You’ve read Sense and Sensibility?
Yes. But it’s not my favorite Jane Austen book.
I hold my breath as I type.What is?
Emma.
I can’t believe River Stone is an Austin fan and not afraid to admit it. AndEmmais a great book, but not as good asPride and Prejudice, and I’m not afraid to pick a fight about it.
You almost had me.
What does that mean?
It means you were almost the perfect man for me. But sadly, I can’t be with someone who can’t see the absolute perfection in Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.
Meh. She’s tolerable.
I laugh out loud at that, and Micah raises his eyebrows so high his forehead disappears.
“What’s he saying?”
“He reads. And not only that, but he also reads Jane Austen books. And he’s funny. I think I’m in love.” That last part slipped out without me thinking.
Micah’s eyes go wide. “Hold on. You can’t be in love. You just met the guy.” Micah jumps up from the couch and starts pacing the floor. “You know nothing about him. I don’t trustthis guy. He could be a total jerk. I don’t like this, Jiminy. Not one bit.” He rakes a hand through his hair.
I bust out laughing. “Relax, Micah. I was kidding.”
Micah walks back to me. “Really?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He puts a hand on his chest and exhales. “Good. Because I was seriously worried.”
I grin at him. “I promise not to fall in love until tomorrow.”
He picks up a throw pillow and hits me on the head. “Nerd.”
“Geek,” I say back to him.
It’s a thing we do. He’s the music geek, and I’m the book nerd.
He grins and leans over until he’s only inches from my face. “Let me make sure he’s not a jerk first before you go falling in love. Okay?”
I think it’s sweet that he cares that much. In fact, it’s more care than he usually shows for me, which makes my heart race. That, and he’s really close to me. I don’t know why he’s so close, and it’s making my body all tingly.
“Okay,” I say, suddenly sounding breathless.
Micah smooths my hair back and leans even closer. I have no idea what he’s doing until I feel his warm lips on my forehead.
“Thanks,” he whispers.
My heart stops. Micah’s never kissed me before. Not on the forehead. Not anywhere. It sends my ovaries into shock. What the heck?
Micah goes into the room where he’s been staying and closes the door. I sink into the couch, my entire body melting. Micah kissed me. I want to scream. I want to run around the block five times because my body is so full of energy I feel like bursting.
But as I stare at his bedroom door, I realize he didn’t kiss me because he likes me in that special way. He kissed me like he’d kiss a sister. Like he kisses Skyler. Depression seeps into my bones and I close my eyes. I really need to forget about my crush on Micah. It’s killing me.
CHAPTER 4
