Woman-handled

AVA

“Where the hell is he?” Riley groaned loudly, shifting her weight as we sat together on some large rocks near the edge of the shopping center plaza.

“He’s on his way,” I said, keeping my voice calm even though I was secretly just as annoyed as she was.

“I actually cannot believe he totally forgot about us. I told Dad from the very beginning not to trust Miles with the driving duties,” she grumbled, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

I looked down at our mountain of shopping bags piled on the ground. “And I told you we should have just asked your dad for the car keys ourselves so we could drive here first.”

Riley let out a heavy sigh, nodding her head in defeat. “And you were right. Honestly, Ava, you are always right.”

Just about five minutes later, the sky grew incredibly dark, and we felt cold water droplets suddenly hitting our bare skin.

“No!” Riley and I echoed together in pure horror as we hurried to get up from the rocks.

“Quick, let’s run back toward the mall entrance!” she yelled, grabbing as many bags as her arms could hold.

We quickly picked up all the heavy shopping bags and ran as fast as our legs could carry us to get some cover under the concrete overhang. The rain started pouring down significantly faster with every passing second. We really didn't have much time to move. By the time we made it under the shelter, we were definitely wet, but thank goodness we weren't completely soaked to the bone.

“I am definitely telling Dad about this now,” Riley said angrily, wiping some stray raindrops off her face as she inspected her expensive shopping bags to make sure nothing was ruined.

About five minutes later, my phone began to vibrate violently in my hand. I glanced at the screen. It was Miles.

I swiped the screen and put it to my ear. “I’m outside,” he said immediately, his voice sounding a bit rushed and completely out of breath.

I didn't even bother wasting my breath responding to him. I just cut the call right in his face, grabbed my bags, and turned to Riley. “He’s outside. Let’s go.”

We pushed through the glass doors and walked out into the pouring rain toward the rental car. Miles didn't even bother getting down from the driver's seat to help us load the heavy shopping bags into the car. What a true gentleman.

I opened the front passenger door and took the front seat, while Riley scrambled into the back seat with all the bags, slamming the door shut behind her.

“I fucking hate you, Miles,” Riley snapped the exact second we made it inside the dry car.

“Aw, I love you too, sis,” Miles replied smoothly, not even bothering to look back at her through the rearview mirror. He started the engine, shifting the car into drive. “Look, I’m really sorry. Some unexpected things came up, and that’s the only reason why I’m late. You seriously don’t have to tell any of this to Dad.”

Riley raised an eyebrow, leaning forward between the front seats. “Well, what’s in it for me if I keep my mouth shut?”

Miles hissed, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Are you fucking serious right now, Riley?”

“Five hundred dollars,” she said with a smug smile.

“Two hundred and fifty,” he argued back immediately.

The two of them kept arguing back and forth about their little bribery price, but I completely tuned out their voices. My eyes were fixed entirely on Miles. Up close, he looked incredibly messy. Actually, he looked completely manhandled. Or, to be more accurate, woman-handled.

His usually perfect hair was completely wild and messy, his button-up shirt wasn't fully buttoned properly near the top, and his lips looked a little bit red and swollen.

He was definitely just with a girl.

“Of course,” I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out of my mouth completely by accident.

Miles looked over at me immediately, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. He started properly staring at me and my entire outfit. His gaze traveled all the way down to my short skirt, which was exposing a lot of my bare thighs as I sat in the passenger seat.

Feeling his eyes burning into my skin, I quickly grabbed my large purse and placed it right over my thighs. It was my own coded, silent way of saying, “Don't fucking look there.”

I think he got the message loud and clear.

“Looks like you were really busy, huh?” I said, keeping my voice completely casual but dropping a heavy hint of attitude.

He looked away from me and forced his eyes back onto the rainy road ahead, his grip on the steering wheel growing a bit firmer. “It’s really not what you think,” he murmured quietly. He kept his voice low, making sure it wasn't loud enough for Riley to hear from the back seat.

What the hell did he mean by it’s not what I think? I was honestly expecting him to snap back with some annoying insult like he always did.

I swallowed hard, trying my best to relax against the leather seat. I really didn't want to feel this way. I didn't even know why my stomach was turning in knots or why I was feeling so bothered by his messy appearance. But right now, I wanted nothing more than to be more than thirty feet away from Miles Thompson.