Chapter Fifty-Nine

Michaela

 

Once inside, Moira hugged me. “I’m so proud of you. That was badass.”

My body vibrated. I’d never liked the adrenalin from conflict. Made me shake. Twisted my gut. Growing up with my mother had exposed me to a ton of it, so I didn’t cry anymore, but I still hated it. Later, I’d be wrung out.

“I hope our voices didn’t wake Matthew.” Concerned, I crossed the house to check on him. His door was still closed. I snuck it open and heard little boy whistle snores.

Thank God.

We were the only people inside, so Marco and Francesca must’ve left without saying goodbye. Didn’t blame them when his mother was in a mood.

“We should grab our purses and coats. Nothing else productive will happen tonight.”

“You don’t think we should wait to hear what they say?”

“I think I should let Gloria cool off before I’m banned from the house.”

We exited the front door.

They stood in the driveway between the house and my car. The garage door was open. He held her hand like she needed an anchor.

“We…” She swallowed like the words were choking her. “We can work something out for this weekend.”

“I’d like that.”

She nodded. Taking my win for what it was worth, I veered toward my Honda.

“Goodnight,” Moira said, following me.

Only once I’d turned onto the main road did my gut release the knot it held.

“Well, that was eventful.”

I laughed. Then couldn’t stop giggling. Stress did weird things to humans.

My phone buzzed in my purse. “Can you look who that is?”

Moira bent over and retrieved it. “Ooo, Lincoln Adams.”

“Put it away!”

“You don’t want to look at a stoplight?”

“Nope.”

“It’s a video, by the way.”

A video? What could he have possibly recorded? “Then I’m definitely watching alone.”

“Will you tell me if it’s sexy?”

“Mo…”

“What, you think Linc the drummer doesn’t sext?” She scoffed.

“Pfft yourself. Despite the stereotype of his job, he’s a gentleman.”

Out of…no, even in bed. He always made me come first.

“But you can’t tell me he doesn’t talk dirty between the sheets,” she argued.

“Like anyone, I imagine, we say what we’re moved to say.”

“Argh, Mic, come on, give me something! I’ve shared about all my boyfriends.”

“Lincoln is not my boyfriend.”

She eye-rolled. “You know what I meant. We talked about losing our virginity. I’m not asking you to betray any confidences, but we’ve been open with each other since we were kids. I gave you your first tampon because you started after me. I helped you shower the first time after your C-section. Since when are we shy about personal stuff?”

It dawned on me that her pushing me to talk about Lincoln was because she felt left out that I was holding back. She was right, of course. We’d had no secrets before Christmas.

“I’m sorry, Mo. It didn’t occur to me until now that my response to your response about him might hurt your feelings. If you hadn’t seen his photo online, I don’t know when I might’ve ever told you what happened, but it’s not because I’m disrespecting our friendship. You know how adamant I’ve been about avoiding men, so all this stuff has been overwhelming.”

She touched my knee. “I was teasing to try to make this fun and lift your mood after the big family drama, but I’m sorry if it’s the wrong timing. Lincoln is a scary thing for your heart, but what you do with him doesn’t have to feel like it between us, okay? I want you to be happy and I think he could give you that, but I’m also here as your sounding board.”

“I know. Have patience with my brain. It’s dealing with a lot.” I shot her a self-deprecating smile. “If I get bitchy, it’s not personal.”

“Wow, aren’t we so grown up these days.”

I laughed. “The maturest.”

“And even though we ate cannolis, this calls for ice cream.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“After you watch what Lincoln sent you.”

I groaned.

Parked at home.

A very long day and I looked forward to turning in tonight. Moira’s steps up the stairs had more spring than mine. At least the laundry was finished before we left for dinner. Once inside, I continued to my room to change into pajamas.

And watch the video in private.

But there was also a text from Mr. Acero: Matthew is yours all Saturday.

Worry-induced tension faded away, filling my chest with warmth in its wake.

My risk was rewarded.

Comfy stuff on, I opened Lincoln’s message.

Of all the things I could’ve imagined, lip-synching to part of Hey Mickey wasn’t one of them! And he went full in—honestly, this might be future blackmail material.

I typed back Was alcohol involved?

Dots appeared, then his reply. Made you laugh.

You did. Whatever inspired that?!

I was with some of the guys tonight and somehow we got on the topic of 80s songs that stick in your head. Blame Mike.

LOL okay.

Jake’s got new material, so we were helping flesh it out.

Cool. Successful collab?

I think so. How was dinner with the in-laws?

Tense.

Sorry.

I said stuff.

???

Long story short, we’re working out something.

You mean Matthew staying over?

Yeah. Soccer doesn’t resume until February.

So you called them out on the bullshit?

Mr. Acero was really sweet. We were having a nice chat until Gloria came in.

Ahhh

Yeah. But knock on wood, this was productive. I don’t like fighting.

Did Matthew hear anything?

No. Asleep, thank God. And we were in the garage. He liked the compass.

Good!

Thank you for the second opinion on its quality.

You’re most welcome, sweetheart.

I settled into my pillows. Talking like this was nice.

Did you just get home? he asked.

Yes. Changed for bed and checked my messages.

Rawr. He included the tiger face emoji.

Behave. I’m supposed to have ice cream with Mo before going to sleep.

Let me have my fantasies. ;)

Long sleeve tee and shorts are not fantasy material.

Michaela, everything you wear is.

Okay perv.

When it comes to you I’ll wear that badge proudly.

