Our Kind of Love

by Shane Morgan

  Shortly after, our waitress comes over and we order drinks.

  “What kind of music do you listen to?” I ask him when she scampers off.

  Micah relaxes back on the chair as he replies, “Mostly eighties rock. I don’t really listen to anything mainstream.”

  “Yeah, me neither.”

  Just as Allysen finishes up ‘I Had a Lover I Thought Was My own’, she transitions into ‘Spare Parts’ amidst the applause. Micah spins away from my gaze and looks over at her, listening intently to the words. His face is overshadowed by mystery, like the lyrics send him back into a memory he most likely won’t share. His eyes lower to the glass of water on the table when she reaches the part:

  …whatever you got lyin’ around

  in the back of a closet or on the ground

  under your bed

  I’d like to take it home with me…

  I’m fascinated.

  He stays adrift for a few seconds until the waitress returns with our drinks. When his eyes glide back to me again, his lips slightly curl into a half-smile. I want to ask what’s on his mind, but that’s too personal. We still have to get to know each other better. I mean, as friends. Friends. I have to embed that hard in my head.

  “So, any plans for college? What do you want to do?” I ask instead.

  Settling his drink on the table, he pauses for a beat to consider my questions before answering, “I’m not sure college is for me. I mean, higher education is great but, there are other things I’d like to do right now.”

  “Like what?” I prod.

  He drops his eyes to my lips and lifts a brow in his curiosity. Instead of answering me, he asks a question of his own, “Do you love him?”

  My chest tightens. Suddenly, I’m really thirsty. I pick up my drink fast and chug half the glass, but it does nothing for me. “Why’d you ask that?” I mutter, trying to act cool.

  “It’s a simple question,” he smirks. “You either love your boyfriend or you don’t.”

  “I just…I don’t understand why you ask that all of a sudden.”

  “I don’t think you do,” he decides for himself, sounding sure as he studies my face.

  He’s right. I don’t love Nate. But I do like him. That’s why it’s so hard to sleep with him because there’s a difference between those two words. I thought by now that like would transition into love, and into something deeper, but it hasn’t. And I wonder if it ever will.

  Argh! Why am I second-guessing my relationship because of this guy? Damn you, Micah. And why’s he looking at me like that, like he wants to…eat me alive.

  “Uh, I have to go the restroom,” I tell him, standing up.

  He shrugs and takes another sip as I walk away.

  I look into the mirror before splashing water on my face. This was a bad idea. Coming here with Micah has made my attraction worse. If anything it’s increased. I can’t get his eyes off my brain. They keep haunting me.

  Drying my face with a napkin, I linger for a moment to settle my thoughts then make my way out of the restroom. When I open the door, I notice Micah waiting by the doorway that leads back inside the bistro.

  He starts to walk down the passage towards the back exit, gesturing for me to follow him. I do, without a second thought.

  Micah pushes the door open and steps into the warm night air. There are two girls taking a drag outside. They flick their eyes over to us and instantly head back inside as if to give us privacy.

  “What’s up?” I ask, ambling over to him as he stares up at the starry sky.

  “Ever since that day in the park, I can’t get you off my mind,” he whispers with his back turned to me.

  I search my head, but I have no idea what he’s talking about. “You saw me in a park?” I ask, “When?”

  Turning to face me, Micah steps closer backing me up against the brick wall. He lifts his hand and places it at the side of my head, gazing intensely into my eyes. I slope my head, as if I’m anticipating what he’ll do next.

  “My first day in Newport,” he mutters, “The weekend before I started working for your mom, I saw you in that park by the harbor. You were wearing a blue dress, your hair was let down like now,” He wraps his finger around a strand as he continues, “And I remember feeling mesmerized.”

  Oh! So that’s where I’ve seen him before. “That was you…” I trail, thinking back to the day. I only saw him briefly as I ran off to meet Claudia, but I do remember, now that I look back.

