Page 32 of Another June with You

“Oh.” He was only trying to help.

Her eyes found his. “Are you sure this wasn’t revenge?”

His brow furrowed. “For what?”

“For me breaking up with you.”

His laughter stopped short when he noticed the serious look on her face. The air felt thick between them, even though the evening temperature was pleasant and mild.

“You think I would purposely shoot you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you wanted to hurt me. It was no easy thing, our breakup. The pain … well, it can’t have gone away completely. I know it hasn’t for me.”

His face scrunched up when he looked at her again. “Once again, you’re acting like the victim when it was me who got dumped.”

Shannon chewed on her bottom lip as they walked.

He hadn’t meant to sound like such a jerk, but it was the truth. There was no way she could’ve felt half as bad as he did about their breakup. How could she? She had walked away seemingly unscathed.

She suddenly stopped and stared across the parking lot. “I forgot, I don’t have a car here. Jamie dropped me off.”

“I can take you home,” he offered.

“No, you’re here for Chase. You haven’t finished your game yet.”

“He’ll understand.”

“Micah, just let me call Jamie,” she snapped.

He stepped closer, and he wondered if that scared her, because she took a step back. He took the camera from her hand, feeling pretty awful for breaking the thing that was her livelihood. He tugged the strap until it slid down her arm and rested it over his own shoulder. Without thinking, he reached out and touched the front of her shirt with the back of his fingers.

A little gasp escaped her lips.

His eyes lifted to hers. He hadn’t meant anything by it. The vibrant splotch of orange paint on her stomach appeared wet, and he simply wanted to see if it was, that’s all. But now he couldn’t seem to remove his hand. The heat of her body radiated through her shirt.

“What are you doing?” Her stomach moved in and out as her breathing rate increased.

“I’m sorry I shot you.”

He longed to be closer to her. His fingers twitched at the thought of sliding them over her stomach and around her waist, bringing her against him, touching his lips to hers. He’d missed her plenty of times over the years, but he hadn’t realized to what extent until that moment.

With his fingers against her stomach, his control was slipping quickly. The desire to kiss her overwhelmed him, but he knew it couldn’t happen. He had to step away before he did something he would regret.

Taking a deep breath in through his nose, he dropped his hand and looked down at the ground as he breathed out.

Suddenly, without warning, Shannon stepped close and laid her hand on his chest.

His eyes shot up to hers as every nerve in his body focused in on the place her hand rested.

“I forgive you, Micah.”

He swallowed hard, trying to calm his racing heart.

“But I think it’s only fair if I get to shoot you too.”

“What?” Had he heard her right?

“I think you should let me shoot you.” She slid her hand down to his stomach.

---