Mack
mack
. . .
“ M ack!” Chase Wiley, one of my two best friends yells my name from across the locker room. I don’t answer him, only because I know he’ll come over to my locker in a few seconds. I begin counting and get to five before Chase comes around one set of lockers and grins as if he’s up to no good, which let’s be honest, Chase Wiley is likely up to no good. Ever since he turned sixteen and got his license, he’s been unruly.
Sean Walsh, my other best friend, follows him. I know they feel sorry for me because my parents aren’t here, but it’s only because they don’t understand how awesome Liam is or that if shit were to get bad, I could call Noah and he’d let me live with him. It’s Sean who I feel sorry for. For his birthday his parents told him he’s adopted and then told him they didn’t want to talk about it because it’s painful. Uh . . . so is telling your kids you’re not his biological parents and then saying you don’t want to talk about it. When I told Liam and Josie about that, Josie pulled Sean aside at practice the next day and told him to call or come over whenever he needed a mom. She’s good like that and always knows exactly what we need.
“What’s up?” I ask them when they sit on the bench behind my locker. I finish putting my practice clothes in a bag which Josie said is a must. She hates how my clothes make the rest of my bag smell, so she bought me a laundry bag. It smells all girly but it’s better than seeing her face scrunch up when I get into the car, or she asks for my dirty clothes.
“You heading home?” Chase asks.
I shake my head and zip my bag. “I gotta go walk Beau first and then I’ll head home.”
“Can I come?” Sean asks. I know it’s because he doesn’t like going home anymore.
“Sure, man. Beau likes you.”
“I’m coming too then,” Chase says. He and I made this pact to make sure Sean always has support. He’d do the same for us if one of us needed it. In fact, he said I could come live with him if I needed to get away from the Westburys.
The three of us head out of the locker room and leave the school grounds. I text the Westbury family chat to let them know I’m on my way to collect Beau with Chase and Sean. Communication is one of the major rules we have to follow. Liam and Josie can also check my location, but they’d rather not. Betty Paige and I must text when we leave and arrive at places. It’s a courtesy and something my dad made me do.
We’re a block away when Chase says, “When are you going to ask Paige out?”
My steps falter and I right myself. Sean and Chase chuckle. I hoped they had missed the stumble but apparently not.
“Uh . . .” I run my hand through my hair. Chase likes Betty Paige. He’s asked her out and she’s told him no. I like to think it’s because she likes me, and not because her dad told her she couldn’t go. She’s the worst part about living with the Westburys. Her and these teenage hormones. I swear waking up with an erection every morning is nature’s way of making boys turning into men hate life. I am so happy we don’t share a bathroom and she doesn’t come into my room without knocking because if she caught me jerking off, I’d off myself. I can’t wait for my dad to get back because as much as I don’t mind living with Liam and Josie, seeing Betty Paige every day and not thinking of her as a sister is hard . Painful in fact. It’s not that she even dresses provocatively or anything. It’s her. Just being in the same room with her drives me crazy sometimes.
“Come on, man,” Sean says. “We know you like her.”
“I mean, yeah. But things are difficult right now.”
“I asked her out,” Sean blurts out. My eyes widened at this admission. He didn’t tell me. Neither did Betty Paige.
“And?”
He shrugs. “She shot me down before I could even finish asking her.”
On the inside I’m smiling. I’m also fuming though. They know I like her and am uncomfortable about asking her out because of our living situation. That doesn’t mean they have free reign. Or does it? Does she flirt with them?
Nah, I don’t think she does. But then, she does have classes with them so maybe they do flirt. Maybe I should just ask her out and hope she says yes. I’ve thought about it enough times. I don’t know how I’d feel if she started dating some kid at our school who isn’t me. I mean, would it kill me to see her kissing someone else? Yeah, it would. I wish I had someone to talk to about this, but I don’t want to trouble my dad, Noah would probably beat me up for wanting to date his sister and Liam? Yeah, let’s not go there yet. They’d probably put me in a dungeon to keep me away from Betty Paige. Not that I can blame them. Gah, I hate being a teenager. Life is already complicated enough.
“When does your dad get back?” Chase asks.
I shrug. We cross the street and I open the door that leads to FMG Records. “I’m not sure,” I tell them.
“Once he’s back, you should definitely ask her out,” Sean says.
