Page 39 of Sideline Sweetheart
“I can leave,” I say dangling the takeout bag from my finger. “But then I’ll be taking the best chicken parmesan dinner this side of Italy with me.”
Mackenzie closes the van door and makes her way over to me. I wrap an arm around her and kiss her when she looks up at me. I smile while gazing into her blue eyes. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more,” she returns.
A wide grin spreads across his face. “You get to stay. Even if you’re not here to see me.”
I groan as I place a hand on my chest. “It wounds me you would think such a thing.”
He chuckles as he starts up the sidewalk. “I bet it does.” He stops in front of the door and taps in his code before opening it and making his way inside. “Home sweet home,” he says as we follow him through the door.
I hand the takeout bag to Mackenzie and carry CJ’s bag inside. “Where do you want me to put your bag?”
“Top of the stairs first door on the left,” CJ calls to me as he heads to the kitchen with Mackenzie.
Mackenzie stops turning to him. “Are you sure you’ll be okay going up and down the stairs?”
I hear him chuckle as I head upstairs. “Trust me Doc, this is not my first time on crutches.”
I place his bag on the dresser and take a quick peek in the bathroom to make sure he can utilize the shower while injured. The large walk-in tiled shower with built-in seats puts my mind at ease and I know it will Mackenzie’s as well.
I head back downstairs and follow Mackenzie’s voice into the kitchen. “Is there anything else you need?”
CJ shakes his head, from where he’s seated at the breakfast bar. “I don’t think so. Anything I think of can wait until tomorrow when my housekeeper, Mavis comes by.”
“Okay,” she says walking over to the doorway where I’ve been watching their exchange. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. In the meantime, get settled in, and relax. We’ll talk later about getting appointments scheduled for you.”
“Sounds good,” he says as he follows us to the door.
“Now, sit and put your leg up. I put your dinner it the fridge, so you should be set for the night.”
CJ smiles. “Thanks for everything, Doc.”
“You’re welcome,” she says and then steps out on the sidewalk.
“Take care, man,” I say as I clap him on the shoulder.
“Will do,” he says before nodding toward Mackenzie. “You’ve got a good one there, don’t screw it up.”
I laugh as step onto the sidewalk. “I’m going to try not to.”
With one more wave I head to my car and climb inside where Mackenzie is already waiting for me. I reach across the console and take her hand. “Where to beautiful?”
Mackenzie sighs and with her head against the back of the seat rolls her gaze in my direction. “Honestly? I’m so happy to be back, I don’t care.”
I raise our joined hands and place a gentle kiss on the backs of her fingers. “Then don’t worry sweetheart, I’ve got you.”
I put the car in gear, pull out of CJ’s neighborhood, and head toward my place downtown. Mackenzie quietly gazes outthe window as we make our way through Greenville. My thumb skates across the soft skin of the hand I’m still holding. “You okay over there?”
She turns to me and smiles. “Yeah, I was thinking about how my life has changed.”
“How so?”
She glances at our joined hands watching the movement of my thumb as she speaks. “Before I moved to Greenville, I was content to work and spend time at home. Last year, I would have relished having a few days alone in a hotel, even if I was checking on a player and making sure they were getting the care they needed. But this time, I felt alone.” Her gaze drops once more to our hands before returning to me as she concludes with a shrug. “And I missed you.”
I pull into the parking garage of my building, and into my designated space before shoving the transmission in park before turning to her. My hand cups her cheek and then moves to the back of her head as I confess. “I missed you too baby, more than I thought I would.”
Mackenzie sighs as I lean in and gently feast on her soft lips. It takes all the self-control I can muster not to deepen the kiss. However, it’s the slamming of a car door which reminds me of where we are. I pull away and then give her lips one last peck. “Let’s get inside before someone decides it’s a good idea to capture a video of us to go viral.”
