Page 2 of Micah

“It’s just for now,” I say, forcing a smile, and hoping I mean it. Hoping that moving to Daisy Hills a year ago hasn’t been for nothing. I need to double my savings before I can start shopping for studio space. Then I’ll know for sure that following Micah to his hometown to take a chance on myself was the right move.

“Are you going to take it easy today? After this photoshoot?” he asks, a tone that always felt like a big brother suddenly feeling like…more. I shake the intrusive thought away and force my attention to my camera bag.

“I have shoots all day,” I answer. “I probably won’t be home until late.” What I don’t tell him is that I purposely scheduled several back-to-back photo shoots to avoid him at the house this week. He’s taken vacation time from his own business with the intention of fixing up the second floor so we can look for another renter. The less time the two of us spend alone together, the easier it’ll be to get over this annoying crush.

“Avery,” he says, his tone a protective warning.

“Avery, there you are!” Haley Collins calls, approaching us. A chorus of barking I didn’t seem to notice until now nearlydrowns out her words. “We should get started. Henry and Penelope are getting antsy.”

“Henry still hasn’t been adopted?” I ask, my question barely a whisper. Not loud enough for Haley to actually hear.

“You should adopt him,” Micah suggests, not for the first time.

“I’m never home.” My heart aches, hoping the senior golden will find his forever home soon. I’m getting more than a little annoyed that Micah keeps suggesting this. “It wouldn’t be fair to him, and you know that.”

“I could help,” Micah offers.

“You’re just as busy,” I accuse, moving around him to follow Haley. I hate that I’m a little snippy with him, but I’m tired of him pushing. I put some physical distance between us, hoping the subject won’t cause an actual fight. It’s just one of the many reasons I can’t let him find out about this stupid crush. I won’t allow it to jeopardize our friendship.

“We were hoping to go in order,” Haley explains. “Start with Mr. January. That’s how we usually do it, anyway.”

“But the animals are running the show today,” I say, understanding. If I hadn’t been late, the original plan might have worked. The guilt is worse since Haley has become one of my closest friends since I moved to town. I was recently a bridesmaid in her wedding. “We can do whatever is easiest,” I assure her.

“I’ll help you get everyone sorted later,” she promises, briefly touching my arm before springing into action.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with, isn’t she?” Cassidy Maxwell says, coming up beside me. Another friend I’m grateful to have. When I left my life in the city, I left behind all my friends except for Micah. I thought we’d keep in touch, but I haven’t heard from a single one of them.

“She’s something, all right,” I chuckle. “How’s the new place?”

“Wonderful,” she says with a happy sigh, the glow of a newly-wed bride almost bursting from every pore as she glances to her husband, Declan, juggling an armful of kittens. Since at least two of them are sleeping, I doubt he’ll be the first one up. “I didn’t know love couldbelike this,” she quietly gushes.

“I’m happy for you.”

“And what about you?” Cassidy asks.

“What about me?” I ask, automatically glancing at Micah and immediately averting my gaze before I can do something stupid like smile at him loving on Henry.Dammit, get yourself under control.

“You seeing anyone?”

“You know I’d tell you if I was.”

“Would you though?” she challenges. Though Haley, Cassidy, and I have grown close, we’ve all been prone to our share of secrets. And my ridiculously inconvenient crush on Micah Ericson is one secret I intend to keep all to myself until it passes. Because ithasto pass.

“I’m working sixteen-hour days,” I say, diverting. “There’s no time for any of that.”

“There’s always time for that, when it’s the right one,” Cassidy says.

Before I can argue, Haley’s waving me over to the side of a parked fire truck. I adjust my camera as I walk her way, which is why I don’t notice who the first pairing is until it’s too late to fully compose myself.

“Micah’s Mr. March,” Haley says, immediately drawing my attention to my secret crush kneeling beside the dog I desperately wish I could adopt but know I can’t.Henry. “Where do you want them?”

2

MICAH

“You’resure you want to take down a wall?” Caden Daniels asks, his expression a mixture of seriousness and puzzlement.

“It’s not load bearing, right?”

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