Page 32 of Winter Memories

He holds out his hand for Macklin who takes it readily. As they head away from the table, I don’t have a choice but to follow.

I’m more than a little curious about what Fletcher has up his sleeve. There’s only one way to find out. With every step I know I’d follow these guys, my guys, anywhere.

CHAPTER 13

EDEN

The guest room door doesn’t look any different, but as Fletcher stops in front of it my heart starts to pound. He glances between Macklin and me before he rubs the back of his neck. When he clears his throat a few times, I almost giggle. There’s something about seeing Fletcher, who is normally so sure of himself, flustered. It does something to me.

It gives me just enough strength to push aside Brandy’s words and helps me to focus on the here and now. My gut is telling me this is important, and I won’t want to miss it.

I reach out and grab Fletcher’s hand, giving it as squeeze even though I have no idea what he’s about to show us. The relief written all over Fletcher’s face is clear to see.

He clears his throat, again, his voice a little husky and hesitant, “When you stayed here the first time, bud, I realized the guest room wasn’t the right kind of room for you.”

Macklin’s chin drops to his chest, his voice breaking, “You don’t want me to stay here anymore?”

I gasp and Fletcher drops down on his haunches in front of my son and grips his slim shoulders. “No,” his voice is firm, “that’s not what I’m saying at all, Macklin.” Mack looks at Fletcher and as much as I want to step in, I have a feeling this is something they need to work out. “I want you to be able to come here and stay here in a space that is your own. You deserve to have a room you love, not some stuffy guest room. Since then, I’ve been working on this. I needed to order some things and couldn’t show you until it was all done.”

Tears start to fall down my face because I know what he’s saying even if Macklin doesn’t understand yet. When Fletcher looks at me, his eyes soften, and I try to brush the tears away.

“Fletch,” Mack sounds exasperated, “what are you talking about?”

Fletcher chuckles softly and then reaches over to open the door, but he doesn’t push it open. “How about you go in and find out.”

As Macklin pushes the door open, Fletcher stands and tucks me into his side while kissing the top of my head, not at all deterred by the way I’ve been acting all evening. The squeal of excitement Macklin lets out is loud and forces me to take in the room beyond the now open door.

The room has been repainted and completely decked out with a ranch theme. There are pictures of all the horses at Limitless along with a few things from the barn. There’s a toy chest made out of old barnwood and a bed that looks rustic and safe at the same time which is covered in cowboy bedding. Everything is warm with natural textures.

While it’s a room for a little boy, I can also see how he’ll be able to grow into it as he gets older. It’s perfect.

Macklin races around the room, taking a quick lap and then skidding to a stop in front of Fletcher. “This is mine?” There’s so much hope in his voice, “Really?”

“Really,” Fletcher tells him seriously with a nod.

Mack reaches out and grabs both of our hands and gives a tug, bringing us over the threshold and into his new room. As I look around and take in more details, I’m even in more awe that Fletcher not only put this together but did it so quickly.

“It’s perfect,” I breathe out.

Fletcher wraps his arms around me and pulls me back against his chest. “Is this okay? I was worried you’d be mad at me, and you’ve already been in a mood.”

I let out a heavy sigh and let myself melt back against his strong chest, soaking up some of his warmth. He’s always so fucking solid and I need that right now.

“This is perfect. I’m not mad about the room at all. Macklin loves it and I love how you’ve given him a space that’s all his,” I tell him honestly, notably omitting mentioning my mood from earlier, the one I’m only keeping at bay because of my son’s happiness.

He makes a humming sound and leaves it. I know it won’t last, but I’ll take it for now. Even though it’s not easy, I focus on Mack and all the little things he finds in his new room. Later, when I’m sitting in the living room alone because Mack insisted Fletch be the one to put him to sleep tonight, I allow my shoulders to slump, and I try to tell myself to get over my own bullshit.

We weren’t together. He could have fucked the entire single female population of Wintervale, and I wouldn’t be able to say a damn thing about it. I guess I just wish he would have told me, warned me, about Brandy.

Fletcher is silent as he walks into the living room, his eyes dark and intense as he takes me in. He stalks toward me and as much as I want to shrink back against the couch, I force myself to stay still. His movements are precise, and every step closer makes me feel like his prey.

Then I’m up and cradled in his arms. I try to sound mad as I protest, “What are you doing?”

He shushes me as he strides through the house and toward his room. With a kick to the door, closing it behind us as he carries me toward the bed, it only takes a few strides until he’s sitting on the edge and I’m straddling his lap.

“Now,” he starts, the demand clear in his voice, “you’re going to tell me what has been going on with you today.”

Being asked directly, and not being able to get away from the question, has me squirming a little bit. I don’t want to answer. It’s not like I didn’t know how ridiculous I was being.

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