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“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
“Go,” Hunter says. “I’ll introduce your lovely girlfriend to the guys.”
Micah gives him a nod and leads me over to a quiet corner of the room. He slips his hands into his pockets and looks around, shifting on his feet. He licks his lips, clears his throat, and runs a hand through his hair, seemingly unable to stand still.
“Congratulations on getting into the academy. That’s amazing.”
He nods and says nothing, but I can’t help but see the pride on his face. It’s a major accomplishment and I’m happy for him.
“Aubrey seems nice.”
He can’t keep the smile off his lips. “She’s amazing.”
“You’re different, Micah.”
“Yeah. She’s … she’s helped me think a lot about my life.”
“I think that’s a good thing. A great thing.”
“Yeah. It’s long overdue.”
His voice grows softer, and we stand in silence for a minute. Whatever he has to say seems to be stuck in his throat.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
He clears his throat and clenches his jaw, seeming to be working up to whatever it is he has to say. I stand back and give him the time and space to get it out.
“Well, the first thing is I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you and my dad,” he says. “I mean it. You guys are good together, and I’ve never seen him as happy as he is with you.”
“That’s a two-way street. I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“That’s good, Harlow. That’s really good.”
“Thanks.”
“So, listen…” He clears his throat again. “What I also wanted to say was that I owe you an apology and?—”
“You don’t have to apologize?—”
“I do. I owe you that much at least,” he says. “I treated you horribly. I was awful to you. I see and understand that now, and I want to say I’m sorry. For everything.”
His voice is slow and halting but rings with sincerity. My heart swells and tears well in my eyes for the thousandth time today, choking me with emotion. Unable to form anything resembling a coherent word, I throw my arms around Micah and pull him into a tight, warm embrace. And just like that, years’ worth of angst and animosity fall away.
“Thank you,” I finally manage to croak out. “That means a lot.”
“It’s the least I could do. But I promise that I’m going to make up for being such an asshole to you and my dad,” he replies.
I take his hand and squeeze it. “I think you already have.”
He smiles and lets out a breath of relief. It’s as if the thousand-pound weight he’s been carrying on his shoulders for so long has been lifted. He seems lighter. Freer. And his smile is easier and more genuine.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s get back to the party. And I want to hear all about Aubrey.”
“She’s changed my life,” he says.
“I can’t wait to hear all about her.”
As we walk over to where Hunter is introducing Aubrey to the rest of his guys, my heart skips a beat in my chest as I watch him interacting with Micah. The wall between them has crumbled. The gap has been bridged. And they finally look like a father and son.
