Page 22 of Mika's Heart

Mika

Walking through the door of the apartment, I smell something amazing cooking in the kitchen so I head in that direction.

Atka is at the stove stirring something but looks my way as I walk in.

“Did you finish your drawing?” He smiles.

“It needs more work. Are you expecting company?” I ask, looking around.

“Just you.” He grins sexily. “Thought we could eat and get to know each other a little. I mean, we are living together.”

“I’m going to change into something a little more comfortable first.” I look down at my jeans that have ink stains all over them.

“Sure. It’ll be ready as soon as you’re done.”

Ten minutes later, I walk back into the kitchen and see that he’s already set the table and is waiting for me.

Taking the seat across from him, I take in the food in front of me.

“This smells so good! I thought that if it was a fish, it would have that fishy smell to it.” I say honestly and he chuckles.

“If salmon smells fishy then the cook isn’t doing something right.”

We fill our plates and he waits for me to take the first bite. The flavors assault my taste buds and I can’t stop my eyes from closing from the joy of the food.

Opening my eyes, he’s staring right at me and I realize that I was humming. My face heats until he looks back down at his own food.

“So where are you from?” He asks.

“Ohio.”

“Really? Whatever made you move out here?”

I take a bite of my food to give me time to think over my response. I don’t want to share too much just yet.

“I recently found out that I may be adopted.”

“So your birth family is here in Alaska?”

“Maybe. I really don’t know yet.” I squirm in my seat, uncomfortable talking about this.

He seems to get the drift and switches to asking me about my life in Ohio. The schools I attended and my friends.

“Jan and her parents are awesome. She is actually planning to take a trip backpacking across Europe. Knowing her, she’ll love it so much that she never comes back home.” I smile.

“She definitely sounds like an adventurous young woman. You are too, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you came all the way to Alaska all by yourself without knowing anyone. That takes courage. Not many young women would be able to do that.”

Thinking about it, I have to agree. Coming here by myself could have been way more dangerous than it’s been so far.

I’m lost in thought when I feel him take my hand with his own.

Just as it did before, I feel a shock from his touch that makes me gasp.

“You are so beautiful.” He whispers across to me. “You seem almost familiar to me.” He continues, running his finger lightly across the inside of my wrist.

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