Page 62 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
She looks down at her hand as if there might be some sort of mark left behind. I wouldn’t be surprised, since I still feel the spark of her skin against mine in a way that won’t be temporary. I may never lose that sensation. I’ll be eighty and still feel her phantom touch, even when my memory of her fades.
Ha! As if I could ever forget her.
Stepping closer, Micah looks up at me with her big eyes. “I didn’t take you for a person who would enjoy hugs. I thought maybe you just got used to me holding your hand.” As if to demonstrate, she slips her hand in mine and takes another step closer. Now she has to raise her chin to meet my gaze, which places her lips in such a tempting position.
Bad idea. Bad idea. Bad idea.But no matter how many times my brain sends that signal, my heart doesn’t want to listen.
Micah wraps her arms around me before I can act on my dangerous thoughts, pulling herself in. I immediately wrap her up, my whole body relaxing in a way that has me worried. I can’t feel this way about her, for so many reasons. Reasons that I’m really struggling to remember. Besides, she’s hardly given me any indication that she feels the same way beyond attraction. An embrace like this, no matter how long it lasts, doesn’t mean my heart won’t be on the chopping block a week from now when we part ways.
I’m not sure I care anymore.
“Micah?” someone says.
She pulls away so quickly that I feel like she’s been ripped from me, which makes it extremely difficult not to glare at the blonde staring at us from the lawn. Where in the world did she come from? And couldn’t she have waited five more minutes? Or twenty? I was working up to things.
With her face bright red, Micah glances from me to the woman who I assume is her sister. “Brooklyn, this is Fischer. We’re working together on the Greenwood reopening.”
Brooklyn narrows her eyes at me, though everything about her is soft. “Is that so? You were at the lodge this weekend?”
“He was so helpful!”
“Were you now?”
“Fischer works for the guy who bought the lodge.”
Brooklyn hasn’t taken her eyes off me even though Micah has been answering all of her questions. She may be soft-spoken and calm, but I have a feeling this woman has some bite to her. If her brothers are a pro-level pitcher and a PI, I can’t imagine she is the type to let people walk all over her.
“Chad didn’t pressure you into hanging out with me, did he?” Micah asks.
Brooklyn finally breaks eye contact with me and turns to her sister with wide eyes. “Of course not! He just thought you might like some…” She glances at me. “Company. Plus, we haven’t had a girl’s night in forever. Jordan just left, so you have perfect timing.”
“Jordan? As in Houston’s friend, Jordan? What was he doing here?”
Brooklyn turns bright red and couldn’t have looked more guilty if she tried.
Micah gasps. “Youlikehim!”
“I do not! You know how annoying he was in high school.”
“No, I know how much he flirted with you in high school and you both pretended it was anything but that.”
Micah is clearly caught up in this new drama, so I turn to head back to my car to drive the short distance to my subpar bed, hoping beyond hope that Kale has already left for work.
At his cyber security company that he apparently owns, I remind myself. Still haven’t fully processed that one.
“Fischer!”
I turn right as Micah launches herself at me, and though I catch her, the force of her leap nearly knocks me off my feet. It’s a good thing I’m decently strong, but I have a sudden new appreciation for male cheerleaders and their ability to throw people like Micah around with ease.
“Thanks for keeping me sane this weekend,” she says into my neck.
I can’t find my voice, so I just hold her, wishing I didn’t have to let her go again. The first time was bad enough. There may be just one day left in the weekend before I can see her again at work, but that feels far too long.
It feels like the sun’s going behind a cloud, and I’m suddenly terrified of how dark the world will be when she’s no longer a part of my life.
“Get some sleep, okay?” Micah drops to her feet. Maybe I imagine it, but she seems as reluctant to let go as I am. “We have a big week ahead of us.”
I brush my finger along her jaw because apparently I can’t help myself. Everything about her is soft and warm in a way I’ve never been. “You get some sleep too,” I murmur. “You and I both know this event will fall apart without you, though I’m pretty sure you could make it happen with your eyes closed.”
