“We already established that you’re the stalker in this relationship,” Miller clarifies. “Look, we have to set some rules. I don’t like to share.”

“Leave me alone, Miller,” I say, brushing off his ridiculous comment.

“We could go to the tavern by our building,” he suggests.

“Stop following me,” I warn him.

“I’m walking beside you, not following you.”

“What do you need from me?” I ask exasperated. “Stop playing the nice guy.”

“I’m not playing any games.”

“You can fool everyone, but not me. I already fell for your act once. I swear, I won’t do it again.”

“Have you thought about running a marathon?” he asks, trying to keep up with me. “You’re unexpectedly fast.”

I don’t answer and just keep going until we arrive at our building. The elevator doors are open. I pick up the pace, trying to reach it before Miller does and close the doors right before he can enter it. Unfortunately, there’s a middle-aged lady inside smiling, while she holds the door open for us.

“Miller, dear, it is so nice to see you,” she greets him and looks at me.

“Mrs. Fabris,” he greets her.

The lady turns to me and says, “Claire, it’s so nice to see you again.”

“Claire Bear, this is Mrs. Fabris you met her—” The chimes from the elevator interrupt him and the doors open.

“This is me. You two have to give me an update. I didn’t know she was back in town.”

Once the doors are closed, I ask, “Who is she, Milo?

He presses his lips together and says, “We met her at my sister’s wedding.”

I toss my hands up in the air. “You’re unbelievable!”

“It’s been two and a half years, almost three.” I show him three fingers.

“It was just a weekend. I’ve been gone for three fucking years—and when I come back—you haven’t told them we were never together,” I say, and my voice resonates inside the elevator.

His eyes darken as he walks closer to me. I take a step backward, but I hit the steel wall. Miller leans forward, his hands rest on my sides.

He’s so close I can smell his scent. My heart beats at a million miles per hour. I want to push him away. As much as I want him to take me into his arms and never let me go.

Carefully, he places a few strands of my hair behind my ear, his lips touch me softly. I shiver.

“We were more than together,” he says, with a low voice that makes my entire body shiver. “I fucked up, but don’t deny what happened between us.”