  He lightly touches my cheek. I shiver, knowing what he wants to do and how much I secretly want it to happen. I can see it in his eyes; he’s going to kiss me. I’m so overcome by desire that I have no room left in my brain to consider the consequences of what’s about to take place.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, lowering his head. His minty breath cools my cheeks and lights a fire between my legs.

  Micah drops both hands and squeezes my waist. He’s breathing heavy as he floats his eyes all over me. With no hesitation, he presses into me and comes close to my mouth. Being this close to him makes me impeccably hot because I can feel a bulge in his jeans.

  “Um…Micah, maybe we shouldn’t…” I say nearly out of breath as I’m engulfed in this heat.

  He gently presses his finger to my lips and whispers, “Shhh…don’t say a word. Just close your eyes, and let it happen.”

  I keep my eyes open though, holding his captivating gaze as he moves his hand away from my lips and drives in for a kiss, only to pull away as the door pushes open abruptly and some people step outside to smoke.

  They smile at us shrewdly. Having my senses snap back to me, I move from Micah and scurry inside the bistro.

  When he comes in shortly, Allysen is wrapping up her segment with my favorite song, ‘See the Sea’. It’s funny how the lyrics sound different, now that I’m sitting across from a guy I almost kissed.

  …I guess we two are not a pair

  Though I’d like to be

  If only to be safe in that I’d met my match

  My pretty dream is very real…

  …even if you are just a passing thing

  Those lines pretty much sums up what I’m feeling. Oh, what am I going to do?

  We don’t say anything after that, only slip out of the bistro right after Allysen finishes. I drive him home, as I probably should have done to begin with because I wouldn’t be feeling this uneasy now. I’m so silly. I was the one talking about setting things clear and maintaining nothing but a friendship, and look what I almost let happen, for a third damn time.

  Unbuckling his seatbelt, Micah delays in the seat, catches his breath, and then looks over at me. “You know, you didn’t answer my question.”

  “Why is it so important for you to know?”

  “Maybe you really don’t,” he concludes. “That’s why it’s so hard to say it.”

  I swallow hard and turn away from his stare as I lie, “Yes. I do love Nate. We have a great relationship and who knows, we might be together even after we finish college. That’s why…what almost happened…” I carry my eyes back to him. “It can’t happen again.”

  His eyes suddenly grow dark. His expression is intense, brooding. He hurries to compose himself and chuckles a bit, saying, “I was just messing with you again. Gosh, you’re so easy to fool. Don’t look so worried. I wasn’t really going to kiss you.”

  Hearing him say that hurts. Not to mention he curls his mouth into a sly grin like it’s really nothing and turns to open the door. He shuts it after getting out, but before leaving, Micah bends down at the window. “By the way, you’re not a very good liar.”

  I scoff, “I’m not lying.”

  “Yeah, you are. If you loved him, you wouldn’t be deliberating it so much. You would easily answer yes. That’s why you would have let me kissed you.”

  He steps away from the door and walks in front of the car, treading over to the house. Before going inside, he looks back and adds, “And you know what else? Anyone can see the trut
h in your eyes.”

  “What truth?” I call out.

  “That you’re not so sure about your relationship, no matter how you try to convince yourself its perfect.”

  He steps inside before I can say anything to protest. Micah reads me so easily. It’s strange, when we’ve only known each other for a few days now. He’s already deciphered so much about me. But you know what, he’s not a very good liar either. Because from the disappointed look in his eyes, I can tell Micah really was going to kiss me tonight.

  The one person I don’t want to face right now is sprawled out on my bed when I reach home. Claudia sits up with her back pushed against the wall as I closed the door and place my phone and keys on the dresser.

  “Where’ve you been?” she probes. “You got off work almost two hours ago. Did you hang out with Nate?”

  I kick off my flats and plop down on the chair, telling her half the truth. “No, mother,” I chuckle. “Actually I went to Pure with Micah, since I’d been dying to listen to Allysen Callery and I thought he’d enjoy her music, too.”

