Page 74 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
“Micah.”
She startles, spinning around only long enough to see that it’s me. Then she turns back to the street without a word.
She’s probably waiting for her ride.
“Why do you never drive?”
With tense shoulders, she turns to me again. “Because I’m afraid of driving. I don’t know why.”
“Can I give you a ride?”
She has no reason to say yes. I’m pretty sure she doesn’twantto say yes. But with a glance toward the restaurant, she sighs and then nods. “Fine.”
I glance back as well, just in time to see Kinley disappear. Next time I come to La Bella, I’m giving her a massive tip because I’m pretty sure she’s the only reason I’m getting this chance.
Micah follows me to my car parked just up the street, and when I open her door for her, she gives me that look she always gets when she can’t figure me out. Okay, yeah, maybe my actions don’t exactly match my words in the restaurant, but I’ll address that. Somehow.
As soon as we’re on the road, I hand Micah my phone. She glances at it, seems to debate her options, and then takes it from me and chooses a song.
“Take a right up here,” she says as an R.E.M. song starts playing.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “‘Everybody Hurts’? Really?”
“It’s how I feel right now,” she mumbles.
“Micah, I’m sorry.”
“You sound really sorry.” Her words drip with sarcasm.
Yes, I’m a little gruff right now, and she’s right to be annoyed with my own annoyance. Taking a deep breath, I hold it in my lungs for as long as I can stand before I let it out. “I’m sorry,” I say again, and this time my words are gentler. “Grant made today feel like one of the longest days of my life, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Just because I don’t believe in love, it doesn’t mean you can’t.”
Her eyebrows pull together as she looks over at me. “Do you really not believe in love? Uh, turn left at the light.”
I squirm in my seat, but I need to have this conversation, even if I don’t want to. “It’s hard to believe in something you’ve never seen,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“What about your parents? You said they’re still together.”
“They are. But that doesn’t mean there’s any love between them. Or ever was. Their relationship has always been more like a business deal.”
“I’m sorry.”
As I pull up to a red light, waiting to make the left turn, I look at her in confusion. “For what?”
She offers a little smile I don’t deserve. “I’m sorry no one ever showed you what love should look like. I’m sorry you haven’t had a reason to hope. I’m sorry for forgetting that not everyone sees the world the way I do.”
I can’t believe she just turned the blame back on her. “You are too good for this world,” I mutter as the light turns green. “And thank you. For letting me give you a ride. I didn’t want your Uber driver to ask you out or anything after your date stood you up.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
I accidentally tap the brake and wince as Micah jolts forward into her seatbelt. I really need to figure out how to control my reactions when I’m driving. “First time being stood up or asked out by your Uber driver?”
She giggles. “Both.”
I hate everything about that. So much. “How often do you say yes?”
“Most of the time.”
“Micah.”
