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But I was already in motion, standing and knowing I needed to change. The offending ball was at my feet so I gave it a kick—my own temper making my foot wet. I had to smile. My soaking wet, shirtless brother came to me with open arms, and I went ahead and hugged him since I was drenched, anyway.
"I'm sorry," he said. "He didn't mean to do it."
"I know," I said.
Micah came toward me with a towel. And I leaned over so I could take it from him. "Thank you," I said, looking at him.
"I'll go inside and get you a dry shirt," he said. Our eyes met when he said that. His eyes were light blue with darker edges, and I stared at the color. I had noticed them before, but not like tonight. I blinked and looked away, and the comment about lying in his songs replayed in my mind. I wondered what he meant by it.
"I'm coming with you," I said, following him. "We'll be right back," I said to everyone else.
"I'm sorry, Claire," my brother's friend, Cody, came up to me with his arms open wide like he was coming in for a hug. I had the towel in front of my chest, and I reached out for a one-armed hug.
"It's fine," I said.
"Just come swimming with us," he said, pulling my arm as we let go.
"She's going inside to change," Micah said.
"Yeah, I’m not up for swimming," I agreed. "Thanks though, Cody. We'll be right back."
I turned with Micah and started walking into his house. I scanned the backside of his body as he led me inside. He wasn't a bodybuilder or anything, but he had been working out, and he was a substantial man now. He had been that way for years, so I didn't understand why I was noticing tonight. I couldn't help it. He was irresistible. It was like my eyes were open to him in a different way. I told myself that maybe it was because I was hurt by Jake and I needed positive male attention.
"I need another long sleeve shirt," I said to Micah at the thought.
He looked at me with a curious expression when I said that. "Why?" he said.
"Because," I replied.
Micah knew me better than just about anyone. He could tell instantly that I was hiding something, and his curious expression intensified.
"I just want a long sleeve shirt."
He stopped in the middle of his kitchen and tilted his head at me. "Why, Claire?"
I knew better than to try to lie to him. He could see straight through me. I took off walking again, toward his bedroom, because I knew that was where we were headed.
"Jake grabbed my arm earlier and it left a mark. It's no big deal, I just don't want anyone noticing. Which really sucks, because I had a pretty blue dress that I was going to wear tomorrow, and I'm not going to be able to. At least they're not doing bridesmaids and all that. I can just switch my outfit."
I was planning on saying more, but I realized Micah wasn't with me. He had stopped walking. I stopped in my tracks and looked back at him. He stood there, looking stunned.
"What did you say?" he asked, shaking his head a little like he couldn't possibly have heard me correctly.
"That I need a long sleeve shirt."
"I heard that, but why do you need it. Did you say that dudehurtyou?" He was squinting at me like I couldn't have possibly said that.
"He squeezed my arm and it left a mark, Micah, and that's why I broke up with him."
"Let me see it," he said. He had a fierce look in his eyes, and I smiled at him.
"It's nothing," I said.
"Please let me see your arm, Claire."
I glanced outside to make sure no one was paying attention to us, but I couldn't see anyone from where we were standing. I pushed up my sleeve and held out my forearm. There was a longer red mark on the front of my arm. It was lighter and less noticeable than the underside, so I flashed that at him.
"It's not that big of a deal," I said, trying to make light of things.
