“You’ll survive.” Micah chuckled. “Fathers have been surviving their daughters’ love lives for centuries.”
Nick pointed at him.“You just wait till you have a little princess of your own, my friend. Then you’ll understand my agony.”
It was doubtful Micah would ever have one of his own. If he didn’t start a family soon, it would be too late. At least in his mind. But unless he wanted to be a single parent—and he didnot—then it was kind of difficult to get a family going without his significant other. And their identity remained a mystery to him. He wasn’t entirely convinced they even existed.
“What?”Nick prodded.“I know that look—and that sudden silence. Don’t even think you’re going to get out of having a family. We told you last year; Eli and now, Mary, need cousins.”
“I don’t know why that’smyresponsibility.”
“Because Wendy and I are both only children. We have no siblings to produce the cousins for our kids. So, it falls on you, buddy.”
“Uh-huh.” Micah rolled his eyes, smiling. “Don’t hold your breath.”
“I just might.”
“You’ll turn blue and pass out.”
“I have faith in destiny,”Nick said.“I’ll risk it.”
The man was hopelessly hopeful. Micah adored him for it.
By the time Nick signed off, Micah was nearly finished packing. Mark would be back in the city that evening and spend the night with Micah, so they could leave for the airport first thing in the morning. Mark lived upstate and had been gone for the last few days dealing with some last-minute business before taking off with Micah.
When his suitcases were packed, Micah set them in the closet and went to the kitchen. He sent a text to Mark:‘What’s your ETA?’
Mark replied within minutes:‘One hour.’
‘I’ll start dinner.’Micah sent back.
‘Want me to bring dessert?’
Micah smiled.‘You already are.’
‘LOL. R U Sure I’m sweet enough?’
‘Getting a toothache just thinking about you.’
‘Want me to pick up some toppings?’
Laughing low, Micah replied:‘I’m the topping.’
‘LOL. OK. Sounds good to me. See you soon.’
‘Drive careful. TTYL.’Micah smiled and laid the phone on the counter. It was a shame that he and Mark weren’t destined to fall in love. They truly didsyncwell. Their pact to marry when they were forty was becoming more appealing by the moment. Deep in the back of his mind, he was beginning to wonder if maybe he was overlooking the obvious. He and Mark got along so well. They were compatible in and out of the bedroom. They made each other laugh and had much in common, liked many of the same things. Was there some written rule that “the one” had to be alove at first sightexperience? What if Markwasthe “one” and their love was merely developing at a leisurely pace?
What difference does it make how love finds you—as long as it does?
More and more, he was starting to believe that the whole “thunderbolt” effect was overrated and blown out of proportion. He suspected that its effect on a person was greatly exaggerated. Maybe he should stop buying into the hoopla—and start paying attention to what was right in front of him.
He smiled to himself as he began preparing dinner—suddenly very eager for Mark to arrive.
∞∞∞
“Holy…wow.”Mark lay splayed out on the mangled bed sheets, his lovely body naked and glistening, skin flushed. His chest heaved with ragged breath and he turned his head, grinning at Micah. “I think that was the best so far. Yourenthusiasmwas out of this world.”
Micah sprawled on his stomach, panting into the crumpled pillow, his head reeling. Mark was right—this was the best sex so far. And all because of his renewed outlook on his and Mark’s relationship…and where it might actually be taking them. He hadn’t voiced his thoughts to Mark. For now, they were just supposed to be friends with benefits—no expectations and no obligations. Mark might not see things the same as Micah did, and he didn’t want to ruin what they hadright now.
Maybe during their holiday vacation, he would talk to Mark about what he was feeling and thinking. He didn’t want to jump the gun and end up committing himself to something he later regretted. Micah curbed his enthusiasm and avoided blurting out his inner thoughts, content to simply enjoy this new level of passion he was sharing with Mark.
