Page 50 of Make Me Want it Too

I push that conversation out of my head as I follow her into dinner. Tables are neatly arranged with white tablecloths and gold-rimmed dinnerware. People are starting to arrive, and servers are already circulating with trays of hors d’oeuvres.

Macy glances longingly at the fried cream cheese wontons as a server walks by, and I take a mental note to grab some for her.

“Oh, there’s Bex!” She points toward where she and Jake are standing near the open French doors.

I put my hand on the small of her back, the memory of sliding up her zipper and knowing how soft her skin is under her dress making it hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

She winds around the tables and the growing crowd of guests toward Bex, and I stay one step behind, my hand never leaving her.

“Are you enjoying the festivities?”

Macy stops abruptly in front of Spencer’s mother.

“What up, Mrs. Hayes?” I say at the same time Macy says, “Yes, everything’s wonderful.”

She looks at me with her cool smile. “Call me Saundra.”

Nope. Not going to do that.

“Don’t you look handsome tonight?” she continues. “You’re wearing the same color as my Margot. If you two were standing next to each other, everyone would think you two were a striking couple.”

Macy slips her hand into mine and my chest tightens.

“That’s a cool coincidence, Mrs. H. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t said anything. There’s only one girl I can’t keep my eyes off of.” I beam down at Macy, warm all over.

I bend down and kiss her on the forehead. She’s smiling up at me when I pull away, but she squeezes my hand two times quickly.

Luckily, before I can excuse us away, Jake steps in and tells his mom that the wedding coordinator is looking for her.

Mrs. Hayes rushes off and Bex comes to join us, followed closely by her mother.

“Well, I don’t see why you had to invite him at all.”

“Because he’s my dad, Mother,” Bex sighs.

“It’s not like he’s even been around the last twelve years?—”

“Says the woman who only calls me on Christmas and my birthday,” Bex says under her breath.

“Is he going to walk you down the aisle?”

Bex turns and rolls her eyes. “I need to find some fucking alcohol.” She leaves, her mom left standing there with her mouth hanging open.

“I apologize for Bex, Mrs. Bishop. She’s just really stressed right now,” Jake says with a nervous smile. Then he goes off in the direction Bex went.

“Oh, there you are!” Mrs. Bishop’s face lights up, and I look over my shoulder as Livvy walks up to join us, a little wonton in her hand. “My sweet daughter. I’m glad you’ve never been difficult like your sister.”

Macy eyes Livvy’s wonton.

Noah comes up behind Livvy, placing a tattooed hand on her shoulder and sliding it up her neck possessively as he towers over her and her mother.

Mrs. Bishop clutches her little cross necklace and Noah chuckles under his breath, making the skull tattoo on his throat move.

My man Walter looking dapper in a bowtie clears his throat and announces it’s time for the tasting to begin and for everyone to please find their seats.

I touch Macy’s elbow. “Wontons at ten o’clock.”

Her gaze shoots instantly to the left and with the cutest little, “Oh,” she heads that direction.