Miles Ever After (Miles High Series)(45)

“I don’t know, but you need to find one.”

He grabs his keys, “It’s probably a trek wherever it is, nowhere is close now that we live out here in the boondocks.”

“Why are you so dramatic?”

“Because I’m dying here, Hayden, that’s fucking why?” He coughs in an overdramatic way, “I’m going into anaphylactic shock now and I’m guessing the nearest hospital isn’t close.”

“Oh my god.” I roll my eyes. “Go with him, Eddie, so you can revive the big baby if he dies.”

Eddie and Christopher get into the car and disappear down the driveway and I look around at the living room full of flowers, I didn’t even take a photo of his over-the-top grand gesture. There must be at least one hundred bunches of roses here.

I run upstairs and grab my phone; I need to get this on film.



An hour and a half later I sit on the front veranda steps with a cup of tea, I have no idea where they went to buy the antihistamines but I’m thinking it must have been all the way back to Spain.

I’m itching to look around the property but I want them to be with me when I do the tour.

“God’s sakes, hurry up.”

What if he really did go into anaphylaxis?

He didn’t, he’s just overdramatic.

I can hear the wind in the trees and the bubbling stream in the distance and I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated being surrounded by nature as much as I do in this moment.

Our home.

I wanted to wait for Christopher to get here to call my parents, but I can’t wait any longer. I FaceTime a group chat to both of their phones.

“Hello.” My mom’s beautiful face comes into view.

The screen spins around as my dad struggles to answer. “That you, Hayden?” he says in his gruff voice.

“Hi guys.” I beam.

“You arrived safely then, love?” Mom asks.

“Yes, sorry I didn’t message last night. It was so hectic once we landed.”

“Is Eddie okay?” asks Mom.

“He’s great. I’m great, everything is so great.”

Dad frowns. “What’s so great about it?”

“Well…” I swallow the nervous lump in my throat. “Christopher asked me to marry him and he bought us a farm to live in just outside of London that I can run my own cattle on and there’s a house on the property for you,” I blurt out in a rush.

Mom’s face lights up. “Darling, that’s wonderful.”

Dad’s face stays somber.

“And its three hundred and fifty acres of the most beautiful land,” I gush.

Dad nods and my heart sinks, I can see the disappointment in his face, he really wanted me to come home and live permanently.

“You’re not happy, Dad?”

He shrugs. “I’m happy if you’re happy.”

“I am.” Tears well in my eyes, what is it with all these tears? “I tried to live without him, Dad, and I couldn’t. We belong together and this is his way of making me happy and I can come home anytime I want. I’m not tied here.”

He nods. “I’m happy for you. Happier for Christopher because he won the lottery.”

“I did too, Dad.”

“I know, he’s a good man.”

“So can you come over?”

“When?”

“Tomorrow?”

Mom chuckles. “Not yet this month, love. I have too many cows in calf, Hayden. We’ll have to wait a bit.”

“I’ll get to work renovating your house.” I beam. “I’m so excited.”

“Me too,” laughs Mom.

I hear the car coming up the driveway. “I’ve got to go, I’ll send you some pictures and call you later. Love you.”

“Love you too, bye, darling.”

Christopher and Eddie get out of the car, they’re carrying grocery bags.

“What took you so long, where did you go?” I ask as I meet them on the driveway.

“To the closest shop,” Christopher says, deadpan.

I giggle, his sneezing seems to have stopped at least.

“He’s not joking,” Eddie whispers. “But we did get lost on the way back and Christopher left his phone at home and I had no internet so we had no maps.”

“Oh.” I giggle as I look over to Christopher. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“He took four of the tablets,” Eddie tells me.

“Four?” I gasp.

“He was only supposed to take one.”

“Christopher, that’s so irresponsible,” I scold him.

“I’m alive.” He does an overexaggerated bow.

“I’ve been waiting for you to get back before I look around.”

He chuckles and takes my hand in his. “Come then. Dump the groceries on the veranda, we’ve got looking to do.”

For the next hour, Eddie, Christopher and I walk around the heavenly property. Paddock after green paddock, stone sheds and stables. Perfect fencing and streams. The two guesthouses are run down but will be easy to fix up.

“Oh Christopher, this is just so beautiful.” I sigh with my hand on my heart. “I could never have imagined that something like this would ever be ours.” I put my arm around Eddie’s shoulders to pull him closer to me. “Could you have ever dreamed that we would live here, Eddie?”