“I’m...” Macie sighed. “Sure. Why not.”
Zac let go of her hands, sliding his up her arms before stepping back completely. He missed the heat of her body, the feel of her against him. But he did enjoy the view of her ass as she placed a ball on the tee. Her back rounded too much and her legs were too far apart. Zac waited, only managing to get his hand up in time as she pulled back too fast, too hard, and too far. The club hit his palm, stinging it more than he expected. Macie didn’t even notice as she started to follow through, leaving the club behind in Zac’s hand. She spun around completely. Zac caught her around the waist before she fell, and her hand slapped against his chest. With a blush covering her cheeks, she lifted her head and stared into his eyes. Zac wanted to smile, to comfort her, but he was paralyzed. Tears rimmed her eyes. He knew why. She’d told him that he’d always seen her at her worst and here they were again. He didn’t understand it. Every time she’d been beautiful, perfect in her imperfections because she owned them. She’d always been Macie, even when they hated each other.
“You’re trying too hard,” he whispered.
Macie’s lips parted then lifted into a smile. “That’s it? No witty comeback. No new nickname?”
“Well,” Zac grinned, “I could call you Spin, but I don’t think that would go over so well.”
To his surprise, Macie laughed. “I think maybe we should try that again. Together?”
Zac nodded, unable to actually form words. He wanted to put his arms around her again. He shouldn’t want that, but he did. She sighed as his hands skimmed down her gloves. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the vanilla and lavender. Macie shuddered. He really needed to get it together.
“Ready?” he whispered in her ear.
“You have no idea,” she said.
They pulled the club back and smacked the ball dead ahead. He didn’t let go. Macie leaned against him. It was nice, perfect. And not in the cards. He needed to stay off this road.
“You should be good now,” Zac said, dropping his hands and stepping back.
Macie nodded and stepped back up to the tee. She shanked it to the left, but she did so with a smoother swing. After a few more swings on her own, she made adjustments based on Zac’s suggestions and set the ball on a straight course. Zac watched it sail about a hundred yards with a smile. She’d done it. Macie never had been one to give up easily, but she’d always been more of a ‘I’ll do it on my own’ type. Over the last few weeks, that had changed.
Lips pressed against his cheek. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling. She left them there longer than a quick peck.
“Thank you,” Macie said. “I mean it. Thank you for everything.”
He turned toward her, but she’d already stepped away from the tee.
THE REAL PARTY STARTED at the club. Macie arranged for the VIP section with her former boss, which was just a cordoned off area for the party. Two years of bartending at Hoof had its perks. He didn’t charge her for the space or the cover. Of course, she’d also talked to him about picking up a shift here and there after the wedding. Freelancing would help once she got some gigs, but she needed money sooner rather than later.
Hoof’s large dance floor spilled over with students from Lafayette and a nearby community college. They danced like tomorrow would never come. She’d done the same, once. Tomorrow came like always. It had only been six weeks since she completed her degree and she felt middle aged.
“Whatcha thinking?” Lauren asked in her ear.
Macie smiled, lifting her bottle to her lips. She took a long pull from her beer. “Not much.”
“Liar.” Lauren nudged Macie with her shoulder. Her long hair spilled down her shoulders. Lauren flipped it back, laughing at nothing. Typical Lauren.
“Not lying.” Macie turned away from the dance floor. The VIP room was roped off by black velvet and a half wall of wrought iron fencing between two large brick beams. Macie leaned against one. Lauren and Ford’s friends crowded the tight space. Strobe lights bounced off their skin and clothes. It gave Macie a headache, or maybe that was just the beer.
“I wanted to thank you again for helping Mom with the shower.” Lauren shook her head. “There was no way she could’ve done it without you.”
“I’m sorry I missed it,” Macie said. According to Zac, Sylvia had sent all the men into the basement to play pool while the women chatted. Her gaze settled on Zac. He smiled at something Ford said, then laughed. A five o’clock shadow covered his chin. Another button had come undone near the top of his black shirt.
“Why are you staring at Zac like he’s cheesecake?” Lauren leaned against the beam beside her.
Macie rolled her eyes.
“Fine, don’t tell me. But everyone’s seen it.” Lauren leaned in as if anyone could possibly hear them with the music at Deaf-Con two, added emphasis on deaf. “People keep asking me when you guys hooked up. I was dumbfounded at first, but now... well, now I need to know if you have actually hooked up. You have, haven’t you?”
“No,” Macie snapped, turning toward Lauren. “We have not hooked up. Just ... friends.”
“Friends?” Lauren snorted and sipped her gin and tonic. “Sure, Zac gives you a sexual golf lesson and you two are just friends. You might as well have dry humped each other on the tee.”
“Lauren!” Macie’s shock reverberated down her spine.
“It’s true.” Lauren tipped her glass toward Macie. “And you know it. So what’s the deal?”
“There’s no deal.” Macie turned away from her friend. “And you’re delusional.”
“Sure,” Lauren said. “So what’s the deal with the guy on the app? You still talking to him?”
Macie’s smile spread so fast it hurt. “Yep.”
“Ah, now I get it.”
