Page 20 of Another June with You

“I don’t know what good it would do.”

“You heard Nana. We should say what we need to say while we have the chance.”

“We can’t go back in time. We can’t change what’s happened.”

“Would you want that? To change things?” There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

“No.”

Chapter 6

He knew not to get too close, but he was still disappointed. Not that he’d really let himself believe they could reconcile after one afternoon together, but each moment with her felt so special that a little sliver of hope had snuck through.

Standing in that kitchen with her again, the memories had flooded back—flour flying everywhere, raven hair and sun-kissed skin becoming white and powdery. The look on her face when he told her he loved her for the first time would forever be burned in his memory. Not to mention the kisses that had followed his confession, which had simultaneously filled his heart with joy and lit a fire within him. It was those moments he’d been thinking about today as he ran the line of flour down Shannon’s nose. That flame wasn’t gone. Far from it. But she’d been quick to douse it, and that stung.

She practically jumped out of the car when they reached her apartment and dashed for her door. She didn’t even say goodbye.

Micah stared after her, wondering if he should follow and push her into the conversation he was dying to have. But he didn’t move. He remained in his car, eyes fixed on the door to her building.

He started to shift his car into drive, when his phone rang. It was an unknown number, and he almost let it go to voicemail, but he wondered if maybe it was Shannon changing her mind. He tapped the screen to answer just as he realized Shannon didn’t have his phone number, but it was already too late.

“Micah, it’s Jacqueline. Please don’t hang up.”

He almost did. He should have, really, but he remained on the line.

“Are you there?” she asked.

“Yes. What do you want, Jacquie?”

“It’s been months since we’ve spoken. You haven’t returned any of my calls.”

“We broke up.” He couldn’t help but sound irritated.

“I know. You’re with Autumn now. I get it. But we were together for five years, and you don’t just get over that. It takes time.”

“It’s been a year. You should be over it by now.”

“I was ready to spend my life with you, Micah. I think it will take more time before I can move on.”

He sighed. He did understand, but he wished she would let it go. “Did you need something else?”

She was quiet for a few beats. “I just miss you. I miss your voice. I miss the way you’d hold me and kiss me. I need you, Micah.”

“We’ve been over this. Several times. I’ve moved on. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but we weren’t right for each other. There’s a better man out there for you.” One who can put up with your crazy, obsessive, stalker-ish behavior.

“But I don’t want anyone else. I only want you.”

“That’s not an option. I don’t know what else I can say to get you to understand.” He’d tried letting her down easy—many times—but she wasn’t getting it through her thick skull. He’d tried kindness and understanding, but with each unwanted call or visit to his front door or appearance at his place of employment at all hours of the day and night, he grew more and more impatient with her. It wasn’t healthy, this obsessive behavior. She needed to move on. He needed her to. He knew he had to be firm with her. But every time he told her no, he felt cold and unfeeling. Because it was he who had stayed in the relationship longer than he should’ve for fear of hurting her, even though he knew in his heart he didn’t love her enough.

He glanced up at Shannon’s apartment window. He understood the pain of being dumped. He knew it all too well, so he got that Jacqueline was hurting. And as much as he longed to be completely free of her, he hated the thought of causing her more heartbreak.

“Can we go to dinner this weekend? Or maybe coffee?” she begged. “I want to catch up. I hate not knowing what’s going on in your life.”

Micah closed his eyes. His patience was drawing thin. “No, we can’t go to dinner, and we can’t go to coffee. Autumn wouldn’t appreciate that. And you have to let us go, Jacqueline. You’ll be a much happier person when you do. And God will bring you someone new. Someone perfect for you.”

He could hear her sniffling, and he moved the phone away from his ear and let his head drop forward, exasperated and frustrated. He felt completely rude. He hated making girls cry.

“You’re the one for me,” she whimpered.

---