Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Okay, thanks.” I headed inside, spotting Lucas and Kit in the kitchen to the left. Jet was flying above the coffee table to the right, seemingly inspecting the chopped vegetables someone had left him there.
Straight ahead, I took the stairs to the second floor, and I didn’t have to search for long. The doors to the two bedrooms were open, and I found Colt and Macklin on the foot of the bed in Ty’s room. Unless his room was the one with a purple comforter and two teddy bears on the bed. You never knew.
Wait. Where was Ty gonna sleep? The Tenleys had their bags in one room, Colt and his triad in the other.
One of the couches downstairs, maybe. I knew what Mack hoped for, but if he managed to seduce Ty and get him to spend the night on the boat, I would be the one taking a couch here at the house.
Regardless of what my body might think.
“Hey, there you—” I stopped abruptly in the doorway upon seeing Macklin’s eyes. Had he been crying? I hurried forward and sat down on the other side of him. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
He sniffled and got upset again, and he plastered himself to me, arms hugging my middle, his face buried against my neck.
Jesus, I’d never seen him cry before. It rattled the fuck out of me.
I looked to Colt for answers instead.
“It’s Walker,” he said. He brushed a hand over Mack’s back. “He’s moving back to DC.”
Oh. Oh. Fuck. My head was gonna explode. At first when he’d said, “It’s Walker,” my mind immediately raced to that something bad had happened. An accident or…whatever. But I hadn’t gotten that far before Colt had elaborated, and now I didn’t know what to think. Wasn’t this good?
As anxious as I could feel at the mention of Walker, I was a big fan of nipping things in the bud.
I pressed a kiss to Macklin’s hair. “I think this can be a good thing, babe. You two are not done.”
While Colt offered a smile and a look of surprise at my response, Macklin was ready to argue.
“You don’t fucking get it, Lane.” He withdrew from me and wiped at his cheeks. “He’ll mess me up again.”
“Then create a better mess,” I grated out. “From what you’ve told me, you both screwed up. But there was no betrayal—right? So maybe you can get a second chance?”
Colt cleared his throat and rose from the bed. “I’m clearly not needed here. Mack, you listen to Lane. I like him already.”
I smiled a little but kept my focus on Macklin.
I spoke again once Colt had left us alone.
“Walk me through what happened.” I combed my fingers through Mack’s hair. “How does Colt know Walker’s moving home?”
“Because he showed up on their damn doorstep this morning,” he grumbled. “I don’t know what to do with this anger. I wanna punch his fucking—”
“Hey.” I cupped his cheeks in my hands and made him look me in the eye. “Do you hear yourself, Macklin? It’s been four years, and he causes this much of a reaction. You have to face him—or he’ll haunt you forever.”
Fresh tears welled up in his eyes, and it cracked something within me. He was in so much pain.
“Do you know what it’s like to hate the love of your life?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head.
That tortured look in his eyes was too much for me. I couldn’t argue with him. By the sound of things, he already had friends who wanted him and Walker back together. I’d play another part. I had to show him I was still on his side.
“Whatever you choose, I’m with you,” I implored. “I just hate seeing you this way.”
He sniffled and looked down. “I know I have to talk to him. I’m not stupid. But I… Knowing he’s back in town erases my future. I don’t know what’s gonna happen anymore. I can’t make any promises.”
I wasn’t looking for any promises.
“I don’t need you to,” I murmured. “I need you to do what’s best for yourself. And if you and I can still share something together, no one will be happier than me. But—”
“Don’t.” He pressed himself closer and rested his forehead to mine. “I’m not losing you. I can’t. You mean too much to me.”
I took a steady breath and felt something loosen within me, allowing me to breathe easier.
“Then we’ll be fine, Macklin. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise me,” he croaked. “And promise me you’ll bail me out if I smash his head in.”
I chuckled softly and shook my head. “I think that’s the last thing you’ll do once you’re in the same room as him. But you have my word.”
He exhaled shakily.
He’d get there. He’d see things differently once he faced Walker. For better or for worse. I was ready for either outcome. Anything was better than this tense state of limbo.