Ugly Love (Hoover)/Chapter 5
from the Collection “Ugly Love”
Chapter Summary
Two weeks after moving to San Francisco, Tate felt settled. She had finished training for a part-time emergency-room nursing job that fitted around her graduate studies. She told her mother she would be free for Thanksgiving, though not Christmas.
Returning to her brother Corbin’s apartment, she found Miles, his childhood friend Ian, and Dillon watching television. Corbin was away, but the men had gathered for their usual Thursday game night. Tate resented the interruption to her studying.
Miles offered her his apartment as a quiet place to work. Distracted by her attraction to him, Tate apologized for being rude. She explained that she was already a registered nurse and was studying for a master’s degree to administer anesthesia.
While Tate made sandwiches, Dillon approached and flirted despite her short answers. His announcement that he was a pilot failed to impress her. She pointed out that she preferred modest men without wives, drawing attention to his wedding ring.
Miles interrupted and directed Dillon back to the television. He then insisted that Tate study at his apartment until everyone left. Learning that her extra sandwich was for Cap, the elderly man who worked in their building, he paused before slipping his key into her pocket.
After delivering Cap’s food, Tate went to Miles’s apartment, excited to learn more about him. She completed two hours of homework but found few personal clues: the rooms were bare, the refrigerator nearly empty, and the shelves held aviation books.
Tate drank some orange juice and washed the dishes. Miles returned and told her everyone had gone. She commented on his sparse furnishings, and he explained that he had lived there four years but worked frequently and never had company.
Miles warned her that Dillon disrespected his wife. Tate briefly welcomed what seemed like personal concern, then felt disappointed when Miles mentioned Corbin’s objections. As Miles changed for work, she discovered that he was a pilot who had attended flight school with her brother.
Watching him dress intensified Tate’s attraction. She questioned whether flying after drinking was safe, but he said he had drunk only water. When she mentioned finding him drunk on her arrival, he first deflected the memory, then stressed that it had been a very rare exception.
Tate asked whether that exception involved Rachel, explaining that he had mistaken her for someone with that name. Miles stiffened, ended the conversation, and headed toward the elevator. Tate returned inside, regretting the question and unable to shake the awkwardness.
Characters
Quotes
Something strange is going on in my chest. A *flutter, flutter* kind of thing. I hate it, because I know what it means. It means my body is really starting to like Miles.
I should have known better than to think his apartment would give me any sort of glimpse into who he is. Not even his eyes can do that.
Sure, it really is a lot quieter over here
I can’t tell what just happened. Did I embarrass him? Piss him off? Make him sad?
Whatever I did, I hate this thing now. This awkwardness that’s filling the space between my door and the elevator he’s now standing in front of.