Page 26 of Sideline Sweetheart
Mackenzie closes the refrigerator door, her head tilting to the side in contemplation as she faces me. “What has you smiling over there?”
I shake my head as I take the few steps toward her, closing some of the distance between us and offering her the glass of wine I poured. “You and your willingness to forgive me.”
I take a sip of my wine as Mackenzie studies the contents of her glass.
“Bryce,” she says her gaze still on the glass in her hand. “You should know, Jamie told me about what happened with your last girlfriend.”
“Ahh,” I say studying the glass of wine in my hand silently, until we begin to speak at the same time.
“Bryce…”
“Mackenzie…”
We smile at each other shyly, before Mackenzie says, “Please, after you.”
I take a sip of my wine and set the glass on the counter. “It seems there’s something else I need to apologize for,” I say giving her a weak smile. “I should have told you about what happened myself. But to be honest, I thought I was over it. And then I saw you laughing with the rookie and it all came rushingback.” I reach out and take her hand in mine. “Mackenzie, you are the first person I’ve felt anything for since her, so I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me once more.”
“Oh, Bryce,” she says taking a step closet and laying her hand on my cheek. “Of course, I forgive you. But next time, try talking to me first instead of confronting me on the sidelines.
I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. “You got it, sweetheart.”
Chapter Sixteen
Mackenzie
I placemy tablet in my purse as a knock sounds on my office door. The door opens and Talaney Jane, Leo’s assistant manager, steps into my office. “Hi, Dr. Flynn. Leo sent me down to get your bags.”
“Oh, thank you, but you didn’t have to make a special trip, I would have brought them up.”
Talaney shakes her head. “It’s no problem. We were going through our checklist and noticed we hadn’t gotten yours yet.”
“Well, I appreciate you keeping me on track. I’ll try to get my things to you earlier next time.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Talaney Jane says extending the handle on first my medical bag and then my suitcase. “It’s our first road trip of the season; this will all be second nature in no time.”
Talaney Jane rolls the bags through the open door, and I follow, turning off the lights and closing the door behind us. We make our way down the hall and out to the loading area where buses are waiting to take us to the airport. When we step outside,Bryce looks up from his phone and smiles before making his way over to me.
He wraps his arm around my waist drawing me into his side. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey yourself.”
“Ready for your first road trip?”
“I am, but the bigger question is are you ready?”
“Babe, I’ve been ready since February.”
I can’t help but laugh and roll my eyes. “Of course you have.”
With his hand on the small of my back, Bryce ushers me to one of the buses and I stop before climbing on board. “I thought we were riding to the airport on separate buses?”
“Originally we were, but I traded seats with Rosner’s wife so we could sit together.”
I smile up at him. “Good, now I won’t get in my own head about meeting your parents.”
Bryce chuckles behind me as we climb onto the bus. I find two seats together and slide into the window seat as Bryce takes the aisle seat beside me. As soon as he’s seated, he reaches over, takes my hand and entwines our fingers. “Babe, I told you, you have nothing to worry about. They are going to love you.”
I sigh as I squeeze his hand. “I hope so.”
