Page 37 of Another June with You

Micah walked to his aunt, leaned down, and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then whispered something into her ear, to which she responded with a knowing smile.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Jacqueline called as they headed toward the front door.

“I’m busy tomorrow,” Micah called back over his shoulder. “Chase’s wedding, remember?”

Once they were safe in the confines of the car, away from his ex, Shannon looked at him. “What was that?”

“She really wasn’t like that when we were together. I swear.” He started the engine.

“What did you say to your aunt?” She was beyond curious.

He smirked. “I told her under no circumstances to let Jacquie stay here, and if she didn’t leave on her own within the hour, to call me.”

“Would she try to stay, even though you both said no?”

He rested his arm across the back of her seat as he backed up. “What do you think?”

She didn’t need any more answer than that. Micah’s ex was a little off as his aunt had put it. “Maybe you need a restraining order.”

“I don’t want to take it that far. I thought she’d leave me alone when Autumn and I started dating, but every once in a while, she calls or shows up and presses the issue.”

“But she’s as gorgeous as a supermodel. She could get any guy she wants. Why is she stuck on you?”

He looked wounded.

“I mean, you are quite a catch, but she’s got to know she could easily find someone else. Right?”

He stared straight ahead at the road.

“Right?”

“I was going to propose.”

Shannon laughed in spite of herself.

He wore the most serious of expressions.

“Oh, she’s the one you wanted to marry?”

“Like I said, she wasn’t like this before. But I realized I wasn’t ready, that she wasn’t the one I wanted to spend my life with.” He paused and gazed at her for a moment before continuing. There was so much behind his eyes, so much she knew he was holding back, and it made Shannon’s heart ache. “When I finally told her, it was like she was in denial. She wouldn’t hear it. She went about like it hadn’t happened, like I hadn’t just broken up with her. I thought moving on would make it sink in, but it hasn’t. Her showing up here is the last straw. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Maybe you’ll have to actually get married for her to finally take the hint.”

His eyes found hers again. “I’m not … that is, Autumn and I aren’t that serious.”

“Yet.” Shannon avoided eye contact.

He didn’t say anything to the contrary, and the car remained silent.

The idea of him marrying Autumn or Jacqueline or any other woman felt like a knife driving straight into her heart. But she had no right to be upset or hurt or feel anything if he chose to marry someone else, because she had left him.

It could never happen for them anyway. It was a fact she had come to terms with a long time ago. Or so she thought.

“I’d try the restraining order if I were you.” She laughed it all off, because if she didn’t, the tears that were now burning behind her eyes might reveal her true feelings.

Chapter 12

Standing on the porch of his childhood home with his two ex-girlfriends had been beyond awkward. He could only imagine how strange it would be for Shannon once Autumn arrived tomorrow. Girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, almost-fiancées everywhere.

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