Chapter 23
Micah Barrett
I grip my guitar, my heart in my throat. Cricket wants to hear my song. The one all about her. I wasn’t going to share it with her, but maybe this is for the best. If I share my song, I don’t have to tell her outright how I’m feeling. I could let the song do it for me.
I sit on the couch next to Cricket, my nerves making my fingers twitch. I can do this. It’s just a song. I sing to Cricket all the time.
She puts a hand on my knee, and I’m acutely aware of the tingling sensation it causes. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” I sling my strap over my head. I hesitate, not wanting to start, but Cricket waits patiently.
I take a deep breath and position my fingers on the frets. “This is… this’s called ‘Right Here.’”
Cricket’s eyebrows rise slightly at the title, but she just nods.
I start with the opening chords, letting the melody fill the space between us. My voice comes out softer than usual when I begin to sing, but as I get lost in the lyrics about my feelings toward her, my voice grows stronger.
I think about our kiss as I sing. How it felt to have her in my arms. How that kiss awakened in me feelings I had always had but hadn’t realized. How she’s been there for me, even when I’m going through hard times. She’s been right here.
When I reach the bridge, the part about looking past what was always there, my voice breaks slightly. I can feel Cricket’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare look at her. Instead, I close my eyes and let the final chorus wash over both of us, the words hanging in the air long after the last chord fades.
The silence stretches between us. I finally open my eyes and look at Cricket, my heart thumping loud in my ears.
She’s staring at me with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted. For a moment, she doesn’t say anything at all.
“Cricket?” My voice comes out rougher than I intended. “Did you… do you understand what the song is about?”
She blinks as if coming back to herself and nods slowly. “Yes,” she whispers. “I understand.”
I set my guitar aside, my hands trembling slightly. “So… what do you think?”
A sad smile crosses her face, and she reaches out to touch my arm gently. “Oh, Micah. I think everything will work out.”
My heart leaps. She understands, and she thinks things will work out between us. Maybe she feels the same way. Maybe I’ve been an idiot for not seeing it sooner.
I lean forward, ready to tell her that I’ve been falling for her, that she’s the most important person in my world, that I want to be more than friends—
“Even though Kiera doesn’t return your feelings,” Cricket continues softly, “that doesn’t mean you won’t find the right woman for you someday. You will, Micah. Someone is going to be so lucky to have you love them the way you love her.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. I feel all the blood drain from my face as the realization crashes over me. She thinks the song is about Kiera. She thinks I’m still hung up on Kiera, who barely knows I exist.
“I—” I should correct her. I should tell her the truth. That every word is about her, that she’s the one I’ve been falling for.
But the gentle sympathy in her expression stops me.
She’s looking at me like I’m her heartbroken best friend who needs comfort, not like someone she could ever see romantically.
If I tell her the truth now, if I explain that the song was actually about her, it might ruin everything between us.
What if she feels awkward around me? What if it makes things weird?
What if I lose the most important friendship I have?
“Yeah,” I hear myself say, my voice hollow. “Maybe you’re right.”
Cricket’s smile grows warmer, more encouraging. “I know I’m right. That song was beautiful, Micah. It was so honest and raw. Whoever you end up with is going to be blown away by how deeply you feel things.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Inside, my chest feels like it’s caving in. She heard every word, every note, every emotion I poured into that song, and she never once considered that it might be about her.
“You should definitely put that on your album,” she continues. “I mean, maybe change some of the lyrics so it’s not so specifically about Kiera, but the melody and the emotion… it’s some of your best work.”
“Thanks,” I manage, picking up my guitar and standing. “I should probably go work on it some more.”
“Micah.” She stands, too, concern flickering across her face. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just stressed, you know?”
She nods, though she still looks worried. “Get some rest. And don’t let the impostor syndrome get to you, okay? You’re incredibly talented.”
“Right. Thanks, Cricket.” I head toward the bedroom, each step feeling heavier than the last.
As I close the door behind me, I lean against it and close my eyes. I just sang my heart out to the woman I’m falling in love with, and she thinks it’s about someone else entirely.
Maybe that tells me everything I need to know.