Page 62 of Clean Slade
“Tiago, I’m—”
“If you’re going to say you’re sorry, save it, asshole. I’ve been worried sick. After what you told us, I thought you were lying dead in a ditch or something.”
“I know, I’m so—”
“And you!” He turned and pointed his finger at me, walking toward me, and at that moment, that pointy finger looked like a sword coming straight for my guts. “What do you have to say for yourself? You take my best friend away from me, and then I have to find out through the grapevine that you’re Mac’s nanny?”
I held my breath and kept quiet.
I wasn’t exactly sure what he accused me of was a punishable offense, but I didn’t think he’d see it in his frustration.
“Leave Slade alone. He didn’t do anything other than look out for us. Your problem is with me.”
Santiago wasted no time spinning around and attacking his friend again as if he hadn’t come for me in the first place.
Bless the guy. I didn’t know how long he’d known King, or what it must be like to find out all the things from the past that he’d kept from him. And to disappear shortly after on top of that.
I could understand why King didn’t trust me. He’d only just met me, although why he would trust me with looking after his daughter was a different question.
But not trusting his best friend? Or, at the very least, keeping in touch…
That wasn’t nice.
“I can explain everything,” King said, and eventually, Santiago relented and wrapped his arms around him.
“For the record, I haven’t forgiven you yet. You’ve got some groveling to do.”
“That’s okay. I understand.” He took Santiago into the living room, and Joey and I followed, watching as Santiago hugged Mac and sat beside her.
“Should we…?” King asked him a few moments later, and they retreated to the dining room on the other side of the house, leaving Joey and me alone with Mac.
“You’re Joey, aren’t you?” Mac asked him and paused the movie.
“I am. And you are Mackenzie.”
“Mac!” she corrected him sharply. “Daddy says you’ve wrapped Tiago around your little finger.”
Joey bit his lip and nodded. “I guess I have.”
Mac narrowed her gaze.
“Does that mean you’re gonna marry Tiago? It’s the least you can do.”
Joey burst out laughing, and so did I.
“I may just do that. But shh. Don’t tell anyone. I want it to be a surprise.”
I stared at my friend as he made the deal with Mac, and I couldn’t help admiring how far he’d come.
That and feel a little jealous of what he had. He seemed genuinely happy with Santiago. Like they’d found their missing halves. Would I ever have that too?
It wasn’t long before Santiago and King returned to the living room. Santiago took his spot between Joey’s legs, next to Mac, and King sat next to me.
“Who wants pizza?” King asked.
Mac and Joey raised their hands, and King made the call.
“Are you guys okay?” I asked Santiago.
