Micah (bxb)

Fighting for happiness

(Micah)

Arlo and I were walking so that we could catch up. My family was speechless when they saw that I was engaged; even Marcus and Manny couldn't shut up about it.

Mom and Dad were excited, congratulating me and all. Everyone except Jacob and Logan, that is.

I could still see the expression on Logan's face when he noticed the ring on my finger.

He stormed off before I could say anything, and I hadn't seen him or Chandra ever since.

I don't know what that was about, but I couldn't care less.

I started to tell Arlo about what happened at the hotel. How Parker had apologized to Landon and me and how, up to now, I wasn't sure if he was flirting with me.

“People are idiots,” Arlo muttered, frustrated by what I told him.

“They see something different, and they immediately think It’s wrong.” I agreed with him.

“Tell me about it.” I kicked a rock, sending it skidding across the ground.

“But it wasn’t just the stare or that guy. It’s the fact that it keeps happening like we’re always going to be in the spotlight. And I hate it.” Arlo didn’t respond for a moment, and I could feel the shift in his energy, the way he was leading up to something heavier.

“Speaking of things that keep happening…” He trailed off, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

“What?” I asked while raising an eyebrow.

“It’s Jacob,” he said, the name alone causing my mood to sour.

“He’s… not happy about Landon proposing to you.” My steps faltered, and I stopped walking, turning to face Arlo.

“Jacob’s not happy?” I repeated, the heat rising in my chest.

“Since when does Jacob get a say in my life?” This was exactly what I didn't want in my life right now.

“He doesn’t,” Arlo said quickly, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me.

“But you know how he is. He’s always been overprotective of you, even more so since...” I stopped him before he could continue.

“I don’t need him to be overprotective of me!” The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care.

“I’m not you, Arlo. I don’t need someone hovering over me, waiting for me to fall apart. I’m not fragile, and I sure as hell don’t need Jacob acting like I can’t make my own decisions.” Arlo sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I know you don’t need that, Micah. But Jacob… he’s just worried. He sees what you went through with Landon, how things were before, and now with the proposal...” Arlo said.

“It’s not his business!” I cut him off, my voice sharp.

“Jacob has no right to meddle in my life. He should be focusing on you and your kids, not sticking his nose into my relationship.” Arlo’s eyes softened, but I wasn’t done.

The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface boiled over.

“Look, I get it. He cares about me. But I’m not a child. I don’t need anyone dictating my life or telling me who I should be with. Landon’s changed, and yeah, things were rough before, but that’s behind us. Jacob needs to accept that. He needs to accept that I can handle my shit.”

Arlo stayed quiet, letting me vent, which only fueled me more.

“I love Landon. And if Jacob can’t deal with that, then that’s his problem. He doesn’t get to make me feel like I’m doing something wrong because I’m happy. For once, I’m happy.” There was a long pause before Arlo finally spoke.

“You’re right,” he said quietly.

“Jacob’s overstepping and that's not fair to you. I’ll talk to him.” I hope to the goddess he does that.

“You’d better,” I muttered, still fuming.

“Because if he keeps this up, I’ll talk to him myself, and it won’t be pretty.” Arlo gave a small, understanding smile.

“I know you will.” He replied with a chuckle.

We started walking again, the tension easing slightly.

But my thoughts kept going back to Jacob, to the way he always seemed to hover, always seemed to think he knew what was best for me.

I wasn’t going to let him or anyone else dictate my life.

I was my own person. I made my own choices. And no one, not even Jacob, was going to take that away from me.