Page 70 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
Honestly, that wouldn’t have bothered me a month ago. I might have even thought I deserved it because I was the idiot who trusted Miranda and followed her like a lovesick puppy. But now I have something in my life that makes me want to stay a free man, and she’s two hours away from going on a date with someone else.
As if reading my mind, Grant cocks his head and says, “What’s going on with you and Lila’s assistant?”
My immediate denial dies on my tongue before I can speak it. “I don’t know,” I admit. “She’s too good for me.”
“That’s true.” Grant chuckles. “But she makes you happy. I genuinely don’t remember the last time I saw you smile.”
I’m surprised he even noticed.
“Not all love stories end,” he says, rising to his feet. He has absolutely no room to talk, and yet he seems to believe what he’s saying as he heads for his office. “Don’t let fear get in your way. Not like I have.”
I never could have expected to get love advice from the likes of Grant Bradley. But weirdly, I want to listen to him.
I don’t want to be afraid anymore.
Chapter Twenty
Micah
“I’m nervous, Kinz.”
Kinley stops organizing her menus and looks at me. “Nervous? You? But you’re never nervous! It drives me crazy how not nervous you always are on dates.”
I rub my arms, wishing I had brought a jacket or something. Sun City doesn’t get very cold, but I haven’t felt fully warm since leaving the lodge. “Yeah, well, I’m nervous tonight.”
“Remind me who this one is?”
The fact that I told her ten minutes ago and she can’t even remember either means she’s exhausted after working the weekend or she can no longer keep track of my dates. I’m betting on the second option. “The pizza guy,” I mutter.
Kinley scoffs. “I can’t believe you said yes to apizza delivery guy. You must really be desperate.”
Maybe I am. “He’s really attractive,” I defend.
“He’s also late.”
Yeah, I’m not thrilled about it. I even promised Lila to come into work extra early tomorrow to make up for leaving before anyone else so I could get here on time.
“What’s his name?”
“Honestly, I don’t remember.”
Laughing, Kinley wraps me up in a hug. “I love you, Micah, but you’re hopeless.”
“I know.” But not for the reasons she thinks. I couldn’t care less about the pizza guy, and I’m pretty sure the reason I’m nervous is because I can’t help wondering if Fischer is going to show up tonight. There has to be a reason he asked for the details of my date, right?
“Will you calm down?” She puts her hand on my knees, which I apparently started bouncing at some point. “I’m starting to think this isn’t date nerves.”
“It’s not. It’s Fischer nerves.” I haven’t told her about the weekend at the lodge, and I wasn’t planning to. But I can’t keep this to myself anymore. I thought that by ignoring him all day Sunday I might be less confused, but if anything, it’s only gotten worse.
So I tell her. All of it, down to how much I like hugging the man because he feels so steady when so much of my life is uncertain.
She’s lucky no patrons come into the restaurant while I’m telling the story because she’s so completely riveted. I must be an excellent storyteller with the way she gasps and squeals loud enough that she’s caught the attention of most of the restaurant.
“Oh. My. Gosh!” she says, holding my hands in a death grip. “YoulikeFischer!”
I’m too confused by all the emotions Fischer is making me feel to deny it. “Maybe?”
“Maybe? Girl, you should see your face when I say his name. You are absolutely crushing hard on the grump, and you know it.”
