Michael's Story

Chapter 22

Sleepily, Junie rolled over onto her side of the bed. Even though she couldn't see Michael, she felt his warmth on her cheeks and knew he was close by. Michael's new favorite thing was to run his thumb over Junie's lips. Junie put her hand on Michael's, palm up to her face, and smiled at him as she kissed his hand.

"Wake up," Michael said to her gently.

"I'm up, just resting my eyes," Junie replied.

"We're free people again," Michael said.

"They caught him?" Junie cracked her eyes.

"Yep, early," Michael told her.

"Surprised he's alive." Junie opened her eyes and stretched her body, "I'll be ready to go in a little bit. I just need a second."

Junie tried to go back to sleep, but she could feel Michael gazing at her. She opened her eyes briefly to see if he was staring at her, and he was. Junie closed her eyes again while laughing softly.

"Why are you staring at me?" Junie asked him with her eyes closed.

"You're pretty," Michael said.

Leisurely, Junie eased her eyes back open, gazing back at him. The chemistry between them was undeniably beautiful. They connected like opposite charges, bonded by a natural attraction.

"Would it be too much to ask you to spend another night with me? Tonight." Michael proposed.

Flashing half a smile, "I'll stay."

"I'll pay for whatever you need. Get some stuff that you can keep here." Michael said.

"Okay." Was all that Junie could say.

Junie's overwhelming desire to be wanted by Michael wouldn't be healthy; she knew deep down. So Junie tried to convince herself that being meek would pay off and that she and Michael would be together forever.

Unwilling to admit it, Junie knew that Michael had doubts. But Michael's apparent uncertainty about her was hard to accept. Intuition told her that, eventually, Michael could choose her. Finally, faith convinced Junie that she could make him change his mind about her.

"I just have work tomorrow." Junie reminded.

"Call in. Or just... quit." Michael suggested.

"Quit?" A disbelieving tone brought the question to life.

"Yeah. Quit."

"I can't afford to quit," Junie said.

"I can afford for you to quit. I wouldn't tell you to quit your job and leave you hanging." Michael said to her.

"What if we don't work out? We're not even in a relationship yet." Junie said.

"Let's change that." Michael propped himself up on his elbow.

Like the night before, Junie waited for Michael's uncertainty to set in. Michael's proposition for a possible relationship instead remained until Junie broke her quiet. She tucked her tongue in her mouth, and her expression lightened. In that instant, a sea of doubt crashed onshore.

"I mean, I would rather wait," Michael paused.

Junie laughed, primarily at herself for assuming Michael had already decided. The frustrated exhale that followed Junie's laugh indicated her emotional state. She leaned against the bed, staring at Michael with a grin that had faded. Michael's brows were furrowed in thought.

"Wait, on what, exactly?"

"The timing is off."

"So, it's just the timing?"