20. Mac
Mac
M y mind races as I replace the oil cap on the car I’m working on, and I startle when I feel arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“Mac?” MJ questions. Shit —I must have missed something she said.
Wiping my hands on my jeans, I turn to face her. “Sorry, baby. What’s up?”
“You’ve been in your head all day. Wanna talk about it?”
Yes. No. I don’t know. Does it even matter if we talk about it?
Since our date night a few nights ago, MJ has been coming to the shop to hang out. I’m usually busy working but just having her nearby has been nice. Any time I take a break, she’s there to talk to.
Mr. Lawrence dismissed me on Monday and told me to take the rest of the week to rest, relax, and make sure everything was squared away, just in case. The “just in case” bit has had my stomach in knots ever since.
My family isn’t ready for “just in case.” Jake’s finally getting his life together in Cedar Bend, and I really don’t want to drag him back here.
I called the auto shop where I usually get my parts from to see if they could spare some guys for a while, but they said no.
It’s more likely they just want my business, even if it forces the townsfolk here to go far for services.
I look up at the other factor that’s been knotting my stomach up and my heart gallops in my chest all over again.
My sweet girl. My best friend. Will she wait for me?
Is that even fair to ask of her? It’s sounding more and more like she’ll be staying in Oakridge, even though she still hasn’t talked to her parents.
But that might not last forever. What if she changes her mind?
What if she decides she’s over being in this podunk town and wants to get away like her brother did?
As if sensing my swirling thoughts, MJ places both hands on my cheeks and pulls my face down to look at her. “Honey, it’s all going to work out. I promise it will.”
I blow out a breath, shaking my head. “What can I do to take your mind off things?” she asks. I smirk down at her, and she giggles, adding, “I mean, we could, but I was thinking of a bigger distraction. Maybe some friend time down by the creek? Tomorrow?”
I nod begrudgingly. “As long as it’s just us. Just the dream team. I don’t need fucking Charlie trying to poke his nose into anything.”
“Of course! I’ll text the group and see what we can do.” She smiles sweetly.
“Thank you, Em.” She rises onto her tiptoes and presses her lips against mine. It’s soft and sweet just like her, and my heart lurches toward her.
July 13
MJ screams as I chase her through the water, splashing her and trying to grab her waist. Shannon floats on a raft nearby, whining about getting her hair wet.
Naturally, MJ heads straight for her, so I have to stop splashing.
Smart girl. I love Shannon like a sister, but her fiery energy—matching her red hair—makes me not want to get on her bad side.
I pause to give MJ a break for a few, heading over to Blake and Austin, who are tossing a football back and forth in the water. I raise my hands, catch the ball before tossing it back to Austin. “Thank you, guys, for doing this and for everything. It means a lot.”
Blake shakes his head, saying it’s no big deal. But really, it is a big deal for me. I know I have my parents—and kind of my brother—but these guys are my family too. Their support means the world to me.
“If things don’t go my way—” I start, but Austin cuts me off.
“Nope!” He tosses the football back to me, hitting my palms with a smack. “We’re not doing that. You’re getting community service, and everything is going to be fine. We’re not even putting any other possibility into the universe, dude. Not happening.”
I shake my head at his happy-go-lucky way of thinki ng, knowing he’s always had the luxury of not worrying about important stuff because his family’s money and influence were there to fall back on.
That thought brings me back to my parents.
I know they’d be okay. They have a good savings set aside, and worst-case scenario, they could always sell the shop.
I take a deep breath and try to dispel the negative thoughts.
I really fucking hope it doesn’t come to that.
Small hands gripping my shoulders and legs wrapping around my waist interrupt my thoughts.
Even in the water, the scent of strawberries envelops me, and I feel the stress melt away a bit.
“Whatcha guys doing?” MJ’s breath against my ear causes the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. I slide my hands up her thighs and squeeze them, feeling her skin pebble. I grip her tight and spin her around so we’re facing each other.
“Just tossing the ball around.” I kiss her softly and hear water moving around us.
“I should probably go check on dinner.” Blake splashes out of the water.
“Uh yeah, I’m gonna go help him.” Austin follows.
