Page 25 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
He rolls his eyes and points to me with one of his knitting needles, which means he points with the whole jacket attached to it. “That dumb grin you had on your face says.”
I frown, which takes enough effort that I realize maybe Iwassmiling. Smiling? It wasn’t even that entertaining of a conversation. My phone buzzes again, and I look down while making sure I keep a neutral expression on my face. Kale is far too fascinated by my energy right now.
Micah Taylor: What do you think of rustic decor for the reopening? Lila had me putting together linen samples to bring to the decorator tomorrow, and I was thinking of having some plaid accidentally make its way into the mix.
Me: I was thinking gingham.
Micah Taylor: Do you even know what gingham is?
Me: You’re right. Flannel makes more sense than picnic tablecloths. Throw in some pine and burlap, and you might be on the right track.
Micah Taylor: Were you a decorator in your past life?
Me: I’ll let you know.
I look at Kale, who freezes as soon as he notices my attention back on him. Not that he was moving much, but now he’s not even breathing. “Do you believe in reincarnation?” I ask.
He blinks. “No, but I’m starting to think possession is a real possibility.”
I turn back to my phone.
Me: No past lives for me.
I send that, and the temptation to send another is almost too strong to resist. This is more fun than I’ve had in a while, and I’m quickly realizing that talking about superpowers and basic decorating over text message shouldn’t be classified as fun.
Grant’s right. Sometimes people need something to bring a spark back into their life. Maybe I can find mine in Micah.
Me: Please don’t tell me you’re still working. According to your multi-hued calendar, Ember doesn’t have any events tonight.
Micah Taylor: An assistant’s work is never done! But I’m working from home and have brownies, so I can’t complain!
What kind of home does Micah have? I know it’s an apartment, but I wonder what color the walls are. Does she have a lot of windows? Plenty of house plants? A cuddly cat who gets to snuggle with her every night? I hate that cat.
Kale chuckles. “Are you going to ask her out?”
That answer is easy. “No.”
“Then stop daydreaming. And stop grinning at your phone. It’s freaking me out.”
He’s joking, but he’s also right. I can’t think of Micah as anything more than a colleague for a lot of reasons. One: it isn’t professional. Two: she’s too young for me. Three: I am nowhere close to being emotionally capable of a romantic relationship. I can barely keep up a cohabitant relationship with Kale. And four: the last time I let myself entertain thoughts of affection with a woman I worked with, she screwed me over and made me unhireable outside of fast food. I doubt Micah is capable of betrayal, but that doesn’t mean thinking about her is a good idea.
Unfortunately for me, Micah is not the kind of temptation that is easily ignored.
Micah Taylor: Brownies vs. chocolate chip cookies
I generally don’t go for either, but I don’t think this is the kind of question she will let me ignore. Forcing myself to my feet, I consider my reply as I pretend Kale isn’t staring at my back the whole trek to my room, where I collapse onto my bed.
Me: Ice cream.
Micah Taylor: That’s not an option, Otter Pop!
What in the world? But she texts again before I can ask what that was supposed to be referencing.
Micah Taylor: Nope, I don’t like that one!
Micah Taylor: I’m trying to come up with something to call you because I can’t call you Mr. Price anymore.
Me: You could call me Fischer.
