Page 30 of Hooked on Mack
“What are you getting?”
“Salmon and shrimp,” he said confidently. “You should try it; it's supposed to be their specialty.”
“Alright then, salmon and shrimp it is,” I agreed, grateful for the suggestion. The waiter took our orders, and we clinked glasses of wine in a silent toast.
“So, tell me more about your family. What were they like growing up?”
Mack paused for a moment, considering. “Well, my parents… They've always been pretty hard to please, especially my dad. He's the main reason I became a lawyer, actually.”
“Really?” I leaned in closer, intrigued. “How so?”
He sighed, swirling his wine around in his glass. “Growing up, it was all about making him proud. And since he's a lawyer himself, the best way to do that was to follow in his footsteps.”
“Did it work?” I asked, wondering what kind of man would be so difficult to please.
Mack chuckled bitterly. “Not really. As an adult, I've learned that nothing will ever be quite good enough for him.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been really difficult.”
“Hey, it's okay,” he assured me, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve learned to accept it, and it led me to where I am now. Plus, look at the bright side—if it weren't for my dad, we might never have met.”
I smiled, squeezing his hand back. “Well, I'm certainly grateful for that.”
“I’ve been waiting for this. Larissa Montgomery, the woman who single-handedly dismantled an entire law firm and then danced on its ashes.”
"Okay, okay. But I’m not exactly the more spontaneous person.”
“You are perfect just the way you are. No need to change anything about yourself.”
He sure had a way with words. I was lucky to get to know him without all his defenses. He was charismatic, but there was so much more to him.
Oh my god, I’m falling for him…
Epilogue
Mack
Three years later…
Larissa and I stood side by side in our living room.
“Can you believe it's been three years already?” Larissa asked as she cradled Serenity.
I grinned. “I know, right? It feels like just yesterday that we were two lawyers trying to outwit each other in court.”
“Ha! And look at us now,” Larissa teased, her sharp wit as quick as ever, softened by the warmth of her smile. “We moved in together, got married, and now we're raising this little bundle of joy.”
I nodded, my heart swelling with pride as I watched Larissa tenderly stroke Serenity's cheek. It was true—we had taken our relationship to the next level, motivated by our shared desire to be good parents and devoted spouses. We combined our lives seamlessly.
“Remember the day we decided to move in together?” I asked, reminiscing about our journey. “We spent hours debating whose apartment was better, only to realize that neither of themwas big enough for both of us, let alone our extensive law libraries.”
Larissa laughed. “Yes! We ended up finding this place, which is perfect for us. And I have to admit, I really love our home office.”
“Me too. I'll never forget our wedding day, surrounded by all our loved ones, pledging our lives to each other. It was the happiest day of my life.”
As we pulled apart, Serenity let out a coo, reminding us of the joyous responsibility we shared. Together, hand in hand, Larissa and I faced the future, ready to embrace whatever challenges and triumphs life had in store for our little family.
“Being a father is the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. I mean, don't get me wrong—being a husband to you is pretty fantastic as well.”
