Page 120 of The Moment

And when he doesn’t respond with much else beside a cocked brow, as if I’m the one in the wrong, I purge my thoughts as justification to turning down his brother’s marriage proposal.

“Mac, I worked my whole life for others. For my sister. For Chip. For managers and bosses I hated. I am just now starting to live my life for myself and I’m not about to give that up just because some rockstar with great cock and an even better promise comes swooping in.” I suck in a breath but keep going despite the grin pulling at Mac’s lips that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t need the swooping in and saving me kind of shit. I am living my dream with my sisters, who happen to be dicks, too, but they deserve to live their dreams, just like me.”

Huffing, I watch as Mac tucks the lit joint between his lips, squinting away the smoke and fucking slow claps.

“Good for you, baby girl.”

I stare in shock at my maybe boyfriend’s twin.

How can he be so nonchalant about this?

“Mac,” I scoff and shake my head. “Your brother asked me to fucking marry him and I said no.”

Shining eyes pass over mine with a shrug. “I’m not worried.”

“What?!”It comes out louder than I mean, the words reverberating off the makeshift walls and old rock band posters. “How the fuck are you not mad at me right now?”

Another shrug as Mac ashes out the window and takes another puff from his pinched fingers. “He knew better than to do that. It’s his own fault.”

Wait …

“Do what, Mac?”

I’m not convinced that Mac’s words are meant for me after what happened with Jordan.

After what happened with the mugger.

Chills rack my body at the thought of Rex being hurt enough to be in his mother’s bathroom getting stitched up by their security’s doctor.

What could have happened.

What would have happened if Rex hadn’t been there …

“You deserve more than a fleeting demand. He knows that.”

Another wave of nausea rolls over me, my arms going to my midsection, trying to ease the ache there.

“Baby girl.” I look up at the face that looks so damn similar to Rex, tears welling in my eyes as Mac tilts my chin up to meet his bloodshot eyes. “Don’t let up. He’ll get it right.”

A watery laugh leaks out past my lips, the humor missing from the sentiment.

“That would require him to actually talk to me.” A half shrug and a crouch back to his window is the only answer I get from Mac.

Ping.

Pingpingpingping.

I fish the phone from my pocket, Mac mirroring my movements, to silence the device.

Except what’s on the screen freezes me in my tracks.

“Oh, fuck.” Mac is on his feet, pulling me to the trap door, the joint tucked between his lips. “We gotta go.”

I follow his lead, completely dazed out of my mind.

Like I’m in a dream, the words from my screen bounce around in my head as we rush over green shit hell bent on tripping me up.

The scenery blends together. The clearing mixes with the woods which becomes the yard and the house and I don’t know where each thing begins or ends.

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