“Do you believe what Nancy says?”
“Of course not,” I reply instantly.
“Well, then that’s all that really matters,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders.
“You mean, you’re not mad?”
“Mad? No, I’m not mad. I’m a little disappointed that your friend doesn’t trust my intentions towards you, but I’m not mad.” I lean towards him and place a light kiss on his lips, my love ratcheting up a notch for him. “What was that for?”
“Because, you really are amazing,” I tell him, meaning it more than ever.
There would have been a time when I was too embarrassed to say this to him, or to any man, but Michael is changing me, and he is changing me for the better.
“So are you, and you’re going to be an amazing marketing manager,” he says with a smile across his face.
“Thank you.”
“Now all I have to do is win Kim’s acceptance.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to, I want to.” And that right there is why this guy is the one that I am supposed to be with. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am,” I say. No doubts. No objections. No questions whirling around in my mind.
Michael is putting me back together, one day at a time.
Chapter Twelve
Mediation
“Be nice,” I say to Kim as we make our way to the restaurant to meet Michael.
“I will be,” Kim replies as she tries to be convincing.
Tonight Kim, Jeremy and I are having dinner with Michael. It was all Michael’s idea as he wants to get to know Kim better. It has been two days since Kim and I had our argument, and we have rectified that as much as we can. This is the final step to putting whatever bullshit Nancy has fed her to bed.
“Good. You too, Jeremy,” I say as he trails behind both of us.
“Hey, I have no beef with this guy,” Jeremy says.
“No, but you are loyal as hell to Kim, and what she says goes,” I say.
Jeremy is like a puppy dog when it comes to Kim, so if Kim doesn’t like someone then Jeremy usually follows suit. Kim has the decency to remain quiet as she knows that what I am saying is true. Jeremy however appears keen to dispel my theory.
“I do have my own mind, you know? I am capable of choosing whether I like someone or not.” I turn around to look at him and even he doesn’t look entirely convinced by his words.
“Just be cool.”
“I will. Jeez, anyone has got to be better than Tom.”
“Jeremy,” Kim hisses at him.
“What?” Jeremy says.
“That is so inappropriate,” Kim says, hissing her words at him.
“Actually,” I interrupt before they can have one of their regular bickering sessions. “Jeremy’s right, Tom was a dick.”
I face forward, my head held high and stride ahead of them both to enter the restaurant where we are meeting Michael. I know that both of them will be shocked by my words as they witnessed how heartbroken I was to find out that Tom wasn’t my soulmate, but I’ve seen the light and have gained perspective in the last few months. In fact, I feel a little bit stupid for spending so long licking my wounds. Tom wasn’t meant to be my happy ever after, but Michael is certainly looking like he sure as hell is.
My eyes scan the restaurant in search of Michael, but instead they find the person that the three of us were just talking about.
“Lucy,” Tom says, looking shocked to see me.
“Tom,” I say with a slight nod of my head. I have no interest in speaking with him, all I want to do is find Michael and make sure that my friends see the type of man that I have fallen in love with.
Tom’s mouth has dropped open a little and I notice how thin his lips are. I never noticed it before. His red hair is longer than when I last saw him and almost reaching his shoulders. He’s also lost weight. Less pudgy, but far from toned, more sinewy.
Good grief, I spent months pining for this guy, and he doesn’t hold a candle to Michael.
“Kim, Jeremy,” Tom says, acknowledging my friends behind me. I hear Kim murmur something and Jeremy grunts in response. Tom turns his attention back to me.
“How are you?” he asks in a pitiful tone.
“I’m great thanks, Tom,” I reply, a genuine smile on my face.
He is clearly shocked at my response if his wide eyes and dropped jaw are anything to go by. I don’t ask how he is because I honestly don’t care, and I don’t want to drag this conversation out any longer than is necessary.
“You’re looking good,” he says as he rakes his eyes up and down me. I fidget slightly as I feel uncomfortable. I chose to wear a little black halter-neck dress that is cut to just above the knee. Teamed with my black heels and lace cardigan, I thought that I looked pretty good, but Tom is making me feel icky.
“Thanks,” I say awkwardly.
“So––”
“Hey,” Michael says as he comes from behind Tom and places a kiss on my cheek, interrupting whatever Tom was about to say.
“Hey,” I answer, smiling up at him.
“Wow, you look amazing,” Michael says as his eyes drink in my attire. His words elicit an altogether different reaction from me than Tom’s did. I feel sexy when Michael says it, not dirty and cheap.
Michael turns his head to register Tom stood in front of me. “Who’s this?” he asks me.
“Michael, this is Tom.” I don’t need to expand on who Tom is, Michael knows all about him.
“Oh.” Michael’s easy manner is replaced by tension as he turns his full body towards Tom, placing me behind him. It’s like he is protecting me, and I would expect nothing less from him.
“Hi,” Tom says as he holds his hand out to Michael. I can see the two of them sizing each other up, but Michael has no need to. He’s firmly in my heart, and firmly packing way more appeal than Tom.
“Hello,” Michael says, but he makes no attempt to shake Tom’s out-stretched hand.
“Uh, shall we go and sit at our table,” Kim chimes in from behind me, and I have never been so glad of her interrupting something.
“Yes, let’s go,” I say as I place my hand in Michael’s. My touch seems to bring Michael back to reality as he turns to look at me and smiles. Tom’s eyes drop to mine and Michael’s hands, and he looks momentarily stunned.
“Oh, are you two…” Tom’s voice trails off, almost as if he wasn’t supposed to say that out loud.
“Not that it is any of your business, but yes, I am with Michael now,” I say, feeling more confident than ever before.
“Oh, right.” Tom runs one of his hands through his hair, a move that I used to think was cute but now evokes no reaction in me whatsoever.
“Um, well, you’re a lucky guy,” Tom says to Michael.
“Yes, I am,” Michael retorts. “And you’re the daft prick that let her go.” I hear Kim struggle to contain her laughter behind me. “But then again, if you hadn’t been a daft prick, I may never have had the chance to be with her, so maybe I should be thanking you for not being able to keep your dick in your pants.”