“Yay!” Eli grabbed a pillow and blanket and flopped on the carpet before the television set, immediately engrossed in the adventures of Scooby-doo, Shaggy, and the gang.
Micah gave Nick a dry look. “An erotic novel?”
“Yeah. Get yourself a hot boyfriend…and the story will write itself.”
Wendy sighed and rolled her eyes at her husband. “It’s for whatever you want, Micah.” She smiled. “It doesn’t have to be a typical journal. You keep talking about wanting to write a book. You can use it for notes if you want. It’s up to you.”
“Thanks.” He caressed the journal. “I really love it. It’s beautiful.”
“And you wanted to get him a strip-o-gram,” she told her husband. “This is whyImake the final decision on gifts.”
“A strip-o-gram?” Micah stared at Nick. “For Christmas?”
“He would’ve been holiday themed.” Nick grinned. “With a little sprig of mistletoe right above his big-”
“All right. Enough,” Wendy cut in. “You are definitely banned from picking out gifts.”
∞∞∞
Eli finally crashed out halfway through his movie and Nick packed him off to bed. Wendy made a fresh pot of coffee and brought Micah a cup of the steaming brew.
“Thanks.” He stood at the window and sipped the hot drink. The winter landscape outside seemed almost mystical, the halogen streetlamps casting a soft amber glow across the snow. “It’s so beautiful here in the winter,” he murmured. “So…serene. You don’t get that in the city.”
Wendy joined him at the window. “So, move here.” She smiled and tipped her cup to her lips. “There’s an empty place down by the park, just a few blocks away. A nice little house with a picket fence and front and back yards. Just the right size for a little family.” She squinted with a smile.
“Uh…huh.” Micah chuckled softly. “Why are you and Nick so determined to get me hitched?”
“Because you have too much to offer to keep it all to yourself.” She rested her hand on the crook of his arm. “I know we’re pushy and relentless, Micah, and we probably shouldn’t be. But we know how good it feels to be in a loving relationship. We just want the same for you.”
“I know.” He kissed her head. “I really don’t mind. I know you have my best interest at heart.” He laughed low. “Well, you do. I think Nick just wants to get me laid.”
Wendy shook her head. “He’s hopeless. But you know he wants you to be happy, and with someone who makes you happy.”
“Yeah.” He slipped an arm around her. “I know.”
Nick returned a few minutes later and Wendy put in a romantic Christmas comedy movie. She sat between the two men on the sofa and patted Micah’s leg. “Take notes.”
“From the movie?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize that these movies are entirely unrealistic, right?” Micah said. “Things don’t play out like that in real life.”
“It isn’tthatunrealistic,” Wendy said. “I could see some of this stuff happening for real.” She smiled up at him. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
“Hm.” Micah smiled and relaxed against the sofa, drank his coffee, and watched the movie. By the time it got to the “unrealistic” true-love-miracle part—his heart was crumpled into an aching ball in his chest and tears misted his eyes.
Whycouldn’t it work that way in real life? A secret part of him wanted desperately to believe it could. But even when he’d been dating, he seemed incapable of connecting with the men he went out with. And some were definitely “boyfriend” material. Yet his heart had remained closed up tight, refusing to let them in. At times, it frightened him that he wouldneverfeel that bond with anyone…and he didn’t know what to do about it. The more he dated, the clearer it became that he wasn’t able to make that connection. So, he just stopped. He hadn’t told Nick and Wendy the reason why he quit trying. They would just insist he hadn’t met “the one” yet and tonotgive up.
But it didn’t feel like that was it—that he just simply hadn’t found the right person. The problem feltdeeperinsidehimself.And he didn’t like to think about it too much because, at times, it nearly brought on panic attacks. Itscaredhim that he might not be capable of falling in love when, in his heart of hearts, he trulywantedto.
“Learn anything?” Wendy squeezed leg, pulling him from his thoughts.
Micah blinked and stared at the credits rolling up the TV screen, a love song playing in the background. “Yeah,” he replied, humoring her. “Tons.”
Nick laughed and hauled himself off the sofa with a grunt and a groan. “God, I sound like an old man.” Nick was Micah’s age—barely scratching thirty. Hardly old enough to be making “old man” sounds, yet Micah noticed a few emitting from himself at times as well.
“There was a lot to take away from the movie,” Wendy persisted.