“I’m out too,” Shannon says with a giggle, water splashing as she leaves us as well.
Our friends desert us, and I slide my hands to MJ’s ass.
“Shouldn’t we go help too?” MJ asks with a smirk on her face.
“Nah, I need you more right now.” I kiss her again, deeper this time, and nip her bottom lip with my teeth.
She moans against my mouth, and I continue kissing her deeply.
Sliding my hands to her hips, I move her body so she can feel how hard I am.
I’ve had a semi for most of the time we’ve been in the water.
Her red bikini looks too fucking good on her.
“Mac,” she whispers with a giggle. “We can’t!”
“We’re in the water. No one can see anything.” Proving my point, I slide my hand under her bathing suit, slipping it through her pussy lips and then press it to her clit. She leans her head back, moaning loudly. “Shhh.” I chuckle. “You gotta be quiet, though. Can you do that for me?”
She nods and I kiss her softly. “Hold your bikini bottoms to the side for me.” She does as I ask, and I reach between us to pull my cock out, rubbing it against her clit and then through her lips.
“You okay?” She nods. I press the head of my cock to her entrance, watching her face as I start to slide into her.
She winces, and I stop. “Does it hurt, baby?”
“No, I just . . .” She adjusts her legs around me. “Weird angle, I think. Try again?”
I nod, notching my cock against her entrance again.
I lean forward to capture her lips with mine and rub her clit in slow circles with my thumb as I slowly slide into her pussy.
It’s different in the water, but she still feels amazing.
Once I’m fully seated within her and she’s panting against my mouth, I grab her thighs and move her up and down my cock.
Her tits bounce, making small ripples in the water, and I groan.
“You’re so fucking sexy, baby. Taking my cock when our friends are just up the hill.” I pick up the pace, pounding into her harder, and she moans.
“Fuck, Mac, yes!” I nip her bottom lip, remindi ng her to be quiet and she moans against my mouth. Quieter this time she says, “Don’t stop, I’m gonna—”
“Damn baby, already? You like my cock, don’t you?
” I pound into her, feeling my balls draw up and a warmth spread in my lower back.
“I’m right there with you.” As if knowing I’m about to blow my load turned her on even more, she detonates.
She lets go of her bathing suit, which causes even more friction against my cock, and I explode into her, painting her pussy with my cum.
I feel her walls flutter around me, coming down from the orgasm, and my cock continues to pulse inside of her for a few more seconds. I press my forehead to hers and whisper, “Thank you.” She nods, moving our heads together and then kisses me softly.
“Dinner’s ready, guys!” Blake calls from the camping area. Perfect timing, asshole. MJ unwraps her legs from my waist and drops them down at the creek bottom. She wobbles, so I grab her waist to steady her.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She smiles softly and I help her up the hill to join our friends.
A few hours later, after demolishing the ribs Blake made and the cookies Shannon brought, we’re all sitting around the campfire talking. I clear my throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “I just wanted to say thank you guys for tonight. It means a lot.”
MJ reaches across her chair and grips my hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
I continue, “I don’t know what I would do without you guys.
And I know Monday—” Austin raises his eyebrow as if to remind me I’m not supposed to be talking about the trial.
“Monday will bring whatever it brings, but no matter what, I’m thankful to have you guys as friends. ”
I tip my water bottle toward the campfire, and my friends follow suit.
Today helped ease my mind and a wave of acceptance washes over me. Regardless of what happens on Monday, I’m happy to have spent today this way. Tomorrow will be a family day filled with finalizing plans, but today was a nice day of fun and friends.
July 15
I ride with my parents to the courthouse Monday morning, my stomach in knots and my skin clammy.
There, we’ll be meeting MJ and her dad, and likely the rest of the town.
Mom keeps looking back at me from the driver’s seat with worry in her eyes.
We park, and as I reach for the door handle, my dad clears his throat.
“Son.” I lean back into the seat and look up at my parents. “Whatever happens today, I just want you to know that I’m proud of you. And we appreciate you.” He looks at me with love and warmth. My nose burns as I shake my head slightly.
“No, listen to me.” He continues. I look back u p at him, his eyes glassy. “You have done so much for this family, and what you’re doing now? Well, your brother doesn’t deserve you. But just know we’re proud of you, son.”
