Page 86 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
I huff, attempting to fold my arms even though he’s still holding onto me. “So, I’m just supposed to sit in the backseat like a child without so much as a ki—”
“Fine.” His lips on mine cut me off, warm and firm. It lasts only a few seconds, but his kiss absolutely leaves me dumbstruck.
Fischer looks just as awestruck as I feel as he pulls back. His eyes are glazed over, like he’s suddenly forgotten where he is. “That…that was a bad idea,” he stutters.
I shake my head. “That was a great idea. We should go back upstairs and follow through with that idea. I don’t even want dinner.”
But my stomach betrays me, bellowing a whale call to answer Fischer’s on Monday.
A glorious smile breaks out on Fischer’s face, and though he spends several seconds tracing my freckles with his fingertips, he eventually closes the door and makes his way around to the front seat.
“Bad idea,” he repeats to himself and turns on the car.
As soon as we’re moving, I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb over the console to the front. Fischer curses loudly, but I’m already in the front seat and buckling myself in before he can pull the car over. Thank goodness I’m small.
“You shouldn’t say anything like that in front of Houston,” I say calmly, even though my heart is pounding after that tiny kiss. I can barely even call it a kiss, but I think it might have broken something inside me because I feel all sorts of dizzy and lightheaded. “He’s trying to quit.”
To my delight, Fischer immediately takes hold of my hand now that I’m within reach. “What, swearing?”
I nod. “He’s a work in progress, and we don’t want him to be tempted.”
“Who’s we?”
“Me and Brooklyn.”
“Duly noted.” He’s quiet for a moment, squeezing my hand every few seconds before he says, “By the way, Kale had a girl over when I was leaving.”
My eyebrows shoot high. “He did? Like, a date?”
“Not sure. They were acting strange.”
“Strange, how?”
“Like they didn’t especially want me there.”
I giggle. “Of course they didn’t. You were interrupting theirdate.”
“Not for long. I was eager to get to my own.” He lifts our hands up and touches a kiss to my knuckles, sending a shiver through me.
He spends the short drive to the restaurant playing with my fingers in a way he hasn’t before, like he hasn’t realized until now that there’s more to holding hands than the simple connection. He strokes the length of my fingers, tickles my palm, runs his thumb along my thumbnail. Exploring with a purpose. Whatever reason sent Fischer to Santa Fe, I’m here for it. He’s still the same guy I’ve been getting to know the last few weeks, but he’smore.
When we park outside the restaurant, I try another ambush as soon as he opens my door, leaping out at him. But Fischer must have known I was going to try something because he takes a step back. I tumble out of the car with nothing to hold onto, straight toward a puddle. Thankfully, Fischer grabs me, scooping me into his arms so I’m now cradled in his hold, bridal style, while a soft rain drizzles over us.
“Let’s pretend I did that on purpose,” I say and lift my head up now that he has nowhere to run unless he wants to drop me. This time, he seems ready to accept my kiss.
“Micah!”
I must look incredibly annoyed because Fischer snorts a laugh before putting me on my feet. “Family calls,” he says with a look that tells me he’s going to be anticipating the end of this night as much as I am.
As soon as I catch sight of Skyler and Kit just outside the restaurant entrance, my annoyance washes away, replaced by pure excitement. “Sky!” I rush forward and leap onto her, knocking her into her husband. “How’s my favorite stepsister with the coolest job?”
She laughs, quickly freeing herself from my attack hug. Like Fischer, she’s never been a super touchy-feely person. Except with her husband, of course. “My job is not that cool,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“Um, you own a bookstore. That’s one of my dream jobs. Kit!” He gets his own attack hug, and he’s so tall that I wrap my legs around him instead of keeping my feet on the ground. “How’s my favorite step-brother-in-law who teaches kids woodworking with goofy videos?”
“Are you always this specific or is this your way of introducing us to your boyfriend?” Kit asks.
“He’s not my…” But I stop myself, glancing behind me even though I’m still koala-hugging Kit. Fischer has hung back a ways, as if waiting for permission to come forward. Or maybe he’s just nervous about meeting my family. Either way, I don’t think he heard what Kit said. “I don’t know what he is,” I finish.
