Chapter 3
Cricket Jenkins
I walk to my car, clutching my book to my chest. No, that’s not right. I float to my car. River Stone, the actor, talked to me. And he actually liked me. He practically asked me out. I can’t believe it. He even asked for my phone number.
I suddenly panic. What if he doesn’t call? We didn’t exchange numbers, so I can’t get hold of him. What if he decides Micah was too possessive, and he changes his mind?
I turn to glare at Micah. “Why did you do that? You know River was trying to ask me out. Why did you make it weird and invite yourself along?”
Micah snarls like he always does when he’s not getting his way. “You don’t even know this guy. I did it to protect you from making a bad decision. Geesh, Jiminy, he could be a murderer.”
I bust out laughing as I unlock my car. “River Stone is not a murderer. That’s ridiculous.”
Micah puts his tripod in the trunk, and we climb in. I slide my book into the door cubby before I start my car.
Micah scowls at me. “All right. Maybe not murderer, but what if he tries something? I want to make sure he’s a stand-up guy before you go out alone with him.”
My heart warms. Micah wants to protect me. I thought he was just being obnoxious. “That’s actually sweet of you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He fiddles with his camera lens as I pull out of the parking lot. “You’re like the sister I never had. I want to make sure you’re safe.”
My warm feeling turns cold in an instant. Sister. That’s how Micah sees me? Is that why, in all these years, he’s never made a move?
“I could not believe that seagull took off with your glasses. That was insane!”
I switch on my turn signal and change lanes. “I’m so glad River got them for me.”
“You should have seen him take off after that bird.” Micah chuckles. “It was something else.”
My heart warms again. A total stranger did that… for me. “I still can’t believe he turned out to be River Stone.”
“Well, you know you can’t go out with him.”
“Why?”
“Because Cricket and River Stone? Sounds like a nature documentary or a summer camp.”
I make a pft noise and stick out my tongue. “You’re just jealous.”
“Jealous?” His voice cracks. “As if.”
Yeah. I know he’s not jealous. The knife stabs a little deeper into my chest. If only he were jealous. If only Micah saw me as anything other than a sister.
I. Want. To. Die.
I pull into my parent’s driveway and park the car. It’s a three-car garage, but it’s full of my father’s precious Mustangs. He’s got three of them. So I have to park in the driveway.
As Micah and I walk to the door, my phone chimes, and my heart stutters.
Micah’s the only one who ever texts me, but he’s right beside me, his tripod taking up both hands, so I know it’s not from him.
It can’t be from River already… can it? I hold my breath as I fish my phone out of my pocket while trying not to let my book fall.
Hey, is this Cricket? I’m making sure you didn’t give me a fake number.
It’s followed by a squinty-grinning emoji.
I squeal and drop my keys in the grass. “It’s him. He texted me.”
Micah bends down to search for the keys. “Holy buckets, Jiminy. Calm down. He’s just a guy.”
I hug my phone to my chest along with my book. “So now he’s a regular guy? Not a serial killer?”
Micah grunts as he grabs my keys and stands. “Funny.”
I whack his shoulder. “Let me be happy.”
He slides the key into the door lock then turns to me. “Be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Of course I’ll be careful. You’re coming with us, anyway.”
Micah still doesn’t look happy. “Yeah.”
I go down the stairs to the basement with Micah and text River back.
Yes, it’s me.
I send a smiley emoji with it.
Oh, good. I was worried you thought I was a weirdo or something.
I curl up on the couch and bite my lip. I can’t stop smiling.
No, not a weirdo, although Micah did say something about not knowing if you were a murderer.
It’s worse than I thought.
I send him a laughing emoji.
I didn’t think you were a killer. I was highly impressed with how you chased after that seagull to get my glasses. I couldn’t see a thing, of course, but I pictured you as being gallant.
Ooh, gallant. I like that.
Micah plops down next to me and leans over to look at my phone. “What’s he saying?”