I roll my eyes and open the door to the studio. I’m thankful Elle’s the one at the desk right now and not Betty Paige.
“Hey, Mack.”
As soon as Elle says my name, Beau knocks his head against the desk and comes ripping around the corner and into my arms. I kneel down and bury my hands in his hair. “Hey, boy. I know, I missed you too.”
Elle laughs. “Ben says we should give him to you.”
“I’m not sure how Liam would feel about that.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be worried about how I would feel,” she says as she hands me his leash. “You can walk him home. Ben’s there.”
“Okay. I’ll see ya later.”
I motion for the guys to leave. They stumble out and almost fall down the stairs. “You should wipe the drool from your chins,” I tell them.
“I don’t know how you don’t sport a hard-on for her. She’s so fucking hot,” Chase says. “You won the family lottery big time.”
“Have you seen her naked?” Sean asks.
I glare at them. “There is something wrong with you guys.”
“Yeah, red-blooded male.” Chase points to his chest. “I’d totally do her.”
“She’d eat you alive,” I tell him. “And then spit you out.”
We cross the street to the dog park. I let Beau loose, but he won’t leave my side. He’d rather play with me than other dogs. Chase and Sean walk with me and even try to throw sticks for Beau but he ignores them.
“I think older women are my thing,” Sean says.
I roll my eyes again.
“There’s a thing called statutory rape,” I tell them. “I don’t think someone like Elle believes either of you are worthy of jail time.”
They stare at me like I’ve insulted them instead of telling them the truth.
After some time at the dog park, I walk Beau to Mr. Powell’s and hand him off to Ben before heading home. When I get there, the light to the studio is on, letting us know Liam’s in the basement working. It’s green which means he’s not recording. I take my stuff to my room, drop my dirty clothes off in the laundry room, and then head downstairs, thankful Josie and Betty Paige aren’t home.
Liam’s head pops up when he hears me coming. He’s wearing glasses, which according to some awkward moments I’ve interrupted between him and Josie, are so f’ing hot they make her want to have more babies with him. I used to cringe when my parents would cuddle on the couch because I knew what they’re going to do later, but I wanted to die when I heard Josie say that to Liam. Betty Paige says her dad wears glasses because he’s old.
“Hey, how was school? Practice?”
“Both were good,” I tell him. I sit on the couch next to the desk he’s working at. “I was wondering if I could talk to you about something.”
Liam takes off his glasses and turns to face me. “Of course. What’s up?”
“I’d like to ask someone out,” I say. “Like to the movies or something. I really like someone, and I’d like to take her on a date. That’s if she likes me.”
Liam nods. “I was your age when I asked Josie out, so I get it,” he says. “If you’re going to start dating, we’ll set a curfew. And until you get your license, either me or Josie can drive you or take turns with the other parent.”
“Awesome, thanks.”
I get up and head to the stairs and then turn around. Liam watches my every move. I approach him cautiously. My knees knock together as if I’ve just learned to walk, which I may very well have to after I ask Liam my all-important question.
I must have a death wish.
“Mr. Westbury, can I have your permission to take Betty Paige to the movies?”
His mouth drops open and then closes.
I expect him to tell me to get out of the studio and his house, but he doesn’t. He stares at me for a long time. “Come sit down.”
I do as he says.
Liam sits next to me on the couch, angling his body toward mine. “I should say no,” he says. “But in doing so, I know I’d be saying no because of your living situation which is out of your control. If you lived at your house and had asked, I’d have no reason to refuse. I like you, Mack. I think you’re turning into a fine young man. With that said, if you’re going to date my daughter, there are rules.”
“Of course, sir.”
Liam nods and then starts ticking off the rules. No drinking, especially when you get your license, which also means no parking in Allenville when you are driving, no fondling, touching, groping. No going to the tower, no sneaking around the house. Don’t break the rules currently in place. The list goes on and on, but I absorb it all.
“Do I need to talk to you about sex?”
“I . . . uh . . .”
“As the person in charge of you right now, it’s easy for me to say, don’t do it. Don’t put yourself in a situation you can’t get out of. If you are going to have sex, use a condom. Every single time. If you need some, I’ll buy them. But use them, no matter what. If you don’t, be prepared to be a parent. Because it’ll happen. There’s no maybe about it. Now, as the father of the girl you plan to ask out, if you touch her, I’ll break you. Don’t disrespect me in my home.”
