Page 47 of Risky Little Affair
Micah
Coffee.
That was my original plan.
When I got a text from an unknown number, who I later figured out was Piper, telling me that Lex didn’t sleep last night and I should take her for coffee, I jumped at the chance. Literally. I bounced off the couch, showered, and was in my car on my way to her dorm in less than fifteen minutes.
Had I known Piper had an ulterior motive—me stealing her away for the night—I would have at least cleaned up the apartment a little before I left. Not that it was a mess. Dec and I are good about picking up after ourselves; loading the dishes directly into the dishwasher and taking out the garbage as soon as it’s full. However, my room is another story.
Dirty clothes litter the floor.
There are empty water bottles on my nightstand.
The covers of my bed are half hanging off the mattress.
Lex wasn’t the only one who didn’t sleep well last night. I tossed and turned most of the night. Waiting for her to reply to my messages. Wondering if she was okay. Wanting to talk to her. To see her.
Our conversation didn’t sit well with me. I held her for over an hour, neither of us saying a word. It wasn’t until Piper showed up to whisk her away to Lo and Kendall’s apartment that I finally released the hold I had on her. The expression on her face as they drove away is when it dawned on me that she had only given me the highlights of her life, which made me worry about her even more. About what she wasn’t telling me.
More than anything, it made me worry about us. About her giving up on us.
Her voice had been filled with sorrow and defeat. She didn’t want me to feel bad for her. To pity her. But I couldn’t help it. No one should grow up feeling unloved. Feeling like a burden.
Especially someone as amazing as Lex. It explained why her scholarship was so important to her. I wish she would realize she didn’t have to choose between our relationship and graduating. Surviving. Excelling. She can have it all. I understand she needs time to study. I would never want to do anything to hinder her progress.
Which is why, even after our conversation, I still don’t get why she’s so freaked out that she’s going to lose everything. I’d never let that happen. I’ll walk away if I have to. If it meant she needed me to.
Not that that’s what I want. Hell, it’s the last thing I want to happen. The last choice I want to have to make. But if I was forced to choose, Lex getting her degree is not something I would stand in the way of.
She has to know that, right?
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask for the seventh time as we pull into my assigned parking spot.
Yes, seventh. I counted. Because each time I got a different answer.
Fine. Good. Great. Okay. Yes. Peachy.
“If you keep asking me that you’re not going to like the answer,” she threatens, her voice lacking any kind of humor.
Message read loud and clear.
Time for a change of topics. Grabbing both the laundry baskets from my backseat, I ask, “What do you want for dinner then?”
“How about I cook since you’re letting me use your washer?” she suggests.
“Or you could let me make you dinner while you relax and study. I know there’s a reason you brought your books.”
Letting out a sigh, she nods her head in agreement as she silently waits for the elevator to arrive.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I continue as soon as we reach my floor. “I’ll order pizza so neither of us have to cook and help you study while we wait. We’ll watch a movie while we eat, and then I’ll help you study some more after. Sound good?”
“You don’t have to help me study, Micah. I know that’s not exciting.”
“You’ve never studied with me,” I reply, wiggling my eyebrows at her as we reach my floor.
If I have to study, I’m going to make it fun, and the best kind of fun is when you’re naked.
“I have a strange feeling you’re going to be more of a distraction than anything.”