Page 55 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
“Fischer.” Stretching her hand against my chest, Micah shuts me up. “You hate talking to people. I know you do. Especially when you’re tired, and you were up all night.”
She’s right, but that doesn’t mean I want her to start panicking again. “I don’t mind,” I lie. “I would rather get the lodge warmed up so none of us freeze.”
As she tucks her head under my chin, she fits so well in my arms that the thought of letting her go is physically painful, like I crave her touch as much as I hated Alice’s. I don’t understand that any more than I understand how she has bounced back from her panic attack so quickly, and that leaves me dizzy.
“Come on,” Micah says with a sigh. “Time to be heroes.”
I’ve never wanted to be a hero in my life, but as soon as Micah Taylor says those words, I want nothing more than to live up to the ideal and make her proud.
Chapter Sixteen
Micah
Without my phone to tellme the time, I have no idea how long it takes to get everyone settled. I just know I’m exhausted. Everyone has a problem, and though most of the bus passengers are as helpful as they can be, we all are starting to get on each other’s nerves. There’s only so much rearranging I can do before I have to tell Cynthia that she and her husband can’t push their couches right in front of the fireplace and block all the heat and no, we won’t have a full breakfast in the morning, and if anyone tells me their blanket smells like must and they want a new one I might start crying.
It’s probably close to midnight when most people are finally asleep. By some miracle, Lila has remained in her room. I checked on her a couple of times, even tried to wake her up once, but she mumbled something about wanting five more minutes and went back to sleep.
So now, the only person who seems to be awake is me, and that thought settles over me in the heavy silence.
I did it. I got everyone situated to the best of my ability, and no one is going to end up cold tonight. Hungry, maybe, but at least we’ll all make it through the night. As long as this storm doesn’t last a couple of weeks, I doubt anyone will resort to eating each other.
I let out a giggle that I can’t stop. I really said that to Chad, like there was an actual risk that these people would start eating each other because they hadn’t had a meal since they stopped for lunch this afternoon.
“What’s so funny?” a soft voice says behind me.
Though I jump, I relax as soon as I realize it’s Fischer. I haven’t seen him much for the last couple of hours, though I’m pretty sure he’s been hopping around and talking to everyone here. Hopefully telling them that the only food we have in the entire lodge is a bag of sugar and the homemade peanut brittle one of the ladies has in her purse. In the glow of the firelight, he looks like the walking dead, and I barely resist the urge to reach up and brush my fingertips over the dark circles beneath his eyes.
He put on a pair of glasses at some point, and he looks really good with them on. Less intense, somehow, like the frames are there to remind me that he’s human and has flaws like anyone else.
“I thought you went to bed,” I say.
He shrugs. “I gave up my bed.”
“You did? Why?”
He doesn’t say anything, though I’m pretty sure his expression is answer enough. I just wish I was awake enough to read him right now.
Wait, he gave up his room? “Where are you going to sleep?” I look around. Though there’s floor space left, it doesn’t look all that inviting. We handed out all the blankets and pillows anyway. “Where amIgoing to sleep?”
Before I can panic again, Fischer takes my hand, pulling me into his arms. When I was in this spot after calling Chad, I didn’t want to leave, and I am definitely not complaining now. There’s something a little perfect about being in Fischer’s hold, like we were made to fit together. “You were amazing,” he tells me. “You know that, right?”
“I would have fallen apart without you. I’m glad you’re my friend, Fischer.”
He tenses, and I wonder if I presumed too much with that. We’re colleagues, yes, but that doesn’t automatically make us friends. “You should get some rest,” he says, pretty much ignoring my friend comment.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep with so many people around,” I admit. “Think Lila would let me climb in with her?”
He shudders. “I don’t want to think what she would do to you if she woke up with you in her bed. I have a better idea.” Taking my hand, he tugs me toward the front desk and gestures to the space behind it, where a pile of blankets and pillows are waiting. “I stole these from Grant, but I don’t think he’ll notice. He’s got a flask of vodka tucked in his coat pocket to keep him warm.”
Is it normal to cry over a blanket? Probably not, but I don’t care. I throw my arms around Fischer’s neck and give him the tightest hug. “Thank you,” I whisper. “This might be the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“You need better friends.”
When he pulls away and looks around the lobby with a furrowed brow, I get the sense that he doesn’t have anywhere to go.
I grab his hand. “Will you stay with me? I don’t think I can be alone right now.” I know how that sounds, and I know Fischer probably needs some time to himself, but I meant what I said. Still, I add a caveat in the hopes that it might convince him. “At least until I fall asleep.”
Eyes searching my face, he nods. “Okay.”
