Chapter Forty-Three
FORTY-THREE
Micah
I pump my legs faster on the stationary bike in my sister’s workout room. My lungs are on fire, and it feels like my heart is about to burst through my chest.
This is exactly what I need though. I needed to distract myself after writing that post on Scribble Share and hoping that Aidan would read it.
I pump faster and faster until I hit the last hill sprint on my workout. I gasp and ease up on my pace. Beads of sweat stream down my forehead, so I wipe my face with my forearm as I catch my breath. I feel like I’m about to collapse, but it’s better than that restless, broken feeling of missing Aidan.
I stop pedaling and brace my arms against the handles and close my eyes.
I hope he sees the post I wrote this morning after I quit my job. I hope he forgives me. I hope he still loves me.
My stomach sinks. I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I grab my phone from the side pocket of my yoga pants and turn off Do Not Disturb. Seconds later, my phone is blowing up with notifications. When I see all the Scribble Share notifications on my screen, I pull up the app. I scroll through a load of glowing compliments. I start to smile. The readers on this app are so sweet.
But then I see it…
Aidan’s comment on my post. When I read it, my mouth falls open. He loves me too.
Emotion bursts through my chest. I let out a giddy, breathy laugh. And then I squeal, clutching my phone to my chest. And then I think, Why am I standing here freaking out? I should go to him now.
So I do.
* * *
Forty-five minutes later, I’m running into the English department building at East Nashville University. I head to the elevator but see that it’s full.
Everyone frowns at me. Awareness hits when I realize they probably recognize me as the auditor who was trying to put them out of work.
I start to back up, but then Jason says my name.
I stop and scan the crowded elevator, finally spotting his face in the corner. “Micah, what are you doing here?” he asks.
“I, uh, came to see Aidan.”
To my surprise, he smiles. “He’s in his office. Here, come on in. We’ll make room.”
When people start to grumble about not letting me in, I hesitate to step forward, but Jason stops them.
“Micah quit her job, saving all of ours. The least we could give her is a ride,” he says.
Everyone nods and murmurs their agreement. I smile at Jason and tell him thank you, then squeeze into the elevator, apologizing as I bump into people.
The elevator floats to the top floor and skids to a halt. The doors skid open, and I step out.
“Thanks, Jason!” I holler again as I jog out.
“Go get him!” he hollers back.
I run down the hall and turn the corner into Aidan’s office. I step inside his doorway. He looks up from his computer, his eyes wide.
“Micah.” He stands up and runs his gaze up and down my body.
And that’s when I realize how ridiculous I must look. It’s the middle of winter, and I’m wearing yoga pants, a sports bra, and I’m soaked in sweat.
“I look ridiculous, I know,” I say quickly.
He walks toward me, stopping just a couple of feet away from me. Intensity flashes in his gaze as he looks at me. “You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”
My chest squeezes. “I love you, Aidan. And I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I know I’ve said that already in my post on Scribble Share, but I want to say it right now, in front of you, so that you know—”
Aidan grabs me, pulls me against him, and kisses me. I sink into his embrace and moan into his mouth. God, this feels good. He feels so, so good.
When we finally break apart, I’m dizzy. I run my tongue along my bottom lip as I catch my breath.
He cups my cheek in his hand. “Say it again,” he rasps.
I smile. “Which part?”
The corner of his mouth tugs up. “The ‘I love you’ part.”
“I love you. So much.”
Aidan flashes the most beautiful smile. He closes his eyes, like he’s savoring my words. When he opens his eyes, his gaze is bright and raw. “I love you too.”
He kisses me again.
“I can’t believe you quit your job,” he says.
“I didn’t love it. And I was tired of working a job I didn’t love. It didn’t make me happy. You do. And so does writing. I’m going to start looking for a different job. Something that makes me happy. Something that lets me be creative. And I want to try and write a book too.”
He beams. “That’s amazing, Micah. I’m so proud of you for following your dreams.”
I’m giddy at the adoration in his voice, how he builds me up.
We kiss again. It’s not long before our mouths get filthy. I’m clawing at his shirt, trying not to rip it from his body since we’re standing in his office and any of his colleagues could walk in on us.
He breaks our kiss with a soft growl. He steps over to the door, shuts it, and locks it before stepping back over to me and pulling me against him.
I chuckle. “Really? Right now? You’re at work.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “You can use it as inspiration for your next Scribble Share post. Or maybe even your book.”
Smiling, I kiss him. “Brilliant idea.”