Page 98 of That First Flight

My cheeks split with a wide grin as I stare at her. Her green eyes glaring back at me in question. But I don’t say anything, I just keep smiling.

Waiting for her to match it.

And she does.

Slowly the corner of her lips twist up and I have successfully done what I wanted to do before she went to bed—put a smile on her face.

“Goodnight.”

With that, I turn and head toward my room, wishing like hell she would spend the night lying beside me in my bed, wrapped in my arms.

Mackenzie was not herself when she woke up today.

The sun wasn’t even over the horizon enough to peek through the blinds before she was in my room and crying to me about everything that took place last night.

She feels so awful for what she did.

I talked her through it and made sure she knows that it was just an accident, making sure she understands accidents happen and it doesn’t make you a horrible person.

It helped that Oliver was so good about it.

The relationship Oliver and Mackenzie have developed is something special. Oliver's happy and relaxed personality allows Mackenzie to let her guard down, just like it does for me. I spent so much of that first car ride to the city worrying if suddenly having a man around would put her on edge. But it turns out I didn't need to stress because the friendship that blossomed between them has been incredible to watch. I see every day that Oliver puts in the effort to grow and nourish their relationship. Mackenzie has started to mirror his cheerful, yet calm, demeanor, but what I really think is happening is that she's allowing herself to finally be a happy kid.

I let her take over the kitchen after that where she made her famous French toast and it lightened the mood a lot. Oliver even came out and she insisted on making a giant plate for him as an apology. He kept saying over and over how it was completely unnecessary, that she didn’t need to apologize, but Mackenzie’s heart is too big for her body and I know she’s going to live with this for a while.

The conversation over breakfast shifted to Mackenzie telling us about Samuel and Flora. She spoke to them on the phone yesterday and they have been doing well and have beenreallybusy since the blog post.

When we finished, I was reluctant to let Mackenzie go with Emiline after what happened yesterday. I know it was still eating her up, but it made her happy to go spend time with her. She was extra happy to help pick out a birthday present for James.

Who am I to deny that?

Once she left, I spent the entire day snuggled with another book I borrowed from Peyton while the rain hammered against the windows. This used to be my favorite time to read my educational books, but getting lost in a fictional world is a whole new level of relaxation.

But these books… good lord.

Talk about dirty and hot. I now understand why this genre is so addicting and the girls don’t stop talking about it. Avery once told me through text message,once you’re in, you won't be able to stop. She was right, I read the entire book in one sitting.

The rain finally stopped and the sun set so I made my way into the kitchen to make something to eat. The house was strangely quiet so I assumed Oliver was gone for the day.

I won’t lie, reading dirty romance books doesn’t help the feelings I keep having about him. It brought me back to the night he gave me my first ever orgasm. I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about it…the way my body trembled at just the use of his fingers, the way I want more of it.

More of him.

As if I thought him into existence, Oliver walks in the kitchen.

He looks like he just walked out of the book I just read. Dark wash jeans, and a Henley tee paired that hugs his muscles deliciously. His blonde hair is tousled as if he ran his hands through it a few times and was content with that.

That book got me way too worked up.

“Good you’re here,” he breaks through my trance. “We’re going out.”

I look down at my outfit. I’m wearing a pair of oversized sweatpants and a crop top. My hair is a literal mess perched at the top of my head in a bun.

He can’t be serious.

I look up at the clock and realize it’s already 9 PM.

“I’m not really dressed to go out right now. And don’t places close soon?”

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