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My chest fills with pride as I look at how happy she is. I had no doubt in my mind that they would hire her. They’d be crazy not to. She’s sweet, caring, and brilliantly smart. Anyone who spends more than five minutes with her can see she will make an amazing teacher.
“Congratulations, Squid! That’s great!” Maverick gets up to give her a hug, one she accepts graciously. “What did Parker say when you told him? He doesn’t expect you to be a trophy wife, does he?”
I snort, hearing the defensive brother persona in his tone. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if that was exactly what Parker wants. He seems like the kind of guy who needs to trap someone into staying with him. Yeah, he might appear all perfect and princely now, but once he knows he has her, he’ll turn into someone totally different.
“O-oh.” She stutters. “I… I didn’t tell him yet. He’s at class.”
Uh, what? I look up at McKenna and smirk as she side-eyes me, mentally begging me not to say anything. It’s unnecessary. I wouldn’t call her out on lying, at least not in front of Maverick. That would just open everything up to questions I’m not ready to answer yet. So instead, I smile down at my lap.
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be happy for you, too.” Maverick says dismissively as his phone rings on the coffee table. He picks it up and looks at who’s calling. “I have to take this. Congrats again.”
He walks down the hallway and out the front door, leaving McKenna and I alone in the living room. She pulls her hair
from the bun and shakes it out before running her fingers through it. I watch as it cascades over her shoulders and down her back. She doesn’t even realize how gorgeous she is.
“You know, you’re getting pretty good at that.”
Her eyebrows furrow as she looks as me. “Good at what?”
“Lying.”
She chuckles, falling back onto the couch beside me. “Yeah, well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”
I’m not sure if it’s a dig at me or if she’s just being funny, but I can’t find it in me to care. She just admitted to lying to Maverick, which means Parker is home and yet she came here first to share the big news. Judging by the surprised look on her face when she noticed her brother, she didn’t come to tell him. She came for me.
I cautiously reach my hand over and place it on hers. “I’m really proud of you, McKenna. I knew you’d rock that interview.”
Her head falls to the side so she’s looking right at me. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Always have so much confidence in me.”
I tighten my grip just slightly. “It’s not confidence. It’s just a matter of knowing the truth. The only one who can’t see how amazing you are, is you.”
Her eyes soften and she looks at me in that familiar way she always has. The look that makes my heart beat faster and time slow down. The look that tells me everything I need to hear every single second of my life. I’ve never seen it on anyone else, and I never want to.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you this morning.” Her voice is so low it’s almost a whisper, as if she’s embarrassed to admit she did something wrong.
“It’s okay. You were right – it was reckless.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “It was thoughtful, and generous, and really sweet of you. They’re beautiful.”
I use the hold I have on her hand to pull her into my arms. She goes willingly and I place a soft kiss to her forehead. “You are beautiful, but they’ll do.”
15
MCKENNA
My head hangs over the toilet as I empty the contents of my stomach into it. Between the dizziness and the discomfort in my abdomen, the tile floor feels good against my heated skin. Parker wets a washcloth and hands it to me to rub over my face.
“Are you okay?”
In an attempt to nod, I only make myself more nauseous. “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”
“So much for seeing my nan today.” He mumbles disappointedly as he leaves the bathroom.
I don’t know what I managed to come down with, but it’s not fun. I spent the whole night vomiting, which means I’m completely exhausted. The idea of making the three-hour drive to Connecticut just to throw up in his grandmother’s house is just a whole lot of no thank you. Still, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t go.
