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The exact opposite, I think.
Micah wondered what exactly Lucy had told Clara about him and their situation.
“I’ll clean up the mess. Go ahead and talk to him, if you want to,” Clara said.
Lucy grabbed a couple cups of coffee and they both sat in the corner of the café.
“Why are you here?” Lucy asked.
“You know why,” Micah said.
“We were children when we went through the betrothal ceremony. It’s not fair to ask us to honor it. I have plans, none of which include going through a mating ceremony with you or anyone else,” Lucy said.
“You should at least consider it. We get along extremely well. We are great friends, which is the perfect foundation for a good relationship,” Micah said.
“I want more out of life than to just be mated to a friend,” Lucy said. “When I go through the mating ceremony, I want it to be with someone who I have fallen in love with.”
She took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
“I love you dearly, as a friend. Nothing more,” Lucy said. “I value my freedom and my ability to go home to my place and have peace and quiet. I don’t have to worry about anyone else. If I was to go through the mating ceremony with you, then I would be extremely unhappy. That would make both of us unhappy.”
“You know that I would never stop you from going to school or opening your own business.”
Lucy reached out her hand and touched his.
“I know you wouldn’t. But that just isn’t enough for me.”
“The elders and my father are threatening exile if you disobey them,” Micah said. “I would do my best to protect you, but right now, I would have no say in the matter.”
“I figured that would be the case. I would rather be exiled than to be trapped in the prison of being mated to someone who I am not in love with.”
Micah nodded and decided to change the subject. It would do no good to continue to argue with her. It would only aggravate her more.
“Why did you pick Ivy Springs?” he asked.
Lucy visibly relaxed with the question.
“It seemed like a nice enough town. The woman at the Ivy Springs Inn where I am staying said that Clara was looking for help. I don’t want to run completely out of money, so I decided to get a temporary job and just hang out until I can figure out my next step.”
Micah wanted to remind her that she couldn’t stay gone forever, but he decided not to. She already knew that, and he didn’t want to aggravate her.
They talked for a few more minutes about Lucy’s job at the café and how she liked it.
“I’m going to get a room at the same inn as you,” Micah said. “I need a vacation, too, before I assume my duties. We can at least hang out.”
“Sounds good,” Lucy said.
Micah stared at the wall inside of his room.
“I will make her fall in love with me,” he vowed.
He just hoped that he could make it happen.
6
Lucy
“So that is Micah, huh?” Clara asked.
