Mikey, who stared back.
“Screw it,” Duke spat. “She’s not worth the effort.”
That didn’t need to be said.
Sara let her attention wander to the door. She should probably just get a cab and go back to her bed and a book.
“Hey,” Mikey said a moment later in a deep, soft voice. He sat on a stool and pulled her into his body.
“You don’t have to stick up for me, Mikey,” she muttered, settling between his legs and folding up into his arms. She laid her head on his collarbone, face turned into his neck. “You’re probably tired of that role. I should be stronger. I shouldn’t always need you to… I just shouldn’t always need you.”
“I want you to need me. That’s my job, remember? Your protector. Sweetie, I know you’re hurting. Hell, I can see that you’re hurting. And I get it—trust me, I’ve been there a time or two. You think your heart is being ripped out of your chest, it hurts so much. You’d rather someone just stab you and be done with it. And then there are the low, depressing nights when you lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, certain you’ll never get over it. You are miserable when your friends drag you out, but you’re miserable at home, on your own. You are your own worst enemy, and feel like no one will ever love you again. Am I right?”
Agony welled up in Sara’s chest as a tear overflowed. “Yes,” she whispered.
“You think your life is over—that you’ll never recover. But you do. Time passes, and you remember to live again. You remember to take pleasure in the little things. You stop taking all the great things in your life for granted, and you move on. This is your first heartbreak, so it really sucks. But please, baby, please believe me when I say he is not the last man you will love. And he is nowhere near the last man who will love you. Take this for what it was—a life lesson. Learn from your mistake, and let your heart heal. Let someone else love you.”
Sara took a ragged breath. It sounded so easy, but letting someone else love her meant putting herself out there again. And if it didn’t go right, all her fears would be confirmed. She didn’t want to face any more pain.
She didn’t want to feel at all.
She straightened herself up a little, still wrapped in his arms. She let her face hover alongside his. “This sucks, Mikey. I’m not really in a great place in life right now. I’m the dead body that turns up at a garden party.”
“The dead body… Honey, I don’t think this will come as a shock, but you need to work on your analogies.”
She snorted out a laugh and rested her cheek on his. His arms tightened, drawing her in tight, her front firmly against his chest and groin. His fingers splayed on her back, so hot. His face turned just a fraction, some of his breath mingling with hers.
“Will you be okay?” he whispered. She could feel his lips brush the edges of hers.
Heat filled her. Suddenly she could feel every inch of him—his strong thighs pressed against the outside of her legs. His rock-hard chest, glorious and defined. His large arms, holding her tight, promising safety and security. Her groin throbbed, begging to be entered. Her body pulsed, wanting to be touched. To be loved and desired.
In a flash of panic, she realized her body was reacting to a man, not to her oldest and dearest friend.
Her breath caught as she backed up quickly, peeling herself from his hard body so she could stand on her own. His hands slid to her hips, steadying her for a moment, but after glancing at her face, he let his arms fall to the side.
“I’m okay,” she said in confusion, struggling out from between his legs. “Sorry—my head is not on straight.” She chuckled to ease the awkward situation.
How about that cab?
“I’m just… going through a midlife crisis or something. Before midlife. I need to figure out what I’m doing—”
“Hey,” Mikey said, straightening up next to her. He didn’t pull her in this time. “You’re just in a rut. But don’t worry, I have plenty of shovels—I’ll help you dig out.”
She allowed herself a smile. “Life sucks.”
“Yup. But the suckery is usually better when shared with friends.”
“You read that on a T-shirt?”
“No, but I’ll put it on one if you like. Million-dollar idea.”
“Oh, goodie.