12. Chapter Twelve
Diesel
It’s Sunday and my first professional fight is this Friday.
I do my best to ignore the pre-fight jitters that have already started.
My parents should be here any minute, and I’m chopping bell peppers for tonight’s dinner salad.
Micah’s sitting at the breakfast bar, bent over his latest sketch with single-minded intensity.
Left alone, he’d be there for hours and end up with a backache.
Micah’s been doing more and more for Tiernan and the gym.
Tiernan’s got him handling all of his marketing and social media, but also some PR work for a few of his fighters.
Those same fighters have asked him to work on their social media accounts as well.
It’s paid off, and having that financial strain lifted has been so good for him.
He’s still paying me rent, of course, but I haven’t spent a dime.
I do have some big plans for Christmas, though.
As I finish setting the table, I stop by his chair, rubbing his back to get his attention. That’s where we’re at now. Finally. Where touching him makes him happy, not wary.
He looks up from his sketch, green eyes bright with affection.
“Almost time?” he asks, leaning into my caress.
I kiss the top of his head, breathing in the familiar vanilla scent of his favorite shampoo.
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer and tipping his head up.
I smile as I lean down to give him what he’s so obviously asking for.
In the background, I hear the back door open, but I choose to ignore it.
“Oh, my lovely Morning Glory, looks like we’ve interrupted some afternoon delight.” My dad’s voice booms through the kitchen.
Micah jerks his head back, his cheeks flushed red. Not me.
“You two could knock, you know?” I say with affectionate annoyance. “And who says afternoon delight? Jeez, Pops, just don’t. Like ever again.”
“You know, James, we really should knock. Remember how we were when we first got married,” Mom says with a mischievous grin.
“Oh God! Don’t tell me!” I raise my hand as if to shield myself from any knowledge about their sex lives. Micah is finally smiling, even if it’s a small one, and my parents are just laughing at me.
“Could you please start knocking? I can’t promise you won’t see something you shouldn’t if you don’t knock. I’d just err on the side of caution.”
“Yes, dear.” Mom pats my cheek affectionately. “If only to save poor Micah from embarrassment. You’re really red, dear. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Micah is even redder now, if that’s possible, and ducking his head while refusing to look at my folks.
My mom, of course, goes in for a hug, and seeing him hold it just that little extra bit longer goes straight to my heart.
My parents have embraced Micah as though he’s always been part of our family.
Watching him bloom with their affection has been one of the highlights of us finally being a couple.
After all the hugs have been dished out, we work together to get everything on the table. Sunday dinners have their own established rhythm now with Micah.
“Micah, how’s Corkus doing? Running better since our last tune up?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, he sounds great. No issues this week at all. It’s been so nice not having to worry about him not starting all the time,” Micah says triumphantly. I feel better knowing he won’t break down when he’s by himself in the middle of nowhere.
“Good to hear.” Dad nods with the satisfaction of man who’s fixed something. They’ve been working on Corkus together for the last few weekends. I have some pretty fond memories of working on cars with Dad, so it’s nice to see Micah getting that same experience.
“Well, your dad and I received our tickets today. Front row! We’re just so excited! Micah honey, where will you be sitting? Troy, you did get him a ticket? Didn’t you?” Mom says.
“Of course I did. He’s sitting with the guys from work.
Tiernan bought out an entire section,” I say, pride shining through my voice.
It shocked the hell out of me when I found out.
We’ve always had each other’s back, but it was a gesture I genuinely didn’t expect, and it meant more than I can say in words. I think it was all the casseroles.
My parents ask Micah about his graphic novel.
He proudly displays his latest sketch, and they discuss the storyline and weaponry.
Something my dad knows more about than I realized.
It’s been fun watching them geek out over different kinds of weapons.
Tonight, he’s bright-eyed and animated as he walks them through his latest plot twist. Every so often, he flashes me a smile, wide and happy.
Having Micah in my life is better than anything I could have imagined.
It’s not an easy road sometimes, but it’s always worth it.
Even if the pro thing had never happened, I’d still feel my life was complete as long as Micah is in it.
I’m thankful every day that Pops talked some sense into me before I let this beautiful man slip through my fingers.
I plan on making sure Micah never regrets it either.
The End - for now!