Breaking Habits

Chapter 13-Micah-Unforgivable

"Try not being you today? Can you do that-please?" Bradley rakes staring at Jordan through the rear-view mirror.

We're on the way to the airport to pick up the investor, who had a few things to say about Jord's behaviour, but the mob situation impressed him, so now he's trusting us to keep him safe.

"No, I don't like him. He's a thief! And I don't like thieves." Jordan grumbles taking no notice.

He's mad because he had invested money in the funds that the investor managed, and like everyone else, he's claiming that the investor stole it.

"Look man I get it. You and a lot of people lost money-" Bradley starts but Jordan cuts him off.

"We didn't lose it! It's right there in his fucking pocket!"

"It's the nature of the game. You win some, you lose some, and the bad guy gets paid. Stop whinging- it's giving me a belly-ache."

Jordan mumbles his disagreement just as Bradley turns his attention back on me. "What's going on with you and the model?"

Before I answer, I think what's really going on between me and Beth. Our morning chats has dwindled. We're barely speaking and when we do, she's always on the go so we don't get to say much.

"I don't know. She keeps playing these games..."

"What kind of games? Because if it's the good kind, why are you complaining?" Jordan jokes from the back seat.

"I mean, she gives me mixed signals. It's hard to tell if she's being genuine."

"It sounds like you're wasting your time. I'd move on if I were you."

I see why Jordan would say that. It might look like that to him, but I don't feel like I am. I like Beth- more than I should.

"I want to pursue her." It's the first time I've said that outside of my head and it feels good to tell my friends.

"I think she like you too" Bradley states. "She was jealous when you kissed Sev."

"By the way, you and Sev kissing like that is giving me nightmares." Jordan adds and I don't have to look back to know that he's pulling a face.

"Have you told the model?"

I did but knowing Beth, she won't get I want you. In that moment, she might think I mean sex, but if I'm honest, that's the last thing I want now. I truly want to know her before I touch her.

"I don't think I made it clear."

"Make it clearer then. All this beating around the bush is pointless." Jordan advised.

He might come across as a jerk at times, but he's a good man. He and Riot has been in a relationship since forever and as far as I know it's a committed one so, I think about his advice while wondering if it's a good idea. she flirts with me, but what about the guy she fucked the other night. Then there's the issue of her ex.

I forget my friends are in the car as I speak my thoughts. "She's still in love with her ex, plus she's dating other people."

"Seriously man! For a cock you're being a pussy. Grow a pair and tell her!! I mean- what's the worst that will happen?"

Jordan's rant makes me think some more. I don't want to get caught up in a love triangle. If I'm going to involve myself with Beth, I'm the only one she must be with. I'm not big on sharing that way.

"He's right you know."

Bradley backing Jordan up is a rare occurrence, so I sit back and put more thoughts into what they're telling me to do, and by the time we get to the airport, I decide to tell Beth how I feel.

***

Later in the day. She invited me over. When I pull up to the house, I didn't expect to see other cars parked on her driveway. I assumed we were going to be alone.

As I walk up the driveway, music is coming from the house, and the front door is ajar, so I go inside. When I do, Beth's work peers are celebrating in the living room, and I don't see her, so I shut the door and move further into the house.

"Hi," A brunette wearing a tight red dress greets.

I recognized her as one of the models from the grand opening, and the way she's smiling at me tells me she remembers me too.

"It's Annie if you forgot. Can I get you a drink?"

When I decline, she pouts. "At-least tell me your real name this time."

She sways into me, and it's clear she as an interest, but my mind is on someone else.

"Where's Beth?"

Without hesitation Annie informs. "Upstairs... with Dante."

What the fuck! It's hard to fend off the sudden anger twisting the pit of my gut but I could be overreacting, so I remain cool.

"Who's Dante?"

Taking no notice of my reaction Annie says, "uhm, the guy she's seeing... I don't know what to call them...but, who are you to Beth?"

I sheepishly rub the back of my neck. Beth and I have no relationship to establish so there's no answer to give.

Deflecting, I say, "she invited me over."

"Oh! So, you're here for the party then? I'm sure she'll be down soon, hang with me till she does. We're celebrating her new contract. She gets the best deals with all the right people."

Beth's upstairs with another man and it kills my mood. It's Obvious she's in a different head space and I have no intentions to wait around for her now.

"I'll take a rain check. Tell her I stopped by," I say leaving.

"Who should I say stopped by?"

"It's Micah, tell her I stopped by."

"Will do Micah. Will I be seeing you again?"

The model is persistent. She's smiling widely and her body is set open and inviting, so I think why not.

"What did you say your name was?" I ask walking back to her.

"It's Annie," she answers stepping into me.

***

Annie turned out interesting. She introduced me to few people as we roamed around the house. We swapped stories about random things, and after forty minutes, Beth still hasn't made her appearance.

I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I need to go so I let Annie know and she gives me her number. On the way out a nagging thought to find Beth comes and instead of going to the front door, I divert upstairs.

I get there and wander around opening few doors, but I don't find her. There's another one on my right and if she's not in there, I'm forgetting it.

When I push the door open and look in, Beth and I guess Dante are in bed, sound asleep. She's wrapped in his arms and her bare thighs poking out from under the covers confirms everything that I need to know.

Seeing enough I begin to the door close, but at the same time, she stirs awake.

Sitting up, she rub the back of her palm across her eyes, and in the process, she sees me standing in the doorway. Shocked, she looks from me to her sleeping friend then back to me with regret forming in her features.

"Micah...I"

"Yeah, whatever Beth." I say closing the door.

"Micah, wait!" She calls from the other side as I make my way out of her Goddamn house.