Micah buried his head under the pillow, knowing Julian would take care of things. As kids, his brothers had seen him go through this many times. Julian knew he’d be back to normal in a day or two.
As he finally gave in to the pain, Micah hoped that Julian could get through to Xander, do what he himself had failed to do: straighten Xander’s ass out for good.
Tessa was getting her morning coffee when she noticed she had a text from Micah. For some reason, he must have left early this morning and hadn’t returned yet.
She used a finger to open the text as she took her first sip of coffee.
Micah: Now isn’t a good time to be with you. Maybe in the future. I’m sorry.
After reading it three times, she still didn’t know what to make of the message. Obviously, he’d decided to back off, and even though she’d told herself she wouldn’t be sad when he left, her heart shattered.
I knew it wasn’t forever. I knew he’d have to go.
The sound of a plane taking off from the airport was the final stab to her heart. Amesport didn’t do commercial flights, so it had to be a private plane, and there weren’t many of those in her town. In fact, the airport had been pretty much closed until Grady Sinclair had decided to make his permanent home in Amesport and brought his big private jet along with him. Eventually, the rest of the brothers had moved here, and private aircraft came along with them, too.
Most people in Amesport knew when a Sinclair was leaving or returning, since they were about the only ones who really used the airstrip outside of town.
Tessa finished her coffee, trying not to shed a tear. Keeping with her routine, she did her morning run and then headed to the arena. She ran through her routine several times, but her heart ached that, for once, Micah wasn’t there on the sidelines to cheer her on or let her know if she was off time with her music with the silly little gestures they’d made up for each scenario.
She didn’t arrive home until dinnertime, and the house seemed eerily empty. It was her fault. She’d allowed herself to get way too attached to Micah, and everything seemed grim without him here to laugh with her, talk to her, touch her, and make her feel like she was part of a couple instead of terribly alone and isolated.
As she tossed a frozen dinner in the microwave, she noticed that a message had popped up on her phone again, but she didn’t recognize the number.
Did you get my message this morning?
The only text she’d gotten was from Micah, and this number wasn’t his. She typed back cautiously.
Who is this?
It took a few minutes for the sender to reply.
Julian Sinclair. I don’t think Micah wanted me to tell you anything, but he hasn’t called me and I’m getting a little worried. My cousins are all off the Peninsula today, and I need somebody to check on Micah. I don’t suppose you’re near that area right now?
Micah? He was still here?
Where was Julian? Where was Micah? The two of them texted back and forth for a few minutes before she got the information she needed. Micah was at Jared’s guesthouse, sick. Julian was in California because Xander had overdosed, and it had been a hurried text from Julian that she’d gotten this morning from Micah’s phone. Julian had scribbled down her number in case he needed it, utilizing her now because none of his relatives were available.
It hadn’t been Micah blowing her off. It had been Julian trying to tell her that Micah had to stay home with a migraine headache, that he couldn’t make it back to her today.
Her fingers flew as she texted back to Julian again.
I’ll go. How is Xander?
She got a response a few moments later.
X is ornery as hell, but okay for now. Thanks for checking. Micah never has asked for help when he needed it. But I’d feel better if somebody was there. His migraines can get pretty bad.
Tessa gathered her things, wanting to get to the Peninsula as soon as possible.
I’m on my way. I’ll take care of Micah. I promise.
Julian sent his thanks, and a vow to let her know any new information on Xander when he got it. She stuffed her phone in her purse and made her little economy vehicle get to the Peninsula as quickly as possible, driving faster than she’d gone even as a lead-footed teenager, in an effort to get to Micah.
The door was locked when she reached Jared’s guesthouse, but she had a key, and she felt no remorse for using it when she wasn’t working. Since darkness was beginning to fall, she flipped on some lights in the living room and kitchen, getting a glass of ice water, a cool cloth, and some crackers from the cupboard before creeping quietly to the door of the bedroom where Micah slept.
She knew the house, knew what bedroom Micah had used when he stayed here. She cleaned these houses, and she was familiar with all of the guest homes.
Cautiously, she pushed open the door, seeing Micah on the bed moving restlessly. She went and pulled the curtains as tightly closed as possible, feeling guilty that she hadn’t been there before dusk to try to help him. Once the remaining sunlight was completely blocked, she put the items she’d gathered on the bedside table and lightly put her hand on Micah’s forehead.
His skin was wet and clammy, his body covered in sweat. Slowly, she lowered the pillow from his head and placed the cool cloth across his forehead.
Micah startled and turned on the dim bedside lamp on his nightstand.
“Tessa?” he hissed in a low voice, his eyes puffy and red as he looked at her, seeming confused.
“Yes,” she whispered quietly. “Lie still. Do you need more medication?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t get up to take it. I think Julian left it in the bathroom.”