I love talking to you. It’s nice to be uninhibited and open. When I’m with my friends, I feel like I’m playing a part instead of being me. Certain things are expected and I fall into those categories easier than if I’d let myself be real. I don’t know if that makes any sense to you or not. I’m rambling now.
So I’ll tell you a story instead. My mother died when I was seven. She was the love of my father’s life. The one. He’s remarried since and I have two stepsisters, but he’s still in love with Mom. Tonight we talked about her. It’s not something we do often. My stepmother doesn’t like the reminder that she’s not first in my father’s heart. Don’t get me wrong, he loves her, too, but I know it hurts her.
Anyway, Dad shared something new with me about their relationship. My mother rejected him before she finally caved. He had asked her out and she said no. Then something happened over winter break to change her mind. He never found out what that was and he’ll never know. It was love at first sight for him. The reason he shared this with me was simple. He never gave up. It’s been my father’s motto since I can remember. If he wants something, he never gives up.
It’s something I should follow more.
There’s a reason I bring it up. I think we should meet. I know this is finals time and we may have to wait until after graduation, but I’d like to meet you. I’d like to get to know you in person. If you tell me no, then I’ll respect that decision.
But please say yes.
Macie’s eyes watered. Meet? He wanted to meet? She didn’t know how to respond and sitting inside a clinic wasn’t the place to do it. Her instincts said hell yes. Her brain warned her to be cautious. As the battle played out in her head, the nurse called her name. She needed a clearer mind to think it over. Peeing in a cup wasn’t giving her a clearer mind. She hurried through the test, grateful to Mark for the water.
When she got home, she read through the message again. There were so many changes in her life at the moment. She wasn’t sure if she could handle another one. At least not yet. After graduation, maybe. She didn’t want to put him off. But she didn’t want to rush into it, either. She wanted to meet him, and she didn’t. The last thing she needed was this emotional seesaw. Instead, she decided to do what she had done with Guy all along.
She was honest.
CHAPTER SEVEN
He’d hoped to hear from her rather quickly. Stupid hope. Zac regretted it the minute he hit the tiny paper airplane that sent the message. Too bad there wasn’t an unsend button, because he really wanted to take it back. It had been almost twenty-four hours since he’d sent the message, and nothing. He’d scared her off. It was useless and stupid to torture himself like this, but he refreshed the app for the fourth time in ten minutes anyway.
Fortunately, his phone rang. He smiled at the name on the screen ‘Good Catholic Boy’, which was Ford. Zac had changed it when Ford accepted a job teaching music and counseling at an all-boys school. ‘Not My Drug Dealer’ wasn’t nearly as funny anymore. Not that Ford ever thought it was, but it made Zac chuckle.
“What’s up, Ford?” Zac answered. He leaned back on his couch and threw his arm behind his head.
“Macie, that’s what’s up.”
Zac sat forward, dropping his feet off the coffee table. He’d moved into the one-bedroom apartment at the beginning of the month. It wasn’t anything to write home about. The complex was full of the same shot-gun style apartments; a living room on one side, dining room opposite, a galley kitchen with a counter opened to the short hallway leading to a closet, a full bath, and a bedroom with a walk-in closet. It was similar to Lauren and Ford’s place. The living room had a wood fireplace and sliding glass doors leading to a small balcony, which he didn’t bother to use. His father decided it was time for Zac to be on his own, even though Dad was paying the rent until Zac could start at Sparks Investments. “What’d she do this time?”
Ford launched into a rapid-fire tirade. “I asked her to change the bridal shower invitations to wedding shower, and she got irritated and angry with me when I didn’t see what she saw in her head on the graphic she changed, and she was clearly pissed that I even stuck my nose into it.”
Zac kept his laughter in check as his friend caught his breath. Both Lauren and Ford were being ridiculous about the entire thing, but he wasn’t going to tell them that. Just like he suspected Macie wasn’t. She’d do anything for Lauren. “You want me to intervene, don’t you? Tell her they’re not neutral enough?”
“Please. Lauren loved them, but I don’t want the guys to not show because they think it’s not for them. Does that make sense?”
“Sure,” Zac answered. He wanted to tell Ford to deal with it or to just let Lauren have her girly shower. “I’ll talk to her. Okay?”
“Thanks, buddy. I’ll check with you later to see how it went.” Ford ended the call without saying goodbye, a sure sign he was stressing out.
The last thing Zac wanted to do was deal with Macie. He refreshed the app again just to check. This time he had a message.
His
