Ugly Love (Hoover)/Chapter 27
from the Collection “Ugly Love”
Chapter Summary
After work and two hours of studying, Tate shared a late pizza with Cap, her eighty-year-old friend. She told him that Miles and her brother, Corbin, had managed a successful game night, although Miles had largely ignored her while secretly texting her.
Tate complained that Miles never contacted her when he was away. Cap suggested that Miles thought about her more than he admitted, but reminded her that their arrangement did not require more. Tate knew she could leave it, yet did not want to.
After midnight, Tate’s mother called in a panic about a plane crash. Unable to reach Corbin, she feared he had been aboard. Tate remembered a similar childhood scare involving her father, whose safety had taken an agonizing hour to establish.
Corbin’s phone went straight to voicemail. Tate tried the airline and called Miles for the first time, frightened that either man might have been involved because they worked for the same airline. Miles answered and asked her to let him into the apartment.
Miles had just returned home. He turned on the news, held Tate, and called a contact named Gary. After confirming that Corbin and Ian were safe, he comforted Tate as she cried with relief and called her mother to pass along the news.
Tate fell harder for Miles because of his thoughtfulness. Corbin then texted to confirm his safety and report that he had checked on Miles as well. Miles was pleased that Corbin had shown concern for him. He did not recognize the names of the crashed plane’s crew.
Tate told Miles she was glad he was back because she had feared for him too. Their comfort turned into playful intimacy. His unsuccessful attempt to remove her underwear made them laugh, and he joked about his teenage failures at sports, geography, and kissing.
They had sex and fell asleep together in Tate’s bed, something they had not done before. Tate valued each additional glimpse of his life and every moment together outside sex, but feared that growing closeness would make him retreat and eventually break her heart.
When Miles quietly answered his phone, Tate pretended to remain asleep. She initially feared who might be calling, then felt relieved when he told his father he loved him. She was glad he had someone concerned about him, while recognizing how little she knew of his life.
Tate kept her eyes closed as Miles got out of bed and dressed. He kissed her forehead before leaving. Although she wanted more of their relationship, she expected a slow, painful heartbreak made up of moments like his departure.
Characters
Quotes
I hate that he always brings me back to the fact that Miles isn’t the one breaking rules or agreements. I’m the one with the problems in our arrangement, and that’s no one’s fault but my own.
I’m angry, because we’re having fun together and it makes me want so much more of this. So much more of him.
We quietly stare at each other, until he slowly dips his head, pressing a long kiss against my lips.
I can see it in his eyes. He’s worried he’s giving me hope, and I’m afraid he’ll eventually just pull away completely.
Everything with Miles will come crashing down.