Page 162 of That First Flight

“Is it our turn to come out? I’m dying over here?” Avery’s voice sounds from around the corner.

My head snaps to the direction of a little wooden room divider on the side of the room set up to block the door to the kitchen for when we have events. Avery pops her head out of the side, laughing.

“This is insane,” I say.

Just as the words leave my mouth, all the girls, Thomas and Marc rush out from behind the wall, bombarding me in the biggest group hug. My chest feels heavy as I absorb all the love in this room right now. Everyone has their arms around me and I spot Oliver from the corner of my eye standing off to the side with his hands in his pockets and he looks happy.

“I can’t believe you guys are here.”

“We wouldn’t miss this big night for anything.” Peyton claps.

“Em wishes so bad she could be here but she couldn’t get off her shift last minute,” Kali says.

“Oh my gosh, that’s totally okay. I just can’t believe it.” I shake my head in disbelief.

Thomas hikes a thumb over his shoulder. “This guy put it all together.”

I offer Oliver a smile and bring my gaze back to my new friends. My newfamily, the people who have made this transition from small town to big city way less stressful.

I’ve found my people.

Seeing Macey’s face light up the way it is right now is exactly why I set this up for her.

At first, I wanted this to be the moment I tell her how I really feel, even though I think she has an idea by now. She’s been moved into my room for two weeks and I have no plans of changing that.

But this is a big night for her, and I didn’t want to be selfish and keep it to myself. I wanted her best friends and the people who care for her deeply in one room at the end of the night.

Getting Flora and Samuel to come on a Friday was rough when they are a two-person show at the Bar and Grill. But they love Macey like a daughter and wouldn’t have missed this.

I can’t stop staring at Macey laughing and smiling.

I remember the first time I heard her laugh. I called it a sweet song. That fact still remains true. I could die a happy man if the last thing I hear is her laughter in my ears.

Looking at Macey now is different than the first time. I can’t help but admire her drive and how far she’s come since that first flight. She reached for the stars, but landed on the moon as the head chef at Ollie’s.

I still can’t wrap my head around her choosing that name—my name.

When she first told me, I felt my jaw hit the floor, and after a few seconds of processing it, I fell even more in love with her. I even tried to talk her out of it thinking I don’t deserve to have my name on a restaurant. I don’t want the credit for getting her here, becauseshedid all the work.

Macey took me up on the offer to come stay with me and since that day, she never stopped learning and working harder than anyone I’ve ever known.

By the end of that conversation, she’d persuaded me that it was the name she wanted and I was honored that she chose my name.

I’ll never stop cheering for her.

I clear my throat, hoping I can just get a minute with her before more celebrations.

“We’re going to give you two some privacy.” Peyton hugs Macey one more time. “Come on, Kenzie, let’s go get some ice cream next door really quick.”

“Oh, I’m so in for ice cream,” Thomas groans.

“For her and James. Not for you.”

“I’ll let you share mine, Uncle T.” Mackenzie laughs

I can’t remember when it was, but she started calling him that one day at their house and it just stuck. We all find it so funny. Thomas doesn’t have any nieces or nephews, so it makes him beam with joy when she calls him that.

I love that Mackenzie has aunts and uncles here. She deserves the world.

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