Chapter 27
Riley
I shouldn't have been surprised that Mac had already left the house by the time I made it out of my bedroom this morning.
I can't count the number of times I growled in frustration, trying to go to sleep last night only to pop my eyes open with the urgency to go down the hall and demand that he explain himself further.
I'm sure asking him to leave my room was a kick to his ego that will have him treating me poorly or ignoring me altogether, but with the day I have planned, worrying about what Mac Hammer meant last night will just have to take a back burner.
Today is Claire's wedding shower, and Madison was gracious enough to host it at her massive mansion of a house.
The air out here on this end of town even smells more expensive, despite the fact that all the flowering trees have gone dormant for the winter.
It took me more than half a dozen trips to carry all the things I needed to prepare a meal for the day into the house. But I felt nothing but calm in her massive kitchen, knowing that if I forgot anything, she'd have just about anything I needed stocked in her pantry.
As much as I want to expand the townsfolk palates with different food, Madison spent the better part of a decade in the city. She's the last person who would turn her nose up at a concoction that most people in town would've never heard of. I know for a fact she spent a lot of time at catered parties and has probably eaten everything under the sun.
"It looks like you're moving in," Madison says with a wide grin when she enters the kitchen and finds me unpacking all my reusable bags.
"I promise I'll clean any mess I make before I leave."
She waves her hand dismissively as if she isn't worried about me making a mess.
"It's only clean right now because I threatened the twins with cream corn and steamed broccoli for dinner if they made a mess in here before the party was over. "
I laugh at her threat, wondering just how serious the boys' faces were when the words came from her mouth.
The doorbell echoes through the house, and Madison leaves me to work as she goes to answer it.
Instead of this feeling like a job, I feel elated when she returns to the kitchen with both Sage and Adalynn.
Sage looks from me to the other women, a question in her eyes, and I dip my head when I realize she's asking me without words if it's okay for her to ask me about last night.
Before she can open her mouth to get the words out, Adalynn speaks up.
"What in the world is going on between you and Mac Hammer?"
Sage chuckles, and Madison sits on a barstool in the breakfast area, fully invested in what my response is going to be.
"We have sex," I say with a shrug, feeling a little weird to be having this conversation with more than just Sage. I haven't really had a close-knit group of female friends in a very long time, but I like the idea of being able to discuss things with people who are in committed relationships since I have almost no experience at all.
"No," Madison says, pointing a finger at me. "It's more than that."
"Spill," Adalynn demands.
I continue to work, grateful to have something to do with my hands as I talk.
"We hooked up a few weeks ago. Then I went to his house to make a meal for the McGees."
"Please don't burn my kitchen down," Madison says absently as if she just remembered rumors about what happened at Mac's house that night.
"Don't seduce me when I have something cooking on the stove," I tell her with a wink, smiling when one spreads clear across her face.
"So that's what happened?" Madison asks as she leans in even closer.
"That's what happened," I respond. "Then we hooked up again. After that, he tried to blackmail me."
"What?" Adalynn snaps, angry in my defense.
"Well, he said my bed was comfortable, and he hated staying at the hotel. Blah, blah."
"All because he wanted to be close to her," Sage interjects.
"Is that true?" Madison asks. "Are you dating now? "
"You saw how he was last night," Adalynn says. "He all but peed a circle around her."
Madison snaps her hand toward her best friend. "That imagery is so gross."
"He said I was his last night," I blurt.
"His?" Sage repeats with a wide grin. "He claimed you like-"
I point a finger at her, halting her from speaking further. "This is my life, not a romance novel."
"My life is like a romance novel," Adalynn says.
"Mine, too," Madison adds with a quick shrug.
"I don't even know what it means," I mutter as I walk to the sink to rinse my hands.
"Yes, you do," Sage says. "You know exactly what it means. You're just scared."
"Of course I'm scared. He said he wanted to take care of me. I don't need to be taken care of."
"I don't think he means that he feels a need to rescue you right now," Madison adds, her tone a little softer.
"But he would if you needed it," Adalynn interjects. "Even if you didn't want it."
"That man is full-on in love with you," Sage says.
"That man just doesn't want to lose his bedroom in my house until his house is functional again," I mutter.
"He didn't have to claim you to keep staying there," Sage clarifies.
I know she's right. Even if I would've demanded that he leave, I would've caved if he begged me not to make him go.
"Cash is territorial. I think he'd risk losing his job by beating someone up if they tried to flirt with me," Adalynn explains.
"I have no doubt Chase would do the same and then smile in his mug shot," Madison adds.
Sage points at both women as if they're speaking the possible and can't be contradicted. "And that is exactly what I thought last night when he walked up to you, wrapped his arms around you, and kissed you like you were the only person in the room."
