Finally My Forever (8 page)

Chapter 10

I thought about Micah quite a bit that night after the Bennetts invited me to dinner and I refused, but just as they'd done five years before, thoughts of him faded from my mind as the days went on. They faded even more quickly this time because I was in a different place with my outlook on men and relationships.

Looking back, I could recognize and appreciate that Zeke wasn't my life's love—maybe we weren't even a great match, but losing a boyfriend that way made me skittish about moving forward. I really didn't have much interest in building another relationship right away. In the four years since it happened, I'd purposefully kept myself too busy to even think about it. I finished my degree and teaching certificate quickly, and worked retail the whole time I was in college. In the back of my mind, I always assumed I would marry and start a family one day, but I hadn't even slowed down enough to consider anyone.

Micah's temporary entry into my thoughts was the first time in a long time I'd even thought about a guy in that way. Just the idea of him awakened a giddy feeling that I hadn't even realized I'd been missing. It made me feel good—like maybe I was turning some sort of corner.

That giddy feeling started up again as I drove to the address the Bennetts gave me as the location for the fall festival.

I had no idea what to expect, so I was completely taken aback when I pulled onto the property to find a huge party. There was a gigantic farmhouse front and center with a barn and several other buildings on the property. Some of the land was wooded and some cleared. It was gorgeous, and exponentially bigger than I anticipated.

There was a whole area over to the left that was roped off as a parking lot. A man wearing a safety vest motioned for me to drive down the fourth row of cars. There must have been more than a hundred cars there already. It was a much bigger deal than I expected, and I got nervous and shaky all of a sudden.

I drove down the row he indicated and parked about twenty cars back. I sat in my car for a minute, considering whether or not I wanted to go through with it or just turn right around and leave. I figured since there were so many people there, my chances of seeing Micah were good, but I honestly wasn't prepared for such a big deal, and was almost too nervous to stay.

I wondered how the parking attendant would react to someone who left right away.
Would he stop me and ask if everything was all right, or could I just wave goodbye and drive off?
Funny that the opinion of the parking lot attendant was even a factor. I laughed at myself as I checked the mirror for lip-gloss on my teeth or any other embarrassing things.

I had on a pair of tight fitting jeans with a cranberry colored sweater and a few necklaces. My dark brown hair fell over my shoulders. It was usually quite a bit shorter, but that was because I normally wore it curly. Tonight, I took the time to style it straight, and it seemed much longer. I ran a hand through it, checking for tangles.

Just then, a huge SUV full of kids pulled up and parked in the spot next to mine. Their family got out and began walking toward the farmhouse, which prompted me to stop stalling and do the same.

Several other groups were walking up to the action at the same time as me, and I couldn't help but notice that they were all carrying pots or pans. Obviously, it was some sort of potluck and I was showing up empty handed. My nerves escalated.

I followed everyone to a huge pavilion on the far side of the main house. The majority of the crowd was gathered there, and I knew it was my best shot at finding the Bennetts. The pavilion was full of tables and was packed with people sitting around them and standing up talking.

I should've texted Claire Bennett from the parking lot to let her know I was coming, but I didn't think about it at the time. I settled for walking up looking like a lost lamb.

I stared into the crowd, searching every table for a familiar face. "Carlyyyy!" I heard. It was Thomas's voice yelling out to me like a beacon of hope. I smiled at the sight of him walking toward me with his hands in the air.

"Thomassss!" I said as he approached me. "I didn't know if I'd be able to find you in this crowd," I said, hugging him.

He pulled back and regarded me with an extremely serious expression. I had no idea what he was thinking. "You don't like it?" he asked, seeming concerned.

I smiled. "Oh, no, I like it. I just thought I was lost for a second." He patted my back. "You're not lost. You're right here."

I let out a relieved giggle. "Yes I am," I said.

He touched my hair. "What happened to your hair?"

"I straightened it," I said. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, my mom and Emily straighten their hair too," he said. "I saw that hot thing they clamp on it." He flexed his hand demonstrating the use of a flatiron, which made me giggle.

He drug me over to the table where his parents were sitting with four other people I didn't recognize. They greeted me and told me how happy they were that I could make it before instructing Thomas to bring me to the food area so I could make myself a plate. I started to refuse, but Thomas took me by the hand and began dragging me away immediately.

There was an area at the center of the pavilion with several long buffet tables. Every inch of them was covered with food. I didn't even know where to begin. There were at least thirty different types of soups and chilis in slow cookers and a ton of casseroles. Thomas and I stood in line, and I chose a few options that I hoped wouldn’t end in a mess. I was holding a plate, but Thomas made sure I got a bowl of the tortilla soup their family brought, so my hands ended up completely full.

As if that wasn't enough, he insisted I go to the dessert table. There was a group of girls that looked to be my age standing around it when we approached.

"Who's your friend?" one of them asked Thomas.

He put his arm around my shoulders, almost making me spill the food I was balancing. "This is my best friend, Carly," he said.

The girl who asked smiled so brightly that, for some reason, it seemed fake. Then she stuck out her bottom lip a little, making a pouty face. "I thought
I
was your best friend," she said. She was obviously the ringleader. The other two just watched her, waiting to see what she'd say next.

Thomas got a little shifty at the thought of making her sad. "Carly comes to the Happy House and teaches science class," he said.

"Well, maybe I should come over there and hang out with you guys sometime," she said, with that same sugary sweet smile. "I've been meaning to do that."

