Begin Again

chapter eleven

KNOCKING ON MILES' apartment door, I find it somewhat unsettling that I haven't been back to his apartment since the night we'd first met. It feels weird to think of how far we've come in only a month, but I'm not complaining.

The door swings open to reveal Monica in a long button-down shirt, her small frame practically drowning in the material. She has a piece of toast in her mouth and immediately smiles at the sight of me.

"Hey, Evie." She steps aside so I can come in. The apartment looks about the same, except there are blankets and pillows on the living room floor, and the aroma of bacon is prominent in the air.

"Hey, I'm just here to–"

"Meet up with Miles, yeah, he told me." She's smirking mischievously at me, almost like she knows some big secret I'm unaware of. "How was the picnic?" Judging by her knowledge of what is happening with Miles and me today, I know that she already has intel on our picnic outing, but by her questioning stare, I assume she wants to hear my side.

I shrug nonchalantly, plopping down on one of the bar stools. "It was nice."

She quirks a brow, chewing slowly on her piece of toast. "Just nice?"

I grow slightly uncomfortable with the prodding looks Monica is shooting me. Miles' closed door is only a couple of feet away from me, and I know that if I decide to blab away without a care in that world, Miles will most likely hear every word. Especially since I can hear him rattling away behind the door without a problem.

"I mean, it was amazing and . . ." I trail off as Monica's coy smirk grows into an amused smile.

"You know, Miles likes you."

"I like him too."

She shakes her head, leaning against the countertop. "No, I mean he–" His door suddenly flies open, causing Monica and I to jump in surprise as she clamps her mouth shut. He's eyeing her with a warning look as if he knows exactly what those words coming out of her mouth will be.

"You ready?" he asks me, stealing a piece of bacon from the plate, much to Monica's annoyance. I nod, hiking my tote higher on my shoulder as I slide off the stool.

"Have fun on your date!" Monica calls out, laughing when Miles glares at her over his shoulder.

"Sorry about her. I should've sent you a warning text that she was here," he says, locking the door behind him as we walk towards the stairs.

"It's fine; she's really sweet anyway."

He raises a brow. "She's the devil in sheep's clothing."

"She's your best friend's fiancée!" I say indignantly, and Miles shrugs.

"She also acts like an annoying sister, which I don't need another one of," he grumbles the last part to himself, clearly frustrated, which makes him look quite adorable to me.

"What did she say to you?"

I swipe my MetroCard, walking through the turnstile and simultaneously stalling an answer to his question. I wonder if he'd heard anything Monica had said. It seemed like it from the way he'd barged out of his room, glaring intently at her.

"She just asked how our picnic outing was," I answer vaguely. Miles narrows his eyes at me. It isn't a lie; Monica had asked me that. I'm just choosing to omit the other parts of the conversation. Thankfully, the train whizzes by, cutting off any response Miles might have.

We board the train, and I'm glad it isn't too crowded. Miles and I settle into two seats next to the window. I'm twisting around the rings on my finger, absently looking out at the darkness from the tunnel before Miles speaks up again.