Chapter 10 Eliza
Eliza
Ididn’t expect to wake up this morning to a text from Mac asking if we could meet today.
I figured with a date on Friday and seeing him at the game last night, it would be at least a few days before he texted and wanted to meet.
I really don’t want to do anything today.
After being out of the house on Friday and Saturday, all I want to do today is curl up on my couch with a blanket and a book and relax for the entire day.
Eliza
Sorry, I can’t today.
Mac
I can make anytime today work, please.
I can bring food and meet you at your place.
The sense of desperation in his pleading and the thought of not having to think about what to feed myself has me giving in.
Eliza
Okay, let me know when you’ll be here.
Mac
20 mins
I groan as I drop my head back. Mac coming over means I have to muster the energy to not only get off the couch, but also put a bra and regular clothes on.
I eventually get up and slip into something more appropriate and text Mac the buzzer code for my building.
The closer to his arrival time it gets, the more anxious I am.
I have zero clue as to why it’s so important for him to come over today, and I’m starting to freak out.
I nearly toss my phone when it rings for the buzzer and my anxiety skyrockets knowing he’s here.
I can’t focus on anything, I can’t scroll social media on my phone, I can’t play a show, or listen to music.
I end up pacing my living room as I wait for the knock at the door.
When it finally comes, I let out a deep breath before walking over and pulling it open.
Mac offers me a slight nod and holds up the bag of food as I step back and allow him space to enter my apartment.
Thankfully, I managed to get some cleaning done yesterday so it’s not a complete disaster.
While he sets the bag on the table, I pull down plates and grab cutlery, trying to push off whatever conversation Mac is here to have.
After I join him at the table and we dish out food, he finally breaks the silence that has been strangling the room since he walked in.
“My father is coming this week.”
For some reason, that’s not all what I expected him to say. Mac studies me, watching my reaction to his statement. I nod, not sure what to say.
“He asked if I was seeing anyone.”
I’m assuming since the whole point of this deal was for his father, he told him he was. The anxiety starts to return as I anticipate what he’s going to say next.
“He’s asked to meet you over dinner while he’s here. I told him I’d check with you.”
I silently nod, my eyes finding something over his shoulder to stare at while my brain goes a mile a minute.
I knew that at some point I was going to have to meet Mac’s dad.
How could we convince him we’re dating, let alone in a serious relationship, if I didn’t I just never thought it would come this early.
We’ve barely entered this weird arrangement.
Am I expected to know everything about Mac before this dinner?
Am I supposed to pretend that we’re madly in love?
My chest starts to tighten and my breathing becomes shallower as I continue staring off into the distance.
A soft dusting over my hand pulls my focus, and I look down to see Mac stroking his thumb across the back of my hand.
I slowly let out a breath and close my eyes, working to gather myself as best I can.
“If you’re not up for it, we don’t have to,” he says, his voice coming out softer than I’ve ever heard it.
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.” I meet his gaze. “This is all part of the plan.”
His eyes dart between mine, and I wonder what he’s seeing.
“He’ll be arriving on Thursday and was hoping to do dinner on Friday. Does that work for you?”
I mentally go through my calendar. “Yeah, that should work.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know what restaurant and time I’ll pick you up.”
I gnaw my lip before asking, “How much does he know?”
Mac sits back in his chair, crossing his legs and holding his hands clasped in his lap. “I told him I started seeing someone.”
“Does he know how long? How much is he expecting me to know about you? Or about him?”
He chuckles softly, and I want to throw a couch pillow at him. “He knows it’s new. There are no expectations on you. My father will be evaluating me, not you.”
The way he talks about his father evaluating him is interesting. I’ve never heard of someone describing an interaction with a parent that way, although I know how different parents and parenting styles can be.
“I should warn you that my father...he’s a little set in his ways and beliefs. He can be blunt at times.”
As the only child of parents who both fit that description I acn easily paint a picture of Mac’s father, although I wonder in what way he’s set in his ways.
I know I should be asking Mac more questions about his father, but I don’t know where to start.
We sit in silence as I pick at my food and he eats.
After a few minutes, my skin starts to feel like it’s going to come off because of the lack of noise and distraction.
I pull my phone out and play music through my Bluetooth speaker, just loud enough so the silence isn’t like nails on a chalkboard for my nervous system.
When we finish eating, we move to my couch and ease into basic conversation, nothing more than surface level. After a while, Mac says he should leave. When I move to stand to walk him out, he holds his hand out.
“It’s okay, stay. I can see myself out.”
He offers me a soft smile and leans down, placing a soft kiss on my cheek before leaving. I listen for the sound of the door closing, anticipating my usual sigh of relief when I’m finally alone, but it doesn’t come and I wonder if it’s because I felt relaxed having Mac here.