"I'm thinking an East Coast school." This isn't where I want this conversation going. I look to Miles for direction.
He shakes his head. "Ask her how she's doing. About work or a hobby."
Yes, of course. It sounds so obvious when he says it. I turn my attention to my phone. "How is work?"
"Busy, of course. Dr. Lee is opening a private practice. She invited me to join, but I'm not sure I can leave the hospital." Mom's voice lifts. This is something she can talk about. "Is Miles at your place, honey? Or are you at his?"
"His."
"And you're being safe?"
Oh God. I'm going to die of embarrassment. But this is nothing. Mom is a surgeon who specializes in gynecology. I'm shocked she isn't using more explicit words.
"Yes, we are," I say.
Miles chuckles.
I put my hand over the phone's mic. "This is not funny."
"You're smiling," he says.
Damn, I am smiling. Okay, it's a little funny.
He motions for the phone.
It's not a bad idea, him talking to her. "Mom, Miles wants to talk to you. To say hi. He's really excited to meet you. Is that okay?"
"He sounds like a polite young man."
Now that is funny. I laugh. It's a belly laugh, one of the best laughs I've had in a while. My mom thinks my rock star fuck buddy is a polite young man.
It's absurd.
I hand the phone to Miles.
Miles laughs. He covers the receiver with his hands. "You are so fucking bad at this."
I flip him off playfully.
"Hey, Dr. Smart. This is Miles. Meg has told me so much about you." His eyes stay on mine. He's smiling ear to ear.
> He sweet-talks my mom. I can tell she's charmed from over here. He's welcome to stay as long as he wants. He's thrilled to finally meet my parents he's supposedly heard so much about.
He even says goodbye and ends the call without passing it back to me.
* * *
After lunch, Miles takes me home. It's midterms week. No time for anything but school. I kiss him goodbye, warn him I'll be unavailable, and devote the entirety of my night to studying.
I don't stop until I'm about to fall asleep at my desk.
I brush my teeth and throw myself onto my bed. My phone is still blinking. There's a text from Miles.
Miles: You ready for midterms?
Meg: Not yet. I need to study. I’m not sure I’ll ever be done studying. No time for distracting rock stars with very distracting mouths.
Miles: And hands.