I am tempted to thread my fingers through Michael's as we walk down the hall, but the knowledge that this is his family's business stops me. I've consciously avoided thinking about that, but it is a fact that I will have to face eventually. Especially if things continue this way.
"I want to see Dana," Michael says, pulling me towards her office. The tone of reverence and love in his voice is almost inspiring. Michael places his hand on the doorknob without knocking, but I nudge him with my elbow. He might be able to get away with that, but I certainly can't. He rolls his eyes and knocks twice before entering, not waiting for answer.
Dana is at her desk, sitting across from Luke. Michael immediately tenses as their eyes meet, and I will him to relax.
"Hi!" Dana calls, jumping up and walking over to us. Michael hugs her back, but I can see how tense he still is. "I'm glad you two are here," Dana says, tugging on Michael's arm and leading us both to the desk. "We need more opinions on this." She gestures to the desk, where several variations of the same book cover are laid out. Dana launches into an explanation of how we have to pick one, or we can combine elements of each for the final product. I am not really listening, I am more focused on the way that Michael is glaring at Luke and Luke is purposely avoiding eye contact.
"What is he doing here?" Michael spits when Dana is finished.
"He is an important part of this decision making process," Dana rolls her eyes. I wonder how long she has had to deal with this rivalry. Michael just looks away bitterly and I nudge him. Luke gives me an apologetic look which I return, and Michael steps away from me, shaking his head.
As we gather around the table consulting the images, I reach for Michael's hand but he jerks it away. My heart sinks; what little progress we've made seems to be diminished. The task is finished within five minutes, and Luke stands from his chair.
"Kate and I should probably be both be getting back to work," he says. His tone is uncomfortable and I know that it's because of Michael's presence.
"No." The low voice comes from beside me, and I glance over to see Michael giving Luke a look of pure malice. "No," he says again, stepping closer to Luke. "There is no Kate and you," Michael growls.
"Michael," I whisper harshly. He needs to stop, but he shakes me off, his eyes locked with Luke's. They don't even see me in this moment.
"Got it, Lucas?" He raises a challenging eyebrow at Luke. "She is mine," he spits.
Luke gives me a long, full look before rolling his eyes at Michael, turning around, and leaving the room. Michael steps back, reaching his arm out for me. Is he serious? I step away before stepping forward and literally shoving him out of the way.
"Kate, wait," he murmurs, trying to grab me.
"Do not," I hiss at him as I leave the room. How possessive, how inappropriate of him to call me his. In some situations it could have been sweet, but this... I resent being made into a prize in their competition.
I glance over my shoulder to throw Dana an apologetic look; she seems uncomfortable but also like she was partly expecting this. The door swings shut behind me and I turn the corner, intent on taking the elevator to find Luke and apologize, but I nearly collide with him. He was waiting outside.
"I'm sorry," we both say at the same time, and then laugh a little.
"You first," I say.
"I'm sorry," he begins. "I didn't mean for that... Michael is just... he and I don't... Michael is..." He trails off, looking for the right word.
"Michael," I supply. It is the only word that fits. Michael is just... Michael.
Luke laughs. "Yeah," he says. "I'm sorry Kate, you didn't need to get caught up in that."
"Don't apologize, Luke," I place my hand on his shoulder, feeling guilty for his guilt. "That was not your fault."
"Yeah, well. It wasn't yours either. It's not fair for you to get dragged into a war that you never agreed to fight." Luke looks regretful and... exhausted.
I am about to respond before we are interrupted by an angry voice. "Will you just fucking stop?" It's Michael. He is glaring at Luke again, standing just slightly behind me. Luke doesn't respond, he just stares back. "I mean it, Luke, stop. Stop trying to act like you're the hero and I'm the villain here." I admire the way that Luke holds his ground without arguing back, he emanates strength while Michael appears to just be picking a fight.
"Kate," Michael says, turning to me and obviously trying to act like Luke is not there. "Kate, I'm sorry, you know I just get-"
"Michael, stop. We'll talk later." I am dismissing him, and he knows it. But this conversation is far from over.
"Are we... like okay?" He asks.
"Michael," I say through my teeth, glaring at him. "We will talk later."
The next movement happens so fast that I would have missed it if I blinked. Michael reaches for my arm, stepping towards me, and Luke snaps. He lunges forward and pushes Michael away from me, slamming him against the hallway wall.
"Do not touch her," he growls. Michael's eyes are wide with shock for a moment, but never fear. Michael shoves Luke away, advancing towards him. Luke steps to me and tugs on my arm, pulling me behind him as the two men square off in the tiny hallway.
"You do not touch her," Michael fires at Luke, his eyes going wide at the sight of Luke's body shielding mine. I know instinctively that it is unnecessary, that Michael would never hurt me. Not like that.
"I'm trying to keep her safe, she's-" I dodge from around Luke and walk towards Michael, who opens his arms as if I would walk into them. I walk right past him before turning around.
"Neither of you touch me!" I snarl. I throw Michael one more glare before stepping into my office and slamming the door, sliding the deadbolt into place. I wouldn't put it past Michael to get a key and come in anyway, but I will cross that bridge if I ever come to it.
I sink down into my chair, head whirling with the events of the last hour. How does Michael go from hot to cold so quickly? Why does Luke make him tick so much? That was red leaf territory for him. Will I ever know? Will whatever is happening between Michael and I continue long enough for me to uncover that secret?
Michael and I do need to talk. I am not his. Even if I was, technically, officially seeing him, I would not belong to him. And I will not be the prize in a competition between them. How did Luke put it? "It's not fair for you to get dragged into a war that you never agreed to fight."
That may be so, but Michael is a war in and of himself. And I will fight this one.
