A Home-Cooked Comfort.

Miles followed his boss to the closet where males were meant to change before stopping, realizing he didn't have another shirt with him.

"Hey, did you realize I have no other spare shirt with me?"

"Yeah, I thought about that, kiddo. That's why I know what to do."

He followed him to another closet, where his boss pulled keys from his pocket and opened it. He took out a well-wrapped shirt and handed it to Miles.

"Here."

"Thanks for the shirt."

"Don't worry about that, just change."

"Yeah, I've heard you," he replied before changing into the new shirt and rolling the sleeves to elbow length.

"That's my lady magnet, now go out there."

"Thanks boss, but I'd appreciate it if you could stop calling me that name."

"Okay, Miles. Now go out there, c'mon, time's money."

He left and went about doing his normal activities in the club, sometimes getting stared at by some ladies.

This time, he smiled or even waved at them instead of ignoring them like he always did, and some of the ladies even blushed out of embarrassment.

--Five minutes until 9 p.m.

Miles hurriedly walked back to the closet, remembering he had someone to meet. He didn't even know the reason why he was so pent up about meeting this lady, but he shrugged it off and changed into his previous clothes.

He was about to leave when he heard the voice of a familiar person behind him.

"Hey Miles, how've you been doing, bruv?"

"Eddy, as always sneaking up on me like a cat," he responded, facing Edward, one of his colleagues in the club.

"And how have you been doing?"

"I'm fine, like always."

"Hey, heard you had an issue with a customer."

"Yeah, but the asshole deserved it though," he replied.

"Very typical of you. Anyways, I'd like to head out now since my shift is starting soon, so I'll give you a call, or mostly chat you up."

"Sounds cool to me."

"Yeah, see you later then."

"Yeah, man, see you later," he said before leaving the closet and heading to the alleyway.

By the time he got there, it was exactly 9 p.m., and he couldn't see anybody. He decided to wait a little longer, but by 9:10 p.m., he was beginning to lose patience, and by 9:15 p.m., he decided it was time to leave.

'Guess fate didn't plan for us to meet tonight,' he thought, walking away.

He decided to stop by a store to buy frozen food because he didn't have the strength to cook that night. He wanted to buy something he could microwave when he got home.

He was at the entrance of the store when his phone vibrated, so he had to stop walking to check what it was.

**New Message from Anna**

Anna: Would you like to join us for dinner today, Miles? We cooked eggs and bacon along with a serving of French toast.

Miles: Yes, I'll be with you in a couple minutes.

Anna: Okay, Ezra and I will be expecting you.

He walked into the store to buy some frozen food and, most importantly, frosted sugar cookies and milk duds, which were Ezra's favorites, before leaving the store.

He got home around 9:30, dropped his bag, and arranged the frozen food in the fridge. He quickly cleaned up the house and proceeded to Anna's house, which was just a few houses away from his apartment.

*Ding Dong*

"I'm coming," was the response he got from inside the house.

The door opened before him, and Anna, his close neighbor, came out.

"Hey Miles, I'm glad you were able to make it," she said.

"Oh, come on, I wouldn't miss it. Besides, you're like my second mom now."

"Aww, Miles, thank you…"

"…You know, this is one of the things I can do to help you ever since your mom died two years ago. May her soul rest in peace. She was like my sister, you know," she added, tears swelling in her eyes.

He hugged her before she started crying.

"I... I miss her," she said, between her tears.

"Yes, I know, we all do." he replied, embracing her.

They stood like that for about two minutes before she calmed down, wiped her tears, and smiled at Miles, destroying the evidence that she had just cried.

"Thanks, I really needed that. Now, who's ready for some food?" she said, smiling. At that moment, his stomach made a sound that passed the message that he was hungry.

"Oh, someone's hungry. Now let's go," she said before grabbing his hand and walking into the building before closing the door.

The smell of toast assaulted his nostrils, making his mouth water.

"Oh, good God of toast, I've missed this smell," he said, while Anna just chuckled as she led him to the dining table.

"Mom, why can't we start eating already?" Ezra said, looking down at her food, mouth salivating.

"Ezra, can't you see someone is among us?" Anna said.

Ezra looked up to see Miles, and her face morphed from one of hunger to one of happiness. She got off the table and came rushing at him.

"Uncle Miles, I've missed you!" she said as she hugged him.

"I've missed you too, Ezra," he said before kneeling down to her height.

"Hey, take this, it's your favorite," he said, stretching a white nylon at her.

"Milk duds?"

"Yes, even better, check it out," he said.

She checked it out and gasped.

"With frosted sugar cookies? Ooh, Uncle Miles, you are the best!" she said before looking at her mom, who was confused before she got the message.

"Yeah, you can keep it. Besides, Miles is family now…" she said, before the latter jumped up, pulsing with excitement.

"…Also, what did I tell you about calling Miles your elder brother instead of uncle? Or do you want me to seize your cookies?" her mom said.

"Sorry, Mom, I forgot. I'll make amends."

"Yeah, I know you'll do. Now, who's ready to dig in?" she said.

"I am!" Ezra and Miles said at the same time before walking to the table and taking their seats.

"Now we dig in," Ezra said, holding her fork.

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A/N: I would greatly appreciate comments and suggestions about the story at any point. I would also appreciate your honest reviews.

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