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I’d left soon after the school run, not meeting either of them. I wasn’t ready to meet the family just yet, even if the circumstances weren’t exactly normal. Meeting the family, letting them know that there might be something between us was way too official. I had to figure out how I felt about her first.
I had to figure out how to talk to her about this stupid project and how I’d fucked up. There was no way I could meet any family and pose as her would-be boyfriend with this hanging over my head.
Thinking of myself as her boyfriend pulled me up short. That was where this was headed, no doubt. I couldn’t keep being there for her, falling for her, and not want to take the next step. Hell, if I had Mackenzie by my side for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t complain about it one bit.
I just had to figure this out first. I couldn’t do any of that without talking to her, without clearing the air and making sure she was still interested in me at all after I’d effectively tried to sabotage her career.
That had all been before I’d really gotten to know her the way I did now, before I’d realized how tough things were for her. Taking away the one thing she still had that was stable in her life wouldn’t just be a betrayal, it would be downright villainous.
The next two days, I argued with myself all the time. I had to tell her as soon as I could, but with how things were going for her, I didn’t know how to bring it up without causing more shit. She hadn’t wanted to talk to me about work when I’d been at her place.
It had sucked, but I’d also understood it.
Now, after the night we’d spent together, I was more serious than ever about clearing things between us and coming clean to her.
I sat in front of my laptop, reviewing my project. It was good—better than anything I’d done before. I liked to think it was thanks to Mackenzie. She inspired me to do things differently, to look at everything through fresh eyes, and the project had turned out incredible because of it.
My phone rang, and I grabbed it, answering before I checked the caller ID. I’d been waiting for news on Mackenzie’s sister’s operation status and how they were managing putting funds together, and she hadn’t let me know anything yet. I hadn’t wanted to push for answers while she was with her family. The idea of accepting money was hard for her but I wished she would just take it.
“Is everything okay?”
“Larson,” a male voice said, and I pulled the phone away to look at the screen.
Shit.
“Mr. Johnson,” I said with a smile. “It’s good to hear from you.”
“I need you and Frye to come in this afternoon,” Johnson said.
“What?”
“I need that presentation done. I’m flying out to France first thing in the morning, and Toussaint is coming back with me. I want to have everything taken care of before I see him so I can present our ideas right off the bat.”
“This afternoon is so soon,” I said, my stomach dropping.
“And you’ve had more than enough time to prepare, I’m sure,” Johnson snapped.
“Yeah, of course,” I said. It wasn’t the preparation that was the problem.
“I’ll see the two of you right after lunch. I trust you’ll make it work with your schedule.”
Damn it.
“We’ll see you later,” I said.
Johnson ended the call without a response.
My stomach twisted into a knot of pure panic.
I picked up the phone to call Mackenzie. I had to take care of this right now.
“Can you talk?” I asked when Mackenzie answered the phone.
“I’m headed into a meeting. Can I call you afterward? I should be out by lunch.”
“Johnson just called and bumped up the presentation to today. Just after lunch.”
“Shit,” Mackenzie said.