  A slight frown spreads across her face. “Let me get this straight, you have a boyfriend, yet you hung out with a single man, alone?” Accusation slices through her voice.

  I perk up to defend myself, even though she has a point. “We were just hanging out as friends. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m not going to get in your way of dating him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Whatever,” she says under her breath, chipping at her silver nail polish. “I’m not interested in Micah, anyways. He obviously likes someone else.”

  He does? My mind goes ballistic, wondering who she is, and at the same time I’m mad at him for flirting with me when he already has someone that he likes. Guys!

  Easing off the chair, I walk over to my bed and nuzzle up beside Claudia. I can feel the breeze coming in from the ocean through the opened window. The night is starting to get cool, or maybe it was my bodily reaction from being in close proximity to Micah that had me feeling so hot earlier.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask her, realizing she’s not jealous about me being around him as I initially perceived.

  Claudia raises her shoulder and mumbles, “Ryan and Kimberly are going exclusive.”

  “And that’s a problem because?”

  “It’s Ryan. He’s too good for that bitch. Plus she’s a year older and there’s nothing sexier to a guy than a cougar.”

  Oh, that’s right. How could I’ve forgotten that Claudia and Ryan dated briefly in junior high school? That was the longest relationship she’d ever had. I think it lasted four months. In fact, that’s a record for her. She usually ditches guys by the third week, sometimes sooner.

  “I’m sorry, Claudia,” I say, squeezing her arm. “I didn’t even realize you still liked him.”

  She pouts and combs back her wavy red strands, resting her head on my shoulder.

  “If you wanted to be with him again, why didn’t you just tell him?”

  “I tried to, at the bonfire,” she says. “Kimberly was all over him. She made sure Ryan and I didn’t get a chance to talk.”

  “So, what do you want to do?”

  “What do you mean? It’s over. He’s with her. Like, in a relationship for real now. Plus they’ve been hooking up. Why would he leave a girl who gives it up to him for a girl who wouldn’t? I never wanted to sleep with him when we were together.”

  I’m surprised to hear this. “You never slept with Ryan? Then what was that talk about guys having needs too and if we don’t take care of them they’ll wonder?”

  She snorts, “You shouldn’t listen to me sometimes. I mostly spew fuckery.”

  I playfully bump her arm and lie down, resting my head on my pillow. “I couldn’t sleep with Nate last night either,” I tell her.

  “Really?” Claudia lies down next to me. “It’s probably for the best.”

  “Why’d you say that?”

  She nestles closer. “Um…I heard a girl talking shit last night, it could be just gossip. I mean, you know how girls are—”

  “What did she say?” I spring up, looking down at her.

  Claudia drifts away from my gaze and stares at the curtain, swaying in the breeze. She has a taut look on her face.

  “Tell me,” I urge.

  “All right,” she caves. “She said one of her friends hooked up with Nate a few days ago.”

  She eyes me worriedly, checking to see if I’m okay. I’m not, but I sort of am. Because even though I should be fuming, try to find out who this girl is so I can do something childish like egg her house, and then call Nate and interrogate him about it, I actually don’t want to do anything. Instead, I exhale deeply, and then fall down on my pillow again.

  “Reign,” Claudia says quietly. “I’m sure it’s not true. Nate’s loyal to you.”

  “It’s true,” I tell her, keeping my eyes closed. I wonder if I even have a right to be mad at him when I wanted to kiss Micah so many times since he started working at Captain’s Choice.

  Turning on my side, I flick the lights off and mutter, “Goodnight.”

  Claudia doesn’t utter another word about it, only whispers “Goodnight” as well.

  After a long pause, she murmurs, “Reign, when I say I think Micah likes someone else…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I think that someone is you.”

  That sentence alone will keep me up all night, because I’m starting to wonder if I like him too.

