I've learned my lesson well

 

Iona still felt she was on some sort of high. Maybe she was even dizzy from all the moving or the fact she was really with Micah now. Honestly, she didn't see that coming, but she didn't stop it, either. Perhaps, that's what made most of this journey so golden was to see how it played out.

"Yes, we moved in together," she finally came face to face to Sally while working at the grocery store. Really, Iona always imagined Sally and Micah could get through anything. But she was busy with the university now and seemed pretty set on her goals to get into graduate school.

Iona did her best not to gush about the move. She'd always expected Micah to up and leave one day and never tell her a thing. But something had changed and she wasn't sure if it was maturity or something else.

"I think he loves you," Sally said so casually. She was with her baby daughter and was seeing a guy named Tony who was at the university.

Iona's smile was open. She nodded, but she couldn't say it out loud. In fact, she was a little teary-eyed wondering if it were actually true. She hated to admit to Micah's ex that she'd never heard those words spoken. A lump of emotion lodged in her throat, but she quickly put her index finger to her lips. "Shoo, can't let him hear that." She managed a laugh. 

She needed to think logically. They were accidentally roommates. And they could live together. Iona told Sally it was just a studio. She doubted they made it through winter, but she doubted a lot of things and so far everything had turned out better than she expected. But these were things she didn't discuss with Sally. After all, Sally had more important issues to be concerned about.

"Let me bring you a housewarming present," Sally then said.

"Oh, you..it's not really a house," Iona shrugged yet found she was miserable at taking compliments. "But if you want to come over, sometime, let me know."

"You tell him, not to be moody," Sally smirked. "He better be good to you."

Iona nodded. Maybe Micah was different now.  She was glad Sally was happy for her, but she wasn't sure Micah would want to see her. Iona would have to ask him.

When her shift was over, Micah showed up to take her home. She wondered if he'd borrowed his brother's car again. With the cold weather and even a little snow, his car wasn't budging from Diago and Char's driveway. Iona didn't ask but followed as if she knew he wouldn't want to hear of his old car.

There was a red KIA Soul. He opened it electronically. Iona stood there as if it might actually leave on its own.

"Well, get in?" He looked at her as if she was supposed to know.

She knew it was silly to even say "oh". She got in and he started the car. It smelled so new.

"We needed a car," he told her. She nodded wondering why he was using the word "We". Micah was always a very ME kind of person. "My dad helped."

"You're talking to him now?" It was the first she'd heard. In fact, the dealership came and took his junkard away. His dad knew a deal and that helped with the trade-in. Of course, his dad co-signed.

Iona nodded. 

"And, I told them we'd be over for dinner on Sunday," he said.

Iona felt wide awake now. She'd never treaded in these kinds of waters of life before.