Page 74 of Jumping In

I shake my head and look over at Mac, who is smiling and nodding with anI told you sokind of look.

“You don’t want to be a lawyer, and it’s clear your passions lie elsewhere. You could have just told us that and we would have supported you, dear,” Dad says matter-of-factly.

“But I thought you wanted me to take over the firm. Brad’s a lawyer but was very clear he wouldn’t be moving back to Oakridge, so I assumed that meant it fell to me. I—I don’t understand.”

“Emmalynn, as much as it would fill me with pride for you to take over the family firm, I will not force you into something that doesn’t have your heart. It’s clear,” he looks over at Mac and then back to me, “that your heart is elsewhere, and that’s okay.”

My lower lip quivers as I fight to hold back the tears threatening to spill. When Mac slides his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him, I lose it and cry into his shirt.

“Peanut,” my mom’s soft voice fills the dining room. I sniff and look over at her tear-filled eyes. “We love you and we just want you to be happy. Law doesn’t make you happy, but it sounds like this does.”

I nod and sniff again. Mac raises a hand to his eyes in my periphery and I look at my dad, who also has tears shining in his eyes.

“Emmalynn, we love you, and it’s obvious this man here loves you, too. Your happiness in your career is important to us, but your happiness in life and love is more important. It’s obvious Mac loves you just as much as you love him and your mother and I are happy you’ve finally found each other. The career will come with time, but you’ve already found the most important thing.”

Dad gives me a warm smile and I turn my head to Mac, who’s not even wiping tears anymore. The entire table is crying, and I giggle. I look over at Mom, who is dabbing her eyes with her napkin, and then to my dad, who’s doing the same and my giggle grows into a full-on belly laugh. Mom looks at me with questions in her eyes but then dad chuckles. Mac joins in and eventually all four of us are laughing and crying at the dining room table.

Mac groans, wiping his eyes, and I laugh harder. We’re all smiles and Mom excuses herself to the kitchen to bring out dinner. We compose ourselves, filling our plates and ease into steady conversation.

Chapter 28

Mac

Dinner with MJ’s parents did not go at all how I expected. I definitely didn’t think I’d be crying and then laughing at the dinner table, but here we are. The conversation has been easy once MJ got her presentation out of the way. Their response surprised her, but after the conversation I had with her dad, I wasn’t surprised at all.

Mrs. Lawrence also made a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting for MJ’s birthday dessert to accompany us while we sang her happy birthday. We stayed well past dessert, just talking and catching up with her parents.

I shared my plans for running the shop and completing my community service hours, and Mr. Lawrence seemed impressed. He even offered to help at the shop on the weekends with oil changes or something “easy” if I needed it. I highly doubt I’ll be taking him up on that offer, but it was a gracious gesture.

MJ mentioned staying with me on a more permanent basis and we shared we would like to find a house in town. Mr. Lawrence said to let him know if we have trouble finding something and though he shared little, he said he had an idea for us for when the time comes.

Now I’ve got MJ tucked against me in our bed in the loft. She’s scrolling through her phone as I gently playing with her soft hair. I should probably be down in the shop working, but I’d much rather be here with my girl. I promised her a day of no work for her birthday and I’m sticking to it. She types out a text to the Dream Team chat and I smile, reading over her shoulder. She places her phone on the nightstand and then turns into me with an ear-to-ear grin.

“One more Grill and Chill before things get crazy?” I ask. She nods and kisses my shoulder.

“Thank you for being there with me today. And for today in general. I still can’t believe that went the way it did, but it meant a lot to have you by my side.”

“Always, baby. You’re stuck with me now.”

She giggles as I roll my body onto hers and kiss her softly. Spreading her legs with my knee, I slide my finger along the waistband of her panties, pulling them down her legs and flinging them across the room. She gasps when I notch my cock at her entrance and push into her slowly. I kiss her again and she smiles up at me.

“I love you.”

“I love you, Mac.” She wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck and then whispers in my ear, “Now fuck me, please.”

I chuckle and give my girl exactly what she’s asking for.

August 3

We reach the top of the hill leading down to the creek and MJ yells as she runs down it. “Last one in is a rotten egg!”

I have déjà vu from the summer we were sixteen, and I shake my head, laughing. She pulls her T-shirt off over her head, stripping and running down to the water. Blake and Austin, who were already hanging out by the barbecue area, hear her and start kicking their shoes off to follow my girl. Shannon looks at me and raises her eyebrow in challenge and then also takes off.Fuck!

I jog over to the table and drop all the stuff MJ conveniently had me carry down here and strip to head down to the creek myself. MJ has already hit the water and is splashing Blake and Austin. Shannon is well ahead of me, so I slow down, deciding to take my time and watch my girl completely in her element. I wade out to her and grab her waist, kissing her neck softly.

“That was very rude, leaving me with all the stuff and issuing a challenge like that, baby,” I whisper. She giggles, her skin pebbling beneath my lips. “I’ll have to punish you later.”

Ever the glutton for punishment, MJ grinds her ass against my now-hard cock and I groan. She turns back and gives me a devilish grin and then takes off, walking out of the water. I look over to Blake and Austin, who are smiling and making kissing faces, being overly obnoxious. I can’t wait for the day they each find their person and I get to give them allthe shit back. Shannon is floating nearby with a smile on her face, but then she sits up, her face filled with concern. I look to where her gaze has landed and see MJ heading to the swing.

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