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Mick didn’t kiss her. He had wanted to—but he didn’t.
He took a deep breath in and held it in. This was Carly. He’d known her all her life. From the day that she was born—he was there.
I should have left when I had the chance, he thought.
“Carly,” Mick began, “I’m here because I want to be here.”
“No, Mick,” she said. “We can’t.”
He looked deep into her eyes. Can’t what? Was she thinking the same thing as he was? Mick wondered if the feeling was mutual.
The internal dialogue in Mick’s head was loud. It was yelling at him. Screaming. It was supposed to be a good trip—back to a hometown that he’d worked hard to leave, but straight into the arms of a woman he had fallen in love with online. Online, Mick shook his head. It was laughable.
He should have kissed her. Right there and then.
Mick leaned over until his forehead was against hers. He breathed in—deeply. With restraint, he asked, “Why?”
“We just can’t,” Carly sighed and turned away from him.
Mick gritted his teeth. “Tell me about him,” Mick said.
She turned around to face him. “Who?”
“The guy—this Jedi.”
Carly shook her head.
“What do you like about him?” Mick leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.
Carly’s voice quavered. “What’s the point? He didn’t show up.” She walked into the kitchen, and Mick followed. She opened the dishwasher to make sure it was full and looked around to see if there was anything that might have been left out. Not seeing anything, Carly switched it on. A click. A whir. And then the cycle began.
“I’d like to get to know you,” Mick said before she could turn around. And he meant it. He knew her online. He knew her behind the chat sessions and messages they’d exchanged. And it seemed to Mick that they just got each other. But he wanted to know more. Just tell her, he said to himself. But he couldn’t tell her he was NYJedi. They’d made too many promises to each other online. They’d agreed love was blind, just as the name of the dating site they’d both joined. Love is blind. Then why wasn’t it so now?
Carly froze. Mick could tell by her shoulders. The way that she stood—her back to him, she didn’t move.
Mick approached from behind and put his hands on her shoulders. “Turn around,” he whispered.
“I can’t,” Carly said.
“Why not?”
“We can’t.”
“We can.”
Carly turned around to face him. “There’s too much at stake. If it doesn’t work out, we could end up hurting people.”
“I’ve known you since you were born,” he said.
“Exactly. We’ve known each other all our lives. It could go so wrong.”
“Let me get to know you,” Mick said once more, his voice low.
“You don’t even live here, Mick,” Carly said. “And besides, what would everyone say? Your sister, Jenna. She’s a good friend. What are we? Twenty years apart? I’m thirty-two.”
“Eighteen years, but who’s counting?” He was. Mick had counted.
* * *
CARLY TOOK A LONG, deep breath in. How did it get so complicated so quickly? It was supposed to be the Jedi she was falling for. NYJedi was the one supposed to be holding her. Instead, he’d left her dry. But then there’s Mick. Handsome, intelligent, sweep-her-off-her-feet, Mick.
“Mick,” she said softly, “all it takes is one misstep.” She turned around and gathered the used kitchen towels. What are you doing? she scolded herself. What if he’s the one? “I think you should go.”
* * *
SHE’S RIGHT, Mick thought. I should go.
“Bye, Carly.”
He didn’t wait for her to say goodbye. She’d been clear about what she wanted, so Mick turned around and walked away. It was better for everyone involved.