Chapter 42
FORTY-TWO
“Is Noah okay?” I ask carefully. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to or not. Noah may never like me, but we have a reluctant friendship, and he’s a big part of Mackie’s life.
“Yeah, fine, just telling me about his dad.” He drops his phone to his chest and cranes his neck back to look at me from his position. His head is resting on my knee, and I’m playing with his hair. “Sorry, I should have asked before answering.”
“No, you don’t have to,” I assure him as I lean down and kiss his head. “We don’t have to fully divide our time. You two can speak and text when you’re with me. I don’t mind.”
Sitting up, he spins around and cups my face. “You are the most amazing man ever,” he murmurs before kissing me. “Now, about that roller skating place . . .” I groan, which makes him laugh. “Come on, old man, get dressed and let’s go have some fun.”
“It’s late,” I grouse. “Can’t we just fuck and go to bed?”
“After,” he teases as he straddles me and drapes his arms around my neck. “You can feel me up and flirt with me in public while we skate though.”
“I’ll fall on my ass,” I mutter, but I’m giving in. I shouldn’t have mentioned that new place. Evan was telling me about it because he’s trying to convince Alek to go.
That’s the problem with having a young boyfriend, but he sure as shit is cute.
“Then I’ll kiss it better,” he promises, brushing his lips along my earlobe. “And then you can make my ass ache just like yours will.” Before I can grab him, he’s up and moving, making me chase after him.
It worked. I find myself dressed in slacks and a loose, half-unbuttoned green shirt as Mackie skips by my side in his baggy jeans and band tee, looking far too happy.
There’s a line outside of the venue, but it moves pretty quickly, and once we’re inside, I watch his mouth drop open in awe.
Despite the fact that I’ll be on my ass, I can’t help but be glad we came for his expression alone.
There is a huge disco ball in the middle of the rink to the right, reflecting rainbows across the tiled ceiling.
The rink itself is a circle with people dancing and having fun around it.
To the left is a seating area with a bar and a restaurant, since it’s for adults only.
There are photo booths along the back wall, and next to them is a wall with signed pictures.
It has a cool eighties vibe, and I’ll admit the Fleetwood Mac music makes me happy as I look around.
“Quick, let’s get our skates!” Mackie grabs my hand and yanks me after him, making me laugh, but his enthusiasm is infectious.
We head to the circular booth in the middle, and after waiting in a short line, we pick our skates and walk over to a bench on the right. I take off my jacket and kneel.
“Conan?” Mackie asks, but I simply lift his left foot, take off his shoe, and do the same to the right. I can feel him watching me, but I grab his skates, lift his foot, brush off his sock, and help him into both before tying them and sitting back on my heels.
“Do they feel okay?” I ask softly.
He nods silently, his eyes wide as I smile and sit next to him, putting my skates on before standing. I take our shoes and coats and lock them up, tying the key around my wrist before returning to him and offering him my hand. “Come on then, baby boy.”
He lets me tug him up, but his skates go out from under him and he slams into my chest. Chuckling, I slip my arms around him. “I guess you’ll be clinging to me the entire time. Can’t say I’m mad about that,” I tease.
“Shut up. I slipped,” he scoffs, but he’s smiling, and he holds my arm as we carefully make our way over to the rink. I get in first and help him down, and once we’re there, he looks nervous. “I guess it’s been a long time since I skated.”
“My Mackie not good at something? Tell me why I find that so fucking cute, Mr. Perfect,” I tease.
“I’ll show you,” he grumbles, releasing my arm and pushing forward.
He quickly gets the hang of it and skates circles around me in no time as I struggle to glide without falling.
Even some old couples are passing us, but we ignore everyone else—apart from Mackie, who seems determined to master this straight away. I guess that’s his competitiveness.
Why is it so sexy?
I, on the other hand, look like Bambi on ice.
“Now who’s cute?” he teases, skating backward and holding my hands so I don’t fall. “I never thought I’d see the day when you looked nervous.”
“I’m always nervous around you,” I admit, and he blushes, something even I see under the lights. “But physical sports were never really my thing.”
“Really? With that body?” It’s my turn to blush, and he grins as he tugs me faster.
“I was always more of a read a book and stay indoors person,” I say as he skates at my side now. “Though, I’m currently seeing the benefits.”
Like having him beside me, smiling.
His laughter fills the air as the song changes to something upbeat, and the grin he aims at me is malicious. “Come on, old man, let’s move!”
He drags me around for hours, and I’ll admit, it’s a really good time, if not exhausting.
Slumping into the booth, I lean into Mackie as he relaxes into the sticky leather. The disco lights flash over us while the music flows through the air. “This is so much fun,” he says.
“Good, I’m glad.” I kiss his cheek. “When I can feel my legs, I’ll go get us drinks.”
“I’ll go, since I’m the youngest,” he teases with a wink before hurrying to the bar. I watch him. How could I not? I notice others doing the same, eyeing him hungrily, and I don’t blame them.
Mackie is beautiful, with his bright smile that lights up the entire room, not to mention how kind he is. People flock to him and share chats at the bar, but when he turns, his eyes are only for me, and I feel somewhat superior.
Sliding back into the booth, he hands me a drink. “Taste.” Leaning in, I suck on the little straw before wincing.
“Too sweet,” I mutter.
“Thought so. Here.” He takes the second one then offers it to me.
This time, it’s much less sweet and more minty with leaves on top, whereas the one he takes has worms and candy hanging over the edge.
