Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Kayla took the opportunity to check out Mack’s impressive breasts. Of course, they weren’t nearly as impressive in the shapeless cotton, but she’d seen enough of them this week to know them pretty well. She was especially aware since she woke up with them pressed into her back every morning.
Instead of mentioning that, she went with the safer explanation. “I’m saying mine grew later, so I didn’t have them in high school.”
Mack shrugged. “That’s true.”
“Hey!” Kayla couldn’t keep up the pretense of being outraged for long and melted back into a smile. “Back to my original point, these aren’t exactly standard honeymoon attire.”
“I disagree. Honeymoons are the perfect time for being yourself without all the fancy clothes and makeup.” Her face fell, and her voice dropped almost to a whisper. “If I ever have a real honeymoon, this is exactly what I want to wear.”
The uncharacteristic sadness sent a stab of grief through Kayla. Instinctively, she pulled Mack into a hug, wrapping her arms around her waist and dropping her cheek against her chest. The sweats were warm from her skin and soft as clouds from decades of washing.
Kayla said, “I know in my bones you’ll have a real honeymoon one day. If there’s anyone in the world who deserves happiness, it’s you.”
With her ear pressed to Mack, she could hear her heart pounding.
It seemed to be beating extra fast, and Kayla worried Mack was going to cry.
Keeping her arms wrapped tight, Kayla looked up.
She met Mack’s steady, emerald gaze. There was so much tenderness there.
So much kindness. But there was something else.
Something deep and hidden and truer than the fact of the sky and clouds and hammering rain.
Neither of them spoke. They just stood in each other’s arms, lost in each other’s eyes.
Kayla forgot to breathe. She forgot to blink.
Why did it feel so good to be here with Mack, in this moment?
Why was it so easy to get lost in her eyes?
Lost in the touch of her fingertips against Kayla’s back or the steady pound of their hearts setting the same rhythm.
Suddenly, Kayla understood what this was.
Or at least what she would call it if it were anyone other than Mack.
They had a spark between them. A glimmer of something that she probably shouldn’t name.
If she did, it might burst into a bonfire of something real and uncontrollable.
She tried to tell herself it was nothing, just an artifact of their deep friendship and not romantic chemistry.
Then the corner of Mack’s lips turned up in that crooked smile, and a piece of hair, still wet from the rain, came loose and curled over her forehead, and she wasn’t so sure anymore.
People didn’t feel the core-deep ache Kayla was feeling now for their friends, even their best friends.
Fortunately, Mack broke the spell. She used the positioning of their hug to lift Kayla up and toss her onto the bed.
It was soft and springy, and she bounced, laughing from a mixture of joy and relief.
And maybe a little bit to cover her confusion.
Just what the hell was that, and why was she feeling it for Mack?
While she recovered from her moment of madness, Mack grabbed the bag from the gift shop and dumped it out on the bed in a flurry of glittering plastic and vivid primary colors.
Kayla picked up a pack of UNO cards. “What’s all this?”
“UNO. If you’ll recall, I beat the pants off you regularly with those when we were kids.”
Her raging hormones couldn’t handle the thought of her pants coming off, so she tossed the cards aside.
Other treasures included a pack of regular playing cards and a board game about escaping an island that looked like it was meant for kids.
Mack hopped onto the bed after her haul and sat cross-legged, grinning like a teenager.
Mack said, “We’re going to have a slumber party. Just like the old days. We can even gossip about hot girls like we did back then. Just don’t tell me too many details about you and Skye. I don’t want to barf today.”
Kayla couldn’t help laughing. How did Mack always know the right thing to say?
Sure, her body was still buzzing a little, but this was the Mack she needed right now.
She grabbed the UNO cards again and waggled them at Mack.
“This game nearly destroyed our friendship once. Are you sure you want to risk it?”
Mack leaned over, and Kayla definitely did not ogle the line of muscle exposed where her shirt pulled up. She sat back up, holding a bottle of the local rum. “I got this in case things get too heated.”
Kayla said, “Good call. Maybe we should start with the kid’s game to keep things light.”
“Kid’s game?” Mack grabbed the board game, showing off the cartoon volcano and people screaming. “This is a tabletop classic, and I’m going to annihilate you at it.”
Now that was enough to start the day off right. Kayla tossed aside the UNO deck. “You better be able to back that bravado up, Bristol. Cause I’m planning to wipe the floor with you.”