He smiles.
I swallow hard. “Sir, I wouldn’t do that,” I tell him. “I am so appreciative of you and Josie for letting me live here. I would never do anything to cross you.”
Shockingly, Liam pulls me into his arms. When he lets go, he says. “I knew this day would come. I wish you luck, son.” And then he starts laughing. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. Or forget the whole thing. I like Betty Paige, but I like my life too.
Maybe I need to reconsider my feelings.
At least that’s what I think until I get upstairs and find Betty Paige coming through the front door. Something about the moment catches me off guard. It’s not like I haven’t seen her a million times before, but now everything feels different. Maybe it’s because I have permission from her dad to take her on a date. Or maybe it took my friends asking her out for me to realize I want to date her.
She stares at me, with her soulful brown eyes and long dark hair. She’s taller than most of the other girls her age. Taller than most of the boys too. But not me. I like that she’s close to my height though. Today, she’s wearing tight jeans, with holes up and down the front of her legs, her worn in Chuck Taylors, and a T-shirt. That’s the other thing I like about her. She could be some pretentious teenager but she’s not. Betty Paige doesn’t flaunt who her dad or her brother is or any of her other family members. Kids at school make a big deal about it, but she doesn’t care.
“Hey,” she says as she slings her backpack higher onto her shoulder.
“I’ll take that for you.” I reach for the strap, brushing my hands against her shoulder, already breaking one of Liam’s rules. She helps me by moving her arm. Our hands touch. Another rule broken. Or the same one? I’m not sure because my mind is fuzzy.
“What are you doing Friday night?” Instantly, my throat tightens, as if I’m allergic to something even though I’m not. I swallow, trying to ease the odd sensation while I wait for what seems like an eternity for her to answer.
I don’t know how many seconds, minutes, or hours go by, but it definitely feels like hours as my knees start to shake, and my heart does this weird pound pound pound thing. I think I might be having heart palpitations, and I don’t know if I should seek medical attention or not.
I think I definitely need a doctor—where’s my dad when I need him—because my palms are sweating, and they don’t sweat like this when I’m staring down a batter.
What is happening?
Betty Paige shrugs. “Probably hanging out here.”
“Would you like to go to the movies with me?”
“Sure,” she says with another shrug.
I shake my head. “As in a date, Betty Paige. Would you like to go out with me?”
Her smile spreads across her face slowly. She pulls in her bottom lips and bites it. Watching her do that goes right to the nether region, and I groan.
She steps closer and I swallow hard. “Is this a real date, Mack?”
I nod. “A real date.”
“See you Friday.”
She takes her bag from me and darts up the stairs. I feel like calling out that we’ll see each other in about an hour or so for dinner, but I don’t.
All day on Friday, I watch the clock. Not once have I second guessed my decision in asking Liam if I can take Betty Paige to the movies, and thankfully, she’s made things easy on me and has maintained the same distance we normally do. Minus the encounter near the front door, which is the closest we’ve been in days.
When I get home from school, I shower quickly and dress in jeans and a button down. I’ve seen my dad, Liam, and Noah wear this combo many times and they seem to like it. I actually put some gel in my hair. Noah and Peyton bought it for my birthday, along with other products every sixteen-year-old boy needs. When I’m ready, I knock on her bedroom door. She opens the door, wearing a mini skirt that she definitely didn’t wear to school.
My eyes travel from her face down her torso, spending way too much time on the flesh above her knees. I swallow hard and clear my throat. “Can you please put pants on?” My voice is barely above a whisper. It’s not that I don’t like the way she looks. It’s that I like it too much and I know I’m going to wonder what her skin feels like in the dark theater.
“You’re worse than my dad,” she says as she closes her door. I stand there, waiting. She opens it again, this time wearing jeans and an off the shoulder sweater. The jeans are better, but now there is shoulder flesh.
Good lord.
I push my hands into my pockets and step back from her door. She walks in front of me, down the stairs and then tells her dad we’re ready to go.
And because we’re on a date, we both sit in the back seat. I stare out the window and only catch Liam staring at me once through the rear view. He pulls up to the curb at the movie theater and tells us to text him when it’s over and he’ll come get us.
