Chapter Fifty-Five

Michaela

 

Lincoln paid, as he’d offered. We thanked him, though Moira’s was more enthusiastic.

Back in the car, he told her how to get to his apartment from here.

A ten minute drive. Guess the restaurant really was his local place.

“Where’s your car?” I asked. The green Charger wasn’t in the parking lot.

“It’s at Mikey’s.”

“Oh.”

He squeezed my shoulder. “Thanks for the concern. This neighborhood is alright, but not for leaving a classic unattended for a week. He’s dropping it off later.” We’d parked close to the stairs. He opened the car door. “Thank you for the ride, ladies. This was fun.”

“We’ll have to do it again some time,” Moira replied. I elbowed her.

He stood, then bent his body to pull his luggage off the backseat.

“Walk him to his door!” Mo whispered.

“I don’t need—”

“Go.”

“Fine.” I opened my door. “Um, need a hand?”

He smiled kindly. “I got it.”

“I could open your door for you. With the keys.”

He dug them out of his pocket before picking up his carryon, the garment bag over his shoulder. “Okay.”

Right. Nothing to it. His hands were full and mine weren’t.

I started up the stairs. Felt his eyes on my ass like always.

Weird being back at his apartment building after…everything? Yup.

At his unit, I stuck his house key in the deadbolt. His ring only had four keys on it and two said Dodge. Unlike mine, his lock turned easily and the door swung open.

“There you go.”

Lincoln set his bags inside the threshold, then accepted his outstretched keys on his palm.

“I should be—”

The rest of my words were swallowed by his kiss, his arm pulling me close. Damn my body, but I melted, twining my arms around his neck. How he balanced people-appropriate PDA with sinful promises, I didn’t know, yet I was seconds from offering to strip my clothes off.

He groaned. “If we were alone…”

“Unh.”

He kissed my neck before loosening his grip. “Wanna tell Moira you’ll see her later?”

The mention of her name brought me back to the real world. I stepped back. “I have to go.”

He caressed my cheek with his thumb. “Okay.” I shifted toward the stairs as he moved into his doorway. “Tell me how dinner goes.”

“Bye, Lincoln.”

I hurried back to the car.

“Girrrrllll…”

“Can we just go home?”

“Sure, Mic,” Mo said with glee. “But you’re still giving me details.”

“Can’t I have privacy?”

“After your first sex in ten years? No. It’s my official BFF privilege to know how the hot rockstar made you feel. That kiss was smokin’ and he didn’t even grope you.”

Dropping my head in my hands, I groaned. “You suck.”

“No, but I bet he did.”

“Mo!”

She cackled. I blushed.

It was the worst ride home ever.

“You’re seeing him again, right?” she said as we pulled into our parking space. “Go Tuesday. Wear something cute. Don’t sit home alone again.”

“I’m not jumping into a relationship.” With the trunk lid open, I exited the passenger side to get my stuff.

“You’re already practically in one.”

“The week in Virginia was one thing. L.A. is another.” Good grief, this suitcase was heavy. “Can’t I have enjoyed his company and leave it at that?”

“Sure, if he didn’t look at you with heart eyes.”

“Bedroom eyes are not the same thing.”

“Oh, he wants sex with you again, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”

We started up to our apartment. “If Lincoln has feelings, all the more reason to not see him Tuesday.”

“Why not?”

“Because!”

“Mic.”

“Don’t you think I have enough on my plate right now?” I pulled the suitcases down the hall toward our third-story unit.

“It’s called multi-tasking, honey.”

“He leaves on tour in April.”

She stepped in to unlock our door. “So?” Flipped the light switch to illuminate the living room. The Christmas tree was still in the corner.

“Everyone knows about long-distance relationships.”

“You were doing it with Jonny.” She closed the door after I got my luggage inside.

“I was married.” One case to my room, then the other. I couldn’t pull them both through the hallway at the same time. “We’d been in love for four years. And it was my patriotic duty.”

Our bedrooms mirrored each other. Exact same size. One window each, on the back of the building. Same white walls as when we moved in. We were model tenants. I’d managed to score a small nightstand with mother-of-pearl inlay at a flea market way cheaper than retail. It had two drawers just big enough for a hardback book. A tiny lamp on the top. My headboard was backed to the window and the only change I’d made to an existing feature was to switch the standard window blinds with a blackout shade screwed into the same place.

I’d struggled with sleep for ten years, so I needed all the help I could get without meds.

The carryon got dropped on my blue comforter with the white embroidery first. Bedding from Target. I wouldn’t feel at ease until the valuables from Harry’s were hidden safely away.

“Hey, some boxes will be coming for me this week,” I called to Mo. “Stuff from the house.”

She appeared in my doorway. “How many boxes?”

“Um…several.”

“Where are they going to fit?”

“Figured they’d stack where the tree is now.”

“Okay…” She entered and sidled around my full-size bed. Being nosy.

I dumped dirty clothes into my empty hamper. Toiletries would go back in the bathroom.

Then the big case.

“Ooo, do I see souvenir bags?” Mo squealed.

“Yes, you have a present. Be patient.” I sorted through bags from the amusement park until I found her t-shirt. “Here.”

She bounced in excitement before sticking her hand in. Held the tee up and squealed again. “I love it! Thank you, BFF.” Then ran out of the room, presumably to try it on.

I set aside Matthew and the Acero’s gifts, then dumped more clothes in the hamper.

Hello. “What are you doing there?” Under my clothes was an angel five or six inches tall. She had a gray metal skirt, wire and mother-of-pearl wings, and a golden halo. I’d looked at her on a shelf in one of the gift shops, but decided I’d bought enough stuff already. How…

I snapped a photo and texted it to the only culprit.

You’re welcome 

Sneaky!

Observant.

She’d go on our bookshelf in the living room.

Why? I asked.

Did she make you smile?



You have your answer.

Well, I have to resume unpacking.

I only tucked one surprise in there, promise.

LOL okay.

At me and Mo’s first apartment, there were only communal laundry machines that took quarters. When we graduated to this place, it came with stacked units in the bathroom. Small capacity, but ours. With time before dinner, I started a load. My wardrobe wasn’t so large I could go several days without washing.

“This is really comfortable for a souvenir t-shirt,” Mo said, wearing Paris after trying it on. “Surprisingly soft.”

“I give every shirt the feel test.” After grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, I plopped on the sofa.

“You look tired.” She sat with me and put her feet on our secondhand coffee table.

“It was a very early morning.”

“I’ll put your stuff in the dryer when the washer buzzes. Go nap.”

“I kind of had one on the plane. I don’t want to nap too much and mess up my sleep schedule.”

“Set a timer for fifteen minutes. Your therapist okayed shorties.”

A push off the worn but comfy couch. “I need to finish putting stuff away.”

Like shoving the empty suitcases under my bed.

Setting the gifts by the door so I didn’t forget them.

Putting the nutcracker ornament on the tree so he’d get put away with the rest of the decorations this week.

Order and routine kept me sane.

That was one of the scary parts about Lincoln—I didn’t know where he fit.

Or how.