Chapter 16 #2
He nodded. “What a pair we make!” And then he had her back in his arms and was kissing her.
“We make the best pair,” she said when they broke apart.
“I think so too.”
They fell into companionable silence and went back to stargazing.
“Can I ask you something?” she said after a minute.
“Anything.”
“Was the entire town in on this today?”
He chuckled. “Yup.”
She smiled. “Wow. Just…wow. That’s impressive.”
“You have no idea. It wasn’t even that hard. A few phone calls and everyone was on board.”
“I thought it all seemed a little odd. I couldn’t believe how many people were interested in how I was getting out of town!” With a laugh, she snuggled closer to him. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this before.”
“Like what?”
“The closeness you all have here. It’s a little overwhelming.”
“You get used to it. At the end of the day, it’s like one big family.” He paused and placed another kiss on the top of her head. “And just so you know…everyone was on board because they’re just as in love with you as I am. Well…maybe not exactly the same way, but…you get what I mean, right?”
“Sure do. And I feel the same way about them. I’ve been on my own for a long time and even though there were places I’d lived where I knew a lot of people, it was never like this. I’ve made some great friends here and I’m glad I don’t have to leave and miss them.”
“That reminds me…our social calendar is going to be pretty full this week. Everyone is going to want to know all the details about what happened when you found me on the side of the road.”
MacKenzie laughed. “So you totally rigged it so I went that way. Very clever.”
“Sweetheart, wherever you are, that’s the way I’m going.” He hugged her again. “And as much as I’d like to take credit for all of this, we really have Will to thank.”
“Will? Seriously? Wasn’t he the one who couldn’t wait for me to leave?”
“A moment of temporary insanity and misplaced concern. He’s a bit of a dufus sometimes, but he’s got a good heart, and he’s a great friend. He knew he was wrong right after he had that conversation with you, so…maybe cut him some slack.”
“Mmm…maybe. But can I mess with him first?”
“You could, but remember that we’re here right now after making love under the stars because of him.”
She groaned dramatically, but he knew she was kidding. “Ugh…fine. I’ll thank him profusely tomorrow and promise to name our first kid after him.” She instantly gasped and tried to pull away. “I…I mean…that’s not…it’s just a saying! I wasn’t implying…”
He silenced her with a kiss and they both sank back against the blanket.
When he lifted his head, he smiled down at her.
“I don’t care if it’s just a saying, I love that your mind immediately went there.
” He kissed her again. “And just so you know, I wouldn’t be opposed to that.
You’re it for me, MacKenzie. When I found you on the side of the road, I knew right away that you were the one. I’m just glad it wasn’t all one-sided.”
Looking up at him, she cupped his cheek.
“I love you, Devin. It freaked me out how attracted I was to you right away, but I thought it was just physical because…well…look at you!” Caressing his jaw, she went on.
“But with each passing day, I realized how much I genuinely liked you as a person, and the more time we spent together, the stronger my feelings became.” She smiled softly. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Never. I could never give up on you. Even before Will came up with this plan, I knew it was going to kill me to watch you leave. I kept telling myself that we’d stay in touch until I convinced you to come back.”
“It probably wouldn’t have been that hard to do,” she teased. “This is where I really wanted to be. With you.”
They kissed again and just knowing that she was staying was like getting the greatest gift in the world.
“I know I keep saying it, but I can’t help it. I love you.”
“I really like the sound of that–almost as much as I enjoy telling you I love you too.”
It was late. Definitely after midnight, when MacKenzie carefully got out of their bed and grabbed her robe. Tiptoeing softly, she left the room and went out to the living room in search of her phone. In all the activity earlier, there was one thing she had forgotten to do.
Let her mother know she wasn’t coming.
What she wanted to do–because she was so tired–was to send her a message, but knew that wasn’t the right thing to do.
So she called.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mom,” she said quietly. “It’s Mac.”
“Hey! I hope you’re calling from a hotel and not still driving,” she said, concern lacing her voice.
“Actually…I’m calling from Devin’s. I…I decided not leave,” she explained hesitantly. “I was all packed up and then…” Sighing, she explained how the entire day had unfolded. “I know the whole thing was my idea to come to you, and now I feel bad that I’m not.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Laura told her. “It sounds to me like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. But that doesn’t mean you and I don’t have to see or speak to each other again. I’d love it if you and Devin would plan to come out here. I’d really like to meet him.”
Yawning, MacKenzie nodded. “I’d really like that too.” Another yawn.
“I can tell that you’re half asleep and it sounds like you’ve had a very emotional day. So why don’t you get some sleep and call me this weekend and tell me how things are going? Will that work?”
“It will, and thank you for understanding, Mom.”
“To be fair, you’re the understanding one.
You’ve put up with me being an awful parent and yet you still reached out and wanted to see me.
” She paused. “You’ve clearly grown up to be a wonderful person, and I know we have your father to thank for that.
” Another pause. “He was a good man, Mac. And he loved you very much.”
She nodded. “He was the best.”
“Get some sleep, and we’ll talk over the weekend.”
“Thanks, Mom. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Quietly, she made her way back to bed and when she got under the blankets, Devin reached for her. “Everything okay?” he asked sleepily.
“Just remembered to call my mother and let her know of my change of plans.” Kissing his chest, she snuggled closer. “She’d like it if we eventually planned to visit her together.”
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.” With his arms wrapped around her, he fell back to sleep, and Mac followed almost immediately.
But with a smile on her face.