugh as Miles tucked an arm around her shoulders and led her towards the tree, pressing a kiss to her temple as they went. There were jokes exchanged as the branch and rope groaned under the weight of use, which turned into giggles and flirtatious comments as Miles placed his hands on the small of Stevie's back and propelled her forward.
"Hey, Stevie?" Miles offered up hesitantly after a moment. Still giggling from their previous exchange, Stevie tilted her head backwards so that she could look at him.
"This sounds serious," she quipped, crossing her eyes nonetheless. Miles cleared his throat and kicked at the ground uncomfortably.
"I think maybe you should try talking to Claudia," he suggested. Stevie let out a squawk of surprise, and then gaped at Miles as he caught the tyre and spun her around so that they were facing each other.
"Did I just hear you right?" Stevie squeaked in disbelief. "In twenty-one years, you have never, ever, been a fan of Claudia Donovan. I don't think you even spoke to her until we were thirteen!"
"Stevie, she's your mom," Miles murmured back, gritting his teeth, "and I just spent the last six weeks watching her positively lose her mind when she thought you were gone. Claudia loves you, and I know despite everything, you love her too."
"She's been AWOL for days!" Stevie cried. "I literally disappeared for six weeks, and she hasn't said a word to me since I got back. If Claudia really does love me, she has a weird way of showing it."
Miles huffed out a breath.
"Stevie, Claudia is so caught up in her own head," he said uneasily. "She just needs someone to break down that barrier..."
"Miles, I've been attempting to break down that barrier for my entire life!" Stevie shot back at him. "I'm tired of trying. I can't do it anymore. I want to move on and live my life."
Stevie was perched on top of the tyre, straddling the rope that she had a steady grip on. She looked down at Miles as he guided the tyre back to its hanging point and then rested his hands on Stevie's exposed knees. There was an unhappy pain in his eyes, and Stevie pursed her lips as she sighed and leaned her cheek against the rope.
"When we go back to school next week, I think it might be a while before I decide to come back to the B&B," she murmured. "I know that might mean that I miss a few holidays, and that it's probably going to upset your mother, but... I mean, you've said it yourself, Miles. When I come back to the Warehouse, I start to lose myself. I don't want to do that to myself anymore."
Miles blinked up at her for a long while, and then he blew out a breath.
"You are the strongest person I have ever met, Stevie Faith," he told her gently. "If this is what you think you need, I'll be there beside you, every step of the way."
"Even if it's not what you think is the right choice?" Stevie asked.
"Even then," Miles murmured back, and then he started to smirk. Surprised, Stevie raised a curious eyebrow.
"Ma's going to be so mad at you," Miles singsonged gleefully. "Oh, golden girl, you're going to be in so much trouble!"
Stevie rolled her eyes and swung out a leg in his general direction.
"Help me get down, smartass," she snarked, and Miles chuckled as he moved around the tyre to place his hands on Stevie's hips to help her dismount. When Stevie hit the ground, the toe of her sandal caught on a small rut in the ground, and she stumbled forward slightly. Miles smiled in soft amusement as he wrapped his arms around her waist to break her fall.
"Told you I'd catch you," he murmured cheekily. Stevie felt her cheeks grow warm as she lifted her hands to place them on the back of his neck, and she leaned forward to touch her nose to Miles's.
"My knight in shining armour," she whispered with a teasing smile.
"Partner in crime," Miles rumbled back, and Stevie giggled under her breath.
"Just shut up and kiss me," she demanded softly, but she still let out a soft squeak of surprise when Miles moved forward and did exactly what he was told. Stevie had been kissed quite a few times before, most times pleasurable, some not as much, but she'd never truly believed that a kiss could make time stand still until her best friend put his lips to hers. It was more than any words could describe; her heart danced in her chest, her body tingled all over, and her only thought was that she needed to get as close to Miles as possible. When the kiss ended, a whimper escaped from her before she had the chance to stop it. Opening her eyes slowly, Stevie found Miles studying her closely, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Was that..." he asked tentatively. "Was that weird?"
"Miles, that was the opposite of weird," Stevie told him, her voice unwavering. She couldn't stop the smile that formed on her face as Miles's own expression softened into unbridled delight, and she moved a little closer so that their foreheads could touch.
"We should try it again, just to be sure," Stevie whispered teasingly, and Miles chuckled as he nuzzled her nose.
"If you insist," he murmured back. Stevie took the initiative this time, capturing his lips with hers and pressing herself against Miles as his hands travelled up her back and tangled into her hair. They were like one person, and Stevie wondered why she hadn't realised sooner that Miles Lattimer was and always would be her safest place. While there would always be a void in her heart where her missing parents should be, Miles did so much to fill that without even knowing what he was achieving. Miles felt like home, and Stevie knew she'd always be thankful to her dad, for sending her back to her loved one's arms.