Page 85 of Mac Meyers Needs Me

“Yeah.” She sighs. “You need a takeout box for his sandwich?”

“That’d be great,” Mac replies.

She reaches under the counter and passes him one.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. If Brody comes back, I’ll tell him you have his food,” she offers.

Mac and I tuck ourselves into Brody’s abandoned table. I cut one of his BLT halves in half again and pass him half of my blueberry brie sandwich before we dig in.

“How’s your art piece coming along?” Mac asks.

“I should finish it tomorrow.”

“Really? Can I come see it?”

“Yeah, for sure.” I smile and sip my latte. “And once that’s out of the way, I'll work on your portrait piece again.”

Mac’s eyes light up. “Will you need me to pose again?”

“I took reference photos, but I do love a live model.”

“I’ll get shirtless for you anytime you want.” Mac’s dimple pops, then his expression grows serious. “Have you thought about submitting a piece for the spring art show?” He taps the poster on the wall next to us. The café routinely boasts posters advertising various performances and arty things. There’s one for Tally’s dance showcase on the wall behind Mac. She has one every semester, and it’s cool to see her on stage.

I stab a slice of tomato that fell out of my BLT with my fork. “I don’t know. It’s pretty competitive.”

“But you’re super talented. What would it hurt to at least submit an application? How cool would it be if your piece was chosen to be part of a campus installation?”

“Art is really subjective. It’s like…personal? I guess. I just think about all the flack Cammie got when Annabelle and Barbie outed her fic name.”

“Sure, but look at all the new followers she has. She’s low-key famous in that sphere. Seriously, Fee, you should consider submitting a piece. The worst they can say is that you should try again next year.”

It’s easy to put things out there when I’m anonymous, but it’s more than that. “I haven’t submitted anything for an art show since my parents passed.”

“Oh.” Understanding causes sadness to settle behind his eyes and he takes my hand. “Does it bring up a lot of memories?”

I nod and swallow past the lump in my throat. “My mom used to be the one who helped me get ready for them. I did them every year with my school and then with my art classes. It was this special thing we did together, and I know I should get back into it, but it just...hits a really raw place in my heart?”

“That makes sense.” He kisses the back of my hand. “But I’ll be there to support you, and so will Lexi and all our friends, however you need us. We don’t have to replace the memories, we but we can make some new ones to help it hurt a little less?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay.” He leans across the table and kisses me softly.

Yeah, I’m definitely falling for him.

We finish our meals and talk about the upcoming game against U of T. Tilton beat them the last time they played, so they’re hoping for another win.

After lunch, Mac walks me back to my apartment and I stop at my mailbox. “Oooh! I have a package. I wonder who it’s from!”

“Hopefully not a secret admirer.” I can’t tell if Mac is joking.

We stop at the mail desk and wait in line.

Mac scans the bulletin board while we wait. “Oh shit!” He rushes over and pushes a few tacked up papers boasting upcoming events aside to reveal one of my secret posters. I put it up late last night. He carefully frees it from the board and brings it over. “This one is brand-new.” His eyes move over the poster. “I’m going to add it to my wall when I get home. You should do something like this. People would love it. I’d love it.”

I laugh, but it’s a little high and reedy. “In all my spare time?”