The compliment made me blush as I pushed some hair behind my ear.
“Don’t get shy on me. What would I have to do to spend more time with you?” he inquired.
“All you have to do is ask,” I said sincerely.
“Would you like to do this again? Like this weekend?” he asked.
I took a moment before answering. Jude was the only man I’d ever dated, and I wasn’t sure whether Micah wanted to date or just hang out as friends.
“As friends or as something else?” I questioned.
“Freckles, I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since the whiskey tour. I know it’s going to take some time for us to get reacquainted, but I want to court you. Is that cool with you?”
A smile formed across my lips. “That’s cool with me.”
Smooth jazz music played on the radio. My feelings were all over place, but excitement filled me. Never would I have imagined Micah and I being more than childhood friends.
When we pulled up to the house, Micah once again helped me out of the car. He followed behind me as I made my way to the door.
“I hate for this night to end,” he said while holding my hands and staring into my eyes.
My body grew hot under his intense gaze. Micah was awakening feelings in me.
“We both have an early morning. The joys of adulting,” I joked.
A slight chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re right. I’ll let you go.” He pulled me in for a hug then kissed me on the cheek.
I opened the door to head inside and said, “Let me know when you make it home.”
He nodded in agreement with a smile.
Once inside, the smile I wore all evening was still present. Micah was a pleasant surprise. His smile and handsome face replayed in my mind as I prepared for bed, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush. This evening made me optimistic about where it could go with Micah.
A few days later,I was still on a high from my evening with Micah. We hadn’t been able to see each other again due to our busy schedules, but that didn’t stop us from communicating when we could. Reign and I had just arrived at the school, doing what had become our new routine. I would drop her off at class before heading to my own.
When we arrived at Reign’s class, she spotted Violet. I loved that Reign found a new friend. All she ever talked about at home was Violet. I was so busy watching the girls that I didn’t notice Iris staring a hole in me. She said goodbye to Violet, then walked over to me.
“Harley… I heard you were back in town. I just didn’t expect you to be up under my baby daddy so soon,” she said sarcastically.
“I think you need to focus on yourself. Whether or not I’m up under Micah really isn’t any of your business,” I insisted.
“Don’t you have to go teach or something?” Iris questioned.
“Another thing that isn’t any of your concern,” I said as I rolled my eyes and walked away.
Some things never changed, and Iris still appeared to be childish. Back in high school, she convinced herself that I had something to do with her not making the track team when we competed for the last spot on the varsity team. I happened to be faster than her—nothing more, nothing less. Since that day, she would make smart remarks or do catty things behind my back. I didn’t have time for her back then, and I still didn’t have time for her.
By the time I made my way upstairs, I shook off our interaction. I wouldn’t give Iris the satisfaction of ruining my day. When I walked in the room to greet my class, nothing else mattered.
Later that evening, the interaction with Iris was still on my mind. She annoyed me in high school and continued to do so. Micah could have had a baby with anyone, so I wondered what made him choose her. The thought was ridiculous, so I shook it off. I wanted to see where things would go with Micah. Iris didn’t have to be a problem for us. I only hoped that she wouldn’t be.
I stood at the sink, washing the dishes from dinner. The water ran as I held a plate in my hand.
“If you hold that plate any longer, it’s going to crack,” PopPop teased.
I looked down and realized I was in a daze.
“Why don’t you leave those dishes for now? Come take a walk with me,” he said.
