Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
NATE
“My feet hurt.”
Mackenzie looks down at Nick and shakes her head in that disapproving way moms have perfected. “I told you those sandals weren’t for running.”
“But they’re my favorites.”
“They won’t be if they give you blisters.” Mackenzie tries to reason with Nick, but the battle is lost before it even begins. He’s in love with his new Aquaman flip-flops, and nothing will convince him otherwise, not when Aquaman reminds him of his dad.
I brace for the familiar guilt that usually follows any thought of Ethan, but it doesn’t come. The weight of remorse lingers, but not for the reason it used to. His marriage had been over before the papers waited for his signature. Ethan sent me here for a reason. I have to believe that.
“My toe hurts.”
Uh-oh. “Let me see.” I crouch down and take a quick glance. Just as I suspected, a blister had formed where the divider had rubbed his skin raw. “Alright, big guy.” I scoop him up onto my shoulders and grab the lawn chairs. “I’m onto you. This was a ploy for a free ride, wasn’t it?”
Nick giggles, gripping my hair. “Nooo. ”
I glance over at Mackenzie, about to ask if she’s ready to go, but her expression stops me cold. She’s watching me. There’s a deep appreciation to her stare as her lips curve into a smile different from the one she wore last night. It’s more tender, more … sure.
She was breathtakingly sexy beneath me, but this is something else entirely. A quiet, effortless beauty that settles in my chest. For the first time in a long time, I wonder if more is possible.
Liam’s voice shatters the moment.
“I can’t wait until our soccer tournaments!” His enthusiasm is infectious. “You’re still coming, right?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His tournaments run through November, which is longer than I originally planned on staying. But I made a promise. I intend to keep it.
Mackenzie walks beside me, her head lowered, biting her lip. Is she thinking about last night? I hope so. I don’t want her second-guessing it.
“Yes! We’re going to kick butt. Did you see my goal? It was a beauty.”
“I did. You played awesomely.”
“Oh, Mom, I need to tell Toby something about school next week. I’ll be right back.” Liam dashes off as we congregate underneath a large oak tree.
“He’s excited about school starting.”
“I am, too,” Nick says, kicking his feet.
“I bet you are, buddy. Learning is always fun.”
Mackenzie presses her lips together to keep from smiling. She probably thinks I’m joking, but I was serious when I said I liked academics.
“You know, Liam’s too advanced for his league. He needs a bigger challenge. I should look into some year-round programs for him.”
Her head snaps up. “You’d do that?”
“Yeah. You’ve got enough on your plate. Let me take care of it.”
A flicker of something unreadable crosses her face before she smirks. My body reacts instantly. She has no idea how tempting she is or how much I want to see that smirk in far less innocent situations.
“Mom. Mom.” Liam sprints over to us. “Toby told me all about a Pumpkin Festival. It has rides and games and everything! Can we go?”
“I want to go,” Nick pipes up. “Do they have penguins?”
Liam groans. “No, it’s not a zoo.”
“But I want to see penguins.”
I smother a laugh at their ridiculous argument. These kids are something else.
Liam turns to me. “Are you coming too?”
“When is it?” The words are out before I can stop them. Damn it. It shouldn’t matter when. But asking that question just proves what I already know—our time together has an expiration date.
“The weekend after our tournament.”
“Then it’s a date.”
Nick frowns. “Like what you had with Mommy?”
I choke at Nick’s words.
“Ew, Nick, that’s gross,” Liam protests.
“Is not.”
Mackenzie’s squeak makes me cringe. “Who told you we went on a date?”
“Grandma. She said you got all pretty for Nate. She said it was because you had a date. But Uncle Jordan was mad, but Grandma told him to lie down.”
“What?”
“No, she said to lay off.” Liam gives his head a frustrated shake. “She thought Uncle Jordan was ridiculous.”
My gaze strays to Mackenzie. Her face is a mix of mortification and something else. Something deeper.
I steer the conversation back to the festival. “Anyway, I’ll be there. We’ll have a great time.”
That earns me a round of cheers.
Liam tugs on my sleeve. “You’re coming to my birthday party, right? It’s in a few weeks. ”
Liam’s steel-blue eyes peer up at me with eagerness. I would turn the world upside down to keep that look on his face. “Wouldn’t miss it. What do you want for a present?”
Liam’s face falls slightly. “Nothing. What I want no one can bring.”
The weight of his sadness punches me in the gut.
Mackenzie pulls him into a side hug. “I bet you’re going to have a great birthday.”
“Yeah,” he mumbles. “But I wish Dad were here.”
“Me too, buddy,” she says softly.
Mackenzie shoots me a glance. It’s both pained and stressed. I doubt the kids knew about her plans to leave Ethan. There’s no reason to tell them now. But damn if it doesn’t make this whole situation sting.
We walk to the truck in silence. Just as I load the lawn chairs, the lady Mackenzie pointed out earlier approaches. Mackenzie stiffens instantly.
“Mackenzie, dear, I wanted to say hello.” She offers the kids a tight smile. “My, my, how you’ve boys grown. And you”—she places her hand under Liam’s chin—“look so much like your father. It’s uncanny.”
Then her eyes land on me, cool and assessing.
I match her stare, unbothered.
“Hello, Mrs. Morgan,” Mackenzie says.
The woman snubs Mackenzie and turns her attention back to the boys. “Are you ready for school next week?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Liam’s more polite than I want to be.
“I’m starting kindergarten!” Nick beams.
“My, yes. And, Liam, you’ll be in my little Toby’s class. How exciting.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, family should always stick together.” She turns and gives me a calculated glare.
I’ve dealt with people like her before. The ones who judge before they know a damn thing .
I plaster on a smile. “Couldn’t agree more. That’s why I’m glad Mackenzie has such a strong support system. School’s important, and I’ll be helping however I can so she can focus on finishing her degree.”
Mrs. Morgan falters. “Well, of course.”
I slide an arm around Mackenzie’s shoulders, just for the hell of it. “We better get going. A better future won’t build itself.”
Mrs. Morgan’s mouth flaps open. I don’t stick around to hear whatever condescending nonsense she wants to spew.
As we climb into the truck, Mackenzie turns to me, shaking her head. But she’s smiling—really smiling.
“Thank you.”
And at that moment, I know I’ll do anything for her.