Micah

Chapter 11

Sevyn's POV

     An hour later Micah sat perfectly poised on one of the bar's high stool, his exceptionally long legs stretched all the way to the hardwood floor. Much to her annoyance, her co-workers were still hovering around him firing questions. Micah on the other hand continued to respond to them politely. Her gaze kept returning to his perfectly sculpted face and each time her eyes met his dark gaze she could almost swear a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. His friends were also deeply engaged in conversation with Apryl and Chloé who were pulling out all the tricks in their bags.

With both of his friends occupied and her co-workers fawning over the pair She seized the opportunity to slip away with Micah. Downing the last of her beer she leaned in closer to him before asking,

"Hey, can I speak to you outside for minute?"

"Yeah, sure."  Micah rose from his seat and led the way out of the bar with an easy grace.

Outside was a lot cooler now than it had been when she'd first arrived. The streets buzzed with activity despite it being almost 12:00 in the morning that wasn't very surprising given where they were and the fact that it was a Friday night. The pair walked wordlessly along the damp sidewalk until they found a bench, where Micah sat down and pull her down next to him. Heaviness cloaked the silence that hung in the air between them. She wasn't sure what to say to him. Ghosting someone for a week wasn't exactly the norm. To her genuine surprise he was the first to break the silence.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"For what?" she asked, her confusion evident in the worrisome lines that took up residence between her brows.

"I didn't know she would show up or even try to confront you. We're not an item. She's just someone I used to have sex with, that's all it was and I'm sorry if I didn't try hard enough to make that clear, just please stop being mad at me." He rambled on.

For the second time that night she found herself giggling uncontrollably, this time however could be attributed to the alcohol in her system. Micah's face mirrored her earlier confusion.

"What's so funny?" He asked pinning her with a questioning gaze.

"Micah.."  She started, slipping one of her hands into his. "I wasn't mad at you. I'm sorry if it came off that way."

"You're not?" He asked, her admission had only deepened his state of confusion.
"I don't understand.. if you aren't mad at me then why have you been avoiding me?"

She released his hand. Unsure of how to explain herself.

"It's kinda embarrassing.." she mumbled dryly. Keeping her eyes locked on the 'OPEN' neon sign in the storefront across the street to avoid his probing gaze. Lightening danced across the sky in the horizon.

"Embarrassing?" He queried. "Could you expound on that, please?"
He waited patiently for her explanation.

"I spent so much time going over it in my head, it's crazy to be honest." She let out a frustrated sigh.

"I don't know if what you have to say can be any more crazy than what's been on my mind since I dropped you home that night but I'd like to hear it. In fact I need to hear it because I like you more than I've like anyone in a really long time and for you to give me the cold shoulder for a week that either means our feelings aren't mutual or I'm applying too much pressure. Just be honest with me, we're both adults here."

He had remained remarkably calm and temperate throughout his speech, "Talk to me Sevyn." He urged gently. She was momentarily stunned by his straightforwardness. Most people in his situation wouldn't have even bothered to show up, yet here he was. A man who could easily have just about anyone he wanted was here eloquently putting his feelings out in the open and being patient with her.