I nod, leaning into the front seat and wrapping one arm gently around my dad and the other around my mom, pulling them both into me.
I release them and wipe my damp cheeks, reaching for the door handle one more time. Mom’s crying when I look back at her, but she smiles softly. “You’ve got this, kiddo. We’ll see you in there.”
Taking a deep breath, I step out of the car and head toward the courthouse steps. I instantly spot MJ and her parents at the bottom of the steps. MJ says something to her dad, and he nods, taking his wife’s hand. They head up the stairs together while MJ looks at me and waits.
When I reach her, MJ hands me a tissue, and I quickly wipe my face and pocket it before taking in my girl.
She looks gorgeous and professional in a navy pencil skirt and a white button-up blouse.
Her hair is down and curled, all blonde and bouncy; she’s clearly channeling one of her inspirations, Elle Woods, especially in the second movie where she dresses all patriotic.
But my girl is prettier, no doubt. No shade to Reese Witherspoon. I’m just a little biased.
MJ throws her arms around my neck and kisses me softly.
My hand grips her waist to steady us both and for a moment, I get lost in her.
We break our kiss as footsteps sound near us and both seem to realize where we are.
She blushes, and it’s the cutest thing ever.
We create distance betwe en our bodies, but my hand doesn’t leave her waist.
“How are you feeling?” she asks, and I shrug.
“Alright, I guess. I’m as ready as I can be. I’m just—” I don’t know how to say this, but after Saturday night at the creek and having more time to think on Sunday, I decided I didn’t want her to wait for me.
MJ searches my face and when I don’t continue, she prods on, “Mac, you’re scaring me.”
I sigh and hold both of her hands in mine and rip the Band-Aid off. “I don’t want you to wait,” I say.
“Wait? What do you mean?”
“If things don’t go the way we hope in there, I don’t want you to wait around for me. Go live your life. Help Blake and Austin with the restaurant—or don’t. Stay here or leave. But don’t do it for me; do it for you.” I look up, expecting to see tears in her eyes, but I see steely resolve. Oh fuck .
“Nope,” she somehow shouts in a whisper, shaking her head. “You don’t get to do this again, Alexander Ryan.”
Fuck, my real name.
“You think you’re holding me back? Is that it?
Well, you’re not. And I’m not missing out on another four years with you just because you’re too full of yourself to see I’m here because I want to be.
Me. Not for you, not for anyone else, but me.
I’m staying for me.” She stamps her foot and huffs out a breath before hitting me with another truth bomb. “You’re just a nice bonus.”
If I wasn’t so surprised by her outburst, I would probably laugh. MJ is not this outspoken. She’s always been a go-with-the-flow type, so to see her standing up, literally, and giving me hell right now is shocking.
“Okay, okay.” I sigh, looking down at the ground.
“Mac, I want to be with you. And I will decide if I wait for you or not. Not you. Do you understand?” She ducks her head so I have no choice but to meet her eyes, and it forces me to smile.
“Yeah, MJ. I understand.”
She shakes her head when I smile up at her. Taking a step toward her again, I slide my hand up her neck, pulling her toward me. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m so thankful I have you,” I whisper before pulling her lips to mine.
She kisses me softly, her breath hot against my lips as she whispers back, “Damn right. But you’ve got me. So deal with it.”
We kiss again, both smiling, and then I take her hand and we walk up to the courthouse together.
That did not go at all how I had thought it would. I tug her hand back, realizing what she said. “Wait.” MJ turns and looks at me. “Did you say you’re staying?” I ask.
A sly smile crosses her lips as she nods. “Caught that, did you?”
I throw my head back laughing and she giggles.
“Yeah, I’m staying. I’m going to talk to my parents, but I’m sure they already know I’m not leaving for law school.
I should have already had an acceptance letter by now.
But we’ll deal with that later.” She leans into me, kissing my cheek.
“Let’s get today over with and get you taken care of first and we’ll deal with my crap later, okay? ”
I nod, stealing a quick kiss and then we walk into the courthouse, hand in hand, toward whatever future might be waiting for us.