“Hmm?” he said, standing upright. “I beg your pardon? Couldn’t quite hear that.”
I repeated myself, this time from deeper in my chest, “I said, I just hope Boone sees it that way.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Mac asked, arching a brow. “It’s not like you’re just screwing around with his sister.”
I broke eye contact and stared down at the bar, jaw tightening before I could stop it.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
Mac slapped both palms against the bar with a loudthud.
“You are screwing around with his sister, aren’t you?”
I gave a tight nod, the admission catching somewhere in my throat.
Mac leaned back on his heels, lips curling as if he’d just hit the jackpot. “And now you’re here because you love her and you don’t want Boone thinking the road trip was just a cheap move. Like you’re using love as a cover to get her into bed.”
Damn it.
How did he do that? How did he take the jumbled mess of thoughts tangled in my brain and unravel them into one clean, cutting sentence?
“Basically,” I muttered.
Mac let out a low whistle and leaned on the bar, far too amused for my liking.
“Cut it out,” I growled, but it came out weak.
Snuffing out his cigarette, Mac dropped the teasing entirely. He shifted forward, eyes serious now, voice low and steady.
“In all seriousness… it’s clear how you feel about Ellie. Anyone who’s been around you two as long as we have can see it—you care about her. Deeply. And she cares about you, too. I don’t know what lit the fire between you, but whatever it was? You’d be a fool not to treat it like the gift it is.”
I stared down at my hands, the weight of his words sinking in.
“Any doubts you’ve got?” Mac added. “Let ’em go. They don’t belong. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to logic your way through something that’s meant to befelt.”
“That’s easier said than done,” I replied, voice rough.
“Sure,” he nodded. “But forget Boone for a second. Even if he is pissed, so what? It’s not his life. It’s yours. You love her. She’sfinally seeing you as more than just her childhood shadow. Don’t waste that.”
That was the key, wasn’t it? Getting out of my own damn head.
I had every intention of showing Ellie how deeply I felt—of going all in. The change in our relationship was undeniable, and it feltright.So much better than sitting on the sidelines, wishing and watching.
Mac was right. Again.Damn him.
“I can’t believe I came to you for love advice,” I muttered, shaking my head with a laugh. “Normally I’d go to Boone but…”
“You slept with his sister,” Mac said with a sly grin, finishing my thought.
“Right,” I replied through my teeth.
“Speaking of Boone,” Mac said, tossing the bar towel over his shoulder, “did he ever find out what happened at the bar last time? With Miles?”
Just the name stirred heat under my skin. Anger coiled low and sharp in my gut.
“How would I know? I’ve been gone for the last week.”
“Fair,” Mac admitted. “I didn’t tell him. I wonder if Rhodes did.”
