Page 24 of Deadly North

Mack’s chin juts forward. “I have abso-fucking-lutely given you compliments before. You just don’t listen to them.”

“No you haven’t! Like what? No, actually, forget that. I don’t want to know.” I especially don’t want him to think I’m fishing for compliments, even though I’m weirdly hungry to hear more of them. Mack thinks I’m gorgeous?Hot as shit? My stomach starts to get all fluttery at the thought. He may be an asshole, but he is a sexy as hell asshole, damn him. Any woman would have to be crazy not to take it as a supreme compliment if he thought she was good-looking.

And honestly?

Lately, King Asshole hasn’t been nearly as much of an asshole as I remember.

Ugh.Okay, I need to change the subject. I can’t go down this road. “Okay, that’s enough of that,” I announce, picking up my Paul Molitor burger. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay.” Mack takes a swig of his beer. “What?”

“Uh, how are your folks?” I try.

“They’re good. Reenie’s been asking about you. She wants you to come over for dinner some night soon.”

“Does she… do they know about…” I wave my hand vaguely. “Everything?”

“I haven’t told Mom. But since Choppa obviously knows, I’m guessing he probably told her about what’s been going on.” Mack’s dad, is a Royal Bastard, too. “She had that concerned tone in her voice last time I talked to her on the phone when she asked me to bring you over.”

“Great,” I mutter. “Just what I need. More people feeling sorry for me.”

“If you wanna get out of the clubhouse and get a home-cooked meal, I could let her know we’re coming over tonight.”

“I don’t want to be a burden, Mack.” A bubble of anxiety rises up inside me. Reenie and Choppa have always been so kind to both Connor and me. Especially Connor. He was over there so much it was like he was Mack’s brother instead of mine. Frankly, I was always jealous of his relationship with them, especially when it meant I was left alone with our dad and his drunken tempers.

Sometimes, when things got especially bad at home, Connor would take pity on me and bring me with him over to Mack’s house. But once we got there, he’d immediately go off up into Mack’s room, leaving me alone with Reenie to keep me company. I always felt like such a charity case. And by the way those familiar feelings are flooding up inside me now, I guess I still sort of feel the same way.

Mack scoffs. “You’re not a burden to her. Jesus, G, don’t be a dumbass.”

Something in Mack’s dismissiveness flashes inside me like oil overheating in a pan. “Don’t call me dumb!” I exclaim.

“Well, then, don’t act dumb and I won’t have to!” Mack’s voice rises. “Christ, you’d have to be stupid to think you were ever a burden to my parents. They knew you and Fury needed help. They were glad to do it.”

“Yeah, exactly! We were charity cases! At least in Con’s case there was some other reason to be over there because he was your friend. I was just poor pathetic Gigi, with no friends. And now you’re inviting me over to their place, and I’ll be poor pathetic Gigi who needs everyone else to take care of her because she can’t take care of herself!”

“Jesus, G, you’re being hysterical! I never said any of that.”

“Don’t call me hysterical!” I yell.

A few of the bar patrons swivel around to look at us, murmuring in confused tones. My face flames.

Lowering my voice, I hiss at him: “Fuck you, Mack. I’m sick of you making fun of me, kicking me when I’m down. I’m sorry my brother roped you into being my bodyguard, but I never wanted any of this. And I amsickof everyone else deciding what’s good for me and not taking no for an answer!”

Mack holds up his hands in a surrender motion. “Look, that’s not what I meant. Reenie would be thrilled to have you come over. She’d love to see you. And she always makes too much food anyway. That’s all I was saying.”

“I said no!” The words seem to come from someone other than me, even as I say them. I don’t know where this anger and stubbornness is coming from, but I’m too embarrassed to take it all back now. “I’m done. I’d like to go now.”

Pushing my plate away from me, I refuse to meet Mack’s searching eyes. He flags down the server for our bill, and I toss down money to pay for my half, silently challenging him to argue. He doesn’t. We go back to his truck, and he gets behind the wheel without another word. I just stare out the window, counting the seconds until I’m out of this truck and away from Mack Maxwell.

12

MACK

Imay not know a lot about women, but I do know a fair amount about Gigi. And I know that when she clams up after our fight at Shamrock’s, she doesn’t want to talk. So we’re not gonna talk.

When we’re done with our burgers, I signal for the check. Gigi insists on paying her half. Fuck it, so be it. If that’s what she wants, I’m not gonna argue over twenty bucks.

I want to make her talk to me. I don’t want this bullshit hanging between us. But something tells me that’s not the right move. Gigi is too proud for her own good. And right now, she’s decided my parents feel sorry for her — which is the one thing Gigi Mattson cannot tolerate.

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