Page 76 of The Games We Play
“Oh geez,” I muttered. “It’s late. I should get home. I need my beauty rest.”
Mac grinned, leaning his hip against the bar. “Can’t imagine you could get any more beautiful.”
I smiled, cheeks warming. “Charmer.”
“I’ll walk you.”
Normally, I would’ve insisted he didn’t need to, but this time I didn’t, maybe because the idea of walking home alone sounded… heavy. Lonely. And maybe because part of me just wasn’t ready to let go of tonight yet.
I reached for my popcorn bowl, but Mac stopped me with a gentle touch to my wrist.
“Leave it,” he said, already stepping beside me. “I’ll take care of it when I get back.”
“You sure?” I asked, my hand hovering.
“Yeah.” He gave me a small smile. “Come on, Trouble. Let’s get you home.”
The nickname hit like a sucker punch.
I froze. My heart dropped to my feet. The air shifted—charged and bittersweet. Mac must’ve felt it too, because he stilled, like he hadn’t meant for it to slip out.
It was a name that once meant so much.
“I’m sorr?—”
“Don’t,” I cut in gently. “Don’t worry about it.”
Silence stretched between us, but we moved together toward the front door without another word.
Mac locked up behind us, the sound of the deadbolt loud in the quiet night. I couldn’t take the weight of it, so I cleared my throat.
“I had fun tonight,” I said, trying to sound casual. Like my heart wasn’t still thudding from one word—Trouble.
He turned toward me, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Me too.”
The stars were out, twinkling like a thousand secrets overhead. The air was cool for May, a soft breeze sweeping across the pavement. I wrapped my arms around myself as we walked in sync toward my apartment.
“You can come over whenever you want,” Mac said quietly.
I looked up at him, uncertain. That felt like a door creaking open. Was I ready to walk through it?
“Is this your subtle way of trying to get in my pants, Mac Ridley?” I teased, raising a brow and flashing him a flirtatious smile.
He matched it, shaking his head. “No,” he said. “Even though I wouldn’t exactly be against that… I like spending time with you outside of sex.”
I looked away, down at the sidewalk, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. A shiver rolled up my spine, stealing into my bones.
Without a word, Mac slid his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close. His warmth spread through me, anchoring me to something that felt so achingly familiar.
“I like spending time with you, too,” I said, my voice softer than his, like the words might crack if I said them too loud.
Mac’s arm tightened around me just a little as we continued down the quiet sidewalk. “We could always work on your popcorn-catching skills,” he teased.
I tilted my head toward him, letting it rest lightly against his shoulder. Just a little. Just enough to feel him there. “It did take me an embarrassing number of tries to catch that last one.”
“At least fifteen,” he said, all smug.
I groaned. “Okay, okay. We don’t have to assign an actual number.”
