KATE
Michael returns within the hour, smelling like lemons and bleach. He smiles softly at me as we walk down to his car hand in hand.
"What?" I ask.
"Nothing," he looks away, his grin even wider.
"Seriously. What?"
"Nothing," he insists, pulling me into his side. "I've just missed you."
"Yeah." I lean into him. "I guess I kind of missed you too. You're kind of cute."
"Nice. So you're just with me because of my rugged good looks."
"Obviously. I thought you knew that."
"I've always suspected." Michael laughs and turns to look at me over the top of his car, his eyes soft.
"What?" I ask, unable to help the color rushing to my cheeks.
"Nothing," he mumbles with a smile, opening his door and ducking into the car. I follow suit, buckling my seatbelt and turning to face him.
"What?" I press, lacing my fingers through his.
"I'm just really glad you're here," he says softly.
"That's good, because you're stuck with me for a while."
"That's the exact opposite of a problem, Kate."
"We'll see how you feel in about a week."
"What do you mean?" Michael asks, taking his eyes off the road for a second to glance at me.
"Um... I don't know." I shift uncomfortably under his gaze. "I just... I think living together is going to be harder than you think it is."
"Why do you think that? We practically lived together before, anyway."
"It was different then," I argue.
"Different how?"
"I don't know!" I feel exasperated, unable to put my thoughts into words.
Michael chuckles. "Yes you do. Just say it, okay? You're not going to hurt my feelings."
"I just think... I don't know, it was my place back then. I've always liked to have my space. I'm just nervous that I'll feel like I'm intruding on yours."
"You're not," Michael says, grabbing onto my hand and rubbing reassuring circles with his thumb. "You can have whatever space you need. All I need is the coffee table."
"For what?"
He shrugs. "That's where I work."
"You just work on the coffee table?"
Michael laughs. "Yeah. I'm pretty low-maintenance."
I groan. "Great. I'm high maintenance."
"That's not what I said!" Michael defends. "Just relax, Kate, okay? I know you. I know how you are. I'll stay out of your way and I'll be happy to do it."
"But I don't want to be in your way. It's your home."
Michael chuckles. "Let's be honest, Kate. That building was only my home when you lived in it."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," he enunciates the word, "that having you around is what makes that place feel like home. Okay? I hear what you're saying, and I understand why you're worried, but don't be. Because whatever happens, we'll figure it out. We always have."