Hope you’re not still with ‘some of the guys’.

At home. That video was for you.

What if I uploaded it to the internet?

I followed that with the tongue-to-the-side emoji.

LOL. You won’t.

Why wouldn’t I?

Because everyone would wonder how you got it.

Fair point. Humiliation for small groups only. ;)

“Mic! Did you fall asleep?”

Mo’s calling me.

“Be right there!”

Then goodnight and sweet dreams. I’ll definitely be thinking of you.

Goodnight, Lincoln. Shameless flirt.

Plugged my phone into the charger and left my room.

Mo already had two bowls ready with scoops of chocolate. “What took you so long? Did he send you a fifteen-minute video?”

“No…merely a little joke. We chatted briefly and that’s it. You’re just impatient.”

“Well, yeah, Galavant is on the DVR!”

Which was all we hoped for and more—so funny. Suddenly, I wanted to work in TV.

After face washing, teeth brushing, etcetera, I returned to my room.

A new text waited to be read on my phone since an hour ago.

Though you didn’t give me details, I should’ve congratulated and complimented you on speaking up to your in-laws. I know how hard and uncomfortable that must’ve been and I didn’t want you to go to sleep without knowing you’re fucking amazing. Tell me about it Tuesday!

Smiling, I shook my head. He was a passionate, romantic man, so I didn’t anticipate much patience once we returned to L.A.

Lincoln couldn’t help being Lincoln.

But maybe I didn’t want him to.

If we could keep this light and fun for a while…

I have Matthew on Saturday, I confessed.

!!! Michaela, that’s amazing! The response was instantaneous.

He’ll sleep on my couch, then I’ll drop him off at Mass Sunday morning.

I can’t believe they agreed to that already. You ARE fucking amazing. How did Matthew react to the news?

He was already in bed. I’ll tell him when I call to say goodnight tomorrow if they haven’t told him already. We’ll see a movie. It’s supposed to rain.

If I was with you now, we’d celebrate your win.

I need to sleep soon for work.

You’d sleep very well after I was done. :-P

I laughed at his blatant flirtation. Horndog.

A-WOOOOOO

LOL

I liked what came after the orgasms, too, you know.

Thought men aren’t supposed to be into cuddling.

You’ve never spooned a beautiful naked woman. Or have you?

Oh geeze

He sent two winky emojis.

You’re so dirty!

You love it.

Sure, rockstar.

She shoots me down again… More emojis to sell his pain.

I giggled.

My phone lit up. I clicked to answer before the first ring finished, mindful of my roommate. “What?”

“I’d rather hear your voice,” Lincoln said.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

I slid under the covers, getting more comfortable. “I really do need to sleep soon for work.” Though I liked his voice, too.

“Describe your bedroom for me.”

“Really? Where are you?”

“Sofa. Humor me.”

“It’s nothing special, you know. Like any cheaper apartment room.”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“No.”

“Then orient me.”

“Fine…we’re model tenants. We don’t change anything that would effect getting our security deposit back one day, so the walls are still the same white paint they were on day one. There’s a light fixture in the center of the ceiling. Full-size bed. One small window. One nightstand. No room for a dresser. I had to put organizer stuff in the closet, instead, and other things go under the bed. See? Boring.”

“Michaela…”

I sighed. “I made my headboard. A bed-bed was too expensive, so I got plywood scrap a construction crew was going to throw out and the rest from the fabric store. It’s more comfortable than sitting against the wall.”

“What color is the fabric?”

“It’s unbleached cotton. Like burlap, but lighter? Only $4.25 a yard, but it’s soft enough while still bring durable. Don’t look at the back of the headboard, though. I didn’t have money to finish it like a professional product.”

“Hey, I’m impressed. The only thing I DIY is sewing a button back on a shirt.”

“You cook, at least.”

“True. And maintain my drums until they give out. Speaking of cooking, what do you want for dinner Tuesday night?”

“I haven’t said I’m coming.”

“That’s never in doubt,” he teased, but in that sotto voce tone that made me fluttery.

“Lincoln…”

“Will you just agree already? It’s food and a TV show.”

“I can do that here.”

He groaned. “You’re killin’ me, Michaela.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “Someone has to teach you patience.”

“Is it impatience to go for something I really want?”

“I’m not an achievement.”

“Sweetheart, if you think you’re a trophy for my shelf, you haven’t been paying attention.”

I smiled. “No, I know that’s not it.” Damn, he was good for my self-esteem.
“There’s just a lot on my plate with Harry’s estate and Matthew and the Aceros. I… My therapist described things like this—we’re all trying to keep balls in the air, right? Some of the balls are breakable and some aren’t, with the breakable ones being the absolutely necessary things. The first trick is to recognize the balls that can fall and it’s not catastrophic. The next is to let yourself drop those unbreakable balls occasionally. When you have to. To even let them go. Women tend to try super hard—harder than men—to never let any of those balls drop on the floor.”

“Which kind of ball am I?”

“I don’t know, yet,” I softly replied. “And it makes me anxious.”

“How about I promise you can leave after Agent Carter?”

“Literally food and TV?”

“If I can kiss you goodnight.”

I giggled at his tenacity. “You have a deal. At my car. Not inside your apartment.”

“Don’t trust being alone with me?”

“Nope.”

He laughed, a hearty one. “Thank you for your honesty, Miss Simon.”

“I’ll see you at seven-thirty Tuesday, Mr. Adams.”