Caught Up (Windy City, #3)

by Liz Tomforde

When the time comes, I want it to be hard for Miller to leave and not just because I’ve enjoyed having her here, but because it’s one of the most important parts of life. Finding people that make your heart ache when they’re not around. Having a place to call home.

“Oh, I know you better than that. I wouldn’t dare take you on a date. That’s way too much commitment for you, Montgomery.”

She’s watching someone try a pastry right now, but I’m only watching her.

“Today was a good day.”

“They could all be good days.”

My lungs clutch at the sight. This is what I’m confused about. Why does the image of those two make my heart scream mine?

“I know you don’t want her to leave, so why are you helping her do just that?”

“Because it’s her dream, and I care about her too much to not help her chase it, even if that means I won’t be there when she gets everything she’s worked for.”

Miller doesn’t allow me to show her how I really feel about her, so the best I can do is tell her through my actions. Support her dreams, help her chase everything she wants.

I tuck the photo of Miller under the band, close to the one of Max, running my thumb over both of the edges.

He leans his cheek on my hair. “I’d do anything for you, Miller.”

but tonight I just need to take care of my family.”

But I love it. Whether she wants to acknowledge it or not, Miller is, at the bare minimum, attached to my son.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I know I don’t say it enough but you’re so good with him.”

“Miller Montgomery.” A smirk lifts. “Are you jealous?” She shakes her head to tell me no. “Little liar.” “Shh,” she hushes, burrowing against my chest. “I’m sleeping.” I can’t stop the grin from spreading on my lips. Miller Montgomery is jealous, which feels like the opposite of a no-strings-attached kind of emotion.

But you care about us?

More than I knew I was capable of.

She settles her head onto my open palm against the pillow, her eyes lifting to mine. “Is this okay?” Typically, I hate someone else getting these moments, even the tough ones, but with Miller there’s no envy. It feels right that she’s here. My words are desperate, but hopeful. “Please stay.”

I have no idea what she was worried about earlier, but it’s obvious to me that this wild woman is my son’s calm. And in a lot of ways, I think I might be hers.

Because unfortunately for me, I know no one else will ever compare to how complete she makes both me and my son feel.

“She’s love’s number-one advocate. Drunk or not.”

I hate you. You don’t hate me. You’re right. It’s just about the opposite of that. Stop texting me. I need to start driving.

Damn, drunk girls really do become best friends by existing in the same room.

“Oh, he likes her. He only acts this fucking weird when he’s got a crush.”

“You’re a good brother to him. Raising him the way you did. Sacrificing your childhood and college choice to stay close to home.” “He’s my brother. I’d do anything for him.” She smiles softly. “Just how you’d do anything for Max.” “And you.”

“I’d do anything for you,” I repeat. “You know that?” “I think I’d do anything for you too.”

I shake my head at her—I always shake my head at her, but what’s different now than the beginning of summer is I can’t help but smile at her as I do.

“Pressure is a privilege, Miller. Expectations are high because you’re successful.

“Love isn’t earned. Monty gave up his career because he loves you unconditionally. You don’t have to pay him back by chasing accolades. That’s not how it works.”

“I can’t think of a single person who would feel burdened by having you in their life.” “You did. When I first got here.” “Well, I changed my mind. Now I just feel lucky.”

“Mills, you’re twenty-five. You could change directions a hundred more times in your life, and you’d still never be a failure. You’re too hard of a worker to ever be considered a failure. Life is meant to be spent chasing happiness.”

“You want to know how what feels like?” “To be yours.”

“Mills, you already are mine. Even if I haven’t been allowed to show you, you’ve always been mine.”

“Miller?” She hums in sleepy acknowledgment. “Today was a good day.” She smiles against my chest. “They could all be good days.”

It’s centering and calming in a way only he is for me.

I’ve had critics and chefs fawning over me. I’ve had their attention, but now the only attention I crave is that of a little boy and his dad, but as soon as I leave Chicago, they’ll go back to their normal lives—ones that I’m not involved in.

There’s no part of me that wants to be in the kitchen. I only want to be with them.

“You’re not just the nanny and you fucking know that,”

But when she has a goal in mind, she has this innate need to be the greatest to do it.

With my name on her back and my son in her arms, Miller stands in the center of the field, looking like mine. She should be mine. Ours.

Craning my neck I kiss her, right there in the middle of the infield where anyone could see, because this is not just a fling. Nothing about our situation is detached. She’s it for me and I don’t know how the fuck to handle that.

“Do you love her?” Monty asks. “I do. Very much so.” “She might break your heart.” “I’ll love her anyway.” “I know you will.”

“Just know that I loved her first.” I nod. “And I’ll love her always.”

“What I’m trying to say is that my brother deserves the world and for him, you are the world.”

My pulse is thundering, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s an odd contradiction happening inside of me. I want to be his world because he’s quickly become mine, but the last thing I want is for this man to get hurt because of me. Isaiah doesn’t have to tell me these things. I know how good his brother is, how much he deserves. It’s what made me fall in love with him when I was trying so hard not to.

“If there’s any chance of you coming back to see them...” Isaiah shakes his head. “I don’t know what I’m asking here. I’m just trying to repay Kai for everything he’s done for me, and I’ve never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you. I’ve never seen him so immersed in someone else’s orbit, and I don’t know how you did that. If you found a crack and wormed your way in or what, but he’s been so focused on Max for the last year that he forgot about himself. But you…you didn’t forget about him. I’m asking that you don’t forget about him when you go.” “Isaiah.” My head falls to his shoulder with an exhale. “Trust me, I’ll never be able to forget your brother.”

I’ll never ever be able to forget about Kai or his son. They’ve etched themselves onto my soul

“Yes, you have, Miller. Contrary to what you believe, you don’t have to be the best to earn a name for yourself. I know you. I know you’re having a hard time grasping what just happened because this wasn’t a goal you set out to achieve, so yeah, you’re feeling undeserving of the name. But what if I waited until I was the best possible dad to allow him to call me that? He’d be waiting for the rest of his fucking life.”

“I see the way you are with him,” he continues. “How much confidence you give him just by being there for him. How much you love him. Trust me, I know how fucking scary it is for someone to view you that way, and tomorrow when you go, I’ll start straightening that out for him, but it’s not because you’re underserving of that name.”

“God, Miller, you try so hard to keep yourself detached. To live this lonely life, and I don’t fucking get it.”