Page 84 of Calling the Shots

Mack bristles and that tiny bit of worry ratchets up, amplifying.

“Sort of. She’s good friends with Emma Kate.”

“I figured as much. Childhood friends? College besties?”

“Both.” He clears his throat, his eyes flicking to the ground. “Also my ex.”

“Excuse me?” I shove away from him, shocked. “What do you mean, your ex? Like, y’all casually dated? Or was it a long-term thing? When?”

“Gracelyn…”

“Mack. Or should I call you Ulysses?” I pop my hand on my hip, fiery anger bubbling inside me. It’s a strong reaction, I know, but so much has been thrown at me in such a short time. Big, important things that Mack should have told me about before we got here.

“Don’t, please.” He steps forward and I take a step back.

“You should have prepared me for this.”

“For what?” Mack raises a brow.

I throw my arms out wide. “This. All of it. The fact that you live in a Bridgerton mansion, you have a staff, you belong to multiple clubs. Your ex-girlfriend is a close family friend.” I spit out the last part, the words stinging my throat. “I don’t know anything about you.”

“That’s not true. You know me, Gracelyn. The real me. None of that stuff is mine. Not the house, or the staff, or the memberships. And I had no clue Tinsley was coming. We’re done, Gracelyn. You have to believe me.”

I fold my arms across my chest, heart racing. “I don’t know what to believe, Mack.”

All I do know for sure is my heart hurts right now—but I’m not about to admit that. It feels too real, too vulnerable, like picking at an open scab.

“Babe…” He reaches out, stroking my cheek with the rough pad of his thumb, and I waver under his touch. I concentrate on his movements, up and down, up and down.

I consciously make a decision to not hold the Tinsley thing against him. He did look shocked to see her, like it was a real jump scare.

“Fine.” I open my eyes, locking gazes with him. “But is there anything else I should know? Tell me now, before dinner.”

Mack swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Tinsley and I broke up a long time ago.”

He pauses and I instantly know there’s more to the story.

“And?” I press, his heart racing beneath my palm resting on his chest.

“We were engaged.”

CHAPTER28

GRACELYN

“What the fuck do you mean you were engaged? And she’s still a family fucking friend?” I recoil from Mack, putting distance between us. Blood whooshes loudly in my ears and black and white spots dance in my peripheral vision.

“This is unbelievable. The fact that you were engaged and never mentioned it is one thing. A massive thing.” I pace the marble floor, equal parts anger and surprise surging through my veins. “But now she’s here? And we have to hang out for the next few days? That’s fucking weird, Mack.”

He rakes a hand through his hair. “I know, Gracelyn. And I’m sorry. I probably should have mentioned the engagement thing before, I guess. But it’s in the past. Like, so far back. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I stare up at the ceiling in an effort to avoid his gaze and to keep the tears pooling in my eyes from spilling over. I know I’m a touch dramatic sometimes, but this is a lot of information to process at once.

I take a long, shaky breath before facing him. “I’d love to be the chill girl right now and act like it doesn’t matter. Like I don’t care that you loved someone before me. Enough to propose.” My voice quivers and I suck in air through my nose, try to regain a sliver of composure.

“But the truth is, Mack, I do care. I’m not that chill girl. I’m emotional and a feeler and this just feels—I don’t know—bad.” A pang shoots through my chest and I’m hot all over.

“What do you want me to say, Gracelyn? I can’t go back and change the past. All I can do is apologize for not telling you sooner.”

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