Page 26 of Calling the Shots

Firecracker: IDK. Can I afford to miss a night of beauty sleep?

Mack: 100%

What the hell am I doing?I left Gracelyn’s house last night, vowing to not go there again. Now here I am, less than twelve hours later, flirting with her and talking about sleeping over. I’m a confirmed bachelor, the type of man self-help books label a commitment-phobe.

Yet it’s easy to slip into this thing with Gracelyn. She’s fun to banter with, witty and clever. The kind of woman I could really fall for.

Except I can’t, for all the reasons. Age. The next-door neighbor thing. The fact that she probably wants to get married and have babies and I’ve been alone for over twenty-odd years. I’m perfectly content on my own and I’m pretty sure that I’d just screw a kid up. Fatherhood’s never been on my radar and I doubt I’d make all that great of a dad.

Still, my fingers hover over the keyboard. Extremely interested in finding out what exactly Gracelyn’s doing tonight.

Mack: You busy tonight?

I hurry and hit send before I talk myself out of it. There’s a long pause and my heart’s pounding a mile a minute as I stare at the phone like it’s a freaking crystal ball.

Firecracker: Yeah, late night at the salon

My chest stiffens as regret washes over me. She’s busy. I should let it go. Move on, like I planned.

Mack: What about after? You’d be pretty close by

What am I doing here?Sure, I’d love to see her, be with her again. Kiss that pretty mouth of hers, run my hands up and down her body, and see where the night takes us. But I need to be a logical, responsible adult here.

I stare at the screen, waiting.

Buzz, buzz.

Coach Carter: Pizza at my house after practice? We can catch Monday Night Football

Coach Carter: My fantasy team’s kicking your team’s ass

It’s a sign. The universe does not want me to see Gracelyn tonight. I should play it safe and hang out with my friend. Watch football, drink a beer, and forget all about my neighbor’s sexy daughter.

Buzz, buzz.

Another text comes in, this time from Gracelyn.

Firecracker: Sorry, but I can’t make tonight work

I huff out a deep sigh, frowning down at the screen, jaw tense. I took a risk and it didn’t pan out.

Happens to the best of us, but it still fucking sucks. I’m surprised at how sharp the sting is, stabbing me in the ribs. Perilously close to my heart.

I shove that disconcerting thought away and text Coach back.

Mack: Sounds good. See you later

After chugging the rest of my coffee, I fire off a quick text to Gracelyn.

Mack: Too bad. Have a good day, Firecracker

Hitting send, I try not to dwell on the fact that I got rejected. I head to the shower to get ready for the day.

* * *

The best part about owning my own business, Made by Mack, is all the glorious alone time. Plus, the bit about playing with power tools and building shit. Also pretty amazing.

I started Made by Mack the day after I moved to Thunder Creek ten years ago. The period of time my mother affectionately calls my quarter-life crisis, which she’s pretty certain I’m still in the throes of.

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