Insight (12 page)

Landon bursts out laughing. “Are you kidding me?”

“No.” Why is this so funny? And maybe this is where his fascination ends, and the teasing begins.

“Sorry.” He’s still laughing. “It’s just, I always think about Calvin and Hobbs when I’m her in class ‘cause she’s Hobbs, and then you said something about an orange cat.”

“It wasn’t a tiger. Does that help?” I cross my arms across my chest. Why am I even trying?

“I’m sorry.” He shrugs, still chuckling. “I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere, though.”

“Landon!” His mom waves from next to the house.

“Hey,” he whispers. “Do you think you could act normal?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I kind of want to smack him for that comment.

“It means that you have this ‘screw you’ look plastered all over your face most of the time, and it doesn’t really suit you. I mean, I guess if I saw crap, I’d be like that, too. But you’re too pretty to be scowling all the time.” He looks from me to his house a couple times. “Let’s go meet my mom.”

“I’ve met your mom.” I’m still offended by the ‘screw you look’ comment. Though, I shouldn’t be. It’s actually what I try to do. It just sucks having someone call me on it. Wait.
Pretty
? No one but Mom’s ever called me pretty. My whole chest warms up.

“Yes, but not since you claimed to have this odd little talent.”

Talent? “It’s not a talent
,
and I didn’t
claim
it. Y
ou practically pried it out of me
,
and it doesn’t matter…”
what you think
, is what I want to say, but I can’t. I do care what he thinks. I don’t want to. But I do. He thinks I’m pretty…

“Can you help me with the groceries, please?” she asks as we get closer.

“Sure. Micah and I are bored out of our minds, aren’t we?” He gives me a grin of pure conspiracy and gestures toward his mom.

How am I supposed to touch her without her noticing? I widen my eyes and shake my head at him.

“Here, Micah.” He hands me a large grocery sack, completely unbothered by my reaction to his request. I have no choice but to take it and start toward the house.

He jogs two steps to catch up to me. His mom walks out of the house toward us. As she passes, Landon bumps my shoulder with his. Immediately flashes of our kiss hit me and then I bump into his mom.
Landon’s dad, he hands her something shiny over a table, at a restaurant, a nice one. Her dress is red and crosses in the front. Next picture her back’s against the wall and he’s pressed against her, pulling her legs around his waist. She’s still in her dress, mostly. Passion.

I nearly fall over. Why couldn’t I see a pedicure or something? Landon as a kid?

“Sorry, Mom. My bad.” Landon shrugs. He turns to me. “You, okay?” He’s half laughing at me again.

“Fine.” I redden as I stare at the ground. I don’t want to tell him about that one either.

“So?” He looks at me as we walk inside.

I sigh, and put the bag on the counter of their massive kitchen. “Just so you know, I’m not happy about saying anything.”

He folds his arms, and raises his brows, waiting.

“I saw your dad give her something shiny over the table.”

“Shiny?”

“Jewelry. They were out to dinner, somewhere nice. But the picture was too fast for anything more.” My cheeks get hot at the next picture.

“What?” Again, his smile is mischievous.

“They’re together, after dinner.” I look away from him as I set down the grocery bag. “She’s still in her dress, a red one that looks like it crosses or something in the front
,
and he has her against the wall—”

“Ah, Ah!” He holds his hand between us. “Enough, enough! Those are my parents.” He shakes his body as if the motion will get rid of the picture
he
didn’t have to see.

“Sorry,” I snap.

He raises an eyebrow at me and makes a suggestive smirk. “If this is all some crazy made-up… You’re definitely more than what meets the eye…”

Complete humiliation washes over me, and I walk out of the house. I don’t want him thinking I’m sort of perv or something.

“Thank you, Micah.” Mrs. Michaels smiles as I step around her.

“No, problem.” I try to smile back, but when I look at her all I can see is her husband’s face and their moment together against the wall.
Staring at the ground is much safer.

“Micah!” Landon calls.

I’m walking fast, but he jogs to catch up.

“Wait up!” He touches my shoulder.

I’m thrown into the vision again.

His feelings. The way his hand is on my neck. Our lips come together. T
he boathouse in the background.

I close my eyes
,
and let it wash over me. The moment. The emotions. I take a slow breath in and release. Better. I’m at least not jerking away from him anymore. When I open my eyes, he’s watching me. Our faces are close, not close for a normal person, but definitely close for me.

“You’re killing me here.” His smirk is back. “I don’t know if you’re screwing with me, or if this is all real.” He’s silent for a moment
,
and his shoulders jerk slightly. “I just got a chill, again. No matter what, you’re expert at getting rid of the boredom.”

“Glad I could help.” But I’m not sure that I’m glad.

“Hey Loser!” I see Josh pull up in the driveway in his Jeep. Cameron, Brigitte and Lisa are with him.

“Just a sec!” Landon calls over his shoulder. He looks back at me and leans toward me, lowering his voice and smiling. “We’re not done. I’m going to find a way to make you tell me what you see when you touch me—if you’re not just making it up.”

“Hey.” Brigitte wraps herself around Landon’s back, leaning her head up to look at him. She makes more than one passing glance at me. Apparently I shouldn’t be talking to her sometimes boyfriend.

“Micah, right?” Lisa shifts her weight onto one hip, looking at me.

“Right.” I stuff my hands in my back jean pockets. I don’t know how to talk to these people. Lacey’s friends. Landon’s friends. People.

“Micah, this is Lisa. Lisa
,
this is Micah. If you two shake, you’ll officially meet.” Landon winks.

“I think we’re good.” I narrow my eyes.

“Micah!” Mom waves from the driveway. “I need your help with something!”

