Page 19 of Choosing a Forever
“That’s really cool. Do you still draw, at least?”
“Not as much as I used to. Do you still write?”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t had the time or the inspiration. I’m lucky if I can get time to read.”
Mack used to always have her head bent over a notebook, writing poems or stories. I know at one point she wanted to be an author, but I guess it would be hard to do when you’re working two jobs and trying to raise teenagers after a tragedy like losing your parents.
Mack’s so strong. She’s so brave and caring for taking over as guardian for her sisters when she could have easily said she didn’t want to do it.
“What else have you been up to since graduation?”
“Well, I moved to Oregon about a year after and went to a community college in Bend for two semesters before I dropped out and moved to California. I lived there for four years before I moved back home.”
“What were you studying?”
“Criminal Justice.”
Hm.That was never something I thought she’d be interested in. “What did you want to do with that degree?”
“I wanted to be a victims’ advocate.”
“Is that still something you’d want to pursue?”
Mack shrugs. “Sure, if I had the time or money. When I dropped out to move to Cali, that dream kind of fizzled out.”
She seems like she doesn’t want to talk about this anymore, so I switch topics. “What part of California did you move to?”
“Bakersfield.”
“Oh, cool. I was in the San Diego area for about two years. Kind of crazy we were in the same state. I wonder if we were ever in the same city at the same time and just missed each other.”
“I mean, we’ve lived in the same small city for how long and haven’t run into each other until recently.”
I chuckle. “True. California is massive. What made you move there?”
Mack covers her face with her hands and groans. “Don’t judge me, but I followed my then-boyfriend there. He wanted to make it as a musician, so I bartended to pay bills while he did… whatever he was doing.”
My stomach swoops and drops to my butt at her admission, and something like jealousy sours in my gut.Which is ridiculous. Of course she’s dated other people. We’re almost thirty.I’vedated other people.
I hold up my hands. “No judgment from me. Did you like it there?”
“It was okay. Whenever I pictured living in California, I pictured the beach and endless sunny days, you know? Bakersfield wasn’t like that, obviously.” An alarm on her phone rings, and she quickly clicks it off. “I’m sorry, but I have to get going so I can get ready for work. It was really nice to see you, Tal.” She gathers her trash, sucking down the last of her drink and standing to take it to the garbage.
I don’t want her to go. I want to keep talking, keep getting to know the Mack she is now. I don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface of what she’s been up to in the last ten years, and I’m greedy for more knowledge. I want to know when she left the church—whyshe left the church. I want to know every story and detail about the ink on her skin. I want to know how I can help make her life easier. I want to put more smiles on her face and see if she laughs the same way she used to when we were teenagers—loud and uninhibited.
But I can’t beg her to stay, and I can’t ask her to call in sick. That would be selfish of me.
“Let me walk you to your car.” I hold the door open for her after she puts on her coat, and I follow her to the same blue Camry she was in when she got rear-ended.
She unlocks it but doesn’t get in just yet.
I open my arms, offering her a hug, even though I’m pretty sure she’s going to refuse it. She hesitates for a minute, an emotion I can’t place swirling in her greeneyes before she tentatively steps forward and wraps her arms loosely around my waist.
With our height difference, my nose hovers over her hair. I don’t know what shampoo she uses, but she smells so good—citrusy and sweet. I have to resist burying my nose in her hair to inhale more of her. Then, I have to resist the urge to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Too soon, she steps back. “I’ll see you around, Tal.”
“We should hang out again soon. I’ll text you.”
