Page 1 of Mac Meyers Needs Me

CHAPTER 1

FEE

“Should we place bets on how long it takes Meyers to get back here?” Gage Steele leans back until he’s balanced on the legs of his chair. He, like Mac, plays for the Tilton U hockey team.

“One of these days your balance will fail you and you’ll end up breaking the chair and your head.” Brody Stiles, his teammate and roommate, shuffles his cards around and avoids making eye contact with anyone at the table. It means he has a good hand. I know all his tells.

Gage ignores Brody. “I put twenty on twenty minutes.”

“I put twenty on less than two.” I do the wave with my eyebrows—it’s one of my many skills—then toss over my shoulder, “Mac, if you’re not back here in thirty seconds I’ll play the top card in your hand, regardless of what it is!”

“Don’t you dare!” Mac Meyers, roommate to Brody and Gage, and my secret crush, shouts.

“Then stop flirting and get your ass back in your seat and play your hand, Meyers,” Chase Lovett, boyfriend to my bestie Cammie, friend and teammate to the guys, and my current favorite of the group, adds.

Cammie rolls her eyes, Enid tries not to look at Brody—she always tries not to look at Brody—and Tally raps her nails on the table while smirking in my direction. I pretend not to notice.

“Puttin’ the Hammer down, eh, Forrest-Hammer.” Mac slides into the chair next to mine.

I immediately want to die every single death because one, that was such a dad joke, but still manages to be cute coming out of his sexy, full-lipped mouth, and two, he just last-named me. Like I’m one of his teammates. Like we’re buddies.

Because we are. Friends. Pals. Buds. It’s the worst. My ego shrivels into a sad raisin.

“Some of us want to finish the game before the next millennium is over,” Enid offers for me.

“I didn’t want to be rude.” He consults his cards. “Look at you with the queen, Fee.” He tosses a king on the table. “But I can do better.”

“And I can do even better.” Chase drops an ace.

Gage huffs. Brody frowns. Tally’s gaze catches on something behind us.

Two seconds later a girl drops into Mac’s lap.

I immediately wish that Mac was less inviting.

“Macky! I knew I’d find you playing cards!”

Mac smiles his panty-melting smile at her. “Hey, Kelsey. When did you get here?”

Ugh. He even knows her name.

“Just like, ten minutes ago. How long will you be playing cards?”

“Depends on how many interruptions there are,” Gage grumbles.

I say nothing. I wish I had the guts to drop into Mac’s lap like that. I wish more that he would pull me into his lap and keep me there, and also tell me that my crush is reciprocated.

This is how it always is with Mac. He flirts with literally everyone. It doesn’t matter who it is, or if he’s even remotely interested. Kelsey isn’t the first girl to interrupt this game, and she likely won’t be the last. I can’t even blame her for the inconvenience or the slight discomfort that comes from her using him as a chair. Because when Mac Meyers’ attention is focused on you, it makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the world. Like everything you have to say is the most riveting, intellectual topic and all he wants is more.

No one at the table is immune to Mac’s charms. Even Chase, Gage, and Brody succumb to his wide smile, and the dimple in his right cheek, and the smooth way he operates.

Mac ignores Gage, his warm smile still aimed at Kelsey. “Why don’t I come find you when we’re done here?”

“Sure. Cool. I’ll probably be in the living room with some of the girls from cheer.”

“I’ll see you in a bit, then.”

“Okay!” She kisses him on the cheek, waves to the rest of the group, and flounces off.