Not that it seemed she’d be getting much of one. Chelsea seemed determined to see things between her and Micah that just didn't exist. Probably the one way to shut it down was to tell them the truth, or at least some of it.
“Nathaniel likes him, says he’s a good guy. Has a bit of a reputation for sleeping around, but nothing excessive, and he’s never had a serious relationship in the time Nathaniel has known him,” Ava told her.
The thought of Micah with other women, even though he hadn't been hers in a very long time, had a knot forming in her stomach.
These two weren't going to let up until they knew, which left her with no other choice.
“Look, there’s nothing between us and there’s not going to be,” she told them, keeping her voice low, glad that Tobias had disappeared somewhere to have lunch alone with Isabella, and Josiah was off in his own world in the corner, fingers flying furiously across his keyboard. “I already knew him. Before this. Back when we were teenagers. We dated but it didn't work out. I hadn't seen him until the night of the break-in. I bumped into him downstairs, he was leaving as I was arriving. I can assure you that absolutely nothing is going to happen between us, so you two can take your romantic little ideas and place them elsewhere. Like on Ava and Nathaniel, and Tobias and Isabella.”
Those were couples in love, she and Micah just shared an unpleasant past.
Well, not all of it had been unpleasant. Most of it had been wonderful. Perfect. But that ending had ruined everything.
Both her friends stared at her with their mouths hanging open. They obviously hadn't been expecting to hear that.
“Are you sure Micah feels the same way? Because the way he looks at you …” Chelsea trailed off.
Knowing her friend meant well, and that Chelsea was a sweet romantic who saw the best in everyone and everything, she didn't get frustrated, she just nodded. “Positive. Let’s just say that things didn't end well between us. His popping up again is just the universe’s way to make sure I have plenty on my plate.” Same way it always did.
“Or,” Ava said gently, “it’s the universe’s way of righting past wrongs, and offering you both a chance to make the future whatever you want it to be.”
April 30th
12:34 P.M.
“So,”Micah started hesitantly as he led Nathaniel into a quiet room and set their lunch on the table.
This was an awkward conversation, but he wasn't going to back down from it.
They’d known each other for years, serving on the same team for over four years now. Nathaniel was every bit as much a brother as if they’d been born to the same parents. They’d spent countless hours together, both in the field and at home, but they’d never had a conversation like this before.
Still, this was a conversation that needed to be had. Just because Nathaniel hadn't known Teresa for long didn't mean he didn't know more about her than Micah himself did. He’d known Teresa the girl, not Teresa the woman. But it was that version of Teresa that his friend had met, and while he was definitely feeling awkward about this conversation, he was going to have it anyway.
Because pretending he could keep his distance from Teresa was like pretending he could grow wings and fly. There was zero percent chance of either one of them happening.
May as well admit that and at least feel things out to see if a friendship between him and his ex could be a possibility. If it could, then maybe over time trust could be rebuilt, and if Teresa was willing to own up to her actions back then maybe they could start over.
A fresh start.
Micah liked the sound of that way more than he should, considering he’d only reconnected with Teresa a couple of days ago.
“So, what? And why are you staring at me like that?” Nathaniel asked as he pulled out a chair from the table and took a seat.
There hadn't been time yet to talk to his friend, so nobody knew that he and Teresa shared a past. Maybe there had been some guesses about it, because Teresa had been pretty adamant that she did not need a babysitter, but they could also have assumed that was because she was wildly independent.
Explaining their past without painting Teresa as the bad guy might take a little bit of work, but the last thing Micah wanted to do was tarnish her relationships with her friends over something she’d done as a stupid seventeen-year-old kid.
Taking a seat opposite his friend, he unwrapped his sandwich and took a deep breath. Talking about Teresadefinitely made him feel like a teenager again. His confidence wavered, and he was forced to admit the deep wounds she’d left him with.
“Teresa,” he said, like that explained everything.
A wide smile brightened Nathaniel’s face. “You like her. I thought I sensed something there, the way you watched her the other day. I'm not the only one who picked up on it either. Ava is determined to try to play matchmaker. She thinks it would be really cool if one of her best friends started dating one of my friends. If she can get you and Teresa together, I think I can expect every single guy on the team invited out here for auditions to see if they match with Chelsea.”
“It’s a little more complicated than someone just playing matchmaker.”
“Why? You guys not hit it off last night?”
“It’s not that,” he said, although they hadn't hit it off last night, not that he’d expected them to. He had expected more hostility from himself and less from Teresa. After all, he’d done nothing wrong, and she’d ruined everything they shared. “We have a past.”