Inside, I pay for her ticket and then we hit the snack bar. We buy popcorn to share, and each get a drink, as well as some candy. I hand the usher, who happens to go to our school, our tickets.
“Taking your sister on a date, huh?” He thinks he’s funny. I wonder if he knows I can kick his ass. Not that I would.
“It’s okay, Paige. I’m single.” He winks at her.
Yeah, I would definitely kick his ass. I hand Betty Paige the popcorn and then take her free hand in mine. I don’t give a shit about the no touching rule. We are supposed to be on a date. We’re teens and this is what we do. Something tells me this isn’t what Liam meant when he said no touching.
I hold the door to the theater room for her and then retake her hand. “Where do you want to sit?”
“In the back,” she says. She leads us up the stairs and then finds us a place to sit. It’s nice that our seats recline. We set the popcorn between us, and both lean toward each other, holding hands. Each time I reach for popcorn, so does she. We’re constantly touching, linking fingers, and feeding each other. She leans her head on my shoulder, and I lean toward her as far as I can. I’d like to say I enjoy the movie, but honestly, I have no idea what happens. All I can think about is this girl sitting next to me, the one I’ve liked for probably far longer that I should have. Not for the first time tonight, I think about Liam’s words and wonder whether I can get away with leaning over and kissing Betty Paige. I wonder if she wants me to. I wonder if anyone will see us. I wonder what it would feel like when our lips touch. I wonder if she’ll like it. I end up wondering too much that I overthink and chicken out. When the movie is over, I text Liam, because I’m not going to do anything to get us in trouble.
We wait outside for him, not holding hands, even though I want to. He pulls up to the curb and I open the door for her, then crawl in behind her.
“How was the movie?”
“It was good,” she says. “Very funny.”
“We laughed a lot. Some jackass talked through the whole thing though,” I tell him.
“Rude people suck.”
Tell me about it . I think back to the usher and how he thought he stood a chance with someone like Betty Paige. Pretty sure Liam would rather pull his toenails out with tweezers than let his daughter date someone like that goober. I may not have a traditional punch-the-clock job, but I have multiple jobs and they pay me well.
When we get home, we head to our rooms. I stop at her door. “I had fun tonight,” I tell her. “Would you like to go out again?”
Betty Paige nods and steps closer, but I step back and shake my head. Things can be different when I have a car. Unless Liam follows us around.
Yeah, nope. I’m never kissing his daughter.
“Good night, Betty Paige.” I walk down the hall toward my room.
“Mack?”
I turn and smile.
“Why don’t you call me Paige, like everyone else?”
I shrug. “This way you know it’s me when you hear your name.”
It’s been two hours since we came back from the movies, and I can’t sleep. As tempted as I am to stop by her door, I don’t and continue to head downstairs to get something to drink. I think I ate too much popcorn or something or I’m just nervous or anxious. I’m not sure I know the difference yet. What I do know is my heart is racing for sure and it’s not the kind of racing it does before a football game or when I take the pitcher’s mound. This is different.
It's better.
I stand there with my glass of water when I hear someone behind me. I turn and find Betty Paige in the doorway, wearing nothing but a large T-shirt. To make matters worse, it’s one of mine. She took it one day after a game because it was raining, and she didn’t want her cheer uniform to get wet.
What is it that Noah says? Oh yes, fuck my life .
“I couldn’t sleep,” she says.
“Me neither.” I hold the glass up and show her.
Betty Paige comes toward me, barefoot and all. She stands in front of me, her breasts moving up and down from breathing. I mean, the girl needs to breathe, right?
“Mack how come you won’t kiss me?” She takes the glass and sets it on the counter.
“There are rules.”
“Not for me,” she says as her lips touch mine softly. The kiss is quick. I find myself staring at her.
“I’ve never kissed anyone before. I’m not sure what to do,” I confide.
“We can figure it out together.”
I think back to the movies I’ve seen or when I’ve seen Noah kiss Peyton and place my hand on her hip. Betty Paige does the same and then tilts her head. I move in, slowly, waiting for her to step back, but she doesn’t. This time, when our lips touch, we hold them there longer. I open my mouth and let my tongue touch her lips, and then her tongue touches mine.
Now, I get why there are so many rules.
Kissing Betty Paige is my new favorite hobby. I’m not sure I can stop.