Chapter 198: Caught Red-Eared
Two hours passed before Micah stirred.
His lashes fluttered, brows pulling together like he was waking from a restless dream. His hand groped around for his glasses out of habit, but didn’t find them. He blinked at the ceiling, then around the room, eyes narrowing in confusion. "Am I still dreaming? Why would I be in Clyde’s place?" he muttered.
It took a second, but then it hit him. The memories of this morning came rushing to his head.
The La Riviere Pharmaceutical. The panic attack. Clyde wrapping his coat around him. Clyde picking him up...
Micah let out a groan and buried his face into the pillow. Oh God! What a disgrace! First panic attack in front of Clyde, then he was carried like a girl...
He punched the pillow a few times, releasing all of his pent-up frustration.
Thank God Clyde had covered his face with his coat otherwise, he would have had to murder Clyde and all others who had seen him!
He stared at the sheets, unmoving. His eyes were open, but unfocused, like he wasn’t seeing what was in front of him. His thought drifted to that restroom. He had let the man hug him. Not just a brief, awkward pat or casual arm around the shoulders, he actually leaned into it. Stood there, completely still, and let Clyde wrap him up like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He swallowed hard, his throat tight.
No one could hug him like that. Not outside his family. Right. The only people who had hugged Micah were his family.
He didn’t know how to feel. Why hadn’t he pushed the man away? His breathing had already settled down once Clyde arrived. It wasn’t like he had still been choking or gasping or trembling all over. He had just needed a moment. Just a few more minutes sitting and he would have been okay.