I never pushed Mac to talk. She shared what she wanted about her life before moving next door. But even though she’d been letting me in more and more, she’d never told me about Squish’s father. She’d never even mentioned him after that first day.

As she sat in silence, I wondered if she’d finally say something.

Hoped she would.

Dreaded it, too.

I was possessive as hell when it came to her. She was my first love.

She was it for me.

It.

I didn’t wanna hear about another man. Hear about their past, their plans, their life together.

Hear her grief.

Or maybe that she wasn’t over him.

But at the same time, it was a part of her. And I wanted that. All of her. Every part, no matter what. That was why I would set my personal shit aside and listen.

When she was ready.

Which wasn’t right then.

Yawning, she curled back into me, her head on my chest and my arm around her. She reached up and grabbed my hand from where it sat on her shoulder, dragging it down to rest on her stomach. Then she covered it with her own and said, “Bedroom lights off.”

The room went dark. Quiet.

But not peaceful.

Haunted by the past.

Haunted by monsters.

Haunted by gut-wrenching words.

I laid awake for Christ knew how long, taking comfort from having Mac in my arms. Having Squish under my palm.

I thought she was long asleep when she whispered, “Thanks for coming home safely to me.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

I rolled us, curling myself around her. “Always, baby.”

For the rest of my life.

28. Good Dates Include Leather and Head

CHAPTER 28

GOOD DATES INCLUDE LEATHER AND HEAD

HOLLYWOOD

“We’re going out tonight,” I said as soon as Mac answered my call.

“What? Why?”

“Because I wanna take you out.”

“What? Why?” she repeated, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “Fine. The clubhouse?”

“Not taking you to the damn clubhouse on a date.”

She was quiet for a beat. There was no smile or teasing in her voice when she asked, “A date?”

“A date. Be ready by five.”

At that time, we’d be eating dinner surrounded by the early bird crowd, but that was better than Mac falling asleep halfway through the evening.

Even then, there was a chance of it happening anyway.

“Wait,” she said frantically before I could hang up. “I need to know where we’re going so I know what to wear.”

“A dress. Nothing fancy. Just the casual kind.”

There was no reason other than I really fuckin’ liked the idea of seeing her legs all night. Being able to touch her. The easy access…

I fought a hard-on ’cause otherwise, shit was about to get awkward as hell.