“See ya.” I quickly glance around at their small group, lingering too long on Landon’s grin. It’s a group I definitely don’t belong in.

“Come on!” Cameron yells from the Jeep. “Get back in! Let’s get out of here!”

Lisa bumps into me.

Cameron’s shirt is off. His face is above her. She’s scared. Words aren’t coming
. I choke.

Lisa flashes me a dirty look like I was the one who ran into her, not the other way around. Though, I’m sure it’s Landon’s fault. I don’t want to know this.

Mom smiles
as I get closer. “J
ump in
,
honey. I want to take you to dinner.”

I reach out for the side door
,
and Landon appears next to me.

“What?” I’m still exhausted from my
conversation
with Landon
.

“What did you see?” he whispers and raises an eyebrow.

“Do you believe me?” I put my hands on my hips trying to show way more bravery than I feel.

“Tell me.” He leans too close to be in front of my mother and too close to be in front of his friends. I breathe in the smell of him again.

“Keep her away from Cameron. He…” I don’t know how to continue. “She doesn’t want him as close as he wants to be.”

“When?”
His voice sounds urgent, and his face is so close to mine I can feel his warmth
.

“I thought we covered this.” It comes out harsher than it should. “I have no idea.”

I climb in the passenger’s side of my mom’s va
n. The window is rolled down, so
I can hear them talking as Landon jogs to the Jeep.

“What’s with you and Micah?” Brigitte’s frowning, and her body is turned away from him.

“Saving me from boredom which is more than I can say for you assholes.” Landon laughs and jumps into the back in one easy leap. He acts like he’s completely unbothered, which he might be.

“Those your friends?” Mom asks as she starts to back out of the driveway.

I don’t know how to answer. “Just Landon. I don’t know any of them that well.”

“He’s cute,” Mom comments.

“Landon’s a nosy jerk.” I chew hard on my thumbnail.

Mom gives me her best, ‘really?’ look. “But he’s your friend?”

“I don’t know.” I have no idea what Landon and I are.

Maybe all that happened today was that I ended up a distraction for his boredom. I don’t want to hope for more than that, but
suddenly
I do.

TWELVE

Mom and I walk into the pizza restaurant with its deep red and brick walls, and dim lighting, scanning for Ethan. I’m not sure how I feel about eating with Ethan and his two girls, but here
we are.

“Over there.” Mom starts toward the corner, and I follow.

She sits, giving me full view of the four people waiting.

Wait. “Steven? What are you doing here?”

“Wow, that’s quite a welcome.” He’s only half successful in holding in his smile as he pulls out the chair next to him and motions for me to sit.

“No, I’m sorry. I thought you were staying with your uncle.” I sit down, careful not to be too close.

“Ethan’s my uncle,” he says.
“Did that not come up?”

“But he lives in that small apartment.” Steven and Landon’s uncle is in a small apartment?

“His wife kept the house. I figured he’d end up in the house where you and your mother are.” He shrugs as he sits back down.

I open my mouth to say something, but I know Ethan’s how Mom got the job. Ethan could be in the house we’re living in, but he’s in a two-bedroom apartment with Steven and occasionally his daughters. He’s really watching out for her. Mom could definitely do worse. I look down the table at Ethan, and he smiles in return. I try to smile back, but I’m not sure how it comes off. Wow. My eyes catch Steven’s.

“Oh.” He raises his eyebrows in understanding.

“My mom doesn’t know
he gave up that house
. Please don’t say anything.” I lean closer.

“No, no, it’s okay. I won’t say anything.” Now Steven, too, looks between Mom and Ethan. They’re sitting as close as they can and probably doing something really disgustingly sweet like holding hands under the table.

“Thank you.” It won’t ease
my
guilt, but it will help hers.

“So, Micah.” Ethan looks down the table at me. “These are my daughters, Lilly and Kia.”

“Nice to meet you.” The girls are identical. Brown shiny hair that falls just past their shoulders, and they have the same brown eyes as their dad. Both are skinny and in the middle of that awkward fourteen year old stage.

“Hey.” One of them gives me a brief smile.

They both have phones on their laps, probably texting friends. It’s fine. Making nice with two fourteen year-olds isn’t high on my list. Mom’s still sitting as close to Ethan as she can without being obvious or indecent for being in the company of kids, and they look at one another way more than necessary.

“He likes her a lot,” Steven whispers.

“The same goes for her. I’ve never seen my mom like this.” I stick my fork into a slice of pizza. Distraction.

What would happen if they got married? I mean, I guess I’m leaving soon
for college
, but what would it feel like coming home to visit if Mom was with Ethan?

“Is that good? Bad?” He leans forward on the table. Kia and Lilly are still texting across from us, it’s paused by the occasional question from their dad and giggles, nothing else.

“I’m glad to see Mom so happy.” Did I just say too much?

“Good.” He takes another large bite.

But now I’m curious. I haven’t seen that panic/anger/Micah vision from Landon. Maybe it’s gone. Just a bump, and I’d know. But no matter what, I need to brace myself before touching Steven so I don’t react.

I grab my fork in one hand, and re-cross my legs under the table, purposefully bumping his leg with mine.

Panic. Anger. He’s running. Landon’s next to him. I’m way out near the trees, and someone’s near me, but I can’t make out who it is. Only someone tall in dark clothing.

What’s going to
happen
to me? Why is there panic and anger? My heart begins to hammer, and real fear begins to take hold. Now that my other pictures seem to be leveling out—I’m friends with Landon (I think), Mom and Ethan are headed somewhere good (I think), I’ve (maybe) helped Dad with Carol, thi
s is the one dangling thing still
left.