The Songs in Our Hearts: A Young Adult Romance(49)

“Is everything okay?” I asked, hesitantly, gesturing toward his trailer. Micah gave a curt nod and started up the car.

“We should play hooky the right way. You like pancakes?”





THE HOURS OF THE DAY flew by. After one of the best stacks of pancakes at the Grand-Dine (short of the perfect pancakes my dad makes), Micah and I headed to the mall and wandered around. I tried to dash away my worries of being caught by someone who might know my parents; the last thing I needed was to be in trouble. In my head, I could hear Micah mocking me with his motto: live a little.

The shops were decorated for the fall festivities, which made finding props for our English project easier. Halloween was only a week away. Micah tried on nearly all of the scary masks in the Spencer’s store, and had me in a fit of giggles.

“You look great! A real chick magnet,” I said, pushing a zombie-looking mask into his hand. He yanked the werewolf mask off of his face and took the one I offered.

“Chhharrrliieeee…” he playfully moaned and reached out for my arm. “Chhharrrlliieeee…”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud. The sight of Micah in a zombie mask, moaning and walking around the store, nearly put me to tears.

“If I’m a chick magnet, you have to play along! You can’t be laughing like that,” Micah chuckled, lifting the mask just enough to look at me with a goofy grin.

“That’s okay,” I said, moving toward the exit of the store. Micah set the mask back on the shelf and followed me out. I hadn’t expected to feel his hand grab mine.

“Come on,” he said, tilting his chin in the direction of the golden carousel in the middle of the mall.

“Aren’t we a little too old for this?” I asked, a little disbelief in my tone. He pushed a few quarters into the token machine and rolled his eyes.

“This is called living a little. The safe version. It’s been Charlie-certified.”

“This is for five-year-olds.”

“Exactly. Safe. Charlie-certified.” He pushed a token into my hand and jerked his chin toward the entrance line.

“Come on. Have some fun with me.”

We didn’t wait long in the line, thankfully. Micah and I, and a few other children, climbed onto different styled horses once the attendant allowed us in. Micah chose a horse near mine and winked at me. I leaned my cheek against the cool, metal pole and watched as he interacted with the little kids around us.

“I’m totally going to race you and win,” he teased one of the girls, who was dressed in rainbow colored overalls. She giggled and shook her head.

“Not-uh! My horse is faster!”

The ride started with a jolt, and we all began to bob up and down. I enjoyed the slight breeze the ride created, blowing my hair from my face. This was a better alternative than school, at least for the day. The little girl in front of Micah continued to giggle as he called out, “I’m catching up! I’m catching up!”

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. He was so good with children. Where had he come from? I was sure there weren’t very many guys our age who would entertain random kids on a carousel, let alone get on one with a girl. Micah was special.

The ride eventually came to an end, and the little girl with the colorful overalls gave Micah a thumbs-up as she jumped down from her horse.

“Good riding, little lady,” he said, giving her a high-five before she ran off to her mom. I grinned, basking in the adorable scene that had just unfolded.

“You were staring at me for a bit there. You good?” Micah grinned.

“I’m fine!” I said, trying to look indifferent. Micah tugged his phone from his pocket and let out a deep sigh. “You’re just really good with kids.”

“Yeah, I have a big family on my dad’s side. I don’t see them often, but when I do, there are a lot of little ones. I like to horse around with them.”

“It shows.” I smiled.

“I guess I should get you home before your parents and Josh get there and start questioning your honesty.”

“I do have a reputation to uphold,” I said with a feigned sigh. What reputation?

We walked quietly back out to the car. Micah turned on the radio as he drove me back to my house, winding through the town. The Car’s “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend” played softly in the background.

“Thanks for today,” I said, keeping my gaze on my hands in my lap. I could feel his eyes on me.

“I think I should be thanking you,” he murmured.

“This was fun.”

“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “It was.”

We arrived back at my house with just enough time for me to get inside and change my clothes without being detected by Josh. I started to reach for the door handle when Micah touched my hand. I lifted my gaze to his, unsure of what he was about to say or do next. His eyes were melted chocolate. I could feel the pulsing of my heartbeat in my ears as he eased closer toward me. Was Micah Jacobs going to kiss me? Did I want him to? I was almost sure I did. Micah paused and looked down at my hand, his fingertips brushing over the top of my knuckles.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he murmured and pulled away. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath until I finally felt air emerge from my lips. Hazily, I turned back to the door, and pushed myself from the car.