81. Chapter Eighty-One
Chapter Eighty-One
Jordan
Armed with a single warm can of soda that was difficult as shit to find and earned me the strangest look from Mac, along with a bag of peach rings, I walk into my old apartment with squared shoulders.
My lips are still tingling from the kiss Mac left on me as I left his place. He’s just right across the hall, and yet, I’m still anxious to get back to him.
And nervous.
Nervous as fuck.
As suspected, Peach is nowhere near the place he’s supposed to be and I snicker, dropping the bag of candy on his pillow.
Making my way back into the common areas of the place, I find Lugh and Ian sitting at the island waiting.
Drawing in a breath, I set the can down on the counter between them, keeping the structure as a barrier.
Ian’s sight narrows and Lugh’s nose twitches in his form of a chuckle.
“You know,” Ian starts, palming the can and popping it open with a hiss. “You are somehow the worst and okayish bodyguard I’ve ever fucking had.”
I snort. “Be careful, someone might think you’re complimenting me.”
Lugh’s nose does that flaring thing again.
“Okay, smartass.” Ian takes a swig of the warm pop, and I cringe internally.
“Said the psychopath.”
He pins me with a glare and points around his can at me. “Why did I agree to this again?”
“Because you need boots,” I answer seriously. “With Peach out of commission, you’re down two guys.”
“Three,” Lugh chimes in and my brows furrow. “I’m sitting out with Peach.”
I still don’t understand that one but swing my gaze back on Ian. “There’s two problems, though.” He motions for me to spit it out. “The gym for one. I only have one employee and I’m not leaving it all up to him to take care of everything.”
“Fine. So you’ll spend some time there. You just have to convince Mac to go with you or get one of us to cover.”
My heart pounds in my chest.
That felt too easy .
Which means this next part is going to be the worst part to hurtle with my former boss.
Dating a client is a huge no-no. Sleeping with one? Giant red flag.
Falling in love?
Even worse.
But when I don’t have confirmation of any of that from Mac’s side of things?
Yeah, my stomach is doing its best to not drop through my asshole.
What if?
“Second thing?” Ian presses and I swallow hard.
Here goes something .
“Mac and I are seeing each other. Or are going to be. I think.”
My heart thunders as the pair stare at me like I just spoke another language.
Lugh picks it up first, signified by only a twitch of his brow and turns his sight on Ian who’s still staring at me like he’s waiting for the punch line.
“As in, sleeping together, Ian.”
His brows furrow beneath his buzz cut. “Okay. And? You two were always doing weird shit together.”
That makes me chuckle tightly.
“Look,” I say stiffly as I lean onto the counter, arms crossed. “The only reason I’m telling you first and not him is because I don’t want to fuck with his recovery.” Ian’s brows remain pinched. “But I’m in love with him and I plan on being his boyfriend if he’ll have me.”
There. On the table. Could not be any fucking clearer.
Ian snorts and I hold my breath.
I don’t need the job. I definitely won’t accept any money from the Thompson’s because that just feels too weird.
But if I want to keep up with Mac? Be able to go places with him?
I don’t want a third wheel.
Nerves or not … I know that I have him.
Through and through.
Breakfast this morning just cemented it.
Peach kept him safe, and I’d trust the bodyguard with my life in his hands all over again if I needed him to cover Mac when he comes back.
But if Ian’s offering to give me my job back and be on Mac’s detail, then I’m taking it back.
“That’s it? Hell, I thought you were already doing that.”
The breath rushes out of me and my eyes burn.
“You accepted that this whole time?”
Ian shrugs. “It’s not ideal, but they aren’t paying you. And if at any point you can’t focus on keeping him and the others safe, then I need you to call it, but the bond between you jackholes was something I could never find for Mac. Every guard he had before you hated working with him. You’re the only asshole that put up with his wild antics.”
“He’s not that damn bad,” I argue with a pinch to my brow.
Another shrug. “Compared to the others, he seemed that way to them.”
Shaking my head, I let it go.
“You’re seriously okay with me dating him?”
“Who am I to say you can’t?”
I catch Lugh nodding and something inside me warms over at the approval. It’s not that I needed it, but knowing I have it … that they accept us … Mac and me together …
It’s got my throat more than a little tight.
Me and Mac.
Holy shit.
“Thank you,” I mutter and straighten, putting some space between us. “I will keep you updated on things. Just … don’t tell him yet?”
With their agreements and a whole lot of blinking, I round the counter to shake their hands.
Except when my palm meets Lugh’s first, he jerks me into one of those bro hugs with a slap on the back.
“Welcome back.”
I nod when he releases me and turn to Ian.
Instead of a shake, he gathers me into his arms and squeezes.
“Thanks for coming back. And I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like I wouldn’t accept you,” he whispers, then releases me. “Now get to fucking work, kid.”
More nodding. More blinking.
With my chest swelled to near bursting, I leave security’s apartment.
And when I open the door to Mac’s place across the hall, he’s standing just on the other side like he was watching for me through the peephole this whole time. With my cat perched on his damn shoulder like a parrot turned guard dog.
It’s the second-best thing I’ve seen all day.