Chapter TenMicahOctober 17October 18
Chapter Ten
Micah
After three days of not texting Fischer and mostly avoiding him outside of necessary work conversations, I am more than a little surprised when my phone lights up with a message from him on Thursday night. Mostly because I figured he was relieved that I wasn’t bugging him anymore.
Fischer: Would you rather have fire powers or water powers?
I sit up, struggling a bit to get out of the blanket burrito I’ve wrapped myself in while I watch Parks and Rec . This is surprising. His other questions at the park were more normal, but this feels like he’s trying to play my game the right way. But why?
Me: Water powers! Next question.
Fischer: Would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
Okay, well, he stole that one from the internet, but at least it’s interesting.
Me: A horse-sized duck sounds terrifying! Especially because I’m afraid of birds already.
Fischer: Why?
Me: Because I got attacked by a goose when I was six and my brother Sam just laughed at me instead of helping!
Fischer: My brother did the same thing to me, only it was a dog that wouldn’t stop humping my leg.
My jaw drops. Fischer has a brother? In fact, this might be the first time he’s ever mentioned family. Honestly, I didn’t even know if he had a family because he seems so alone.
Fischer: Would you rather I give you an apology over text or in person when we go up to the Greenwood Lodge tomorrow?
“Oh,” I say out loud. “Well, that’s unexpected.”
I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised because he’s apologized to me before, but I wasn’t sure he was even aware that he’d hurt my feelings this time around.
I’ve been trying not to dwell on the way he called me out on my flirty nature, but he poked at one of my biggest insecurities.
I’m friendly, and guys seem drawn to that.
But if I had any other qualities worth pursuing, one of them would have stuck around, right?
No one ever seems to see past the surface.
Me: What are you apologizing for, exactly?
Fischer: Multiple things. Right now, for judging your sunshine. You can’t help that people are drawn to you when everything about you is warm and welcoming.
Something bubbles up in my chest, like a little ball of lava spreading heat through me. Is that really how he sees me? I thought for sure he found my perky personality to be my worst feature because it’s so different from his broody self.
I should probably answer his original question.
Me: I don’t need you to apologize, but if you feel like it would be helpful to you, you can save that for tomorrow.
It would probably be easier for him to do it in a text, but I would love to see his expression when he does it.
After a few days of texting me, he was starting to loosen up and have some real expression on his face.
I’m still waiting for a smile, but maybe my strategy was working better than I thought?
One relapse isn’t enough to make my efforts a failure.
Fischer: Is everything ready for tomorrow? I didn’t get a chance to ask you today.
That’s because I was avoiding him when the team made a plan to head to the lodge and make more detailed plans for everything. The renovations are done now, so Fischer said the Ember team should make a trip to see how everything is laid out.
Me: The Ember team is good to go. What about Grant?
I haven’t seen Fischer’s boss since his divorce was finalized on Wednesday morning, which meant Fischer was handling all of the details from the Bradley side.
In case anyone is wondering, it’s really difficult to ignore a man when he takes charge the way Fischer has the last couple of days.
It has me wondering what he did before he started working for Grant because I can definitely picture him running his own business.
Fischer: Grant will be there tomorrow.
It’s not exactly a confirmation that Grant will be helpful at all, but I guess I can’t blame him for being off his game after going through a divorce.
My dad has been through that a couple of times, and it wasn’t easy on him.
When he and my stepmom Carla split up when I was fourteen, Dad was pretty depressed for a few months.
He threw himself into his job and was around even less than he was before.
It wasn’t until he met his current wife, Stella, that he broke out of whatever funk he’d fallen into and started living again.
Maybe that’s what Grant needs. Someone to remind him why love is worth the heartache that might come from it.
Though I’m tempted to ask Fischer more “would you rather” questions, I figure we should both get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Tomorrow is one of our last chances to make sure the reopening goes exactly how we want it to, so we need to be on our game.
After the planning meeting we weren’t invited to on Monday, I’ve had to secretly add things to the plan and cancel other bad ideas, which has made this whole thing a lot more dangerous when it comes to my job.
I’m not nudging anymore; I’m straight up dipping into insubordination and subterfuge.
If Lila finds out what I’m doing before the event happens next week, she might actually fire me this time.
What would I do then? Start all over with another company and waste another two years working my way up?
Me: I’ll see you in the morning. This is our chance to make something great!
Fischer: Goodnight, Micah. Sweet dreams.
Oh. I’ve never gotten a goodnight text from a guy before.
