AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He kisses me once more, steps back and walks out the door. No tension or awkwardness lingers. Just Micah giving me the space I need while fulfilling my request. When the door shuts after him, I take a deep breath and collect myself—physically and mentally. Organize my thoughts on what happened over the last thirty minutes and stash them for later conversation, when we are alone.
I take one last glance in the mirror, brush my hands down my outfit, and head for the door. Each step away from the office weighs heavily. But the moment I hit the main club floor, spot Shelly and Cora on the karaoke stage making asses of themselves to Wreckx-N-Effect’s “Rump Shaker,” I breathe easier.
No eyes dart my direction. No whispers or pointed fingers. Everything is just… normal.
After checking in with the staff, I join Micah at the table with Gavin, Trevor, Erin, Jonas, and Autumn. Cora and Shelly still dominate the karaoke machine while the crowd cheers them on. For a moment, I sit beside Micah and enjoy myself. Enjoy the laughter of the people nearby. Enjoy the ease at being with this group of people and with Micah.
Cora and Shelly skip off the stage when the song ends, park on their stools, and sip their drinks. A fifty-something woman picks up the mic and preps for her song to start. When the intro of the song spills from the club speakers, everyone at the table goes wide eyed. Cora and Shelly set their drinks down and spin to face the woman on stage who breathes heavily into the mic with the intro of “My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas.
“Thought Karaoke Nights at our hangout were great, but this…” Cora points to the stage. “This is gold.”
Micah leans in and kisses my temple. “You good?”
My eyes do another scan of the club, the staff, the group at the table. No one bats an eyelash my way. No one curls their lip or rolls an eye. Life continues to exist around us as if this is normal. As if we are normal. And I have never loved the feeling more.
“Yeah.”
“Peyton!” My gaze darts to Shelly, who all but bounces on her stool. “Hang out with us on Sunday.”
I scan the two tables, take in the other sets of eyes peering my way. Cora leans into Gavin as they both give me a content smile. Jonas wraps his arm around Autumn’s shoulders before they both nod. Trevor and Erin smile my way before she rejoins a conversation with Cora and he looks back at his phone.
How many years did I want this form of acceptance? To have my own people. Yes, I have Reese and love everything he brings to my life. But I always felt like something was missing. I always wanted more. Like dreaming of the big family you never had but wished you did.
Is that what this is? An opportunity at my own family. Maybe.
“I’ll be there.”
Beneath the table, Micah rests a hand on my thigh and squeezes. Our eyes lock and something new passes between us. An unnamed emotion. A flicker. The start of something more.
The start of us.
