“I need a new t-shirt that saysTeam Mack,” I whisper to him before standing up.
He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with flames of appreciation lighting his pupils. I want to tattoo this look of his onto the insides of my eyelids.
I turn to Darla and beam at her. “Hi, Mrs. Bradley.”
She stares at me with her mouth hanging open.
“I’m going to go grab my food. Be right back.” I wink at Mack, and his smile stretches the entire width of his face.
The whole café is watching my every move and buzzing about what just happened—which was sort of the point. That kiss was for show—for everyone to see. I went for the shock factor, and it worked.
But more than that, it was for Mack.
Heather mouths, ‘Nice,’as I pass her on my way to the counter.
Tricia is staring daggers at me, but I ignore her.
Honestly, I feel sorry for her…for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, it sucks that she felt so pressured by her parents and their expectations that she thought her only option was to lie about Mack to save her own skin. But that was a long time ago. I’m not going to continue letting her treat the man I’m falling in love with like dirt.
“You good?” Rose asks as I join her by the counter.
I nod, a little stunned.
I’m in love with Mack Bradley.
It hits me with the force of a wave crashing onto shore. It’s terrifying and exciting, disconcerting and settling all at once.
Because I don’t know what the future between Mack and me looks like, but I know I want to go to bat for him. I want to be close to him and support him.
Inez hands us our plates over the top of the high counter. “I think you just put the pieces of Mack Bradley together again. Would you look at his face?”
I grab my meal and look over my shoulder at the man who holds my heart. “He wasn’t broken in the first place.”
Inez cocks her head to the side. “You know what? You’re right. Let me know if you need anything else. Enjoy!”
Rose and I wander back to the table where Darla is hissing at Mack.
“I don’t believe this. You and Poppy? Did you think about informing me, your mother, about this development?”
Mack glances up and meets my eye. “There wasn’t any development to report.”
“It’s true, Mrs. Bradley. I sort of sprung this on Mack.” I take my seat next to him.
“Took complete advantage of me is more like it,” he mutters.
I shush him and beam at Darla. “But I am very interested in dating your son.Thisson,” I add with a wince because it bears clarification.
Rose snorts as she pulls out the chair next to Darla.
“He’s incredible, don’t you agree?” I ask.
Darla’s mouth opens and shuts like a fish before she presses her lips together and gives me a firm nod. “Of course I do. He’s my son. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some errands to run. We’ll see you all for Sunday dinner, yes?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I grab Mack’s hand and intertwine our fingers, bringing them up to my mouth and giving them a kiss.
Darla can’t seem to tear her gaze off of our locked fingers. She has a dazed look on her face, but she smiles at me. It’s hesitant—like she doesn’t know if I’m in my right mind—but it’s there. She nods and turns to leave.
I’m not meeting either Mack’s or my sister’s gaze because suddenly I’m bashful. Did I really do that? The underwear I put on this morning must be made of superhero fibers.
