Page 71 of Beacon

But I’m also not going to leave him unless he tells me I have to.

I really hope he doesn’t.

Mack is leaning against a big tree trunk, and I’m leaning against him. He’s finished his beef and a hunk ofgood, rustic bread, and I’m basically full, so I pass him what remains of the meat on my skewer.

He accepts it with mumbled thanks.

He’s the only man around the fire. If Maria didn’t like and trust him, he wouldn’t be invited, but Maria has known Mack even longer than I have.

I’m enjoying the chatting and tired laughter, but I don’t have the energy to participate in it. I adjust my legs to get more comfortable and snuggle into the embrace of Mack’s arm.

When he finishes eating, he wraps his other arm around me too.

He hasn’t said more than a few words since we arrived, but I’d swear he’s enjoying himself too.

Rose is up and about despite her heavily bandaged shoulder. She’s sitting nearby, and when the group falls into a brief silence, she asks with an amused smile, “So you guys are back together now, I guess?”

I freeze, momentarily trapped by the uncertainty surrounding my relationship with Mack.

Mack is the one who answers. “We’ve always been together.”

For some reason, his mild words touch me deeply. I turn around in his arms so I can see his face. He’s not smiling, but he looks almost soft.

“Yeah,” Rose says. “I guess you sort of have been. Not sure why anyone would want a man if she could do without,but if you gotta have a man, then Mack’s the one to have.”

She’s teasing. Some of the other women laugh, and even Mack huffs a few times in dry amusement. I smile and shake my head at her.

“You hook up with him permanently,” Rose murmurs, leaning toward me, “then you won’t be able to join us again.”

“I know.”

Jitters have awoken inside me. Excited and nervous and confused and hopeful. Mack hasn’t reacted in any way to my response to Rose. Even his body hasn’t stiffened up.

He’s warm and hard against me. His breathing is steady, and I can hear his heart beating in his chest, fast and strong. His presence seems exhausted—even more than me—but otherwise he might be okay.

I hope so.

He needs to be okay.

Conversation shifts then, and the attention moves away from us. I adjust so I can check his face again.

He tilts his head down, his brows lowering in a questioning frown. “Something wrong?” His voice is so soft that only I can hear it.

“No.” I smile at him. “Just seeing how you’re doing.”

His mouth twitches. “Feels like you’re always doing that lately.”

“Well, can you blame me?”

“No.” His expression sobers. “I’m sorry you’ve been worried.” When I open my mouth to object, he continues before I can. “I think I’m okay. For real this time. Not that I’ll ever again be the man I used to be, but now I feel like maybe I can still do what’s required to take care of the people I love.”

My breath hitches as I gaze up at him.

“For months now, I didn’t think I could. Ever again. Do what’s required. So I thought… well, that’s it for me. I can’t have that life anymore. But today…” He takes a shaky breath. “Today I realized maybe I can.”

“You can.” I reach up to cup his face with one hand. “You don’t have to do everything you used to do, but you can still do what’s needed. You’ve…” I gulp. “You have with me these past two months.”

His face breaks briefly. “I think it’s been more you taking care of me.”

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