And even though we’re not dating, I still find myself smiling at my phone.
It’s a nice reminder that I’m not crazy for wanting a little effort from a guy.
Just knowing that someone is thinking of me means there’s hope for the male gender.
If a guy who avoids emotion at all costs can bring a smile to my face with a text, surely there’s someone out there who could love me.
***
October 18
When I get to the office the next morning, Grant is already there, and he and Lila are laughing together in her office. It’s been a while since I heard Lila laugh, and I can’t help but grin as I settle at my desk.
Fischer, on the other hand, has the biggest scowl I’ve ever seen, which could explain why it takes me a second to see him in his corner; I was too focused on the happiness coming from my boss’s office.
“Whoa,” I say, cocking my head to the side as if that might lessen his glare. “Are you okay?”
That’s a stupid question. He looks exhausted, and he grimaces when Grant lets out a loud guffaw. “Fine,” he mumbles.
“So those dark circles under your eyes are a good thing?” I’m tempted to give him Lila’s coffee so he can have something to wake him up, but I don’t actually know how he responds to caffeine.
Probably not a good idea to mess with him on an important day like today.
Besides, Lila without coffee can be a bit of a nightmare.
He sighs, softening as he gets to his feet and brings his chair over next to me. “I fell asleep late,” he admits. He points to the daisies sitting on my desk. “New date?”
“Actually, my dad sent me those. It’s his quarterly attempt to convince me to move to Diamond Springs where he lives.
” Not that he ever tries that hard. My dad isn’t really an emotional guy, and though I’m his baby, he knows how much I love being around my Briggs siblings. They’re my only tie to my mom.
“Why don’t you?” Fischer asks.
“Because there are a lot of reasons for me to live here. I love my dad to death, but I like it here.”
Up close, he looks even more tired than he did across the room, to the point where I can’t stop myself from reaching up and touching the delicate skin beneath his eyes. Closing his eyes, he lets out his breath slowly.
“Does that bother you?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You never bother me.”
“Well, that I can’t believe. I bother everyone.”
“Micah.” His long fingers wrap around my wrist, holding my hand close to his face. “You don’t bother the people who matter. Trust me.”
“Price!”
We both jump at Grant’s voice, and Fischer puts some distance between us before looking across the hall toward Lila’s open door. “Yes, Grant?”
“Get What’s-his-name on the phone. I want to make sure everything is ready.”
“Will do.” But Fischer doesn’t reach for his phone. He just sits there for a moment, his hands tucked together in his lap, and it’s almost like he’s counting the seconds. “Everything is confirmed,” he calls eventually. “Anything else you need before we leave?”
“Coffee,” Lila says, using her impatient voice. “If only my silly assistant would show up on time for once instead of frolicking through a field of make-believe daisies.”
I was already halfway out of my seat, her coffee in hand, but I sink back down, feeling dizzy.
A ball of discomfort starts building in my gut, the kind that I can’t will away with some kind of positive thought.
I guess it’s nice to know what she really thinks of me?
No, it’s not nice. It hurts more than I thought it would.
Would she have said that if she knew I was here?
Fischer grabs the coffee out of my hand, looking murderous as he starts to rise.
I grab his arm. “Don’t,” I beg, my voice a mere whisper. “You’ll only make it worse if you say something to her.” He’s absolutely ready to argue, so I press my fingers to his cheek, hoping that’s enough to steady him. “Please, Fischer.” I don’t know him well enough to know what he might do.
Goodness, his eyes look extra dark today. Maybe it’s because he’s tired, or maybe it’s because everything is looking pretty dark right now, but I’m getting lost in those eyes that are watching me with so much empathy and concern.
I know Fischer doesn’t date coworkers, but is he dating someone right now?
I can’t imagine anyone getting this kind of look and ever letting him go.
This is the kind of look heroes give to the women they save.
The kind of look villains give to their origin story lovers.
The kind of look that pierces my very soul because it’s like I can feel every thought sinking into me.
Suddenly Fischer is on his feet, coffee in hand, and he disappears into Lila’s office without a word.
Literally. He says nothing, even though Lila and Grant both mutter something to him.
I’m too overwhelmed with disappointment and confusion that when he comes back out that I have nothing to say either.
He, on the other hand, crouches down in front of my chair and takes both my hands.
“You deserve better,” he says, searching my eyes for something.
I have no idea if he finds what he’s looking for; a moment later, he’s gone again, making his way deeper into the office to grab the two Ember planners who are coming with us.