Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Oh, I’m so happy to see you! So, so happy.” She pats the side of my face before yanking my head down. Forced to bend, I hug her awkwardly as she kisses my cheek. “I knew, I just knew that you and our Mac would hit it off. I have a sick sense about these things.”
“I think you mean sixth sense, Mom,” Libby says, catching up to her and giving me a one-armed hug while rolling her eyes.
“That’s what I said—a sixth sense.” Katie shoos away her youngest with one hand and takes mine with the other. “Mac is in talking to Fawn and Levi. I’ll lead you that way, and we can talk.”
“Mom, what did Mac say about scaring off her boyfriend?”
“I’m not scaring him off,” she says as she turns to look up at me. “Right?”
“Not at all,” I deny.
She smiles, wiggling her head side to side in a way that reminds me of a hyper Chihuahua I had growing up.
“So . . . before we get into the room, I want to talk to you about Christmas. I know you mentioned at Thanksgiving that your family lives in Seattle, and that you would be here in New York for the holiday, so I wanted to invite you myself to Long Island.”
“That’s really nice, but my mom and stepdad will be coming here,” I say.
She stops to look at me.
“Oh! Well, I’d love to meet your mother! Bring her along.” She smiles, and I fight back a laugh.
Maybe Mackenzie had the right idea about keeping our relationship from her family. I can see now that her mom is going to be difficult to disappoint—and even harder to keep out of our business.
“I’ll see how my mom feels about that. I’m sure that she would like to meet you, too.”
“Meet who?”
Lifting my head, I smile at Mackenzie. She’s standing just outside Levi’s door wearing jeans and a sweatshirt that is about ten sizes too big for her small frame. Her hair is down in a wavy mess. It reminds me of what she looks like after we make love.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I say.
Her eyes soften for a brief moment as she looks at me. Then she looks at her mom and narrows them.
“Who are you meeting?”
“Wesley’s mom, when she comes into town for Christmas,” Katie says.
The color drains from Mackenzie’s face as her eyes fly to meet mine. “Your mom is coming into town?” she asks.
Libby takes Katie’s hand and begins to drag her into the room. She closes the door behind them, leaving Mackenzie in the hall with me.
“She is.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Why do you have the look on your face that you always get when you’re about to run away?”
“I don’t.”
“You do—I have that look memorized,” I say.
She looks away, takes a deep breath, and then looks at me once more.
“Do you want me to meet her?” she asks.
I know she’s nervous by the way she wrings her hands together.
“Yeah, I’d like you to meet her. I know she’s going to want to meet you, too.”
“But I’m a tomboy!” she blurts with wide eyes. I frown, confused.
“Pardon?”
“I’m a tomboy. How will your mom feel about you dating a tomboy?”
“Who the hell told you that you’re a tomboy?”
“I’ve always been a tomboy. I like wearing jeans and sneakers. I don’t like makeup. I love sports, beer, and hanging out with the guys.”
“I already know all this about you. I know that you’re a woman who likes to be comfortable, who looks amazing without makeup, who enjoys sports and beer and has male friends. Who the fuck cares about any of that? You’re beautiful, and my mom will think so, too.”
“But I’m not like most women.”
“Thank fuck for that, gorgeous. If you were like most women, I wouldn’t want you like I do.” I uncross my arms and step toward her. “Now stop stressing about this. If you can handle your mom, I guarantee you can handle mine. She’ll adore you.”
“If you say so,” she huffs as I drag her against me and plant a kiss on her lips.
“I know so.” I kiss her again as she winds her arms around my neck.
“Is it weird that I missed you today?” The question is barely audible, but I hear it. Relief fills me—she’s feeling exactly what I am.
“Probably, but I don’t give a fuck about that, either.” I kiss her again and she smiles.
“I kinda like you, Wesley Jameson.”
“I just straight-up like you, Mackenzie Reed,” I say.
She smiles, dancing her fingers across my neck. Her eyes watch them move across my skin.
“Why don’t you call me Mac, like everyone else?”
“Because I don’t want to be like everyone else to you,” I say.
She looks up at me, and her lips part.
“Are you two going to stand out there all day, or are you going to come in?” Levi breaks into the moment.