Page 51 of Forever To Me

“MAKAYLA LEIGH!”

Mack’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. “Shit.”

Walker, not even fazed, leaned against the counter, amused as hell. “And here I was, thinking this night was about to get boring.”

Maggie stomped inside, hands on her hips, eyes blazing. I was pretty sure if Mack had been a less stubborn human, she would have bolted out the back door.

But Mack?

Mack just chews her bite real slow, swallows, and grins. “Hey, Maggs. Want some fries?”

Maggie looks like she’s contemplating homicide. "I went outto the house, and you weren't there. You didn't tell me you were at the bar."

I take a very long sip of my drink and wait for the fireworks.

“It is a school night, Mack.” Maggie’s voice is all sharp edges and exasperation. “Do you know what responsible people do on school nights?”

Mack nodded seriously. “Stay up late and eat bar food?”

Maggie eyes her. “They sleep. And do homework.”

“Well, I’ll get to the sleep eventually. And I already did my homework.”

Maggie inhalesvery slowly, probably to pray for patience or suppress the urge to shake Mack by the shoulders.

Walker chuckles under his breath, sliding a fresh plate of mozzarella sticks onto the table like he's setting out snacks for a live show. “Mack, why didn’t you tell Maggie you were staying in town?”

Mack mumbles, “Sorry, Maggie. I forgot.”

Maggie gives him a look as he drops off the mozzarella sticks. “You’re an enabler.”

Walker smirks. “I prefer ‘gracious host.’”

Maggie sighs dramatically, pulls out a chair, and sits down next to Mack. “Well, if I’m going to scold you, I might as well eat while I do it.”

Mack pumps a fist. “Yes! Corrupting Maggie, one mozzarella stick at a time!”

I grin, watching them dig in. And against my better judgment, I join them since we're slow.

Walker arches a brow. “You too?”

I shrug. “What? This is the best entertainment I’ve had all week.”

Maggie shakes her head as I grab a mozzarella stick. “I don’t know why I even try. You’re all bad influences.”

Mack snorts. “Oh please, you loveme the most.”

We just eat, order fries, joke around, and throw a few fries at Pickles, who’s curled up under the table, snoring like an old lady.

Maggie even steals the last mozzarella stick from Mack’s plate, which makes Mack gasp like she’s been personally betrayed.

“Maggie, that was mine!”

Maggie bites into it, totally unrepentant. “Possession is nine-tenths of the law, sugar.”

Mack turns to me for backup. “You saw that! She’s turning against me.”

I nod solemnly. “This is how it starts. First, she steals your food. Next thing you know, she’s taking over your entire life.”

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