Page 148 of That First Flight

The second I round the corner, I find her sitting on the edge of the couch with her elbows resting on her knees and hands on her face. As if she can sense me in the room, she lifts her head and looks over to where I’m rooted.

That doesn’t last very long though because my hands itch to touch her.

I walk over and wrap my arms around her, pulling her to my side on the edge of the couch. “What do you need? Are you hungry? Do you want to talk? Ice cream?” I rattle the questions off nervously.

God, I just want to make this go away for her.

“I…” Macey blinks up at me. “You have that really nice and fancy bathtub in your room.” It comes out as a statement, not a question. The one and only time she’s been in my bathroom fully was when she walked in on me jerking off to fantasies of her.

“Done.”

If Macey wants to soak in the tub for hours, then that’s what she’s going to do.

I clasp her hand in mine and don’t let go until we reach my bathroom. I pull out a plush towel from the closet for her and some bubbles I had purchased the week she moved in.

I did it because her bathroom doesn’t have a tub and if she ever did want to take a bath to relax, she could in this one. Once I turn the water on and get everything situated, I turn around to find Macey staring at herself in the mirror.

She looks… broken.

I move my body to stand in front of her to block whatever negative thoughts are flowing through her head as she stares at herself.

I reach for the hem of the undershirt Macey had on under her chef's jacket. Our eyes lock with an agreement that this is okay for me to do. I want to be the one to take care of her and give her what she needs.

I pull it over her head and toss it to the ground before I reach behind her to unclasp her bra. I keep my eyes on hers the whole time before I hook my fingers into the waistband of her work pants, pushing them to the ground before I do the same with her panties.

This is the first time I’ve ever undressed a woman for something other than sex.

It has me feeling more connected to Macey and more in love with her than ever before.

But now is not the time to tell her that.

I gently pick her up and place her in the oversized bathtub. Macey’s head falls back and her eyes close. She lets the bubbles flow over her body as she melts into the warmth of the water.

She’s the first to break the silence. “I hate how much I let them affect me.”

“You’re justified in your feelings, Macey.”

“I know. Trust me, I do. I think it hurts more because they’re the two people who are supposed to love me unconditionally. They were supposed to love me the second they laid eyes on me when I was born and never stop. They’re supposed to go through hell and back for me. And I can say this because I’m a mom. I know these feelings and I can’t imagine doing that to Mackenzie. It makes me sick just thinking about it.”

I let her pour it all out. Whatever she’s willing to tell me as I kneel down to the side of the tub, grabbing the washcloth and putting some lavender soap on it to rub her back.

“She told me “You’ve never been fit to be a mother. I will make sure she comes home where she belongs.” I can’t stop those two sentences from playing on repeat in my head. I was doing so good.” Macey swipes a tear that falls to her cheek. “And they just had to come and find me, harass me at my workplace and threaten to take my daughter from me.”

“No one is taking her from you,” I snap. “Over my dead fucking body is anyone going to take Mackenzie.” I grip her chin in my fingers, forcing her to stare at me as anger bubbles to the surface. “Do you understand?”

Macey’s lips part in shock at the harshness of my tone.

“Fuck.” I stand from the edge of the tub and start pacing the bathroom. I run my hands through my hair a few times and quite frankly, I’m ready to pull it out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk to you like that. But I need you to know, I’ll die before anything happens to you or Mackenzie.”

Macey sits up in the bath, her hands resting on the edge and her stare doesn’t waver from mine.

“Oliver,” she breathes out.

“Babe.” I sigh before I kneel next to her again before I brush her hair away from her face. “I hate that this happened to you tonight, but remember what I told you in the bagel shop that morning? I’ve never met anyone more resilient than you.”

“I know,” she whispers. “I hate that I still feel trapped by them.”

“Freedom from them will come when you realize that onlyyouhold the power to overcome every obstacle life throws at you. I mean look at you, you’re here in the city. You made a life happen for yourself all on your own. Mackenzie has been a whole new kid since the day I met her. That’s because ofyou.”

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