Chapter 25
25
MAC
We meet up at Christy’s Café because that’s a thing you do in Mule Creek. The diner is located on the corner of Main Street and Vine, so everyone calls it the Corner Café or just Christy’s. The place is small, with well-worn tables and pictures of tractors lining the walls. Signs for Murphy’s Irish Pub and Guinness are mixed in with the farm equipment. I’m not sure if they’re for decoration or if the place serves alcohol.
It’s my first time here, and the big Irishman the place is named after, with red hair, a crooked nose, and a scowl on his face, is not welcoming.
“If you’re all goin’ to be here taking up space, you need to order something, Zye.” He glares at Rainn’s brother. “This ain’t your personal meetin’ space.”
“That was one time, Christy.”
He turns his scowl on the rest of us. “I hope you’re all hungry.”
“I am, Uncle Christy!” Simon is Isaac’s son. A cute six-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes.
“You’re always hungry.” Adrian ruffles his hair.
The bodyguards aren’t in the diner. I'm not sure if it’s considered safe or if they’re all waiting outside. Not eating. Reginald sits at another table. Simon tries to wave him over, but he shakes his head with a fond smile. The table is full with Zye, Miles, Isaac, Adrian, and Simon. And Rainn and me. But there’s room for one more.
“I hope it’s okay that we’re here.” Isaac gives Zye and Rainn an apologetic smile. “I don’t have anyone to watch…” He nods his head toward his son.
“It’s fine,” Rainn answers for them both. “We’re just planning?—”
“I’m a good planner. Right, Daddy?”
“Right, bud.” Isaac chuckles. “He really is.”
And then, for some reason, he shares a fond look with Adrian. There’s a story there, but I don’t care about it. I just want this to go well for Rainn. Whether they find their mom or not, he needs closure.
“It’s fine.” Rainn smiles at Simon. “We need all the help we can get.”
A young girl who looks a lot like Christy takes our orders. She does fine until she gets to Adrian. Her face turns red and she gets flustered, almost dropping her pencil. Once she gets his order, she stammers an apology and rushes away. Not surprising, really. She’s a teenager. He’s a hot European prince. Not that I’m attracted to him. There’s only one guy for me.
I reach for Rainn’s hand, and he gives me a smile. His real smile. Not the I-can-charm-anyone smile.
“So what’s the story?” Zye asks, staring at our hands. “I can’t believe you and Mac got married. And you didn’t even tell me.”
Zye has said this a few times already. And there was lots of spinning involved. Something he does a lot. At least the emu isn’t dining with us.
“We’re not talking about that,” Rainn says and then holds up his hand in a wait gesture when Zye opens his mouth. “Not yet. Right now, we should talk about Mom.”
His brother presses his lips together. He looks upset. I hope he doesn’t cry. Rainn hates upsetting his brother. Always has.
“Why the…heck,” Miles says, glancing at Simon, “are we just now hearing about this? You’ve known about those letters for months.”
“I didn’t want?—”
I grab Rainn’s leg and cut him off. “You, of all people, shouldn’t be lecturing anyone about withholding information or being honest. And you’re not really a part of this?—”
“And you are?”
I really don’t like this guy. Not because he slept with Rainn. Okay, not just because he slept with Rainn. He tried and succeeded in sabotaging Rainn and Cher’s wedding. But heck, I guess I owe him for that.
“If you’re going to fight, take it outside.” When did Christy return?
“No fighting,” Rainn says to him and then gives Miles and me a look. “No fighting.”
Miles and I both nod but continue to glare at each other.
“Aidyn?” Another man as tall as Christy but not as big with dark hair approaches the diner owner. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“No, Garrett. I’m working.” He waves a hand at the full diner.
“I know. It’ll only take a minute. Please.” They stare at each other while having some silent conversation. Christy gives a quick nod and points a finger at us. “No fighting, ya hear?”
“Who was that?” I ask Rainn. He turns, and our faces are close. I can see each freckle and my heart feels like it’s going to explode. How can I protect him?
He keeps his voice low. “I think that’s his brother-in-law. Christy’s a widower.”
Huh. I got the feeling it was a different type of relationship instead of in-laws. But what do I know? I’m certainly not an expert.
“We need to figure out if we want to contact Mom,” Rainn says to Zye. “And if we do, how do we do it?”
“Yes. And we go see her.”
“Just like that?”
Zye’s chin trembles. “I want answers. I want to see her.”
“Maybe we can go after Christmas?—”
“I don’t want to wait until then.” Zye’s eyes flash with determination. “I want to go now.”
Rainn laughs. “Now? I get that, Zye, but there’s no way to book a flight during the holidays in the timeframe we have.”
“I might know a guy.” Isaac shares a look with Adrian.
The prince nods. “You could use the royal jet.”
“Your Highness,” Reginald says, joining the conversation. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“ We could use the royal jet. Will that work for you, Reggie?”
“As you wish, sire.”
How is this my life now? And why do I have to be the adult? “We can’t go right now.”
“But…”
“Rainn and I have finals.” I avoid looking at Rainn. “And if this goes bad, and it could, it’ll be difficult for him to focus.”
“Mac, I’ll be fine.”
I grab his face because there are too many distractions, and I need him to hear me. “You can’t know that, sweetheart. You’ve worked too hard to mess this up now.” At my raised brows, he nods. I stand and turn to the others. “You might not be aware, but med school isn’t easy. Rainn has worked his tail off. And whether you believe it or not, Zye, he would do anything for you. Don’t ask him to do this.”
