Page 74 of Inevitable

I cupped his jaw with my hand, running a thumb across his bottom lip.

Three…two….

He gripped the front of my shirt in both hands, pulling me close so only a breath separated us.

One…

I captured his plush lips in a searing kiss, one I felt like a lightning bolt to my chest. I licked the seam of his lips, seeking entrance into his mouth and he opened up to me. His taste burst across my tongue, tearing a groan from my throat. The rest of the world fell away, both of us falling into each other with no cares for anything other than that singular moment.

A year ago, I never would have imagined a reality where I would be kissing Micah like this, thinking about a future with him that I needed more than I needed the air in my lungs. Now, I couldn't imagine it any other way.

He was it for me. There was no one else. He was the One.

Micah pulled back to catch his breath, his eyes shining. “I love you so much, Bash.”

“I love you more, M,” I replied before stealing his lips again in another heart-aching kiss.

One New Years Eve down together, sixty more to go.

CHAPTER 26

Micah

Ilooked at my phone again, making sure I didn't miss a text or call from him letting me know why he was running late. It was very uncharacteristic of him, and I was starting to get worried. I sipped my now-cold latte and scrolled through Instagram some more, committing to staying another ten minutes before I gave up. After all, it's not like I didn't know where he lived.

“Hey! I am so sorry I'm late! I completely suck! Please don't be mad!” Rhys rushed out in a breathless ramble, diving into the booth across from me with a coffee cup in his hands. He was flushed red and his hair was rumpled. He kind of looked like he'd been put through the wringer.

“It's okay! Really! Take a deep breath, man!” I reassured him, trying to calm him down so he didn't start hyperventilating. “You alright? You look a little…flustered, and it's not like you to be late.”

Rhys' eyes widened a fraction of an inch and a look of embarrassment flashed across his features so fast that I almost missed it.Well well well, what have we been getting up to, Mr. Evans? Something naughty? Something bad? Something badly naughty?

“Yeah, no I'm good!” he said a little too fast to be convincing. “I was just talking to someone and lost track of the time. Anyway, how have things been with you?” Rhys plastered a wide smile on that betrayed his wish to change the subject. Unfortunately for him, I was a nosey fucker and couldn't let it go until my curiosity was satisfied.

“Oooh no you don't! We're circling back to you. You've been prettyMIA lately, and I want to know what's up,” I said, directing the focus back on him much to his chagrin. “I mean…not to put too fine a point on it, but you look like you just got fucked…and good!” I teased.

Rhys blushed even deeper, and he squirmed in his seat, not making eye contact with me.Oh dirty angels above, I fucking knew it! My sexdar is almost never wrong. Micah = 1, Rhys = apparently 1 million from the look on his face.

I couldn't stop my jaw unhinging and swinging open if I tried. “Rhys! Holy shit, who is it? Do I know him? Was it good? What happened? Last thing I knew you were having issues with that one dickweed who played…I don't know, polo or rugby or something. Did he finally leave you alone by the way? Is this the guy who's been keeping you busy lately?” I couldn't stop the stream of questions pouring out of me, and I could quickly tell that I was overwhelming my poor friend. With every question I asked, his face drained a shade of color.

“Uhh…you don't know him. I mean, there's nothing to know. I didn't get fu…I didn't sleep with anyone. It wasn't anything like that, promise! And the, um…Lacrosse guy hasn't been bothering me. It's all good. I'm good! Completely good and unsexed over here. I've just been trying to get out and live a little, you know? After what happened around Thanksgiving, I just didn't feel like hiding in the apartment anymore.” Rhys was stuttering and tripping over his words, and I instantly felt guilty that I had pushed him into talking about this. I really needed to learn to calm down.

“Rhys, I'm so sorry, it's none of my business,” I told him contritely. “I shouldn't have pushed. I'm really glad you've been getting back out there and you aren't letting what that douchebag did ruin your junior year. As long as he and his asshole teammates aren't giving you any more grief, right?”

He nodded his head firmly, giving me a serious look. “I promise, that's over with. I shouldn't have any more problems with those guys. But…thank you for caring enough to ask, Micah. You're a good friend and I've missed you.” He gave me his patented sweet, genuine smile that could thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Rhys was such a good person with a beautiful heart and quirky personality. I really hoped he found someone worthy of him someday.

“I missed you too, Rhys. I'm really glad we were able to do this. It's felt like it's been forever since we've seen each other, which is insane because we literally share an apartment,” I chortled.

“Yeah, but you've been spending a lot of time at Bash's. Not that I'm judging! You should definitely be at his place. Not that I want you to move out or anything! I love having you as a roommate and friend, but Iknow how long you've wanted to be with him and you should take advantage of that! I'm just saying that I understand, you know? And I've been really busy too! Ugh, I'm rambling again…” Rhys cut off his words with a deep groan, burying his face in his hands and plunking both elbows on the table between us.

“Uh, Rhys, are you sure you're okay? You just seem very on edge or something.” Rhys had the tendency to be a little high strung sometimes, but this was well past his norm. I wondered if I was too quick to dismiss my concerns about him.

He took a deep breath, and dropped his hands, giving me a much calmer, authentic smile that time. “Yeah, I swear I'm fine. The talk I had with my…friend earlier just rattled me a bit, and I'm still a little jittery. Anyway, can we just talk about you and how things are going with Bash and stuff?” A silent plea was sketched on his face, and I didn't want to make him more uncomfortable.

“Yeah, of course. Well, things have been amazing! We went out for Valentine's Day a little late because Bash had a paper to write, plus we couldn't find reservations anywhere within city limits. We ended up going to El Naranjo a week after and the food was so freaking good! It was all so…perfect, just the two of us back to our bestie roots. We didn't even have sex that night. We just talked for hours like we used to and then cuddled up with a movie,” I paused, thinking about that night and how much it had meant to me.

“Aw Micah, I'm so happy for you! I can't believe you guys have come so far in such a short amount of time. Please don't take offense to this, but I'm also a little surprised Bash jumped on the rainbow train as easily as he did,” Rhys chuckled timidly.

I snorted a quick laugh. “Rainbow train? You stealing my phrases now?” I winked at him teasingly. “And I'm not offended at all. Honestly, I was shocked by it too at first. I mean, I never had any reason to believe that Bash was anything other than straight as an arrow before this.” My thoughts came to a screeching halt as I was swarmed with memories of our first hookup at UNT.Ahh yes, the forgotten night…the one that technically doesn't exist for him.Just love that.

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