#Chapter 25: You Need Looking After

“I can’t prove it,” Derek says with a loud curse. “I wrote things down but I didn’t take pictures or anything.” “It’s okay,” I say. “This is a good start.” “That’s funny,” Derek says, laughing a little. “That’s what he said, too.” “Who?” “Me,” Miles says from behind me, so suddenly and clearly that I nearly jump out of my skin. I wobble a little on my unsteady ankles. Miles is beside me in a flash. His hand sits comfortably in the small of my back, like it was made to be there. “Easy.” My cheeks flush. Derek smiles a little. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I hear Mr. Carver calling me…” He quickly ducks out of the stable. “It’s not…!” I call after him, but he’s already gone. I finish, “…what you think.” Miles gives me a mischievous look. “And what might he think this is, Esther?” I ignore his teasing. Straightening, I inch slightly away from him. He makes no effort to follow me. “Shouldn’t you be giving a speech or something?” I ask. “I heard Mr. Carver praising you.”