Chapter 8 #3
But he never got to finish because there was a flurry of activity over to the right where it seemed like a large group was waving them over.
“I guess we’re sitting over there, huh?” she asked with amusement.
The same group from the last few nights were waiting for them–Ashlynn, Avery, Billie, Jade, and Choe, along with who MacKenzie assumed were their husbands, boyfriends, fiancés, and dates.
After a round of introductions and greetings, they picked their seats and then joined the throngs of people getting something to eat and drink.
It took almost a full thirty minutes to get back to their table and sit down.
“Well, that was a lot,” she said as she got comfortable. “But what a great variety of food!”
“One year we tried doing a potluck, but it really didn’t work out,” Billie told her.
“Too many crockpots that fed too little. Then we’ve had some of the local businesses cater it, but even then it got overwhelming.
Now we hire a catering company that specializes in big events to come in and do it.
I think they’re even doing some of the food next week at the re-opening of the ski resort. ”
“I think a bunch of food trucks would have been great for tonight,” Ashlynn said. “Fun and casual. Super easy.”
“That’s for next week,” Chloe said. “We’re all dressed up like we’re hanging out at a Las Vegas casino. You wouldn’t eat at a food truck at a casino, silly.”
“I’d eat at a food truck just about anywhere,” Ashlynn argued lightly. “They have some of the best food.”
That led to a lively discussion of where the best places were to eat in the country.
“You’re from New York, MacKenzie,” Jade commented. “Surely you must have gone to Manhattan and eaten some great food.”
She nodded. “Only a couple of times. It’s a four-hour drive and when you take the train, it’s five hours, so…”
“Oh, wow,” Jade said with mild embarrassment. “I didn’t realize it was so far away.”
“Most people don’t realize just how big New York State is.” Then she laughed. “Hell, I didn’t realize it until I was trying to drive out of it!”
They ate, they talked, and they laughed. Once they were done, Devin rose and held out his hand to her. “We never got to dance last night.”
She immediately put her hand in his and stood. “No, we did not, but I’d love to now.”
Together, they walked out to the middle of the room where so many people were dancing and joined in.
The first few songs were ballads and it kept her in his arms–one of her favorite places to be.
But when the music turned a little more upbeat, Devin excused himself and left her to dance with the girls.
Which she did.
With abandon.
“So…?” Avery shouted as she came to dance beside her. “You and Devin look very cozy! I’m guessing the night was everything you hoped it would be and you didn’t get the ick!”
Frowning, MacKenzie continued to dance as she shouted back, “What’s the ick?”
“Oh, you know…something you discover that can be a deal breaker! Like he’s a really wet kisser, or not good in bed…has B.O. or snores!”
The bark of laughter was out before she could stop it. “Seriously? That’s what it’s called? The ick?”
Avery nodded before waving Ashlynn over. “Ash! Tell MacKenzie about the ick!”
“What? Why?” Then she looked over at MacKenzie. “Oh, no! Did Devin have one?”
“No!” she shouted. “No ick! I’ve just never heard that phrase before!”
“I once dated a guy who was super hot, but he used the phrase “Bada-bing” way too much! Suddenly, he wasn’t so hot!” She shook her head. “It’s crazy how that works!”
Before she could comment, Chloe twirled over. “I have to pee! Who’s coming with me?”
They all did.
For MacKenzie, it wasn’t so much about using the ladies’ room as it was to be away from the loud music for five minutes.
“Oh, my goodness…why is it so loud?” she commented when they were out in the hallway. “Would it kill them to just…you know…lower the music so we don’t have to shout all night?”
Billie came up beside her and chuckled. “You are far too young to be talking like that. There are people in that gym twice your age who are loving it!”
The line for the restroom was long, but it was still nice to have a conversation. “So it was a little hard to hear you while we were eating, but what is your date’s name?”
“Alan,” she replied. “We’ve been friends since the seventh grade and neither of us wanted to come alone, so…here we are.”
“And you’re not interested in him…romantically?”
Billie shook her head. “Not at all. He’s a great guy, but there is zero attraction.”
“Well, that sucks.”
“Same with my date,” Chloe interjected. “We’re both teachers at the elementary school, but he’s not my type. It just made sense to come to the reunion together. Plus…I think he has a crush on Linda Fenley, the art teacher. He’s just too shy to ask her out.”
“But if Evan had been here…” Billie prompted, causing Chloe to roll her eyes.
“I’m kind of in a long-distance relationship with a guy who lives in Baltimore. He couldn’t be here this weekend,” she explained. “So it just made sense to go with a friend.”
“Wow, I don’t know if I’d go to something as big as this with just a friend,” MacKenzie admitted. “I’d probably just stay home.”
“And miss out on all the fun?” Avery asked in disbelief. “That just seems pointless. Just because it’s not a romantic date doesn’t mean you still can’t have some fun.”
“Yeah, well…”
“And yet you’re here with Devin,” Ashlynn reminded her.
“Okay, but they’re totally into each other,” Jade said. “It’s not the same.”
“Maybe, but…they’re still just friends. She’s not staying and this is just a temporary thing, so…”
“Ash, weren’t you the one who left her a bunch of dresses for tonight? What choice did you leave her?” Avery said with a huff. “Geez, you don’t have to make a big deal out of it.”
“I’m not!” Ashlynn countered. “I guess I was just curious why she’d agree to come to this with a friend, but not anything else.”
“Again, you didn’t exactly give her a choice!”
It was obvious the two of them were on the verge of arguing, so MacKenzie had to do something quick to diffuse the situation.
“Okay, okay, okay,” she said as she stood between them.
“Devin’s not just a friend, okay? I like him.
A lot. And it doesn’t matter if this is just temporary, I don’t consider him to be just a friend.
” Then she sighed. “He’s like…the perfect guy.
I had no idea men like him even existed! ”
“Devin really is one of the good guys,” Chloe agreed. “But if you like him so much, why are you still planning on leaving?”
Ugh…this question.
She shrugged. “It’s…it’s complicated. I had a plan and…
and…there are things I need to do. I have to figure out where exactly I want my life to be.
Stopping in Sweetbriar Ridge wasn’t part of the plan.
” Another shrug. “I’ve lived my whole life in the northeast, and I feel like there’s so much more for me to see and do.
” Then she let out a long breath. “I need to do this.”
No one commented, they all simply nodded.
And then grabbed her in a group hug.
That’s how Devin found them.
“Um…is everything okay?” he asked.
MacKenzie carefully removed herself from the group and walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “How much longer do we need to stay?”
He looked at her friends and then back at her. “Seriously, are you okay?”
She nodded, but tears stung her eyes. “I just…I’d really like to go home now. With you. I’ll stay if you really want to, but…”
Once again, he looked over at the girls and saw the somber looks on their faces, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he took her by the hand and said goodnight to everyone. Then they went back into the gym to get her purse and say goodbye to everyone else.
Neither said a word on their way out or on the drive home, but once they were in the house, she was the one to break the silence.
“I know it seems crazy considering how much time we’ve spent together this last week, but…I really just wanted to be alone with you. Here.”
Wordlessly, he led her back to his bedroom, where he slowly took off his coat and tie before unbuttoning his shirt. After kicking off his shoes, he came around behind her and lowered the zipper on the back of her dress before kissing his way down her spine.
She felt tingly with need and as he peeled her dress down her body, all she could think was how perfect this was.
He was.
And how she needed to make the most of it before she moved on to whatever else was out there.