Page 55 of Calling the Shots

“So soon?” Mom pops her lip out in a full-on pout.

“Yeah. It’s been a long day.”

“Alright. Leave the plates, I can clean up. It was wonderful seeing you, Mack. Don’t be a stranger!”

To my horror, my mother pops out of her chair and gives Mack a tight squeeze. He clumsily pats her shoulder with his huge hand.

“Great seeing you as well, Mrs. Reynolds. Thanks for having me.”

I rush to his rescue before my mother starts stroking his chest or doing something else equally embarrassing.

“Hate to break this up, but I’ve got to get going. C’mon, Mack.” I untangle the two of them and drag Mack out of the kitchen, saving him from the lovefest.

“Sorry about that,” I murmur as he laces his fingers with mine.

“It’s fine. I like your mom.” He squeezes my hand and I feel slightly better about the dinner.

“She can be a lot.”

“Y’all are so different.” Mack glances at me, chuckling, and I elbow him hard in the ribs.

“Not funny. You giving me a ride home or what?” I stare out at the street, remembering my car’s still in the lot at Mustang’s.

“Can you drive?” Mack asks and I remember the half bottle of champagne I chugged at dinner.

“Good point. Probably not.”

“You can stay over.” His voice is low, his pupils wide. Almost like he’s nervous to ask me.

Heart pounding hard, my stomach flip-flops.

Mack invited me to stay the night with him.

“You sure?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure, Firecracker. Or you can stay with your mom, if you’d rather.”

“I’ll stay with you.”

“Good. For a second there, I thought I might lose out to your mother.”

His lips quirk and I laugh, my chest light and my heart lighter. Despite my mom’s best efforts, Mack doesn’t seem like he’s changing his mind about us.

Us.

I really, really like the sound of that.

CHAPTER18

GRACELYN

Homecoming week in Thunder Creek is a holiday, just like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Stores close early and everyone in town has Friday off, except for students, teachers, and hairstylists.

The week’s super busy for me, what with all the ladies wanting to look their best for the big game and then the Hoco dance the following night.

No rest for the weary, I swear.

But this year, there’s a double silver lining brightening up hell week. For one, Sloane’s back in town with Cam, which is amazing and I can’t wait to squeeze her. And second, Mack and I are hard launching our relationship.

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