Shelter in your arms

Amber's pov "Yeah, recheck…." I watched the pretty brown-headed girl with too much makeup, stars over her face and a fake smile, scurry towards the next bus stop, knowing she wouldn't take that meet-up, not even if I begged her, like I just did. Why was I so stupid thinking that she would just accept wanting to be my friend when I stole her boyfriend, or Jimmy say that they had just dated for a few days, but still… my stomach made a turn, the heavy guilt I felt since Lewis Caldwell had just stood up from the date he asked me out on and swooped Stephanine away, leaving me with Jimmy, who was way too charming for his own good. "Amber? Oh s**t, you got to be freezing dressed like that??" I had my arms crossed, standing in the light rain, where I had run out of the tennis courts café to see Stephanie, and just wanted to make things right between us, but she didn't get it. Nobody did. "Mike?" I made a shocked breath, feeling a heavy jacket wrapped around me, with a tall handsome man, who was Jimmy's neighbor, with a nice smile and even nicer eyes, giving me a look that I was crazy standing outside in my courtyard outfit, leaving my partner to run out to catch his sister. "Yeah, it's me, and I'm sorry for just putting my jacket on, but you were shivering and…" he stopped talking, breaking out into this big smile that made me stop breathing for a second, his eyes piercing blue and me batting mine, not understanding why he was being so nice to me, since I did steal his sister's boyfriend according to everyone around me. "No, no… I'm the one that should be apologizing… thank you…." I made a small inhale of the jacket around me. He smelled nice, leather and soap, nothing I was used to with Jimmy, just wearing much more expensive cologne and aftershave, and always working since we got together. "It's no problem, really…." I smiled more, hating that I felt my cheeks start to burn while standing inside a married man's jacket, knowing he was just doing this to be nice. He was not like most guys I had met so far, who only cared about my looks. But not him. "Okay, so I'm actually late picking up Minney from dance class... but if you like, you can ride with me back home?" Mikes eyes were on his phone now, like he really was late, making me feel worse taking his time, already about to take of the nice smelling jacket and give it back, not wanting to have more guilt weighing me down then it already did, of course, he had his own life, not like me just trying to make time pass as it was. "Keep it, I have a spare inside my car, never know when you need one…" Mike's eyes were warm, like he could see that I wasn't just cold, more broken. I nodded, not even responding to his small joke; I got it. He was prepared for anything. That must feel nice. "Thank you, really, Michael…" My eyes were still on the wet pavement when he chuckled, like no one had called him that. I knew that somewhere, my upbringing was kicking in, wanting to show him respect because he was so good to me. "It's just Mike, you know…" I finally looked up from the ground, meeting the warm blue eyes that made my cheeks burn again with embarrassment, feeling a slight flutter at the sight of his smile, which was warm and caring. Alicia, his wife, had no idea how lucky she was to be married to him. "Yes, I'm sorry… Mike…” I said his name, almost scared, since he was still just staring at me, my eyes big and lost, as he could just see how lonely I was, standing here and freezing my butt off in the rain, and trying not to be swallowed alive by guilt. "You sure you make it back home alright?" Mike had his phone in his hand, but he wasn't looking, just giving me a frown that told me he was serious about taking me back home… to Jimmy… I sighed, not knowing why that made me more upset. Jimmy was nice, and he bought me everything I wanted. He treated me like I was the most expensive thing in the world, and he even bought me a new car since we got together, so I didn't have to ride the bus. "Yes, and I don't want you to miss your next… appointment…." My voice felt weird hearing his phone go off, him just ignoring it, with a worried look that made his handsome face crease with small lines on his forehead, like he had been worried about the whole world and everyone in it since he was old enough to live on his own. "Nah, it's fine, it's just Minney going to stand there for ten minutes extra, screaming she doesn't want to leave with Allie trying to get her shoes on…" he was snickering with my own small smile dying on me. Yeah, right. That part, he was married with kids, a lot of them. "Mike, I'm really sorry, but I just left my court, and it's still on the clock…" I was making eyes back at the tennis hall, where the court I didn't care about was running out on me, or not. Still, it was a great excuse not to have to stand here and feel stupid against a guy who clearly had better stuff going on than helping me out. "Yes, and I bet that Jimmy is going to look for you if you don't come home soon…" he said the last part with a weird smile, along with his dark eyebrows being slightly furrowed, making me feel worse, like I didn't know the part about him not liking Jimmy, like I said, he was Stephanie's older brother. "Yes… Jimmy….” I said his name, drained, almost wanting to break out into a giggle if I wasn't so tired, wanting to just leave the conversation now that Mike seemed distanced and holding his phone more powerfully than before, still vibrating with my heart, making a few dull thuds of feeling so stupid for thinking he cared about me, he shouldn't. "Alright, I know this is none of my business, Amber, but please, if you need anything, just tell me, okay?" My heart started racing at the serious voice and the blue eyes piercing me again, like I was paralyzed, standing inside a warm coat. My long blonde hair was getting damp in the rain, which I didn't feel anymore. "Okay…." I said back, breathlessly, when he made a serious nod. His hand was on my shoulder, squeezing it hard before letting me go and starting to walk away with a smile, sending shockwaves through me, feeling like I was suddenly burning up from the heat spreading. Oh god, he was so handsome, wasn't he?