Page 59 of Life After You

I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe, hanging over the edge of the bed to look down at her.

Mac scowls up at me, cheeks flushed. “You are so dead.”

I smirk. “You’re up, though.”

She lunges, grabbing my arm, trying to drag me down with her, but I’m stronger, so I just laugh harder, dodging her grip.

She glares. “One of these days, Logan Dale, you’re gonna regret that.”

I grin, reaching down to help her up, still chuckling. “Doubt it, angel. Now get your cute ass downstairs before we’re forced to starve.”

She grumbles, climbing to her feet, but I see it—the way her lips twitch, fighting a smile. She sighs a little, and I frown.

“Is everything alright, did you hurt yourself falling to the floor?”

“Just a little sore from last night.”

And as she brushes past me, shoving me playfully in the chest, I know I’ll never get tired of this.

Of her.

Of us.

Mac’s hand is warm in mine as we walk into the kitchen, her fingers squeezing lightly like some kind of silent warning to behave.

Yeah, not likely.

She’s still in her tiny pajamas, hair a little messy from sleep, but she doesn’t seem to care. The guys are already here, standing around drinking coffee, Clay and Dean chatting with them. The smell of bacon, eggs, and fresh toast fills the air, and my stomach growls.

Chace looks up first, smirking. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

Sam takes a slow sip of his coffee. “Sleep well?”

Mac glares at them both. “Shut up.”

“I gotta say, I’m a little hurt.” Trey snags a piece of bacon off Chace’s plate before he can swat him away.

“Oh?” I ask, fixing my angel—Mac—a coffee before making my own. She notices and sleepily wanders around, stacking food onto a couple of plates like she’s foraging for survival.

“Neither of you invited me for coaching advice,” Trey says, shaking his head like it’s a true betrayal.

Mac steps up beside me, setting the plates down before burying her face in my chest for a second. Then, withoutwarning, she leans back and launches a pepper shaker at Trey. Sam snatches it midair, shrugs, and sprinkles some on his eggs.

“Thanks, Mac. Morning Mac is always helpful,” he mutters, digging in.

I grin, tugging her closer. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Escape room,” Trey announces, looking way too excited. “We need to settle, once and for all, who’s got the best brainpower here.”

Sam snorts. “It’s not you.”

Trey flips him off. “I’ll have you know, I’m a genius under pressure.”

Chace raises an eyebrow. “Dude, last time we did one, you panicked and threw a chair at the wall.”

Trey scowls. “That was different. I thought the wall was made of paper, like in Shawshank.”

“You broke their clock.”

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