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The desperation in my voice physically hurts.
She laughs a little, then throws back the covers. “I’m happy to stay. But…” She points at me. “No funny business, Ms. Montoya.”
“I promise,” I laugh.
“Good.” She turns off the light and climbs into bed next to me, propping herself up against some pillows. Then she resumes what she was doing earlier… running her fingers through my hair. The gentle touch soothes and relaxes me, pushing me closer to sleep with every twirl of my hair and graze of my scalp.
My heavy eyelids droop until they close, as I drift off, cocooned in several layers of blankets. I’m almost asleep when Hyla’s touch grows gentler and she whispers, “I’ve always loved you, Angel. And I always will.”
Too groggy and disoriented to respond, I give in and let sleep take me.
Miles
I pound my fist against Mackenzie’s door for the third time in the last two minutes.
“Mackenzie Montoya. Last warning before I kick the door in.”
When Hyla texted me this morning and asked me to come check on Mackie, I was shocked to find out the reason was because Mari and Mackie broke up and Mackie didn’t even tell me.
There’s clattering, then a mumbled “I’m coming” followed by footsteps.
The door jerks open, then Mackie appears, disheveled, her brown mop of curls half hanging over her face. My eyes widen as I look at her.
She narrows her eyes as she looks at me, then her lips pull flat and she slugs me in the shoulder. “Jerk.”
“Ow. I didn’t even say anything.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not out loud.”
“Right,” I say as I walk into the apartment and shut the door behind me. “I forgot you can read minds.”
She grumbles. “I know I’m a dumpster fire. I don’t need a reminder.”
A smile tugs at my lips, and I walk over to her and wrap her in my arms. “No. You need this.” She sighs and wraps her arms around me, sniffling as I hold her tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you fell asleep standing up yesterday,” she says into my chest. “You’re exhausted and you have a family now.”
I take a half step back, resting my hands on her shoulders. “Yeah. I do. But I’m still your best friend. I’ll still be here when you need me. Even if I couldn’t have come over right that second, I still would’ve talked on the phone with you. Why didn’t you call me?”
She shrugs and steps back, wiping her eyes. “I didn’t want to intrude on your life. You deserve this time with Amelia and Emmie.”
I shake my head and stare her down. “Don’t lie to me. You chose not to call me last night, just like you chose not to call Rae or Sarah or Amanda. You called Hyla because you wanted her, didn’t you?”
She swallows and drops my gaze. “Maybe.”
“You still love her?”
“It doesn’t matter. I woke up alone.”
“Because she had to work. She told me she left you a note.”
Mackie’s eyes widen, then dart toward the bedroom. She looks back at me, then chews on her lip for a moment before dashing into the bedroom. She returns a minute later, reading over the note with a soft smile on her face.
“Okay?” I ask, and she snaps her head up to look at me.
“Hm? Yep. Yeah. Okay.” She sighs and runs a hand over her face. “No. I don’t know. Am I crazy?”
“Might need you to narrow that down a bit before I answer.” I give her a smile.
