Page 26 of Bound by Destiny
I stare at her dumbfounded. “You’re no help at all.”
A smile tips her face. “Yeah, but you love me. Seriously, Em, you don’t have to decide right now. Take them both out for a test run if you want. See what each has to offer you.”
“I’m not playing between them, Austyn. I can’t do that.”
“I’m not saying play them. I’m saying spend time with them. Figure out who makes you happy. And for the record—Micah’s got a long way to come with the club if he wants to be stickin’ around town.”
I sit down on the couch with a huff. “This sucks.”
“It only sucks if you let it suck. Be upfront with them. Tell them your feelings. Know this, though—Jacks may be quiet, but he’s fierce. You tell him the truth no matter what. Micah—I don’t give a fuck what you do with him.”
“Austyn, come on.” She shrugs.
“He hurt you. That shit doesn’t go away just because he’s told you three little words.”
“This is why I need to just stay away from all men. I couldn’t find one for how long—now I have two. I feel like I’m Alice falling down that damn hole, unable to get my footing.”
“And you will until you make up your mind what you want. It’s how life is.”
The rumble of a bike comes from outside. We both hop up and go to the window. “Sorry, woman, that’s my man.” Austyn gives me a hug, tells me to figure my shit out, and leaves. Locking the door, I go to my bedroom and lay down.
Can my life get any more fucked up than this right here? Before I know it, I fall asleep.
AD.
I got a damn D on my Western Civ test. I slam the laptop screen down hard in frustration. I studied for this damn test, repeatedly over the last couple of days, but nothing sunk in. It’s all because my head is somewhere it shouldn’t be. On two men who won’t get the hell out of my head.
Two days ago, two men flipped my world upside down in the matter of an hour. And this is why I failed. It’s my fault my damn head wasn’t in the game. Worse, I knew the test was coming and didn’t start studying early before all of this went down.
It’s going to be damn hard to get this grade up before the end of the semester, but I’ll damn well do it. Come hell or high water.
A loud knock comes to the door. Looking out the small window, I feel twisted, not really knowing what I should be feeling. Happy, angry, confused—none of it making heads or tails in my mind.
Micah stands there with a pizza box and a plastic bag hanging off of his arm. Memories flood me. The small touches, the pressed together thighs, the nights watching movies—the kiss that knocked me on my ass.
Opening the door, Micah holds up the box. “I’ve got your favorite.” A stupid, silly grin comes to me as happiness invades me. He remembers. God, that feels so magnificent that he didn’t forget those times together. I know I never will. It’s some of the happiest times I had in college.
“And why did you bring me dinner?”
“Figured we both gotta eat, so what the hell.”
It’s sweet and I step aside, letting him come in. Nerves hit me sending trails of energy up and down my body. He’s here. In my home. With pizza. I feel like a damn school girl—giddy. I don’t get giddy, or at least I thought I didn’t.
Getting the plates, he has the pizza open on the coffee table, ready. He swipes the plates and puts my slice on, handing it to me. “Thanks.” Then he gets his as I sit down.
“You don’t seem yourself, Em. What’s wrong?”
What the hell is right is more like it. I decide on simple. “I did horrible on my test, not failing but pretty damn close. Sucks, but I’ll make it work.”
“I can help you.” He pauses. “If you want.”
“Maybe. I want to see if I can nail this on my own. It’s a pride thing.” On a shrug, I dig into my pizza.
“Admirable, Em. But always know asking for help doesn’t make you weak and shouldn’t affect your pride in any way.”
Ignoring him, I ask, “So just in the neighborhood and wanted to swing by?”
“You haven’t answered my texts, so I came to you instead.”
