Chapter 14 #2
He scrubbed his face with a rough swipe of his hand and sighed. If he went up there, he knew what would happen.
Lacey would tell him that she wasn’t going to change her mind.
Every step closer he got to Lacey and convincing her that they belonged together, she found a new way to turn him down.
In his head, he knew being here was a mistake, and there was no reason for it.
He could be patient and win her over bit by bit.
Unfortunately, his heart had other plans. The confounded organ in his chest refused to accept that there was any other way than to plow forward and get Lacey to admit to herself and him that she wanted a relationship just as much as he did.
His jaw ticked with the pressure of it biting down hard. Without second guessing himself, he pushed the door open and climbed out of his truck. It wasn’t until he lifted his fist to knock on the door that he realized he might be making a huge mistake.
The door whooshed open only slightly, and a frazzled Lacey leaped from the confines of her house. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were wide. She tossed a worried look at the window before ripping her focus right back to him. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “My sister is here.”
Mack’s confidence faltered. Oh. Right. Even if he didn’t want to care about what Angela thought, Lacey still did.
Her worries were one of the bigger reasons for her turning him down.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then swallowed back the burning in this throat.
“I wanted to see you,” he murmured. It was all he could think of to say.
What else could he tell her? That he thought he might have already fallen for her?
No. Of course not. That would be ridiculous.
Even as he checked on his heart, he knew that it was entirely possible. Why else would he go to such great lengths to spend time with her? To win her over?
Her brows hitched up, and she let out a disgruntled laugh. “What? Are you insane? I told you I didn’t want…” Her voice trailed off, and she yanked her lower lip between her teeth. “Angela won’t understand.”
“Is that your only reason for pushing me away?” he asked quietly.
“Of course not,” she snapped. But immediately, her hard exterior shifted, and she looked away. Whatever it was, she wasn’t prepared to tell him. The fact that she’d told him as much as she did about Angela was a feat all on its own.
“Then why won’t you let me in? Haven’t I proven that I’m not going to do anything to hurt you?”
Lacey snorted. “There’s no way to prove that. People make mistakes all the time. People get into fights. You could hurt me without even knowing you’re doing it.”
His head reared back with surprise. “You think I’m the kind of person who would do something like that?” They were speaking in hushed whispers, probably due to Angela being on the other side of the door.
“That’s just it. I don’t think you’d intentionally do anything, but I can’t guarantee that you wouldn’t do something by accident .”
Her blistering words burned him, and all his insecurities he had from his parents filtered into his mind. Lacey was basically saying he’d be a disappointment—much like he’d been most of his life for his folks.
It didn’t matter that he’d gotten past his rough teenage years and stopped spending time with questionable people.
It didn’t matter that he’d graduated from high school—especially since he didn’t immediately jump into college.
Heck, it didn’t even matter that he’d agreed to move with his folks to the country and help work his cousin’s ranch.
None of that mattered because he would always disappoint them in one way or another.
Her soft voice dragged him from his spiral. “It’s okay, Mack. I’m not saying that you’re a bad person. I’m just saying I can’t take the risk right now.”
“But there isn’t a risk,” he insisted. “I would never do anything to hurt you. I’m an open book.
You can ask me anything. I won’t ever hide anything from you.
” Mack leaned forward, placing his hand on the door above her shoulder as he leaned in closer.
His voice lowered to a whisper. “I can make that promise because I know who I am, and I know who I am when I’m with you. ”
Lacey’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes drilled into him. “And who are you… when you’re with me?”
Bolstered by the desire he saw written in her eyes, he dipped his face even closer. “I’m happy—happier than I’ve ever been. I would never risk losing that feeling. Ever.”
She continued to stare at him. He wasn’t sure if he’d gotten through to her until she shook her head.
“I can’t. Angela… she’s not doing so great.
Some guy…” She didn’t have to finish that statement.
Mack already knew. Some guy had hurt her—led her on, more like.
Lacey placed both of her hands on his chest and gave him a gentle shove.
“You need to go before she sees you and thinks…”
He took a step back, allowing her to put distance between them, but still shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere until you give me a chance.”
Lacey’s eyes widened in surprise and perhaps irritation. “I told you?—”
“Just give me a chance. Go out with me again. Let me prove it.”
A muffled voice from inside the apartment that sounded a lot like Angela calling out for Lacey drew his attention. Lacey stiffened, and she paled. “You have to go.”
“Not until you?—”
“Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll go out with you. Just… go .”
A wicked grin spread across his face as he took another step back from her. “I’ll text you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go, Mack.”
“You’ll see. We belong together.”
Lacey folded her arms, her eyes shooting daggers at him. He ducked away and hurried down the stairs before she rescinded her agreement.
Finally. Finally, he was making headway.