Page 74 of Calling the Shots

I shift a tiny bit and he flexes, locking his arm around me.

“Hey. You fell asleep on me last night.” His voice husky with sleep, the deep tenor vibrates against my neck and an excited shiver dances up and down my spine.

Now that he’s awake, I stretch my legs, waking up my entire body. “Sorry about that. I tried to stay awake, but I guess I was too exhausted. Did you have a fun night with the guys?”

“It was okay. Would have rather hung out with you, to be honest.”

My heart flip-flops. “Really? That’s sweet.”

Lifting my face to his, I’m light and tingly all over.

I could really get used to this.

“Listen—” He traces lazy circles over my skin, the motion lulling me into a Mack-induced stupor. Calm, relaxed, malleable.

“My parents invited us for Thanksgiving. To the house in Augusta.”

Every muscle tenses and my throat instantly dries up. “What? Really? You told them about us?”

Mack’s eyes flick to mine. “Yeah. I mean, your mom knows all about us.”

“What have you said? And what did they say?”

“I said I’m seeing someone. My mother asked if it was serious and I said yes. Then she invited us to the house for the long holiday weekend.”

“Oh.” There’s ashithovering on my tongue, but I somehow swallow it down.

“So—what do you say? Are you game?” He stares at me with an intense gaze.

“I—um…” I flick my eyes down at his bedspread, heat flaming my face. “Um…I’ve never met anyone’s parents before. I mean, in like, an official capacity. Of course I’ve met parents before…” I panic-babble, words gushing out of me.

Mack presses his lips to mine, stopping the verbal mania. “It’s fine, I’m sure it’ll be good. And I don’t care about before. All that matters is now.”

Relief washes over me and I take a deep breath. “I have to talk to my mom about it. Because I don’t want her to be all alone for Thanksgiving.”

“Of course.” He squeezes my hand. “Let me know by tonight, though, okay? My mother’s a little uptight, to put it mildly. She’ll want everything to be perfect for us. And apparently that takes time. Or so she says.”

I laugh, wondering for the thousandth time how this is my life. Mack, in all his gorgeousness, wanting to spend his time with me.

Nights, weekends, holidays.

Introduce me to his family.

He strokes my cheek, kissing me softly down the line of my jaw, and I know this thing between us is real, not something I dreamed up or imagined.

And for the first time in my life, I’m really and truly happy.

I want to stay like this forever.

* * *

Mama Reynolds does not take my Thanksgiving defection well.

“What do you mean, you’re not going to be here for Thanksgiving? We’re always together, every holiday!” Clutching her necklace, she twists and rubs the bright orange glass beads. “You’re going to leave me here, all alone?”

Her face crumples, dark red lips turning down, and I can’t help but notice the resemblance to a sad clown.

“Mama, I’m sorry.” Guilt tugs at my gut. I hate the idea of my mom being alone on a holiday. But I really want to be with Mack. “I know we always celebrate together. But it’s only for a few days…” I pat her back, trying to soothe her and take some of the sting out of the situation.

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