  NINETEEN

  Micah

  WELL, I’LL BE DAMNED! On my way out on Wednesday morning, I spot a bicycle leaned up against the oak tree in front of the house. My landlord’s looking to get rid of it. There’s a paper with ‘Free’ stuck to the tree so I decide to check it out.

  With the exception that the red artwork on the crossbar is worn, it doesn’t look too bad. The tires and brakes seem to be in good condition. I knock on his door and tell him I’ll take it off his hands. I was planning on getting a bike anyway so this works.

  As much as I like Reign offering to drive me home and diverting to other places, it’ll make me feel less of a bother having my own transportation. I wonder if she’ll consider riding on the bike with me. Yeah right, that’s if she was my girl. She’s not. I need to stop making it hard for her.

  Only as I pull up to Captain’s Choice, place my bike around back and walk inside, her beautiful face is the first to greet me, sending a rush of desire all over me. Since Monday night, she’s been evading me more.

  The fact that we almost kissed plays over and over in my head. I want it to happen so badly. I’m desperate for her touch. But I know it’s not what she wants and I need to stop trying to wreck her relationship.

  While Reign’s getting tables ready, I walk up to her and say jokingly, “You don’t have to drive me home anymore. I’m no longer your burden.”

  She swivels and stares at me with her forehead creased. “You’re not a burden, and did you get a car?”

  “No, I got a bike instead.”

  “Oh, I see. Okay.” She turns and continues what she was doing before.

  “Reign,” I mutter at her back.

  Rotating again, she waits for me to say what’s on my mind.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been making you feel uncomfortable. I was only joking around at the bistro. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  “Okay.” She plays with her hands and looks down at her feet as she utters, “Thanks.”

  “So, does that mean we’re cool now? No more avoiding me?” I smile.

  Reign smiles up at me. “We’re cool. It’s nice you’ve gotten a bike, but you weren’t a burden to me. I told you, I don’t mind.”

  My grin expands. “Does that mean you want me to get rid of the bike and keep letting you offer me rides then?”

  She angles her head to the side. “Gosh, you’re just—”

  “Charming?” I cut her off, “Irresistibly gorgeous?”

  She can’t fight bac
k her laugh. “We should get some work done, Mr. Charming.”

  I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Aislin strolls in the second I turn away from Reign. She slows to a stop, studies us, and then rolls her eyes as she waltzes off. I guess she’s remembering how close Reign and I were that time out back. She’s a cool girl, but damn her for interrupting us.

  Throughout the day, dark clouds fill the sky and I hear rumbling now and then. But just my luck, it chooses to rain when the restaurant closes.

  I look out the window, waiting for it to ease up when I glimpse Reign at the corner of my eyes. She has a sneaky smirk plastered across her pink lips as she waits by the door.

  “What?” I ask.

  “You want a ride?” she offers smartly, crossing her arms at her waist.

  “That was the point in me getting the bike,” I tell her, drawing close.

  “Well, a bike isn’t convenient in these conditions. By the way, I checked the forecast, there’s a hundred percent chance that’ll it continue to rain until tomorrow morning.”

  “Shit.” I fold my arms, studying her face. “Why are you grinning?”

  She straightens. “I’m not.”

  I give her the ‘really?’ stare and she bursts out with a laugh. After a few seconds she composes herself. “I’m sorry. Look, just leave your bike here for tonight and I’ll drive you home. It’s not like you can ride in the morning either.”

  She does have a point, and who am I kidding? I love being close to this girl. “Okay, if you insist,” I say.

  We run out to her car and hurry inside. Her hair’s damp. It looks darker, sexier too. I turn away fast when she catches me staring. I have to try and remember to stop doing that. She has a boyfriend. I’m making her feel uncomfortable.

  Tonight we actually go straight to my house. It sucks, but Mother Nature has other plans and I’m not so sure Reign wants to hang out with me alone anymore.

  I take my keys out of my pocket and get ready to run for it. Before I slide over to open the passenger door, she asks, “Can I see your apartment?”