Page 71 of Now That We Don't Talk

Every additional second I spend with him makes the walls around my heart fall little by little. And no matter how much I try to resist, I can’t deny what I’m feeling.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MAC

I’m in awe of how well this evening has gone. From the moment Vivian walked through the door, something just clicked into place. She fits in so well with my family, as if she’s been here hundreds of times.

Watching her joke with my mom, swap stories with my dad, and playfully team up with them against me makes me want her around all the time. Vivian has an amazing ability to read me and call me out without hesitation. And, of course, my parents are more than happy to join forces with her.

Admittedly I don’t mind at all. Maybe it’s because deep down, I like seeing her this way—comfortable, confident, and fully immersed in my life.

Whatever it is, I can’t shake the feeling that I want more of this.

After dinner, I lead Vivian up the stairs to my apartment above the garage. The space isn’t huge, but it has everything I need. I open the door and step aside, letting her take it all in.

“This is very nice,” she says, her eyes sweeping over the space.

“Yeah, it works for me. I get to be close to my parents but still be on my own, if you know what I mean.

She lets out a soft laugh as she walks further inside. “I totally understand.”

I watch as she takes a seat on the couch, curling her legs underneath her. “I’m guessing this is a little smaller than your place in Tennessee?”

I chuckle and sit down beside her. “It’s definitely smaller than my condo.”

She smirks. “I had a feeling.”

I lean back, resting my arm along the back of the couch. “My condo is nicer, but it’s not as homey. It has a different feeling, if that makes sense.”

She nods, her expression softening. “That makes a lot of sense.”

For a moment we sit in an easy silence.

“I had a really good time tonight,” she says finally, turning toward me. “Your parents are great.”

A smile pulls at my lips. “Yeah, they’re the best. I had a good chat with them earlier today, and they gave me a lot of clarity about…stuff.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Stuff?”

I clear my throat. “Yeah.”

Something about this moment feels different—like a shift, a step toward something more.

"I'm really happy you're here," I say, softly.

Her cheeks turn a shade of pink, and she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks. It’s still a bit surreal that we’re here together."

"If only I could go back in time," I murmur, shaking myhead. "There’s so much I would do differently. So many things I wish I could fix." My gaze locks onto hers.

“We all have regrets,” she assures me.

Hearing her say this so casually sends a wave of relief through me. It’s like a knot in my chest has finally started to unravel. I don’t know what’s next, but I do know one thing—I don’t want this feeling to fade. Now that Vivian is here—I can't imagine going back to a life without her. And realizing that I could’ve missed out on this makes me want to kick myself.

I take a slow breath, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. “So, does this mean you’d be interested in going out with me again?”

She tilts her head slightly, and she gives a thoughtful look. “I think that could be arranged.”

A slow grin spreads across my face. “And just think, you get to brag to everyone you know that you’re dating one of the Tennessee Wolves,” I add, my voice dripping with arrogance.

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