“Not a chance.” I squeeze his hand and tug him closer. “Ignore them. The only thing that matters is me, okay?”
I can feel his anxiety, but he trusts me and lets me lead him into the ballroom, only to stop. “Holy hell, your dad spared no expense.”
“Not when it comes to this, or our wedding,” I reply as I look around. There must be three hundred tables with a fancy, five-course meal to come. I spy three bars, and in the back is a large stage with screens on either side. A band in the back corner plays a soft melody as couples dance.
“Welcome to the high life,” I tease, and he must sense how much I hate this because he leans closer despite the stares.
“If you’re good and don’t murder anyone, I’ll do that thing you like with my mouth later.” My eyes widen and swing to him, and he smiles.
“Shit. Deal,” I mutter.
“Mackie!” My mother rushes over and kisses his cheeks. “You look incredible.”
“Standing right here, Mother,” I tease as I kiss her too.
“You always do,” she says, but she takes Mackie’s arm. “Let’s find Royce. He’s been waiting for you.” I watch her drag my boy away and follow after.
“You look beautiful, Mrs. Fletcher,” Mackie says softly.
She flutters her hand, giggling. “Such a gentleman. I feel old surrounded by all these young beauties.”
“They might be young, but you are timeless,” he replies, and I smile at how good my boy is at this.
“You flirt.” She giggles as she winds through the chaos to the top table, where my father talks with some of his board members. “Darling, Noah and Mackie are here.”
“Noah.” My dad claps my shoulder. “Looking dapper.” His eyes land on Mackie, and he yanks him into a hug. “Thank you for coming.”
“Like I would miss it,” Mackie says as he pulls away. “I’m glad you went with the red flowers we picked. They definitely fit better.” My eyes widen, and my dad laughs.
“You didn’t know? Mackie helped me with the final details of the event.” He winks as he holds Mackie. “Gentlemen, this is Mackie, the man I have been telling you about.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” A chorus of responses come, and I try to remember their names, but I’m useless, though I’ve probably been introduced many times. “I hear you are a driver,” one remarks.
“I am. I work with Noah,” he replies softly. “You are on the board, are you not, Mr. Williams?” How the hell does he know his name?
The man’s eyes widen, and a smile blooms across his face. “I am! I love cars. I own a vintage garage. If you ever want to take a look, just let me know. I’d happily let you drive any of them.”
“That is very generous, Mr. Wiliams. I would be honored,” Mackie says sweetly, and they all melt. “I must admit, I’m new to this type of party, so please take care of me tonight, and I’ll make sure to win my next race if you want to bet.” They laugh, and I simply stand behind him as he charms the guests until they finally wander away.
He winks at me as I help him into his seat. “How did you do that?”
“I asked your dad for help,” he admits. “I know how important this is to him and you, so I wanted to do well.”
“I fucking love you,” I say as I grip his jaw and stroke it, uncaring who is watching. Who else has ever cared so much about not just me, but my family, enough to do all this?
Nobody but my sunshine.
“I’m so glad you both came,” my dad tells us, and we turn to him, since we were lost in our own little world.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Mackie says as he looks around. “This is incredible. You must be so proud of how well your company is doing.”
“Oh, well, it isn’t really me anymore, it’s my incredible staff, butthank you.” My dad’s smile is wide. He looks so happy that I feel like utter crap for the son I have been.
“It isn’t. They wouldn’t be here without you. A team is only as good as their leadership. It’s obvious they love and respect you,” I add, and his eyes widen in shock.
“Thank you, son,” he replies softly, and Mackie squeezes my hand, offering me a proud smile.
“Oh, that reminds me!” My dad pulls a box from his jacket and slides it toward Mackie. “A present from us both.”
