Page 96 of Bad Habit
My heart filled with joy. This was my life now, my life with Mac. From now on, every day would be filled with this kind of happiness.
He broke away from our kiss, and I slid down his body to the floor.
I kept my hands on his shoulders. They were tense. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” His nose twitched. “But I do need to talk to you about something.”
“What is it? The kids will be here in less than two hours. Doesn’t give us much time for kissing.” I grinned, but the smile I got back from him was tight and tense.
“What’s going on?” I said.
He shook his head and placed his hands on my waist. “Nothing’s wrong. But I need the baby formula back.”
My head snapped back in shock. “Why? You only delivered it last night.”
“I know.” He bit his lower lip lightly and looked to the side. “It’s complicated. Turns out I’d already promised it to someone, and I can’t back out of the deal.”
“Oh. That’s too bad.” From the look on his face, he felt terrible about it, but it was only fair that he have the option to sell it, instead of making a donation, especially if he’d already promised the buyer. “It’s okay, Mac. You don’t need to feel so guilty.”
“But Idofeel guilty. I already gave it to you.”
“It’s okay. Really.” That he felt so bad about this was further proof of Mac’s innate goodness.
He turned away, eyes focused to the side.
Curious to see what he was looking at, I turned, but found nothing except the fire hose cabinet. I pulled his face toward mine. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He shrugged, but saw the tension in his shoulders, in his eyes.
“Mac, come on. It’s written all over you. Something is wrong. This isn’t just guilt.”
“It is guilt.” He shook his head. “So much fucking guilt. If I’d only found out a day sooner…”
“Found out what?”
His face blanched, and he swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple looked like it got stuck halfway down. “I need the formula back. Right away. It’s not safe. There’s something else inside of the cartons.”
“Bad formula? Is it expired?”
“No, it’s drugs, Faith.”
I laughed.
“I’m serious. Heroin, I think. I have to get those cartons out of here.”
I staggered back from him, not fully processing what he’d said. “Drugs? How did they get there?”
“The less you know, the better.”
My chest nearly caved in from pain. “You lied to me.”
He looked down at the gym floor.
“You said you never dealt drugs. You said you were done with crime, but you weren’t.”
“No, Ihavegiven it up.” He reached forward, then dropped his arm. “I have now. I just had to do one more job. These things just don’t stop on a dime, you know, and my brothers needed me. They were relying on me. Plus, I’m going to donate some of the haul. Not just the formula. Try to do some good.”
“That makes up for it?” My eyes stung with anger and disappointment. “Donating stolen goods?”
