Page 53 of Mountain Bean Dream

The cloaked figure moved with such grace; it was clear as day that MacMillian wasn’t a guy.

She sauntered over with a swagger and confidence that reminded me of some of the more unpleasant souls I used to work with; those that were so full of themselves they expected everyone to fawn all over them.

MacMillan pushed into the small space beside Jeremy, setting down a tray of jalapeño poppers.

“Came as your hero I see?” He darted his eyes from the figure beside him over to me.

“I’m anacolyte.” She removed her hood, layering it on her shoulders.

MacMillian was drop-dead gorgeous. Pale blonde hair so elegantly clipped and pinned, it had to have taken hours to complete. Her makeup was flawless, either that, or she was a natural beauty because there wasn’t a freckle or mole or beauty mark to be seen.

It made my own freckles seem like a neon light in comparison.

Jeremy shot her a mock glare. “Was wondering if you were ever going to make it. Oh, this is—”

“Must be Molly,” Mac answered before Jeremy could finish. She flashed me an insincere smile; the kind that didn’t crinkle in the corners of her bright blue eyes. “It’s about time I finally meet the lady stealing all of Jeremy’s attention. I’ve been hearing so much, but seeing is believing.”

“Stealing his attention?” I echoed, my voice faltering slightly. My cheeks flamed, and a burning heat flooded across my chest, threatening to turn my white turtleneck pink.

Jeremy cleared his throat, looking like he wanted to disappear under his vest.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Mac continued; her grin was devilish. “He talks about you all the time at school. I wasn’t sure you were real.” She stopped to finish chewing. “You know, with as often as he’s at school, you’d think he was doing charitywork, or trying to win someone back?” She cocked her perfectly manicured brows at him.

I glanced at my date for the evening, eyebrows raised. “Oh, really?”

It all seemed rather fast since we’d only made the arrangement a few days ago. Unless…

I swallowed as the idea, albeit a little far-fetched, started circulating in my head. Was I here to make an old ex jealous? It would be fair considering that was the plan for Saturday, with the roles reversed.

Jeremy fidgeted, adjusting the way his vest was positioned. “It’s not that big a deal.”

“Are you kidding?” Mac cut in, waving a popper in the air like a wand. “He’s a hero, literally. He comes to the school five days a week to mentor the kids. Let me tell you, Cierra’s class would revolt if he ever stopped.”

Not to be outdone, and if I was the one playing the role of fake girlfriend, I could lay it on pretty thick. “Yes, Jeremy talks about the students with great pride and admiration. The school is lucky to have him.” My pride was as evident as the smile on my face.

“As are you.” She pointed at me, and the jovial mood slid to the ground. “Just be gentle, okay? He may be playing the part of the roguish swashbuckler, but underneath, he’s way more Chewie than anyone else.” For good measure, she shoulder-checked him and then stayed attached. Deeply attached. All while trying to stare me down.

Little flickers of something I wasn’t familiar with flashed inside of me, and I found myself leaning across the table to hold his hand with my good one. I had known Jeremy to be a quiet reflective soul, and originally I had pegged him as a boring guy. But maybe Mac was right… It was hard to see beneath the outer layers.

To irk him more, Mac caressed Jeremy’s beard. “Isn’t that right, you ole softie?”

Jeremy pushed his friend’s hand away, twisting away from her. The tips of his ears were stained a heated crimson. “Don’t you have a table to sit at?”

“Yep, over there.”

Pushing himself closer to the window and putting a little space between himself and his so-called friend, he twisted in his spot. “Didn’t you bring a date tonight?”

Mac went to touch her friend’s beard once again, but Jeremy intercepted and pulled away before there was contact, banging the back of his head against the window. She sighed with contempt. “He’ll wait. I don’t know that I’ve embarrassed you enough yet, my friend.”

“Actually,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “I think you have.”

Mac greeted me with a questionable raise of her right eyebrow.

Fueled by a push I hadn’t had to use in a while, I carried on. “And I’m told you’re a champ at this game. Well, I’m here to tell you, I’m an A+ champ and you’re going down.” I wasn’t sure how yet, but now it was on. There was no turning back the clock.

Both looked at me in awe, but Jeremy’s definitely held more surprise. His jaw was slack and his eyes widened in slight amusement while glancing at his friend.

Mac nudged Jeremy who was rubbing the back of his head. “I like her. She’s feisty and lives up to her role, however, she may be way out of your league, unlike someone else we both know.”

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