The other girls nodded their agreement.

"I'm Gina," she said, holding her hand out for me to shake. This was impossible since I had a bowl in one hand and a plate in the other. I awkwardly extended my elbow in her direction and she scoffed for a split-second before pasting on that huge smile again.

"Carly," I said.

"How do you know the Bennetts?" she asked, shamelessly sizing me up.

I'd gone through high school and college. I knew a mean girl when I saw one; I was just surprised to find one at a church function—especially since she was the first new person I met.

"I volunteer at the Happy House," I said, answering her question. I wanted to add that Thomas had already mentioned that, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and keep it friendly.

"My sister said you want to kiss Micah," I heard Thomas say.

I was stunned at his words and thought for a terrible second he was talking to me, but my head whipped around to see that he was staring straight at Gina."

"Me?" she asked, nervously putting a hand to her chest.

The girls standing next to her giggled and put their hands over their mouths simultaneously like twins.

"Emily said that?" Gina asked looking shocked and appalled. Her cheeks began to turn red and she seemed a little angry.

I figured she might say something rude to Thomas so I said, "She was probably mistaken. Come on Thomas, show me where we should sit to eat."

I turned and started walking off, and Thomas followed, but that didn't stop him from saying, (at full volume) "No she said Gina loves my brother and wanted to kiss him real bad."

"Okay, help me find your parents' table," I whispered, walking away as quickly as my feet could take me.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Gina's face turning bright red. I had to love Thomas. I thought about how she was sizing me up and wondered if her crush on Micah had anything to do with that. I was sure it did.

"So does your brother live in San Antonio now?" I asked as we headed to the table, but were out of earshot of Gina. I figured it was a good time to ask since Micah had just been brought up.

"He lives 1.7 miles from me," Thomas said. "He used to live 82 miles from me, but he moved home after his car wreck."

"Your brother got in a car wreck?" I asked, slowing to a stop in between two random tables.

Thomas nodded, but looked a bit distracted.

"Was he okay?" I asked, not ready to drop it.

"I have some scars, but I survived. Who's asking?" Thomas' face broke into a huge grin and he raised his hands above his head, nearly knocking the soup out of my hand. Maybe it was my nerves that almost made me drop the soup, but either way, it almost fell.

"Micahhh!" Thomas said. He looked at me. "Here's my baby brother right here," he said pointing at the guy who had spoken.

He was sitting at a table that was not anywhere near Claire and Jesse Bennett. I couldn't believe I had asked about him and we were standing only inches away. I instantly glanced around his table to find that he was sitting with a bunch of young people—probably my age or even younger.

I watched as Micah turned to face me. My heart was beating incredibly fast and seconds felt like hours as he faced me and begin taking me in.

Why was I standing their holding a bunch of food like a big dork?

He had changed. He seemed bigger—more masculine. A lot happens to a guy between 19 and 24. They go from being a boy to a man during that time, and the person I saw staring at me was definitely a man. He had the same gorgeous features, but he had filled out. I barely recognized him. His hair was still shaggy, but I could clearly see a scar on the right side of his face that went from his forehead, over the end of his eyebrow, and onto his cheek. It was undeniably handsome on him. I stared at it for a second, wondering if that was from the car accident before letting my eyes meet his. Those piercing green eyes had me feeling weak and shaky.

He was still in his seat, but he turned more fully and stared at me intently. "You look familiar," he said, with the hint of a smile.

Thomas put his hand around my shoulder again, causing my plate to jostle. "This is my best friend, Carly."

Micah smiled and nodded as recognition set in. "Oh, you're the girl who's been teaching science classes at the house, aren't you?"

I nodded.

"I'd stand up to shake your hand, but I can see they're full," he said, gesturing to my plate and bowl. I couldn't believe I was standing here holding a ton of food. What an oinker.

"Thomas tells me all about his science teacher," he said. "I know they really appreciate what you're doing over there."

"I love doing it!" I said smiling. It was the truth. I'd done a total of three classes so far and it was so much fun, I almost felt guilty every time someone made it seemed like I was doing a good deed.

"I'll let you get to your dinner, but it was nice meeting you," he said with a huge smile.

Did he think he was meeting me for the first time? Was I that forgettable?

"I met you a long time ago, but it was nice seeing you again," I said. I smiled and casually started to turn and walk away as if not expecting him to comment on my comment.

"Wait," he said. "We met before?"

I looked down at him again with a smile and nod, and he studied my face. "I thought you looked familiar! Where'd we meet?"

"At the Happy House a long time ago before it opened. You played a show opening for The Miffs that night, and I saw you there too."

A huge smile spread across his perfectly chiseled face. "Oh yeah! You're that same Carly? I had no idea! That's crazy! I didn't even recognize you!"

"You opened for The Miffs?" someone at his table chimed in, and Micah looked that way as they all started joking and laughing.

I already felt awkward enough standing their holding all that food, so I smiled as I turned to walk away again.

"Hey Carly," he said.

I turned to regard him from over my shoulder.

"I'll be over there in a few minutes."

I nodded and smiled as if it was no concern to me.

I was not hungry at all. I managed to pick at my food, but that was only because everyone else at the table had already eaten, and I knew they would notice if I didn't eat at all.

The pavilion was full of round tables, each of them seating six to eight people. We could easily see most of the property from our vantage point, and everyone sitting around my table explained what everything was.