To Zion

29

The wind, which had considerably died down before we started our walk, suddenly reawakened, driving through the sweaters we thought would be protection enough, and causing Miller to hold onto my arm even tighter, pulling us closer together.

"Maybe we should head back. There's still so much that I—"

"No." Miller cut me off, clenching their jaw tightly to stop their teeth from chattering. "You've been job searching for way too long, and you need a break. And I want some time with you that isn't spent looking at your laptop."

They tugged at my arm, leading me further away from my foster home, and all the stress and headaches they said would be the death of me.

"Where are we going then?" I asked, not quite sure that Miller even had a destination in mind. I really didn't feel like getting lost in this weather for a few hours, just because Miller was stubborn.

"To get coffee."

"But I already—"

"Please, please just come with me and let me get you a coffee. You've been so worried about getting a job these last few weeks, that I've barely had any time with you." They had stopped walking now, taking both of my hands in theirs as they looked up at me. "I know there's a lot going on in your mind, and I just want to help. You need a distraction, and that's what I'm trying to be right now."

"I'm sorry. I won't argue, baby. You're the best distraction I could possibly think of, and I promise I'll let myself get distracted by you."

"Good. Shouldn't be too hard." They turned dramatically, dropping one of my hands, and continuing to lead me by the other.

"So...you're giving me permission to be distracted by you?" I asked, just to make sure before I said I was thinking.

"Yes." The word was drawn out, and Miller turned their head slightly to fix me with a questioning stare.

"Just checking so you don't get mad at me for staring at your ass."

Miller stopped so abruptly that I almost ran into them.

"That's not what I meant when I said you needed a distraction." Their cheeks had darkened considerably, and I knew the sharpness of the wind wasn't the only thing to blame.

"I mean, a distractions a distraction, right? And your ass looks good in those jeans." Miller's eyebrows rose considerably. "I'm serious! Aren't I allowed to compliment my partner?"

Miller smiled at the word but didn't look convinced.

"You are, but you're not allowed to make me flustered when we are trying to get coffee."

They continued walking, this time slowing down slightly so they could walk beside me instead of in front of me. No matter how much I whined, Miller stayed beside me, and by the time we got to the coffee shop, was so fed up with me that they almost shoved me through the door.

They insisted on paying, since they were the one who "forced me to get coffee", and when we went to find a seat, guided me towards one of the booths in stead of one of the tables with chairs. When they slid in next to me, keeping our hands connected the whole time, I understood why. We really hadn't had much time together recently, and Miller wasn't about to sit across from me when they had the opportunity to lay their head on my shoulder and keep our hands intertwined on their lap.