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She grinned and tucked her hand in mine.
"Lead the way."
We walked down the sidewalk, leaning toward each other as I kept an eye out for a better place.
"Oh, I love this pub," I said, pointing it out. She didn't hesitate to pull me inside. I loved that she was always down for whatever, willing to try new experiences for us.
"Sounds perfect," she said, breathing in and groaning. "It smells amazing in here. Better than whatever bullshit we would have gotten a spoonful of there."
"Agreed," I said. "I fucking hate those lunches. By the way, that comment about Mom's earrings was fucking gold."
She grinned. "I couldn't help myself. Everything they said was a fucking insult."
"That's them in a nutshell," I admitted. "Even her hugs feel wrong."
"I'm sorry," she said. "You deserved so much better than that as a kid and now."
"I do," I agreed. It wasn't something I realized. "I feel like a weight has been lifted." I rolled my shoulders for emphasis. It was such a strange sensation and would take some getting used to.
"Cutting out toxic people usually does that," she said.
"Sit anywhere!" a voice called out and Macy walked confidently to a booth in the back, giving us some privacy. I slid in right next to her, pulling her thigh over mine so we were tangled together. I wanted her as close as possible now.
"God, you smell amazing today," she groaned, leaning in and breathing deep. "New cologne?"
"Not new, I don't wear it often. Maybe I will if I get this reaction," I teased. Her cheeks heated but she took in another full breath anyway.
"Sorry to interrupt," the waiter asked. He was gruff, wearing a bandana over his hair, tattoos on display under his shirt. I was straight but even I knew the man was built like a god. Macy gave him a quick smile but didn't give him a second glance.
"You're good, sorry to be that couple. Can I get a Coke," she said quickly. "And we'll start with the nachos."
"Sounds amazing, Coke for me, too," I agreed.
"Do you come here often?"
"Sometimes. Their fries are amazing, they also have really good burgers and, according to Tate, good salad."
She studied the menu, her eyebrows crinkling as she concentrated. Everything she did was adorable and I had trouble looking away. So, this time I didn't bother, drinking her in like a fine wine and reaching out to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Here are your drinks," he said, sliding them in front of us. "Know what you want?"
"Caesar salad and a side of fries," she ordered before turning her attention on me.
"House burger and fries, side of cheese for the fries," I said, handing both of our menus over to him. He was off again with only a grunt of acknowledgement.
"I much prefer ‘grumpy biker man’ over the ‘creepy Stepford staff’ at that other place," Macy muttered.
"Next date I'll do better," I promised. She laughed lightly as she intertwined her fingers with mine, running her free hand lightly over my knuckles. Even her simple touches were electric.
She didn't know it yet, but she was mine. There was no other woman for me. She managed to help heal years of shitty trauma and put my parents in their place in one meeting. She brought our group to life and made hockey even better. Just being with her I felt like a better person and I hoped we gave her the same confidence in her life.
We all came into this a bit broken. Now it was our chance to heal ourselves and each other.
ChapterSixteen
Macy
"Where are we going?" I asked as I watched yet another exit pass us by. We'd been on this highway for almost an hour and I was antsy as hell. That look they had last week like they had a secret was tenfold now. Whatever they were keeping from me was huge.
