I opened my laptop and took advantage of the airport’s hot spot. First, I checked my email and found that Eden had written me earlier.
Subject: Micah.
I hesitated for a minute before clicking on the link.
Jo,
You’re very sneaky, sitting there at lunch not letting it slip that you and Micah have something going on. And I just sat there telling you to steer clear of him. Now I’ve got egg on my face. :)
I hope I’m not way off base here, though I’m sure I am. This is hard for me to write, but I feel like I have to say all this, once.
I like you and I think you like Micah. Of course, everyone likes Micah.
Here’s the thing. Micah likes everyone, too. He trusts people, and he puts it all out there. People think he’s like this because he’s never been hurt or because he’s lived a charmed existence. And that’s partly true. He’s never been badly hurt. He chooses to live his life open and vulnerable and happy. I love that about him, but it also worries me. I worry that one day, he’s going to more than like someone and he’s going to get hurt in a way he can’t brush off and get back up.
I’ve never bothered to say this to any of Micah’s girlfriends because none of them had any substance. But the way he talks about you . . . He would kill me if he knew I was writing you this. If I scare you off, I’m never going to hear the end of it.
What I’m getting at is that Micah doesn’t have the first clue how to actually date anyone, like really court a girl. He’s going to do it all wrong. He’s going to be too intense or too fast or just weird about it. You don’t have to let him rush you, and if he freaks you out, you need to tell him. He doesn’t scare easy. Once he knows what he wants, he’ll work hard for it. But you might have to work, too. He’s worth it, Jo.
Call me if you ever want to talk about anything.
Eden
Although we had only just begunsomething,her warning the day before had loomed in my mind like a portent. I was still freaking out a little about Micah’s lifestyle choices until I read her email. I could handle a bumbling boyfriend if that’s where things were headed. As long as I wasn’t one ofthose girlshe slept with for a month before parting ways with no hard feelings. If Eden thought he could treat me differently than he’d treated the women he’d burned through so fast, maybe I could relax and go with it. I hoped so because I really did like him.
I started uploading the pictures I’d taken and wrote down the questions and answers I’d recorded. If Andy declined to run it, I’d ask to send it down to Sang Moon-Soo.
It occurred to me that if I waited to upload the story closer to five, Andy wouldn’t know whether I’d stayed at the airport or gone home. I gathered my things and started to head toward the exit when my phone buzzed with a text message ringtone. I dropped everything and sat down. I’d hoped it would be Micah and squealed a bit when it was.
What do you usually do on Thursday after work?
I texted back:I go home, eat a snack, have some hot tea, change into my gym clothes, and walk two blocks to a step aerobics class.
A minute passed. Then another. I had no idea if he was flakey or responsive with communication and didn’t want to be stuck in the airport all day waiting for an answer, but another text came before I’d even moved to gather my things.
Should you be exercising? I mean is it safe?
I took a deep breath and let it out. He knew nothing.Safe. Necessary. Everyone should exercise.
Okay. Can I come with you?
You want to come to my aerobics class?The visual of that made me giggle. I lifted my eyes expecting to make eye contact with someone to share the hilarity of it, but the strangers trudged by, lost in their own worlds.
Can I? Everyone should exercise.He had me with my own words.
My fingers flew.On one condition. You have to let me take pictures. For the paper.Andy would have to give me back my freedom if I gave him Micah’s head on a step aerobics platter.
I thought we weren’t going to exploit each other for personal gain. :)
I sat for a minute trying to come up with a witty, flirty response, but the phone buzzed again.Fine. It’s a deal. What time should I be at your place?
Six.
The girls in my aerobics class owed me. Big-time.
I hurried home so I could test my blood sugar without Micah there. I knew he’d have to see it at some point. And frequently. But I didn’t want to plant that image into his brain quite yet.
I hit the Suspend button on my pump and fetched a glass from the cabinet and poured some orange juice. In my fridge, I discovered a boiled egg Zion had left me and swallowed it in two bites. Then I had the presence of mind to brush my teeth and check my hair and makeup. Would it be overkill to wear lip gloss to exercise class?
