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Faith shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I guess.”
Shayla chuckled. “It’s all right, Faith. Most women react the same way to Micah. I’m used to it.”
“How embarrassing,” Faith muttered, just as their waitress brought them their food. “And he’s obviously gorgeous so I don’t know why I didn’t just admit it.” She cast a furtive glance in the waitress’s direction. All she needed was for her comment to get back to Micah. Faith would be mortified.
Shayla didn’t hesitate to grab her burger and take a big bite of it. She began to fan her mouth. “Yikes. That’s hot.” She looked at Faith and grinned. “Don’t be embarrassed, but please note that Micah is a bit of a lady magnet. He draws them in like flies.”
Faith took a curly fry and popped it into her mouth. She closed her eyes as the flavor hit her tongue. “Mmm. These are delicious.” She shook her head at Shayla. “You don’t have to worry about me falling for Micah. I don’t really date a lot. And I know when someone is out of my league.”
Shayla’s face fell. She reached across the table and touched Faith’s hand. “Faith! Don’t ever say that about yourself. You’re beautiful and funny and warm. There’s nobody in this whole world who’s out of your league, including my brother. That’s a fact.”
“Thanks for the pep talk.” Faith squeezed Shayla’s hand. It felt nice to be supported and lifted up. Other than her parents and her best friend, Lanie, she really hadn’t had anyone in her life to fill that role. Her aunt and uncle had done their best, but at times they had fallen short. Faith hadn’t always received the nurturing and support she’d so desperately needed. Raising Pamela had been a trial in itself for her aunt and uncle! A few of her teachers had built her up, but those relationships had ended once she’d graduated from college.
Her newfound friendship with Shayla was quickly showing her that it might not be too late to form lasting relationships. For so many years Faith had been hiding in plain sight. God was showing her that good things happened when you stepped out on a limb of faith and pushed yourself. Attending Pamela’s engagement party had been a blessing in disguise. Faith took a bite of her burger and savored the taste and texture of the food. Happiness speared through her.
Life was good.
**
Micah sat at the counter and drummed his fingers against the counter top. He impatiently glanced at his watch. He only had about two minutes before he had to head to his photo shoot. He didn’t know why he was sitting here since he had already eaten. Traffic on the highway was bound to be a bit snarled at this time of the afternoon. He really should be in his car and driving away from the Silver Spoon at this very moment.
Get your head in the game! He urged himself. He was getting a very sizeable paycheck for today’s photo shoot, and although a lot of people seemed to think modeling was an easy profession, Micah knew those folks didn’t know what they were talking about. There was a certain skill top models possessed. Not everyone knew how to take a fantastic picture or use the lighting to their advantage. Not everyone had the discipline to work their way up in a cutthroat industry. He needed to be on his A game. His thoughts really should be focused on work.
But instead, his mind was drawn in a different direction. It was all about the woman who was having lunch with his baby sister.
She intrigued him in a way no other woman had done for quite some time. It was a no brainer to ask her out on a date, but he was questioning the wisdom of doing so.
He’d never had a single moment of self-doubt when he’d asked a woman out on a date. It was an odd feeling for him.
He didn’t even know Faith. Not really. Sure she was beautiful and sweet. But she was related to Pamela which was a major downer. Not to mention the fact that she and Shayla seemed to be getting along like two peas in a pod. Micah had been burned before in the past when he’d been reckless enough to date one of Shayla’s friends. He made a face at the memory. It hadn’t ended well. Once things had cooled off between him and Gracelyn she’d bitterly complained to Shayla about him. Their once close friendship had crashed and burned. His sister hadn’t been a happy camper. S
ince then, Micah had vowed to not cross those lines with any of his sister’s friends. So far, it hadn’t been a challenge whatsoever. Until now.
“Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer.” His mother sat down next to him on a stool and leaned in toward him. Her grin was infectious. She smelled like pancakes and frosting, two of Micah’s favorite smells.
His mother jabbed him in the arm. “She seems like a lovely young woman. I can’t believe she’s the young woman from the fire. Her parents were wonderful people. And I suspect she is too.”
Micah locked gazes with his mother. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. Please don’t try to play matchmaker. It never ends well.”
Penelope playfully swatted him. “What do you mean? I’ve found you some wonderful women, Micah. Just because you weren’t ready for a relationship is no reason to blame me.”
Micah chuckled at the defiant look on his mother’s face. “So, speaking of love matches, what’s going on with you and Dad? I know you said you were formally separated, but the two of you seem pretty chummy.”
“We’ve spent over thirty years together as a loving couple. What are we supposed to do? Wage world war three? Or consciously uncouple like that snobby actress and her rock star husband?”
Micah shook his head. These celebrity couples didn’t know the first thing about marriage and commitment. His parents on the other hand were old pros at it. He still couldn’t fathom the idea of them getting a divorce. If they couldn’t make it, who could?
He leaned in and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Just know that I pray for the two of you each and every day. I hope you find your way back to each other.”
“I know you do, sweetie. All of my kids are so loving. How did we get so lucky?”
“By being the best parents on the planet.” Micah stepped down from his stool and hugged his mother. “I have to run. I’m going to be late if I don’t get moving. I don’t want to get stuck in traffic.”
“Don’t be a stranger,” she said. “And drive carefully. There’s always some maniac out there who wants to drive too fast.”
“Will do,” Micah said, knowing his mother had issues about driving and car accidents after losing a brother when she was a teenager. Although she didn’t talk about it often, Micah knew the loss had affected her in unimaginable ways. “Tell dad I said goodbye.”
As Micah moved toward the exit, he made a sudden decision to swing by the table where Shayla and Faith were eating. From the looks of it, the two of them were getting along as if they’d known each other for years.
