Page 25 of Replay
“Giving me some cryptic bullshit about how he had something to tell me but not until he told you. Fuck that shite!” Mac grumbles in frustration. “I don’t like a man who has secrets, Tilly. I have no secrets. Hell, I’ll even tell you that my baw sack has changed since I quit playing football. It’s got saggier. I’m considering wearing a jockstrap to work for the support. That’s how un-secretive I am!”
“I never needed to know that.” I cringe at the unpleasant fact my brother just assaulted me with.
“Well, now you know,” he barks.
I sigh heavily. “I told you before, and I’ll tell you again. I don’t care what Santino wanted to tell me. I have no feelings for him, Mac. He’s seriously just like the one person I know from my time here in London who isn’t the absolute worst type of human, and I’d like to be able to give you guys a weeknight away from Smarty Spice.”
Freya smiles at me like a cat that got the cream.
“And I don’t like the way my wife is smiling at you.” Mac thrusts an accusing finger at Freya. “She’s looking like you two have a secret. Cookie, you and I have no secrets. I shouldn’t have to remind you that we are man and wife.”
“Fine…you want to know my secret?” Freya tuts, her brows lifted with great amusement.
“Aye,” Mac booms, nodding his head in preparation.
“I’m Team Santino.”
Mac’s eyes go wide. “You’re what?”
Freya shrugs, undeterred by my fuming brother. “I’m Team Santino, and I don’t care who knows it.”
“Freya!” I exclaim with accusing eyes. “You’re supposed to be my anti-love coach. How can you be Team Santino?”
She smiles sweetly. “I think you two make a nice pair, and you deserve this.”
“This isn’t a fucking set of ponies we’re mating! This is my sister. And Santino is a sleazy lawyer bawbag—”
“Who saved your football career by making it possible for you to come back to Bethnal Green after things didn’t go well in Glasgow.” Freya stares him down like she’s daring him to tell her it isn’t true.
Mac jerks his head back and begins pacing in front of the fireplace. “Don’t remind me.”
“Mac, there was a reason Tilly wouldn’t let you pummel him all those years ago when you found out about that money he sent her in Dundonald. And there’s a reason she wants to go out to dinner with him.”
“As friends,” I add firmly, flinching at the mention of money because I sooo do not want to go down that path. Clearly, my beloved sister-in-law needs a stern reminder. “And the past is in the past.”
She winks playfully at me. “Take care, love. Mummy has Daddy on the ropes.” She swerves her eyes back to Mac. “Your sister is a strong, independent woman with a master’s degree and more brains than both of us put together. Now you need to stop being an odious protective big brother and let her make her own choices here. She’s doing a lot for us right now, and I could cry just thinking about how helpful she’s been to me these past few weeks. She left her life back in Dundonald to be here for us, so we’re going to let her have a life while she’s here. End of discussion.”
Mac’s shoulders rise and fall as he heaves big breaths and opens his mouth to speak but then smartly closes it. Finally, he turns to me. “You tell him that if he puts one fucking finger on you, he’s getting a Glasgow Kiss from me, alright?”
“You bet, Macky.” I smile at my big brother, who’s been reduced to rubble by a couple of women.
When he storms off into the kitchen, Freya looks at me. “What is a Glasgow Kiss again?”
“A headbutt.”
Freya’s face twists up. “That doesn’t sound very nice.”
“It’s not supposed to be.” I giggle.
“Well, we best watch another episode ofBridgertonto get you fullyin the moodfor your date.” She shoots me a cheeky wink that I shake my head at.
“It’s not a date.”
“Okay, wee sister.”
And just like that…I have a big sister whether I like it or not.
Getting the text from Tilly that Mac gave her the all-clear for our “business meeting” was a surprise, to say the least. I half expected to have to enlist Tanner or Roan to talk to Mac on my behalf. That stubborn Scot doesn’t forgive easily.
