Page 56 of Fall
Micah leans over and whispers in my ear, “You have no idea how good it feels to hear you laugh.”
I cringe at the goosebumps running across my skin and inch closer to the wall, refusing to look at him. I’m sour that he’s even sitting next to me. The fucker decided that it didn’t matter that I told him no when he asked to sit here. So he placed both hands on the side of my leg and slid me across the bench just far enough to fit his ass.
Celeste places both of her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands. “So, when did you guys become a thing?”
My head snaps in her direction, and I kick her under the table.
“Ow, asshole!” She grunts, leaning over to rub her leg. “I deserve to know.”
“There’s nothing to know. We’re NOT a thing,” I grind out, the tension extending beyond my jaw to every bone in my body.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Micah and Taylor both grinning like the Cheshire fucking cat. My chin follows my eyes as I stare at Micah, sending him invisible daggers. I contemplate if stabbing him would get the message across.
“We. Are. Not. A thing,” I repeat for emphasis, but his jewel eyes continue to glow with humor.
“Sure, Angel. Not a thing. Do you want to order, or should I? I’m starving.”
My nostrils flare, and my eyes narrow. “I am perfectly capable of ordering my own food.” My anger seeps through my skin as I continue to stare at him. “I’m not fucking kidding. Not a thing.”
I turn to look at the menu and do my best to shut him out.
After the waitress takes our orders, the conversation at the table turns from jovial to serious, and a wave of apprehension runs over me.
“Angel…” Micah starts. “I know you didn’t shoot me. That part was Ryan. But I also remember every moment and every word from that day. You have to know that I trust you, but I need to know… What deal?”
I momentarily close my eyes and let out a deep breath. It isn’t a completely unrealistic question, and it’s one that I was hoping I could avoid with him.
“What? Your brothers didn’t tell you?” I eye Taylor for confirmation on whether or not he’s told Micah anything, but he just shrugs.
“I want to hear it from you,” Micah says in response.
I had nothing to do with him getting hurt, and it shouldn’t matter, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to tell him.
Jesus, I’m a fucking conundrum.
I take another breath, shutting down the internal debate on what to say next, and make the decision to just give him the truth.
“Ryan and his friends met with the Reaper’s boss during spring break to negotiate a deal. That deal included taking the Knights down and making them direct business partners.”
Micah rubs his chin, considering my words.
“Okay... But… How are you involved?” he questions.
For the first time since seeing him in the hallway, I look him directly in his eyes. “Because the deal is in my name.”
Hurt flashes in his eyes before he shakes his head and looks around the bar before landing back on me. “Why?” His voice is barely a whisper.
“I went with them, Micah. I didn’t know what they were doing until it was too late.” I lower my eyes, not wanting to see the pain in his. “He wouldn’t do business with them unless it was through me.”
There’s a pregnant pause so loud I could hear a pin drop despite the fact that we’re at The Brewery.
“So you made the deal?” Micah whispers the question to himself rather than asking it.
“I didn’t care to hear the specifics. My only stipulation was that no one was to die. I didn’t want to be there. And the only way I could leave was to agree to the deal.”
Micah huffs. “Right. So you agreed to hurt us without bothering with the details. Got it. We hurt you so…”
“Micah—” I begin to explain, but he doesn’t let me.