Page 17 of Make Me Want it Too

There’s hushed voices in the living room—Macy and Livvy.

I turn over into my pillow and try to focus on the sound of the city outside and the warm summer breeze hitting my face instead of their conversation.

But the second Macy sniffles, I’m up, sneaking down the hall and peeking in on them.

“He’s the best man. I’m going to have to see him every day. I’ll have to walk down the aisle with him. I’ll have to stand across from him at the altar while they’re saying their vows,” Macy says between hiccups. “I don’t know if I can do it.”

“I know. It really sucks, Mace. No one blames you for being upset,” Livvy says, handing her another tissue.

I was going to get some water and just casually see if I could help with anything, but now I’m not sure what to do. So, I’m standing in the shadows of the hallway like a creep.

“Oh gosh. And it’s at Spencer’s parents’ house. All of his family knows me, and everyone will know he dumped me, and everyone’s going to pity me.”

Livvy scowls. Her features are too soft to look intimidating, though. “If anyone is even the slightest bit rude to you, tell me or Bex. She will rip them a new one.”

Macy nods, smiling though there are tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t want to burden Bex. It’s her wedding. I just wish I wasn’t going alone.” Sniffle. “I think I could handle it if I wasn’t alone.”

“Noah and I will hang out with you the whole time.”

“I don’t know if being a third wheel will be much better but thank you.”

Livvy gives her a hug. “I’m heading to bed now. Will you be all right?”

Macy nods. “Yeah, I should go to bed, too. Thanks for listening to my meltdown.”

Livvy chuckles. “If you think this is a meltdown, you didn’t grow up with Bex.”

I step back farther into the dark as Livvy goes down the other side of the hall to her and Noah’s room. And now Macy is alone out on the sofa, and I have a decision to make. I can slink back into my room and pretend I never heard this conversation, or I can go out there and take a risk.

It was never a question.

She’s still wiping her face when I come up behind her and offer her a new tissue.

Macy jumps, clasping her chest when she sees me. “Son of a biscuit, you scared me.” She takes the tissue and quickly dabs her eyes, straightening her shoulders and clearing her throat.

“I’m sorry. I came out to get a drink of water and I overheard a bit of your conversation with Livvy.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders slump back down. “I must sound pathetic, huh?”

I sit on the other side of the couch and face her. “Girl—not at all.” I take a deep breath and steal myself for what I’m about to say. “I have a proposition for you.”

Her eyes widen.

“No, not like that. More of an offer. I’ll go to the wedding with you. As your date. More, if you want. I’ll play the doting boyfriend who never leaves your side. No one will feel sorry for you. In fact, I’ll make sure they’re all jealous of you.”

She lets out a hard laugh. A real, almost cackle of a laugh. She laughs so hard, she snorts.

I bite the inside of my cheek.

“Wait—are you serious?”

“Yeah. You said you wish you didn’t have to go alone. You don’t have to.”

Her expression sobers a bit. “That’s a nice offer, Wood, but no thanks. I mean, it’s silly. I don’t even think people would believe you and I were together.”

“What? Why not?”

“I don’t know. We’d make a strange match, don’t you think?”

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