I pull it back so he can’t see. “Normal stuff.”
“So he’s cracking dad jokes and feeding you cheesy lines?”
I scoff. “No.”
“Then that’s not normal.”
I shift on the couch, putting my legs over Micah’s lap to further hide my phone screen from him. He starts tapping out some unknown rhythm on my legs with his thumbs. It’s such a Micah thing to do. He’s always got some song in his head that only he can hear.
“Stop being jealous of my new boyfriend.”
Micah chokes on his spit. “Boyfriend? Already?”
I grin at Micah, loving his shocked reaction. I only said it to see what he’d do. He did not disappoint.
“I have a feeling about him. He could be my Mr. Darcy.”
Micah starts rubbing my calves, massaging my muscles. His warm hands on my bare skin send waves of electricity through me. It feels good. Too good. His touch is affecting me more than usual, and I pull my legs away, curling them under me.
“What?” he asks. “I thought you liked that.”
I don’t know what to tell him. “Not right now,” I say as I text River back.
You’re my knight in shining cargo shorts.
Haha. You’re funny. I noticed you were reading a book before that bird so rudely stole your glasses. Can I ask what you were reading?
I was rereading Sense and Sensibility. I was going to watch the movie with Micah, but he had to go film, hence why we were on the beach.
Ah, the Dashwood sisters. A classic. And I like that you use the word hence in regular conversation.
I about swallow my tongue.
You’ve read Sense and Sensibility?
Yes. But it’s not my favorite Jane Austen book.
I hold my breath as I type. What is?
Emma.
I can’t believe River Stone is an Austin fan and not afraid to admit it. And Emma is a great book, but not as good as Pride and Prejudice, and I’m not afraid to pick a fight about it.
You almost had me.
What does that mean?
It means you were almost the perfect man for me. But sadly, I can’t be with someone who can’t see the absolute perfection in Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.
Meh. She’s tolerable.
I laugh out loud at that, and Micah raises his eyebrows so high his forehead disappears.
“What’s he saying?”
“He reads. And not only that, but he also reads Jane Austen books. And he’s funny. I think I’m in love.” That last part slipped out without me thinking.
Micah’s eyes go wide. “Hold on. You can’t be in love. You just met the guy.” Micah jumps up from the couch and starts pacing the floor. “You know nothing about him. I don’t trust this guy. He could be a total jerk. I don’t like this, Jiminy. Not one bit.” He rakes a hand through his hair.
I bust out laughing. “Relax, Micah. I was kidding.”
Micah walks back to me. “Really?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He puts a hand on his chest and exhales. “Good. Because I was seriously worried.”
I grin at him. “I promise not to fall in love until tomorrow.”
He picks up a throw pillow and hits me on the head. “Nerd.”
“Geek,” I say back to him.
It’s a thing we do. He’s the music geek, and I’m the book nerd.
He grins and leans over until he’s only inches from my face. “Let me make sure he’s not a jerk first before you go falling in love. Okay?”
I think it’s sweet that he cares that much. In fact, it’s more care than he usually shows for me, which makes my heart race. That, and he’s really close to me. I don’t know why he’s so close, and it’s making my body all tingly.
“Okay,” I say, suddenly sounding breathless.
Micah smooths my hair back and leans even closer. I have no idea what he’s doing until I feel his warm lips on my forehead.
“Thanks,” he whispers.
My heart stops. Micah’s never kissed me before. Not on the forehead. Not anywhere. It sends my ovaries into shock. What the heck?
Micah goes into the room where he’s been staying and closes the door. I sink into the couch, my entire body melting. Micah kissed me. I want to scream. I want to run around the block five times because my body is so full of energy I feel like bursting.
But as I stare at his bedroom door, I realize he didn’t kiss me because he likes me in that special way. He kissed me like he’d kiss a sister. Like he kisses Skyler. Depression seeps into my bones and I close my eyes. I really need to forget about my crush on Micah. It’s killing me.