Page 54 of Forged By Sacrifice

I wasn’t sure I could. I was pretty sure that I’d want to keep her just like I’d thought before I’d learned anything about her past and her family. It irked me that it mattered…that I was ready to let go of the chance at something beautiful because of what others would say.

“You keep using that word, perfect, Mac-Macauley. I knew you had an ego, but really.”

We stared at each other for a moment. Waiting. Who would break first? And would it be toward each other or away?

“Thank you,” she said quietly, eyes still on mine. “But I think I’m going to skip the libations and head to bed.”

“Georgie,” I breathed out her name, remorse in my voice as she moved out of the kitchen. Remorse for more than ruining our night. Remorse because of the things that were holding me back from following her.

“It’s okay, Mac.”

It wasn’t.

“Finish watching the movie,” I said.

She shook her head, going toward the stairs to the loft.

“Another night,” she replied, her voice emotionless.

I hated myself, and I didn’t. Because I needed the space as much as she did. Tonight had proven one thing: there was no way that the energy that existed between us was going to allow us to just live together as friends. The pull was already too strong. I just had to figure out what exactly that meant for me before I could persuade her of anything else. Before I could pursue her in any way, shape, or form. So, I let her run…and I thought that even she knew it wouldn’t be forever.

Georgie

HURT

“If you light the fuse, you know that I'll react.

If you’re reckless with your love, just to take it back.

You could hurt somebody like that.”

Performed by Lady Antebellum

Written by Green / Peirce / West

As August wafted by me, I did a good job of avoiding Mac. After our heated?or cooled?milkshake moment, I doubled my efforts to keep away. It was self-preservation as much as selfless denial because, in truth, I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted a repeat performance of every moment we’d spent tangled together on his boat, because Mac had been right. Our kiss had been perfect.

The problem was, we weren’t perfect. And I didn’t want either of us to be hurt by that when reality showed up, knocking on our door like Descartes said it would. I could spend days being bitter about it, or just resolve myself to move past it. We had to find a way past it.

I continued to fill my days at the law library. I loved it there, surrounded by facts and justice all rolled into one. Research had always been my forte back when I’d been in school getting my bachelor’s degree, and I was relieved at how easily it came back to me.

I’d moved on from my search and seizure pursuits to cases related to the rights of immigrant children and their parents, especially detained illegals. In some ways, it was close to home even though my mom had never been illegal, and I’d never been an immigrant.

I was neck-deep in highlights and typing once more when another person stopped by my table. I was relieved to find it wasn’t Professor Collins. I’d avoided him whenever I’d seen him appear in the library but watched from afar as he flirted suavely with the female student behind the help desk, and she blushed and stuttered over his attention. It had turned my stomach.

The person who stopped that day was an older woman in a suit that fit her as beautifully as Collins’ and the Whittaker siblings’ suits fit them. I was clearly going to need my own suits before long to blend in with the new crowd. My sundresses, leather pants, and ripped jeans screamed New York instead of D.C.

“You’re a bit of a puzzle,” the woman said. Her voice was full of a southern twang that instantly captivated me as much as her dark-red hair and warm, brown eyes.

“I’m sorry?” I questioned.

“Summer classes are over.”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t in them. I don’t start till the fall term.”

“What are you working on, then?”

Collins had seen my overeagerness and taken advantage of it, but this woman seemed genuinely interested. I was determined not to be ashamed. I loved the law. Just like I loved America.

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