“You don’t need to take care of me,” she breathes.
I know I don’tneedto. “But Ireallywant to. Please, let me?”
Our gazes are locked, my pulse is racing, and I think about bulldozing over her no kissing rule. She looks like she wants me to so I slowly lean in and—
The front door bangs open, and the chittering of Harper and Kinsley—well, mostly Kinsley—breaks whatever spell we’re under.
The clomping of feet on the hardwood has me stepping back, feeling like a teenager caught with a girl in his room—not that I know what that’s like. I never broke the rules. The twins and Lizzie come in, looking between Mack and I.
“Eeewww. Were you twokissingin here? That can’t be sanitary.” Kinsley’s nose crinkles, and I catch the quick roll of Harper’s eyes.
I grin. “Nah. You’d never be able to tear me away from her if I were kissing her. We’re just working on dinner prep.”
Kinsley looks at her phone. “But it’s eleven in the morning.”
“I’m making shish kebabs. Takes time to marinate.”
Kinsley’s eyes narrow on me full of suspicion. “Why? Are you trying to bribe us or something?”
Surprise makes my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. “What? No. I’m making dinner because one, I live here now, so I’m doing my part. And two, so we can sit down and get to know one another better. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, so I want to make sure you girls are comfortable with me. I know it’ll take more than one dinner to earn your trust, but it’s a start.”
“Thank you for making dinner, Talmage, that sounds great. Let us know if you want any help. We need to go… do homework,” Harper pipes up, giving Kinsley a warning look before dragging her sister down the hall.
Mack shakes her head and lets out an exasperated sigh before she nods at Lizzie. “How was last night?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. I gave them matching princess crown tattoos on their asses and taught them how to shoot vodka without gagging. It’ll really come inhandy at college, and I want them to be prepared,” she deadpans.
I’m not entirely sure if she’s joking. I look over at Mack with wide eyes, and Mack just grins and shakes her head.
“So you watched the first threePirates of the Caribbeanmovies and fell asleep halfway through the fourth one after too much popcorn and ice cream?”
Lizzie snaps her fingers and points at Mack. “Exactly.”
Mack chuckles. “We can teach them to shoot vodka next weekend.”
Lizzie’s eyes land on me, and she gives me a sinister smile. “How wasyournight? Anythingbighappen?”
Her emphasis on the wordbigmakes heat swirl around my face. Is she implyingI’mbig? Is that something you can tell by simply looking at someone? I’ve never really compared myself to other men, so I think I’m probably average. Should I be looking it up? I don’t—
“Tal here said his first curse word this morning at the grocery store,” Mack states proudly.
Lizzie does a slow clap. “My man! What was it? Damn? Shit? Ooooh, please tell me it was ‘fuck.’”
“I said ‘shit.’ You guys are acting like me swearing is a bigger deal than me not wearing garments anymore.”
Lizzie gasps. “Talmage! Not wearing garments is way bigger than swearing! Mack, lead with the important stuff next time.”
Mack shrugs. “I don’t want to talk to you about my husband’s underwear choices. That seems like a personal thing.”
My husband.
I like the sound of that way too much.
Lizzie rolls her eyes. “You’re so boring now that you’re a married woman. You used to tell me about KC’s personal business all the time. Remember when his Prince Albert got infected and—”
“Lizzie!” Mack hisses. “We don’t need to talk about that. Besides, Tal isright here.If you want to know about him, askhim.Don’t be rude, bitch.”
This side of Mack isn’t one I’ve seen in our time back together. The more playful side. It’s both endearing and heart-wrenching because I want her to feel comfortable enough with me to open up and be playful.