Micah lowered his eyes and nodded. “Yeah.”
Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, Mark spoke soft and low. “About what happened at the airport…”
Micah grew still, his body stiffening.
“It’s okay,” Mark whispered. “You don’t have to hide it from me.”
Micah trembled. “Hide what?”
Mark sat in silence for a long moment, holding Micah’s hand. “I saw what happened between you and that man…the way you two looked at each other.” He swallowed. “It was thatmoment, wasn’t it?”
“What moment?” Micah’s voice quaked. “What do you mean?”
“Micah…” Mark reached out and turned Micah’s face toward him. “Isawit happen from whereIwas standing.Anyonelooking would have seen it.”
Micah was shaking inside. He turned his face away as his eyes watered and throat closed. “I don’t know what it was,” he mumbled. “But it wasn’tthat.”
“Don’t be afraid of it,” Mark said gently. “Not everyone gets that moment, that…miracle.”
“Miracle?” Micah looked at him sharply, his emotions suddenly roiling. “Whatmiracle,Mark?” He swallowed hard past the lump in his throat. “It wasn’t a damn miracle. It was a replay of what happened with Ben last year—only worse.For whatever reason, God gets some kind of sick pleasure out offuckingwith me.” His chest heaved with a hard breath that suddenly deflated his fury, leaving him trembling. He looked away and sniffed. “I just want to forget about it,” he whispered shakily. “It wasn’t what it seemed. He was…he was with someone…the same as Ben…and for the second time, I was the butt of some cruel cosmic joke.”
Mark slowly withdrew his hand. “Micah…”
“It’s over.” Micah started the car. “Whatever it was…it’s over. I’m never going to see him again, and it wouldn’t matter anyway because he has someone in his life.” He cleared his throat and looked at Mark, his voice weakening, adopting a quiet plea. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay?”
“Okay,” Mark whispered, soft anguish in his eyes.
Micah wiped his eyes once more, drawing away fresh dampness on his fingers. “I asked you to spend Christmas with me because I wanted to be withyouthis holiday season. And that hasn’t changed. I just want us to have a good time and enjoy ourselves…like we always do.”
Mark smiled small, the anguish holding in his gaze. “I do, too.”
Leaning closer, Micah cupped his head and drew Mark into a deep, tender kiss. “I’m happy just being with you in our own specialfriendshiprelationship.” He kissed him again and withdrew, put the car in gear and backed out of the parking lot.
For the remainder of the short drive to Nick and Wendy’s home, he felt Mark’s eyes on him and knew he didn’t buy into Micah’s bravado…any more than Micah did.
∞∞∞
Nick was across the porch and coming down the steps by the time Micah got the car parked and he and Mark climbed out.
“You’re finally here!” Nick threw his arms around Micah in a fervent hug. “I’ve missed you.”
Micah laughed and crushed him in his embrace. “I missed you, too.” They detached and Micah motion to Mark. “Nick, I’d like you to meet Mark Stein—myblind date.”He smiled. “Mark, this is Nick Mandrake—one half of the relentless pair that set us up.”
The two men shook hands. Mark chuckled. “I can’t say I’m upset about your relentlessness,” he told Nick. “It would have been a real shame if I’d never met Micah.” He flashed Micah a warm smile. “He’s really rather special.”
“Indeed, he is.” Nick hadthatlook in his eye and Micah shook his head, hoping to dispel hismisunderstandingof Mark’s meaning of the wordspecial.
“Are you going to invite us in or what?” Micah smiled. “We’re freezing our rumps off out here.”
Wendy met them at the door and smothered Micah in another hug. “We missed you.” She kissed his cheek and stepped back. “When are you going to give in and just move out here?”
“Someday.” He grinned.
“Not good enough.” She laughed and turned to Mark, started to speak and was disrupted when Eli burst down the short entry hall.
“Uncle Micah!” He leaped into Micah’s arms and hugged his neck. “You’re here!”
“I am.” He hugged the boy hard and kissed his brow.