Zye stares at me with his mouth wide open. And I notice too late that Simon’s eyes are huge. Shoot. I didn’t mean to scare him. “I didn’t mean to yell. Just—okay. I’ll sit down and leave you all to figure this out.”
Rainn’s face is bright red. I give him an apologetic look and slump in my seat.
“We can go after finals,” Zye says. “Does that work, Rainn?”
“That works.”
Thankfully, the food arrives and everyone starts eating. Rainn tugs on my hand until I look up. “That was so hot. I can’t wait to get you back to the hotel.”
Saturday, a little over a week later, we are honest to God on a royal jet flying to California. It’s a three-and-a-half-hour flight and everyone is here. Finals went fine, but I’m glad they’re over. It’s a week of hell, and then it’s suddenly done, which is a little disconcerting. Every single time. All the buildup, and then it’s over.
Rainn is talking to Zye. Catching up. Isaac and Adrian are sitting together. Simon is hanging out with Reginald. Which leaves me watching Rainn from a distance and feeling sick and awkward. It’s a big plane and has to be safe enough for a prince. Right? Right? But I act like it’s no big deal because Rainn keeps sneaking glances back at me. I wave and smile. As long as Rainn wants me with him, I’ll be here.
“Are we having fun yet?” Miles drops into the seat next to me and stretches out his legs.
“Less fun now.” Sure, I have to play nice, but I don’t have to pretend we’re besties.
His laugh sounds like he’s been caught off guard. “You don’t like me.”
Seriously? “You haven’t given me a reason to like you.” I need to stop there. But I’m trapped in a flying metal bird, and if I’m going to die today, I might as well say what I mean. “But you’ve given me plenty of reasons not to like you.”
He shrugs, raking his hand through the hair that’s escaped his messy man bun. His ink peeks out from the opening of his shirt. He’s the opposite of Zye. Somehow, I guess they fit. Love is weird. And confusing. And sometimes impossible. “Hate me all you want, Mac?—”
“Thanks, I will.”
“But,” he says, smiling like we’re best friends sharing tea, “Rainn never wanted me.”
“I don’t care that you slept with him. That was years ago.” And I say it like it’s true, not like it tears me up inside that this is what Rainn wants. I’m safe. His best friend. Miles is wild. Exciting. Hot. If you’re into the He-Man type.
He snorts. “You don’t need to pretend with me. I can see—but that doesn’t matter. What I’m telling you is a fact. Not opinion. He never wanted me.”
This time, I snort. “How many times did you hook up again?”
“Depends on what you’re talking about. How many occasions? Or how many times in one night?—”
“You’re such a jerk.” I stand. The blood whooshing through my head makes it hard to think. Hard not to punch something. Or someone. But that’s not me. The plane lurches, and I flail, my stomach plummeting. Strong hands grab me. When did Miles stand up?
“Let’s sit down, Mac.” His voice is low. Calm. “And smile at your boy so he doesn’t try to beat me up.”
I regain my balance and my lunch, which tried to make a comeback. Rainn is still sitting, but his eyes are on me. I smile and nod, holding up my hand. I’m fine. He doesn’t believe my silent lie, but he doesn’t rush over either.
Returning to my seat, I study my legs. Because looking out that window isn’t happening. And I’m not ready to see the smug look on Miles’s face.
“You don’t like to fly?” Which is nicer than you’re scared shirtless, so I give him points for that.
“Nope.”
“I’m terrified of spiders. Even the tiny ones. Especially the tiny ones.”
Really? I’m so surprised that I forget my plan not to look at him. He shrugs with a what-can-you-do smile. I could see the charm of the guy. If I didn’t already hate him. “So we’re besties now.”
“I like you, Mac.”
Right. My look of disbelief says all I have to say on that subject.
“Surprises me too. You don’t talk much, but you’re loyal. You care about Rainn. A bit of a dumbass…”
“Stop trying to provoke me and just say what you have to say. I’d rather spend my last dying minutes driving nails through my skull than listening to you yammer.”
“Do people say yammer anymore?” At my look, he grins. Jesus. Then he raises his brows at me.
“Just say it.” Why is everyone so dramatic?
The smile leaves his face. “He never wanted me. He just needed someone willing to pretend?—”
“Like role play?” I really am going to be sick. And if so, I was throwing up on him.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Remember that day in Zye’s office when you showed up?”
The abrupt switch confuses me. Is that his plan? “I remember you were a jerk.”
“I was so pissed. Here’s my bestie’s groom introducing me to his best man. His best friend. Mac.” He shakes his head. “He asked me, God, fucking begged me every time we hooked up. ‘Just let me pretend, Miles. Let me call you Mac.’” He sighs.
My heart beats faster, and I stare at him. Is that true? Could that be true?
And then, as if he heard my silent question or could read it on my face, he asks, “Why would I lie?”
Trying to process all this while the plane hits more turbulence has my stomach more than unhappy with the situation. Did Rainn sleep with Miles because he wanted me? It seems unlikely.
Miles sighs. “Look, Zye told me about Vegas and the fake marriage and all. But I just wanted to say that Rainn is madly in love with you. Whether he admits it or not. Either make it work or cut him loose.”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t. Not really. But Zye does. And I care about Zye.”
Thankfully, they announce we’ll be touching down soon, and Miles moves to sit with Zye. Rainn takes the empty seat beside me.
“You look upset, Mac.” He takes my hand. “What did that fucker say?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
He nods. “I can beat him up for you.” That makes me laugh.
He starts to move his hand, but I grab and hold on, not letting go until we’re finished stuttering along and the plane stops completely. And honestly, not even then. I hold on a minute more. And this time, it’s more for him than me. This is it.
After ten years, Rainn is finally going to see his mom.