23. MJ #2
Gravel crunches under my tires and thunder cracks overhead as I park in front of the auto shop.
The black clouds release giant droplets of water, pounding again st the roof of my Jeep.
Great, the storm decided to hit early. It’s been cloudy most of the day, but I was hoping I’d be able to grab a few things at the market and then get the key from Beck before it unleashed.
I wanted to do something nice for Mac to come home to and his loft is seriously lacking snacks and a woman’s touch.
I wait in my car, letting the rain pelt the roof. I nearly drop my phone when there’s a knock on my window, and I see a hooded figure standing outside with an umbrella.
“MJ!” the figure yells and makes a motion with their arm for me to roll down the window. I roll it down a few inches and lean closer to the door to hear them better over the pouring rain.
“MJ, what are you doing out here?” I recognize the voice and raise my phone up to the window, lighting up Beck’s features under her hood.
“Beck, you scared the shit out of me!”
She motions for me to come with her across the street to Spoon. She waits for me to grab my bag and then we huddle under the umbrella, making a run for it together.
The bell dings overhead and the heavenly smell of coffee and pastries assaults my senses. “Sorry for scaring you. I watched you for a few minutes and when you didn’t get out, I figured I’d make sure you were okay.”
“Thank you. I was actually coming to see you but did not plan ahead with the umbrella.” I make a mental note to add one to my emergency kit in the Jeep.
“Coming to see me, huh?” she asks, heading behi nd the counter. I rub my arms to rid my skin of the goosebumps just as Beck tosses me a sweatshirt. I hesitate.
“It’s Sophie’s. She won’t mind.”
I nod and tug the sweatshirt over my chilled body. Beck hands me a cup of warm tea and then gestures for me to sit down at the table. “Whatcha need, sugar?”
“Mac said you have a spare key to the shop,” I explain.
She nods and gets up, heading behind the counter again. She comes back and slaps the key down on the counter. “It’s all yours.”
“Just like that? No questions asked?”
She smirks and shakes her head. “No questions asked. It’s you and Mac, dollface. If he told you I had the key, he must want you to have it. Maybe keep this one and I’ll get him to make me another one sometime soon.”
“That’s not . . .” I pause for a second. Did Mac want me to have a key to his place permanently?
She smiles and joins me back at the table.
No one will be coming into the coffee shop in this weather, so I enjoy her company for a while.
She fills me in on Sophie’s pregnancy, reminding me of the baby shower she’s planning for her.
I offer to help out and she gives me a knowing look realizing it meant I’d be staying in town since the shower isn’t until September.
When the rain lets up, I thank her again for the girl time, tea, and key before jogging across the street to unload.
It only takes me a few minutes to bring everything in, and then I start putting snacks and drinks away in either the mini fridge or the cute little basket I picked up at the market.
I inspect the loft and realize it’s very much a bachelor pad.
Mac told me his dad used to sleep up here when he worked too late into the night, and now Mac is doing the same thing.
It brings a smile to my face as I hum and tidy up the space.
I’m halfway up the stairs dragging the shop vac behind me when my phone rings in my pocket.
Hoping it’s Mac, I lean the shop vac against the stair rail and hold it in place with my knee, digging my phone out of my pocket.
Mac’s face fills the screen, and I’m happy to see—despite still looking tired—he’s wearing a smile.
“Hi, honey!”
“Hey, babe. Where—what are you doing?” He instantly questions, noticing the surroundings behind me.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and wipe the sweat off my face. “Oh, nothing. Just hanging out here at the shop.”
“Why are you halfway up the stairs?” Man, he’s observant.
“Don’t worry about it,” I tease. “What’s up? How’re things with Jake?”
He smiles and I sigh in relief.
“I think we’re good. It took some work, but he’s keeping his job.
I’ve been helping him get settled at the hotel here, since the halfway house got inundated with new tenants, and they couldn’t accept him back even though it was their mess up.
Luckily, we worked out a deal with the hotel to let him stay there on a monthly basis.
We just moved his stuff into his room, but I want to get him more settled.
” He sighs but I smile back at him reassuringly.
While I miss him, I’m relieved I’ll have more time to finish what I’m working on.
“Okay, no worries. Be home tomorrow?” I ask cheerfully.
Surprise washes over his face. “Yeah, is that okay?”
“Of course. Take your time.” He raises an eyebrow, and I quickly recover. “I miss you. But helping your brother is important. Text me later?” The shop vac shifts against my knee, and I adjust my body to keep it from clattering down the stairs.
“Okay. I love you. And I don’t know what you’re doing, but I love knowing you’re comfortable at the shop and in my space,” he says with a chuckle. My cheeks heat and the butterflies in my stomach awaken with soft flutters.
“I love you too!”
We end the call, and I grab the shop vac by the handles and then proceed up the stairs to finish what I started.
The butterflies in my stomach explode with nervous energy.
I hope he’ll be okay with what I’ve done.
He says he loves knowing I’m comfortable here, but he doesn't know just how comfortable I’ve gotten.