Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
He laughs. “Baby, you’re never going to get any kind of objection from me for telling anyone that you’re with me. I’d prefer it, actually.”
I kick off my shoes. “I guess I’m staying.” Grabbing my phone out of my purse, I pull up my group message with my sisters. I’m excited to spend more time with him, but nervous, too, because my choices over recent years haven’t been the best.
* * *
Me: I won’t be home tonight. The snow snuck up on me, and Macklin’s insisting I don’t drive home.
Leighton: Good choice.
Ellison: Wait! You’re with Macklin? How did I miss that? What’s up with that?
Eillson: Did you all know about this? Cope said he has no idea.
Courtlynn: Make sure he wraps it before he taps it.
Me: Court!
Me: We had dinner. Talked. There is no tapping or wrapping necessary.
Courtlynn: He’s a hottie, and you could use some of that in your life after the fuddy duddy you just dropped like a hot potato.
Ellison: Focus!
Leighton: She’ll tell us when she’s ready.
Me: Thank you, Lei.
Leighton: Don’t get that twisted. I’m also curious.
Me: It’s… complicated, but I promise to give you a full rundown tomorrow.
Ellison: Do you want me to have Copeland come and get you?
Me: No. I’m not worried about the snow. Macklin is. It’s fine. I’m taking the guest room.
Courtlynn: Boo! Live a little. You’re single. He’s single. Do the damn thing!
Leighton: Whatever you do, just be safe.
Me: Just sleeping. Love you.
Ellison: Love you.
Leighton: Love you.
Courtlynn: Be adventurous. Love you!
* * *
I’m chuckling as I lock the screen on my phone. I look up to find Macklin watching me. “All set.”
“You told them you’re with me?” he asks, not even bothering to hide his grin.
“Yeah, I told them that I was with you.”
“You want ice cream now?” he asks.
“You know what? I do want ice cream.”
The grin on his face lights up the room as he reaches for my hand again, kicks off his shoes, and leads me back through the house to the kitchen. I should pull away, but his hand feels too good wrapped around mine.
“Sit here,” he says, pulling a stool out from the island. I hop up. He kisses my temple and slowly backs away, his grin still in place. “One ice cream sundae, coming right up.”
Eight
Macklin
* * *
I must have done something really fucking good in another life to have things working out for me the way that they are. She’s staying. Here. With me. I don’t have to worry about her getting home safely, and this night doesn’t have to end.
Not yet.
I keep glancing over at her as I make our sundaes. She’s so damn beautiful it almost hurts, and she’s here. In my kitchen. I know that we have a long road ahead of us. I know that my confession has taken her by surprise, but she’s not running, so for tonight, that’s a win in my book.
“Extra whipped cream,” she says as I grab the can to add some to each bowl.
I grin at her. “Anything you want, babe,” I say, giving her bowl extra, before topping it with the chopped peanuts. I slide the bowl across the island to her. “One chocolate sundae with extra whipped cream,” I announce, which earns me a grin.
“This is my favorite,” she says, dipping her spoon into the bowl and scooping up a large bite.
“I know.” I wink as I take the stool next to hers, then take my first bite.
“All these years…” She shakes her head. “How did I not know?”
I shrug, taking a bite, trying to find the right words to explain it to her. “The best answer I have is that I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t know if you would give me a chance, and I didn’t want to disturb your life. College, then New York.”
“Yeah, but you said you were going to come to New York.”
I nod. “I’d decided that it was time to take my shot. I thought about you every day. Lived off the snippets of conversation I got about you from your sisters or the guys, who also got the information from your sisters.” I chuckle. “It wasn’t our time,” I say with a shrug.
“And now it is?” she asks, before taking another huge bite of her sundae.
I nod. “I hope so, Baylor. Regardless, I’ll know that I tried.”
“So, what? You want to date?”
“Sure, to start.”
“To start?”
I place my spoon in my bowl and turn to look at her. “I don’t want you just for now, Baylor. I want you for always.”
“That’s ridiculous, Macklin.” She says the words because they’re what she thinks she should say. She feels this. I know she does. I can see it in her eyes.
“Maybe, but maybe it’s the grandest love story of all time.”
She shakes her head, but there is a tiny tilt of her lips telling me that she’s fighting a grin. “Shit’s getting deep in here. You might want to roll up those pant legs,” she teases.