"But then he got in the car and didn't say a word," I disclose.
"And it freaked you out?" Sage asks.
"Maybe he was freaked out," Adalynn says. "Mac has been around town his entire life like I have. I can't recall a single time when he was in a serious relationship. He may not know how to navigate this himself. "
"Mac could have anyone he wants," I murmur, slapping the hand towel over my shoulder before grabbing a block of cheese to grate.
"He clearly wants you. And before you say one derogatory word about yourself, you need to think twice. I won't allow it." Madison narrows her eyes at me as if daring me to counter her. "I get being scared. I think I was terrified when Chase told me how he felt. If you don't recall when we were all in school, I was so in love with him that I couldn't see straight, and now that I'm thinking about it, weren't you just as infatuated with Mac?"
"Yes!" Adalynn says with a snap of her fingers as if it just triggered something in her mind. "You hooked up with him at that party!"
"I kissed him in a closet," I clarify. "And then he acted like he didn't know who I was."
"Ouch," Madison says. "About as bad as Chase ruffling my hair like I was a little brat after he forgot he told me he'd take me to the dance."
"But look at her now," Adalynn says, pointing at her friend's swollen belly. "In love, married, and they have a baby on the way. And I had a very similar situation with Cash. I never thought we were going to get together."
As if proving a point, Madison points to her friend's equally swollen belly.
"Do you think you could marry him and have his babies?" Sage asks.
"What?" I say, glaring at her. "I'm not even dating him."
"It sounds more serious than just dating if he claimed you," Adalynn says.
"I don't want to be claimed!" I snap, more annoyed than I probably should be.
These women don't mean me any harm, but the hot and cold from Mac has altered my brain chemistry in some way.
"Can you actually imagine me marrying him?"
"Yes," they all say immediately as if it wasn't a rhetorical question.
"And the burden of being a single mother when I get pregnant and put on more weight?"
Silence fills the room.
"Are you serious?" Madison whispers.
"I bet he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of you," Adalynn says quietly.
"Men are feral when the woman they love gets pregnant," Madison adds.
I shake my head. These size four women don't have any idea. I don't begrudge them for it, but they can have all those cute maternity photos, and no one would bat an eye when they feed every single pregnancy craving they have. It would be so different with me. People are judgmental, and I already get looks when I shop locally and buy anything other than fresh produce and healthy food.
I wouldn't have a complex about my own weight on certain days if I didn't see the way people in public look at me. It doesn't happen as much here in town, but let me go to Whole Foods in Austin. Hell, in the city, people don't even try to hide their opinions. If they aren't staring, they're trying to be helpful by handing over unsolicited advice about what grocery items might be healthier. Even waitresses offer a diet soda when I ask for a sweet tea or a lemonade. People are hateful.
"Enough," Sage growls, and there's so much heat in her tone that all three of us dart our eyes in her direction. "If the man wanted someone else, he would have someone else. You need to stop with this shit and just accept that he cares for you."
"I know that's easy to say-"
"Easy for me?" my best friend says, pointing to the center of her chest. "It's not easy for me to say. I'm not in love and all blissed out on sex and happily ever afters. No offense."
Madison and Adalynn both grin at her.
"What I do know is that man didn't see another soul in that bar last night. No one can guarantee that he's your forever guy, but hell, Riley. What if he is? If you don't give him a chance, then you'll never know."
"And if he finds someone better?" I say, the threat of tears burning the backs of my eyes.
"There's no one better," Madison whispers. "I think you're perfect for him, and I think from what we saw last night that he's perfect for you."
"You looked happier than I've ever seen you look when he was standing there wrapped around you like he was afraid an inch of space would come between the two of you," Sage says. "When you actually just let yourself live in the moment, but you said he was different by the time you made it back to the car. I don't know if you realize it, but when he grinned at the waitress while paying for the two of y'all drinks, your demeanor changed. Not his. Your smile faded. Tension returned to your shoulders. It was as if you were building back up a wall just because he smiled at someone else."
"Did you see how pretty she is?" I mutter.
"She was very pretty," Sage answers. "Did you see that he didn't look twice at her? He didn't drop his eyes to her ass when she walked off. He didn't flirt with her in any way, but I think you saw things differently. I don't think it's fair to punish him for the pain he could cause when he hasn't done it yet."
"And probably never will," Madison adds.
"Thank you," I tell them, looking each one in the eye. "I'll take all of your advice and mull it over. Now, if you want anyone to eat at this party, then I have to get to work."
Sage frowns at me, but she knows me well enough to know that I'm done discussing the subject. It's bad enough that I'll be distracted on my own by thoughts of Mac. I can't have three people ganging up on me when I have my first paid job in a very long time to focus on.