Page 88 of Tapped

“Micah and I didn’t get off on the right foot. He didn’t trust me or even like me. But that was him being loyal to Brax.”

“It was also him being a hard-headed asshole,” Annette adds.

Landyn shakes that off. “That’s a story for another day. Or never. Either is fine with me. What we’re saying is we haven’t seen that man over there be sweet. Ever. So if you think he’s sweet, then I wonder if we have a revelation on our hands.”

“Micah Emmett,” Annette mutters and stares over my shoulder. “Turning over a new leaf.”

I’m not sure I want to know what that means.

I take another big gulp of my wine and do something I never do with anyone but Cadence and Naomi. I confide in these women who were strangers to me just two hours ago. I blame it on the wine and the asshole sitting in jail. “I’m thirty-four.”

They’re both surprised by my odd admission.

“Ah, I’m twenty-seven,” Landyn says, obligated to reciprocate.

“I’m older than both of you, dammit.” Annette rolls her eyes. “But I’m closer to forty than fifty. I’m going to leave it at that.”

I point at both of them with my wine glass. “My point is, I’m older than Micah. And I’m almost thirty-five.”

Landyn frowns. “What difference does it make?”

A huge grin takes over Annette’s face. “You go, girl.”

Landyn lets out a little laugh.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I cracked the dam with the admission that I’m older than him and shit is falling out of my mouth that I might not even tell my sister. “I slept with him.”

Two sets of eyes widen before me.

I lower my voice into a desperate whisper. “Three times. I don’t even know him. You say he’s an asshole and a player, but he brings me donuts, gives me earth shattering orgasms, and distracts me by bringing me here even after he said he’d take shit from his friends because of who I am. And he only did it because I’m upset about sending Chase away to keep him safe. It doesn’t reconcile.”

They stare for a moment before a slow smile creeps over Landyn’s face. “Wow.”

“Right?” I agree. “What have I done?”

Annette nudges her pregnant friend to the side and grips my shoulders. “Tim told me everything. You’ve had a shit week.”

I try not to slosh my wine and nod.

“And he makes you feel better, right?”

I bite my lip before answering. “He’s the only good thing that’s happened to me since I found out about Jeff.”

“Then go with it. Whatever happens next doesn’t matter. It’ll shake out in the end.”

Landyn grabs Annette’s forearm. “Have you seen Micah with a woman since we moved to Miami?”

Annette shakes her head. “Not one. Hell, I haven’t even heard his name mentioned in the same sentence as the opposite sex since we moved here.”

“Yeah, Brax tells me everything. I would know. I agree with Annette—go with it. But I think it’s safe to say, he’s not playing you.”

“When Brax told Tim about you two last night, Tim was not happy. More like, he was pissed. Brax calmed him down, so at least it wasn’t a surprise when Micah showed up with you today.”

Landyn rolls her eyes. “I’m surprised he was surprised after what he went through with Brax and me.”

I look at Landyn. “What about you and Brax?”

She shakes her head. “You’ll need another bottle of wine for that—maybe two. Today is about you.”

---