AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We normally work every day of the year, even Christmas Day. But I sense things are going to be changing.” He grabs me, starts kissing me, and walks me back to the bedroom. “Time for some serious sex.”
“Lightning.”
“Don’t care.”
I giggle and let him toss me onto the bed, where he lies on top of me and then proceeds to kiss the living daylights out of me.
It turns out to be one of the best days of my life. We make love slowly, in the morning sunshine, then eventually force ourselves to get up, and Mack takes me to the house I share with Caro and Hana so I can pick up some of my things. They’re both super excited for me, although sad to think I might be moving out, but I promise them I’ll see them often for girlie nights, especially when Mack’s working on a project.
We go back to his apartment, change into running gear, and take Gus for a run in the park. It’s the start of a new year, and everything seems brighter and shinier than usual—even the birds sound happier, dancing about in the trees.
Afterward, we shower together and change, and then we join Jamie and Emma for a lunch she’s prepared, and spend a pleasant hour with them eating and chatting and just getting to know each other a little better.
In the afternoon, Mack seems tired—I think he’s still getting over his frantic week. So we lie on the bed for a read, and after about fifteen minutes, I look over and see that he’s dozed off.
I study him for a while. It’s strange to be able to observe him without him being constantly on the move. He looks younger asleep, nearer my own age, as if he’s an ordinary guy taking time to doze in the afternoon with his girl. You’d never know he’s a billionaire genius with a nuclear core for a heart that gives him all this incredible energy, the closest to Iron Man you can get in real life.
I kinda like dating a superhero.
I lie back then, looking out of the window and thinking about Elizabeth nominating him for the MacDiarmid award.The work deserves the publicity. It’s not all about him. But he feels under the spotlight, and he’s not comfortable there.
I reach over for my phone, bring up Safari, and Google it.
‘The MacDiarmid Medal is awarded annually to a person or team who, while in New Zealand, has undertaken outstanding scientific research that demonstrates the potential for application to human benefit, such as in the areas of health, environment and technology.’
Lowering the phone, I think about it for a while. And slowly, an idea begins to form.
Looking at Mack, making sure he’s still asleep, I send Elizabeth a text.
Almost immediately, she comes back.Shit, why didn’t I think of that? I’ll get onto it. Thanks, Sidnie!
“Who was that?” Mack’s woken up, and he heard the buzz of the text arriving.
“Kate,” I say, turning my phone off and tossing it aside. “Just saying Dad’s feeling better today.” I move closer to him and kiss him. “Hello.”
“Hello.” He yawns, stretches, then pulls me on top of him. “I kind of like being lazy,” he murmurs, kissing me.
“I get the feeling it’s a new adjective for you.”
“Yeah. I can see why it’s so attractive to people.”
I chuckle and let him kiss me for as long as he wants. Inside, though, I feel a seed of hope and excitement that maybe I’ve helped Elizabeth, and in doing so, I’m going to help Mack get the recognition he deserves. I might not be able to completely remove the spotlight, but maybe I can help Elizabeth change its focus.
*
I exchange a few more texts with Elizabeth throughout the week. Mack goes back to work Monday—his interest in being lazy didn’t extend to more than one day—and it’s easier to communicate with her when he’s not there. I’m kept busy—I visit my folks most days, helping out, especially when Kate, Liam, and Julia return to Australia on the third. Wednesday, I go out for a drink with Caro and Hana, and update them on everything that’s been happening.
Lubricanz is still closed for the holidays, so I don’t have to worry about work until next week. I do some cleaning for Dodie on Tuesday and Thursday, because even though Mack has asked me to move in with him—and he’s a billionaire—I have student loans and I’m still paying for the room with Caro and Hana, and I’m not comfortable asking him for money, so I need to work.
But during the day when I’m not doing anything else, I open my laptop, sit out on the patio at the table, and work on my book. I meet Mack’s housekeeper, Alison, when she comes in to clean and do the washing and buy groceries, and at first that’s a bit weird. But she’s in her forties, friendly and mumsy, and she fusses around me, getting me drinks and lunch, which is kinda nice. We chat sometimes, but she mainly leaves me to work, and eventually I get used to having her come in, and feel less awkward about it.
With more free time to write, I’m able to get really stuck in. Words flow from my fingertips, and I can stretch my legs with the longer format, and really get invested in the characters. Sometimes I ramble a bit—an editor is going to fill the page with red lines, I’m sure—but I really enjoy writing it, and I’m pleased with how it’s coming along.
To my surprise, as I know he used to work until at least ten most nights, Mack is home by seven every evening. Sometimes we have takeout, or a dish that Alison prepares, but a couple of times I cook for us, just stir fries with noodles or pasta with veggies, and we eat it while watching a movie, the height of domesticity, which seems to make both of us incredibly happy.
Then, on Thursday, when we’re sitting together on the sofa, watching the TV, Mack’s phone rings.
“It’s Hux,” he says, answers it, and puts it on speakerphone. “Hey. What’s up?”
