"What was that for?" I ask.
"I wanted to kiss you."
"Miles, you can't do that. I told you we can't be anything more than friends, and I told you why. You can't keep trying to date me."
"I'm trying not to," he says, taking my hand as we continue to walk. "But I'm having a hard time following that rule."
"You need to, because nothing's going to happen between us."
"I'm pretty sure it already has."
"That was sex. That's different."
"I wasn't talking about that," he says, giving my hand a squeeze.
He means we've already developed feelings for each other, and although it's true, I'm trying to deny it. I can't get involved with him, or anyone, right now. It's not what I want but it's how it has to be.
We get to the restaurant, which is dark and elegant with white tablecloths and candles on every table. I feel completely underdressed but Miles seems perfectly comfortable, walking straight up to the hostess stand, his hand still wrapped around mine.
"Table for two," he says to the thin brunette.
She smiles at him. "I've never seen you at dinner before."
"I thought I'd give it a try."
Her eyes go to me. "You look familiar. Do you work at the firm?"
"No," I say, pulling Miles' jacket tighter around me.
"I know I've seen you before. You must work downtown."
I don't answer.
"We'd really like to get seated," Miles says to her. "We're starving."
"Certainly. Right this way."
She leads us to a table along the windows, then stops suddenly and looks back at me, like she suddenly remembers how she knows me. She turns back and walks us to a table near the restroom.
"Is this all you have?" Miles asks. "I don't want to sit by the restroom."
She glances at me. "Sorry, but we had a lot of reservations tonight."
"What about that table up front? The one by the windows?"
She looks annoyed that he noticed that and called her on it.
"I thought this one might be better," she says, faking a smile. "It'll give you more privacy."
"I'll give up privacy to not sit by the bathroom," Miles says, smiling back. "We'll take the table up front."
She clears her throat. "Of course. Right this way."
We follow her back to the table. She sets the menus down, then quickly walks off.
"She knew," I say to Miles as I open the menu. "That's why she put us back there."
"I know." He picks up his menu. "But I fixed it so we're good."
"She's telling the waiter," I say, watching her whispering to him.
"Just ignore them and figure out what you want to eat. They have really good lasagna. I usually don't get it because of the carbs but I think I'll splurge tonight."
"Watching your weight?" I ask in a teasing tone.
"I don't watch my weight but I watch what I eat. I work out a lot and I don't want my diet ruining all my hard work in the gym."
I assumed he worked out to get a body like that but I don't know when he has the time. He's always at work or hanging out it in the alley with Gladys and me.
Gladys. I almost forgot to check on her.
"Can I use your phone?" I ask Miles.
"Sure. Who are you calling?"
"Zoe. Oh, wait, I don't know her number."
"I do." He scrolls through his phone, then hands it to me.
"Hello?" Zoe answers.
"Zoe, it's Raine. How's Gladys?"
"Much better. I've been giving her hot tea and my homemade chicken soup." She laughs. "The girls love her. I keep telling them to let her rest but then find them in her room. I might have to hire Gladys as their new nanny."
"Is she getting any sleep?"
"Yes. She napped when the girls did. When she woke up, she had dinner in her room and then read a book to the girls. You should see her with them. It's really amazing how quickly they bonded. They're going to be sad when she leaves."
"When is she coming home?"
"I'd like her to stay until she's better, which could take a week, maybe longer."
"That long? And she's okay with that?"
"I haven't asked her yet. I'm sure she'll argue with me but I don't want her going back out in the cold until her health has improved. Truthfully, I don't want her going back there at all but I don't know what to do. The shelters are full and I promised my husband this was only a short-term stay. I was thinking maybe I could put a request up at my church. See if someone would let her stay with them, at least for the winter months."
"Meaning she wouldn't be coming back? But I—" I decide not to argue with her about it because having a warm home to stay at is better for Gladys than being on the street. But I'll miss her terribly and don't know what I'll do without her. She's what's been keeping me going all these months. She's like family to me and I don't want to lose her.
"Raine, I know you don't want Gladys to go but—"
"She can't stay out in the cold. I know. I'll just miss her."
"What about Miles?"
"What about him?"
"I'm sure he'd let you stay with him for more than a night or two. He really cares about you, Raine. We had a talk and well, I don't want to share too much but you need to know he really does care about you. He might even love you."
I glance at him across the table. "It's not like that, Zoe. We're just friends."
"He could help you, Raine. Just talking to him, I know he'd do most anything to help you. You just need to let him. Are you still at his place?"
"No, we're out having dinner."
"But you're going to stay with him tonight, right?"
"Probably. Hey, I should go. I don't think the restaurant approves of cell phones." I glance around, noticing the dirty looks I'm getting. "Tell Gladys I said hi and that I hope she gets better soon."
"I will. Tell Miles hi for me."
"Okay. Bye, Zoe." I give Miles his phone. "She said to tell you hi."
"How's Gladys doing?"
"Good. It sounds like she never wants to leave."
"What do you mean?"
"She loves Zoe's girls and they love her. They don't want her to leave."
He smiles. "I thought that might happen. Gladys told me how much she loves kids."
"She can't stay there," I say, sounding angry. Because I AM angry. Zoe can't take Gladys from me. I need her.
Miles reaches across the table for my hand. "Nothing's been decided. She hasn't even been there a day."
"I know, but Zoe's already trying to find Gladys somewhere to live. She said she's going to post something at her church."
"Would that really be a bad thing?" he asks.
I sigh. "No. It's good. It's what needs to happen. She's too old to be on the streets. She needs a real place to stay. I just...I just don't want her to go."