The Forever of Ella and Micha

the conversation to one-word sentences?”
    My shoulders unstiffen and my lips loosen to a tiny smile. “I’m sorry… about everything.”
    “You don’t have to be sorry.” His intense gaze penetrates me as he sucks his lip ring between his teeth. “Stuff happens, right?”
    He’s different—happier. What has he been up to for the last couple weeks?
    Edging around him, I drop down into a chair in the seating area near the computer station.
    I start with a simple question. “How are things going with the band?”
    He sits down in the chair across from mine, so we’re facing each other, our knees barely inches away. “They’re doing well I guess, but don’t know… I think I might try to do some stuff on my own.”
    “But I thought you were happy with being on the road,” I say. “And I thought you liked your band.”
    “Not really.” He inclines forward and relaxes his arms on his knees. “Honestly, I’m not sure if I was ever happy with the situation. Dylan’s freaking annoying and Chase barely talks. And Naomi, well she’s getting on my nerves.”
    My thoughts drift to his lip ring and my mouth salivates to taste it. “Then why were you on the road with them for so long?”
    His gaze flicks to my lips and hunger flashes in his aqua eyes. “Because I love to play and they were my ticket in, but I hate being on the road all the time.”
    I tuck my hands underneath my legs to keep from reaching over and running my fingers along his lips. “Where will you go? Back to Star Grove?”
    He shakes his head. “No way. I have a couple ideas, but I have to run it past a few people first.”
    The way he says “people” makes me wonder if they’re important to him. My mind races with the idea that he’s met someone else. It’s been only a couple weeks since I crushed his heart, but Micha is amazing and most girls see that.
    “You’ll have to let me know where you end up.” I gently bump my knee into his and fake a smile. “I just might come visit you.”
    He lets out a quiet laugh, but his gaze is relentless. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”
    He seems so happy and I don’t want to ruin it for him.
    “No, not really, other than I’m starving.” I get to my feet, tugging down the bottom of my shirt. “Lila said she was buying dinner.”
    He offers me his elbow. “Then to dinner it is.”
    I loop my arm through his and we head toward the door, side by side, just like we used to do when we were friends.

Chapter 7
Micha
    I’m not sure I’ll ever fully understand what goes on in that head of hers. I gave her the perfect opportunity to tell me she never cheated and she totally dodged it. But in her eyes, she probably thinks that I’ll move on.
    Maybe it’s time, but how am I supposed to move on from the one person I know I’m supposed to be with?
    “Dude, I can’t pronounce a single thing on this menu.” Ethan runs his fingers along the list of appetizers, blinking his eyes. “Are these prices in US dollars?
Fuck
.”
    A stuck-up-looking couple point their noses up in our direction. The restaurant seems overdone, with the trimming in gold, small chandeliers hanging over the top of each table, and silverware more shiny than the sun. It kind of reminds me of my dad’s house. And I haven’t seen or heard from him since our awkward meeting in New York.
    Ella shuts her menu and tosses it into the center of the table, looking at Lila with an entertained expression as she bats her long eyelashes. “Oh Lila Dila, I think you might have to order for us common folks, who can’t read French.”
    Ethan and I shut our menus and toss them into the middle of the table, agreeing with her.
    Lila sighs and tosses the menu on top of the stack. “Do you guys want to bail and walk to the Applebees I saw on the corner?”
    “Yes,” Ethan, Ella, and I all say at the same time.
    We leave the table in a hurry, before the waiter can come back and try to bill us for the rolls and drinks. We cause a scene as we dash out of the stuffy restaurant laughing our asses off. It’s Friday and the sidewalk is as crowded as the traffic on the street. Lights dance across our faces and there’s excitement buzzing in the air.
    Ella raises her hands above her head as she squeezes through a group of guys and my protective instincts kick in. I put my hand on her back, keeping her close as one of the guys tries to check out her ass. I can’t really blame him, since I’m doing the same thing.
    She has a