He nibbles on them as he watches the others skate, and I settle back at his side to do the same, content to be with him.
Just then, a redheaded woman stops by our table. She’s young, probably younger than Mackie, and wearing a cute sundress. She smiles at us sweetly, flashing pearly whites as she leans into our booth. “Hi, I’m Whitney.”
“Hey, I’m Mackie, and this is Conan,” Mackie replies with a bright smile.
She giggles as she looks between us, and my lips tilt down in a frown at that.
“Are you single?” the cute redhead asks, fluttering her lashes, and I narrow my eyes as Mackie’s mouth drops open.
“He isn’t,” I snap.
“Oh, I meant you.” The girl looks at me, and I blink.
“He isn’t either,” Mackie replies, leaning forward. “He’s mine, so back off, sister.”
“Good catch.” She sighs, changing her voice. “Congrats.”
He glares at her back as she leaves, and I drape my arm around his neck and tug him closer. “Possessive.”
Mackie looks at me, still annoyed, as I wipe the sugar from his lips and suck it away. “Like you weren’t glaring at everyone I talked to at the bar.”
“I was, but there’s a difference. I only see you,” I promise as I kiss him. “Just sweet enough on your lips.”
He elbows me away, but he smiles before he downs his drink. “Come on, old man, let’s get back out there.”
He laughs at my groan, but how can I protest when he’s that fucking cute?
Our hands swing back and forth, my jacket is around his shoulders, and our smiles are wide. Despite my complaint, I loved getting to see him so happy and showing him off.
“I really enjoyed that,” I admit. “I guess if it involves you, I can get into sports.”
“You certainly like the horizontal bed kind,” he teases, and my jaw drops, making him laugh before I grab him to get my own back.
“Conan?” The voice stops me, and I glance up to see two people in front of us on the sidewalk. My laughter instantly fades away, and I swallow hard as I stare at Penelope and Todd—my husband’s best friends.
“Hey,” I say softly. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has.” Penelope glances at Mackie, and her expression seems to sour before she looks back at me. “I hear you’ve been doing well.”
“So have you, and you guys just had a second kid, right?” I ask awkwardly.
We drifted away after my husband died. They were never my friends, and I always suspected they blamed me for his death.
They never outright said it, but there was hostility when they spoke to me, the same kind I’m sensing now.
“Yup, a boy. We named him Steven,” she snaps. “You remember that name, right?”
My heart sinks at my husband’s name and the accusation in her words.
“Pen.” Todd winces as he looks at me. “Is this your . . . partner?”
“This is Mackie, my boyfriend,” I reply. “Mackie, this is Penelope and Todd, Steven’s best friends.”
“Oh, so he knows about your husband? Strange, since you seem to have forgotten.” I shrink under her vile words, clutching Mackie’s hand like a lifeline. “You moved on quickly enough, and to someone much younger. I get how it is.”
“What, is he supposed to stay single forever?” Mackie snaps, stepping in front of me protectively. I put my hands on his shoulders and try to tug him back.
“Mackie, it’s fine—”
“No, it isn’t. She’s treating you like shit. Conan said you were Steven’s best friends. Do you really think your best friend would want you treating Conan this way?” he demands.
“I wouldn’t know. He’s dead.” She looks at me. “And Conan isn’t.”
So that’s what it boils down to. My flinch must be felt by Mackie.
“And what, that’s his fault? Accidents happen, and Conan has been loyal to him for many years.
He told me about him immediately. I even met his parents, who were happy for him, yet you can’t be?
Grow the fuck up. I’m sorry you lost someone important to you, but so did Conan, and treating him like shit for trying to find some happiness in his life after nothing but grief and loneliness for years is just shit.
I see you moved on. Kids, yeah? Should he say the same about you? ”
“That isn’t fair—” Penelope starts, taken aback.
“No, what isn’t fair is the way you spoke and looked at a man who loved your best friend more than anything in this world. I don’t know you, lady, but I know Conan, and he’s a good person. You will never speak to him like that again or we are going to have issues, understand?”
Todd looks between us before laughing awkwardly. “He’s got spunk. Steven would have liked him.” Todd grunts when Penelope elbows him. “What? He would. Don’t be such an ass, babe. Steve is gone, has been for a long time.”
She looks between us and Todd then storms past us without another word. Todd sighs and heads our way, and Mackie keeps himself between us. “Look, Conan, I’m sorry, man. She’s just . . . Yeah.” He leaves, and I’m left staring after them, feeling sick to my core and ashamed.
“Are you okay?” Mackie asks as he turns.
“Fine,” I answer as I start walking, but I know he can tell I’m not. He catches up but doesn’t speak, and I sigh. “Do you think I’m wrong for moving on?”
“No,” Mackie replies, “and not just because it’s with me, but in general.
You can’t stay faithful to a dead man forever, Conan.
Sorry, but it’s true. You deserve to be happy.
It doesn’t mean you’ll stop loving him or forget him.
It just means you have a chance to have more in your life.
Don’t listen to her. Even his parents are glad you’re happy. ”
I nod, knowing he’s right. “I guess I forgot for a minute,” I murmur. I can barely meet his eyes. “I forgot about him and us and before. I forgot and was just happy.”
“Oh, babe.” He wraps his arms around me, and I bury my head against his neck, sucking in his comforting scent. I can’t let him go. Despite my guilt and Penelope’s opinion, I can’t. I need Mackie.
I was empty before he came into my life, and I can’t go back to that.
I don’t know if that makes me selfish or not, but I can’t seem to care with him wrapped around me.