Page 93 of Always Knew It Was You

I raise an eyebrow at the thinly veiled threat. “I got it. My caboose likes to be intact, so I won’t fuck up. Look, I’m not trying to hurt Carly. We’re not...” I don’t want to tell these women we’re just sleeping together because I have a feeling Poppy might plug me with a warning shot if I do. So I say, “Everything’s still new and we’re not really sure what this is yet. But I assure you I’m being as honest and fair to her as I can be. And don’t ever say that schlubbing thing about her again. Nothing schlubby about Carly.” That last part comes out in a harder tone than I expected, and I can tell it surprises the women.

Poppy peers at me. “You know what folks around here say about her right?”

“Yeah,” I meet the older woman’s gaze head-on. “And I don’t give a damn. Stupid people are stupid people. They can think whatever they want. Carly is an amazing woman and I’m proud to be dating her.” I shrug.

The two women share a long look and then Mrs. Peach turns back to me with a glint in her eyes. She beams. “When you’re done eating, you should come with us, Mitch.”

“It’s Micah,” I correct smoothly. “And where to?”

“To St. Jude. It’s bible study today.”

“Oh, erm...” I murmur a little awkwardly. “You should know I’m not really religious.”

Her smile only widens. “It’s alright. Jesus doesn’t mind.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CARLY

Once I get out of class, I think of calling Micah to come pick me up, but I stop myself.

Why do I need to call him when I can get myself back to Laketown just as well without him? Why am I relying on him for a ride now? As a matter of fact, why did I rely on him to get me up on time and bring me here in the first place?

I should have taken a cab or an Uber or something, even though those were practically impossible to come by in Laketown. Still, I should have figured something out myself so that I didn’t have to owe him any favors. So I don’t rely on him.

Because eventually he’s going to leave and then what am I going to do?

I shake my head.

No. I can’t start relying on Micah. He’s already told me multiple times that he’s not a reliable person and when someone tells you who they are, believe them. Even when they start doing things like giving me massages and making me coffee. And paying my dad’s hospital bills. And cuddling with me at night, and making me feel better about myself and my negative emotions. Even when he sometimes looks at me like he feels something… something deeper....

I can’t believe it.

I have to take him at face value and not even let myself think about anything beyond that.

Micah Landing is not a forever guy. He’s simply around for a good time and soon he’ll be gone. I need to come to terms with it.

And even if he did want something serious with me–and that’s a big if born only from the most delusional of minds–what’s the end goal here? He clearly doesn’t want to stay in Laketown for more than a few months and as much as I want to, I can’t leave. Not yet.

So even on that fundamental level, we wouldn’t work. Not to mention bigger incompatibilities, our families and such.

There are so many reasons why this can’t work, why we can’t take each other seriously. So I guess in that way we’re on the same page.

I smirk and then head to the bus station, waiting for the bus that’ll take me down to Laketown. While there, I finally open up my messages to see that Micah texted me twice, one of them to say, “Headed to church with Mrs. Peach and Poppy.”

I frown at that. He told me he had a meeting with Declan that morning.How on earth did he end up with Mrs. Peach? And why church?

I thought you said you weren’t religious, I text back.

The answer comes almost instantly.I told her that too. She said Jesus doesn’t care.

I snort. That does sound like something Mrs. Peach would say.

You need me to come pick you up?he texts next.

No, I’m fine. I’ll come meet you at church.I’m curious to see what Mrs. Peach has him doing over there, and the sight of Micah with the old ladies bent over their Bibles or leading a prayer sends me into peals of laughter.

But, lo and behold, what I find is even funnier.

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