Chapter 53

“Good morning,” Jefferson greeted, without turning around. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” He went to the cupboard and helped himself to the cup that had been reserved for his use that week they’d spent wrapped up with their discourse. “Did you sleep? Please tell me you haven’t been up all night again.”

“I slept.” Jefferson carefully poured Micah’s coffee and smiled. “It isn’t surprising, considering the fact you were the reason I couldn’t sleep before.”

Micah flushed in pleased embarrassment. “You said you’d always had insomnia. Or was that because you were too frightened to tell me how you felt?”

“I must confess to the lie. But I don’t think the truth would have been an acceptable response at the time.”

He agreed, though he refrained from saying so out loud. He had been terrified after knowing Jefferson for a week; if he had discovered the truth earlier, he was not certain that he would have been as quick to trust him again.