Page 67 of Tough Nut to Crack

"Easy for me?" my best friend says, pointing to the center of her chest. "It's not easy for me to say. I'm not in love and all blissed out on sex and happily ever afters. No offense."

Madison and Adalynn both grin at her.

"What I do know is that man didn't see another soul in that bar last night. No one can guarantee that he's your forever guy, but hell, Riley. What if he is? If you don't give him a chance, then you'll never know."

"And if he finds someone better?" I say, the threat of tears burning the backs of my eyes.

"There's no one better," Madison whispers. "I think you're perfect for him, and I think from what we saw last night that he's perfect for you."

"You looked happier than I've ever seen you look when he was standing there wrapped around you like he was afraid an inch of space would come between the two of you," Sage says. "When you actually just let yourself live in the moment, but you said he was different by the time you made it back to the car. I don't know if you realize it, but when he grinned at the waitress while paying for the two of y'all drinks, your demeanor changed. Not his. Your smile faded. Tension returned to your shoulders. It was as if you were building back up a wall just because he smiled at someone else."

"Did you see how pretty she is?" I mutter.

"She was very pretty," Sage answers. "Did you see that he didn't look twice at her? He didn't drop his eyes to her ass when she walked off. He didn't flirt with her in any way, but I think you saw thingsdifferently. I don't think it's fair to punish him for the pain he could cause when he hasn't done it yet."

"And probably never will," Madison adds.

"Thank you," I tell them, looking each one in the eye. "I'll take all of your advice and mull it over. Now, if you want anyone to eat at this party, then I have to get to work."

Sage frowns at me, but she knows me well enough to know that I'm done discussing the subject. It's bad enough that I'll be distracted on my own by thoughts of Mac. I can't have three people ganging up on me when I have my first paid job in a very long time to focus on.

Chapter 28

Mac

If my life were a movie, I'd probably be snuggled up with Riley in bed, refusing to face the world.

That's what's supposed to happen when you tell someone they're yours. Claiming a woman in a Hollywood movie would have them swooning and jumping for joy.

I never considered that there would be a different outcome when those words slipped from my mouth.

But instead of marathon sex and naps in between, I haven't seen the woman in days.

Hell, I've heard her around the house, but I haven't laid eyes on her since she asked me to leave her room that night.

And, if I'm being honest, I'm avoiding her also in fear that the next time we see each other, she's going to ask me to leave.

I can't see any other way around it, and I hate that I may have ruined something special by opening my stupid mouth.

I can't take those words back, and if I dig deep enough, I know that I don't want to. I spoke my mind and explained how I felt. If she doesn't feel the same way, there's nothing I can do about that. It's not that I want to take the words back, but maybe I could've delivered them in less of a caveman way, especially to a woman who has been fighting for so long to be successful and independent.

"It was a lot of fun."

I shake my head, trying to shove those thoughts away so I can concentrate on the conversation I'm having.

"What?" I say into my phone.

"It was fun, not really like a bachelor party," Chase says. "There weren't strippers or anything. Madison would've murdered me if there were, but he closed down the bar to the public, and we just drank and shot pool and stuff."

He called this morning wanting to know why I wasn't at the bar this weekend for Walker's party.

"You should've come."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off the headache that's threatening behind my eyes. This is what I get for slinking out of Riley's house this morning without having a cup of coffee. Mondays are never easy, but today already seems impossible with caffeine.

"I was working on the house," I mutter.

"How's that going?"

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