Page 22 of Another June with You
“You guess?”
“I still don’t fully understand what went wrong. We were happy one week and then the next it was like somebody flipped a switch. She went from being so excited for our future together to telling me we were done.”
“Yeah, I remember you telling me a little about that back then.”
“I tried to get her to talk about it today.”
Chase’s brow lifted. “How’d that go over?”
“About how you’d imagine. She didn’t want to rehash the past.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
Micah waved him off. “I’ll just have to suck it up and get through this weekend and try not to be too close to her, because I’ll tell ya, man, it’s torture.” He was going to have a hard time keeping his distance, because when she was in the room, all he wanted was to be near her. “She’s still so beautiful … and she smells so good.”
Chase snickered and turned his attention to a little towheaded girl and boy running around the back yard.
Micah watched them play tag. “Cute kids.”
“Flower girl and ring bearer,” Chase replied. “Keely’s niece and nephew. Her sister’s kids.”
“Ah. I can picture little Chases and Keelys running around this yard one day.” His heart tugged a little at the thought of having his own kids one day. He’d imagined kids with Shannon so many times. They’d talked about it. A lot. Micah shook his head, trying to erase the thought of Shannon holding a baby. All the things they had dreamed about kept coming to the forefront of his mind. He hadn’t expected this weekend to drag his emotions through the wringer. He was sure he would be a mess and probably need some serious therapy by the time Chase and Keely said “I do.”
“When’s Autumn coming?” Chase asked.
“Friday for the rehearsal.”
“Does she know about Shannon?”
“She knows a little.” Autumn didn’t know much about his life before Virginia. She knew where he was from and that he was raised by his aunt because his parents had died when he was a baby. But he hadn’t told her much about his relationship with Shannon because it didn’t really matter. It was in his past. His old life. It had no bearing on the relationship he had with Autumn.
“That could be awkward.”
Micah shook his head. “Autumn’s cool. We know where we stand, and her meeting someone from my past isn’t going to change that.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am.” Micah was confident in the mutual respect and admiration he and Autumn had for each other.
“I like Autumn.” Chase leaned against the railing and continued to watch the kids.
“So do I.”
Chapter 7
Shannon paced her apartment. She had lied when she told Micah she needed rest for tomorrow. It was the only excuse she could think of. She hadn’t been lying about backing up the photos, but that hadn’t taken her long at all. And now she was alone with her thoughts. Alone with the memories.
She stared over at the clock. 7:22 p.m. They would’ve been at dinner by now. They’d be catching up on each other’s lives, telling each other stories about all the things they’d missed over the past ten years. Maybe they would take a walk together. Their hands would accidentally brush against each other. He would let his fingers slide along the inside of her palm the way he always had, not holding her hand, simply caressing and sending little shivers up her arm. Then he’d drive her home and walk her to the door. He’d lean closer as she moved to go inside. He’d stop her with a kiss and press her up against the door, kissing her until she was dizzy. Maybe she’d invite him in, and they’d end up on her couch, making out until they had to stop or they would take things too far.
She threw herself onto said couch and buried her face in the cushion, groaning loudly. Why? Why did he have this effect on her?
Today had been too much. Too much Micah. Too much of his closeness. Too many memories.
She hated the look on his face when she told him she didn’t want to change things. It was another lie, of course, but they couldn’t go back. Her situation was still the same, and it wouldn’t change. But the more time she spent with him, the more the regret weighed heavy on her.
She rolled onto her back and stared up at the swirly texture on the ceiling. Her mind reeled as she replayed the day. Maybe she should’ve just talked to him like he’d wanted. Maybe if she explained herself, told him the real reason she broke up with him, he would understand. Micah had never been anything but kind and caring and honest with her. Maybe now, after so much time had passed, he would understand why she did what she did. Maybe he wouldn’t hold it against her.
The thought made her stomach flutter with nerves. She’d only seriously considered telling him once before—four years ago. On a visit to Aunt Pauline’s, she’d discovered some old pictures of her and Micah, which had spurred buried feelings, filling her with doubt and regret, and led her to look him up on Facebook. The disappointment at seeing a picture of him with his arms around a beautiful blonde girl had crushed her, and she’d closed the browser and cried herself to sleep.
