The next few days pass rather uneventfully. Michael stays at my apartment both nights, only leaving to change clothes upstairs. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that he actually has his own place—and that it’s right there. He has a unique way of always being around without making me feel smothered; it feels right. It feels natural that we should come home together and spend casual nights in. It crosses my mind that we are technically living together, but I push away the thought with excuses and explanations. I don’t want to admit it, because admitting it would mean that we are moving too fast, and moving too fast means that we will inevitably lose control. But it’s difficult to worry about losing something that you barely even have.
When Tuesday morning rolls around, the weather seems to echo my anxious mood. The sky is gray and overcast, but little splashes of sun peek through. The clouds are moving quickly past each other, as if they are uneasy.
I can tell that Michael is also nervous, but he doesn’t say anything. It will drive him crazy to know that I am involved in something that he can’t be right there during—but his presence would be suspicious. We get ready for work together, Michael surprising me by jumping in the shower while I do my makeup. Slightly shocked, I don’t watch him get in or out, though I can feel him smirking at me as he wraps a towel around his waist.
“You all good there, Katie?” He asks wickedly.
“Stop trying to throw me off my game,” I whine. “I need to be on point today.”
“Sorry,” he says, bending over and kissing me hastily on the cheek before going to get dressed. I shake it off and finish my makeup, noting the way that my hand shakes as I apply mascara. I need to calm down. Like I said, Ashton is harmless. I truly do not believe that he is dangerous, but I am still glad that I will have Calum there just in case.
“How do you know Calum?” I ask Michael on drive to work. We are in his car again, we haven’t taken mine anywhere in several days.
“I don’t really,” Michael shrugs. “Luke does. I mean I guess I do now,” he corrects himself.
“Did he go to high school with you?” I ask.
“Yes,” Michael says. He doesn’t elaborate, but he doesn’t seem closed off about the subject.
“Did you like him in high school?”
“Not really. He was always Luke’s friend, so that meant that he wasn’t my friend. And he was a nerd.”
I laugh a little. “Do you like him now?” I ask.
“He’s alright,” Michael shrugs. “I like him a hell of a lot better than I like Luke.”
“I don’t know,” I tease. “You and Luke seem to really be hitting it off lately.”
Michael snorts. “Nice try, Katie.”
Michael takes a deep breath that matches my own after he pulls into his parking space and turns off the car. He isn’t going into work today, he is back to working from home. Someday I will ask him exactly what he does, but it will not be today. We are both too nervous.
“I’ll walk you in?” He asks. I nod, stepping out of the car. Michael holds the door for me and people smile, wave, and nod to him as we make our way up to my office. Michael is walking too quickly, me not quite able to match his pace. He slams my office door behind him and turns to face me when we are alone.
“I still don’t like this idea,” he says. He seems so nervous that I almost tell him that we’ll just forget about it. But there is nothing for him to be worried about. I step closer to him, placing my hands on each side of his face.
