Page 12 of Sidelining the Safety

Lee finished his orange-lemon flavored drink with a grimace, but re-reading the text messages from Mac and Drew put a smile back on his face. Setting his phone aside, he faced the refrigerator, ready to tackle his next chore: making dinner.

CHAPTER 10

MAC

“Look at that smile. Mackenzie Connor, who’s caught your eye?” Momma Connor teased, breezing into the office where he sat behind the desk, totaling up the morning and lunch receipts during a lull in patrons. Or well, he was supposed to be before he’d started texting Lee.

Mac typed in the last message, turned his phone off, and placed it face-down on the desk. “Nobody,” he hedged.

“Bald-face liar. Katy told me about the football player.”

He leaned back in the office chair and threaded his fingers together before resting them on the edge of the desk. “Well, Momma, if you already knew, why’d you ask?” He blinked innocently. He’d perfected that look as a young child, though his momma never fell for it. Not one iota, and yet, he kept trying.

She sat in the chair opposite him, crossed her legs, cocked her head, and waited.

“Ugh. I hate you.” He pouted playfully, sticking his lower lip out as far as he could. “Fine. His name is Lee, and he’s a new player for the Troopers.”

“Lee Matters? I met him and his momma and aunt a few weeks ago. Lovely people. And he is some serious eye candy.”

Mac didn’t know whether to laugh or choke, so the sound that came out of him sounded awful. It’s a good thing he hadn’t been drinking anything because… Hello, spit-take! “Momma?! Really?”

She stared… and he caved. He scrunched his nose and squeezed his eyes shut a moment before meeting her gaze. “Yes, he is indeed some serious eye candy. He’s a professional athlete, so out of my league, but a boy can hope.”

Momma rubbed her bottom lip with her fingertips. “What about Drew?”

“What about— Oh no, Momma. Come on. I told you there’s nothing there. I’m not what he wants. In fact, as much as I was flirting with Lee, Drew was, too.”

“You’re sure he’s gay?”

Mac shrugged. “He didn’t stop us from flirting with him.” Not that it had been much, but there had definitely been signs and signals. “And he took both our numbers. He might have even gotten Drew an internship with the team.”

Momma grinned. “That’s great news. I know Drew’s been worried.”

“Yeah. It’ll be a great opportunity for him.” An opportunity that put Drew in front of hot, muscled athletes. Why hadn’t he gone into sports therapy or become a fitness trainer? His momma cleared her throat. Oh, right… The family business came first.

“You sound upset.”

Mac rocked the office chair. “Eh. Maybe jealous. Hot guys. The possibility of travel.” He shrugged again. He loved his life, but sometimes, he wanted more.

“I know that feeling. I married into this life, remember? You, however, darling, were born into it, like your father.”

“He doesn’t let us forget it,” Mac grumbled.

“Mac…” Her weary tone stabbed him in the feels. “You know you can say no at any time. You can take time off. All you have to do is ask.”

“I know, I know.” Mac spun the chair slowly as he leaned all the way back. He took a few deep breaths, centering himself and letting his thoughts drift until they caught on one. Facing his mother, her expression so warm and expectant that he hated to ask. “What’s going on with Katy?”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “I wasn’t aware there was a problem.”

“Are you sure? She talks to you about everything.” Mac reached for a pen, needing something to fiddle with as he stared at Momma.

“No,” Momma drew the word out. “Though I’ve noticed she’s looking tired and offered to give her time off, but she said she was okay. Did she say something to you?”

“Just that’s it personal.” Personal for him usually pertained to bodily functions and dating. If it was the same for her, maybe it was a “man” problem, because he sure as fuck hoped she hadn’t gotten knocked up by that asshole boyfriend she’d just broken up with.

“You’ll keep an eye on her, and I will, too.”

“Yeah, Momma, of course.”

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