Page 66 of Tough Nut to Crack

I know she's right. Even if I would've demanded that he leave, I would've caved if he begged me not to make him go.

"Cash is territorial. I think he'd risk losing his job by beating someone up if they tried to flirt with me," Adalynn explains.

"I have no doubt Chase would do the same and then smile in his mug shot," Madison adds.

Sage points at both women as if they're speaking the possible and can't be contradicted. "And that is exactly what I thought last night when he walked up to you, wrapped his arms around you, and kissed you like you were the only person in the room."

"But then he got in the car and didn't say a word," I disclose.

"And it freaked you out?" Sage asks.

"Maybe he was freaked out," Adalynn says. "Mac has been around town his entire life like I have. I can't recall a single time when he was in a serious relationship. He may not know how to navigate this himself."

"Mac could have anyone he wants," I murmur, slapping the hand towel over my shoulder before grabbing a block of cheese to grate.

"He clearly wants you. And before you say one derogatory word about yourself, you need to think twice. I won't allow it." Madison narrows her eyes at me as if daring me to counter her. "I get being scared. I think I was terrified when Chase told me how he felt. If you don't recall when we were all in school, I was so in love with him that I couldn't see straight, and now that I'm thinking about it, weren't you just as infatuated with Mac?"

"Yes!" Adalynn says with a snap of her fingers as if it just triggered something in her mind. "You hooked up with him at that party!"

"I kissed him in a closet," I clarify. "And then he acted like he didn't know who I was."

"Ouch," Madison says. "About as bad as Chase ruffling my hair like I was a little brat after he forgot he told me he'd take me to the dance."

"But look at her now," Adalynn says, pointing at her friend's swollen belly. "In love, married, and they have a baby on the way. And I had a very similar situation with Cash. I never thought we were going to get together."

As if proving a point, Madison points to her friend's equally swollen belly.

"Do you think you could marry him and have his babies?" Sage asks.

"What?" I say, glaring at her. "I'm not even dating him."

"It sounds more serious than just dating if he claimed you," Adalynn says.

"I don't want to be claimed!" I snap, more annoyed than I probably should be.

These women don't mean me any harm, but the hot and cold from Mac has altered my brain chemistry in some way.

"Can you actually imagine me marrying him?"

"Yes," they all say immediately as if it wasn't a rhetorical question.

"And the burden of being a single mother when I get pregnant and put on more weight?"

Silence fills the room.

"Are you serious?" Madison whispers.

"I bet he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of you," Adalynn says quietly.

"Men are feral when the woman they love gets pregnant," Madison adds.

I shake my head. These size four women don't have any idea. I don't begrudge them for it, but they can have all those cute maternityphotos, and no one would bat an eye when they feed every single pregnancy craving they have. It would be so different with me. People are judgmental, and I already get looks when I shop locally and buy anything other than fresh produce and healthy food.

I wouldn't have a complex about my own weight on certain days if I didn't see the way people in public look at me. It doesn't happen as much here in town, but let me go to Whole Foods in Austin. Hell, in the city, people don't even try to hide their opinions. If they aren't staring, they're trying to be helpful by handing over unsolicited advice about what grocery items might be healthier. Even waitresses offer a diet soda when I ask for a sweet tea or a lemonade. People are hateful.

"Enough," Sage growls, and there's so much heat in her tone that all three of us dart our eyes in her direction. "If the man wanted someone else, he would have someone else. You need to stop with this shit and just accept that he cares for you."

"I know that's easy to say-"

---