Page 91 of Mace

“I have no idea.” Other than bikes and kissing, I have no idea what Mace likes.

Ivy pokes him in the ribs. “Not everyone is into your games, you little dork.”

He laughs, trying to angle his body away from her finger. “You’re not playing fair. I can’t attack you back when you’re in the ‘family way’, can I?”

My brow arches as my sister snorts. “The ‘family way’? Where the hell did you hear that?” Ivy asks before I can.

His shoulders shift. “I play a lot of fantasy games. You pick things up. I’m hoping your baby is a boy so we can game together.”

She hits him with a pillow. “You’re not rotting my baby’s brain with your stupid games.”

“First of all, they are not stupid. Second, a lot of them are visual masterpieces, Ivy, which I wouldn’t expect you to understand because you’ve never played a game in your entire life.”

I leave them bickering as I walk over to the window and peer out. The view beyond is of the side of the clubhouse, which means I can’t see when Mace returns. I chew my thumbnail, trying to calm my frantic nerves. Everything’s going to be okay. I have to believe that. He’ll sort out things with Link without getting hurt, and we can go about our lives again.

With Link out of the picture, I just have two more problems—Bernie and the rent situation, and the baby that’s on the way. I have no idea how I’m going to support my siblings and a newborn, even with my promotion.

But that’s a problem for future Maylie and another day.

For now, all we have to do is survive the next few months. We might have to move somewhere cheaper. I think that decision is out of my hands now. The baby can sleep in Ivy’s room for at least the first year, and then after that… well, I guess we’ll work something out.

My thoughts scatter at the knock on the door. I spin to face it as the handle depresses and it swings open.

My relief is instantaneous as I lock my gaze to Mace. There is no blood on his face or obvious injuries, and my body sags in relief.

I eat up the space between us until I’m standing in front of him, and I risk reaching out to place my hands against his chest as I peer up at him. Maybe this isn’t real. Maybe this is all I can ever have with him. But it’s enoughfor now. I’ll take anything he gives me, because something is better than nothing.

“Are you okay?” I demand.

Did my voice wobble? I feel like it did.

“I’m good,” he assures me, grabbing my face in his hands and kissing me like we’re alone.

I don’t care that we have an audience. I’m so happy to see him that I kiss him back like a love-starved teenager.

I never knew it was possible to be this consumed by another person, but I feel incomplete when I’m not with him, and it should scare me how fast these feelings have developed, but I like living in this bubble.

Deep down, I know I’m going to get hurt. This isn’t going to last. How can it? I don’t know if our feelings are real, or if we simply got wrapped up in the moment. Neither thought sits well with me. I don’t want to lose him. He has the power to completely annihilate me.

He pulls back, his hand still cupping my face, his eyes searching mine. “What’s going on in the pretty head of yours?”

I guess I must be wearing every emotion I’m feeling on my face. “I’m fine,” I lie. “Link?”

“Dealt with. He’ll leave your sister alone now.”

Relief floods my bones, and as he pulls back, I catch sight of the back of his knuckles and gasp. I grab his hand, turning it so I can see the shredded skin. “What happened? You need to have this looked at.”

“I’m fine.” He throws back my lie, which makes me frown.

“Mace.”

“Honestly, baby, I’m fine.” He looks over my shoulder to my brother and sister, who are sitting on the edge of thebed, watching us as if we’re entertainment. “You guys hungry?”

“Starving!” Toby drags the word out dramatically.

“You ate like an hour ago,” Ivy says.

“Which is why I’m hungry now.”

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