Page 56 of Choosing a Forever
I give her a nod, then take my duffle bag down.
When I’m halfway down the stairs, I hear Mack’s frustrated tone and stop to listen, even though I know I probably shouldn’t.
“What in the actual hell, Elizabeth? You can’t just give him a box of condoms and me lingerie! Youknowthat’s not what this is! We literallyjusttalked about this. Not to mention you can’t just go around telling people I can’t get pregnant. I’m not even remotely ready to have that conversation with him.”
“I’m sorry I brought up the pregnancy thing. But comeon,Mack. Let’s not pretend you don’t want to know what he’s packing underneath that suit. You told me yourself you’ve had dreams—”
“And you promised not to bring those up again! Doing…thatwith Talmage would cross so many lines, and my heart can’t handle the fallout. This was a bit too far, Lizzie.”
“I’m sorry, Mack.” Lizzie’s voice sounds genuinely remorseful. “I just want to see you happy, and having him back in your life—”
“Is temporary. I can’t let myself get attached because he’ll leave eventually, and thenyou’llhave to deal with the aftermath.”
I don’t hear what Lizzie says next because I book it to Mack’s room—our room?—to process the information I’ve just learned.
Maybe I’m just being hopeful, but it almost sounds like Mackwantsthis to be more, be real. Has she thought about what it would be like to be intimate with me? I’ve actively tried to avoid thinking about what anything more than kissing would be like with Mack but sometimes my dreams…
My groin stirs, and I shake my head, quickly changing out of my suit and into a pair of joggers and a Springville FD hoodie. I trade my dress socks for regular crew ones and take my tennis shoes upstairs where Mack is standing in the kitchen, scrolling on her phone.
“Are the twins gone?” I ask, startling her. “Sorry, I thought you heard me.”
“It’s okay. Yeah, they left. I’m sorry about Lizzie and her…gift.”
I shrug. “No big deal. Like I said, I know she was just joking around. I’m sorry it madeyouuncomfortable.”
“Still, it was a boundary she shouldn’t have crossed, you know? I promise she won’t do it again.”
“Seriously, it’s all good. I’m going to go grab Siren. Do you want me to pick anything up on my way back?”
Mack shakes her head. “No, but thank you. I’ve already cleared a section of the closet out for you and a few drawers so…”
I step towards her and open my arms, hoping she’ll take my offered hug. My pulse leaps when she does, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“Why don’t you go take a bath or something, relax for a little bit. I know today was a lot, and you probably could use some time to yourself.”
She sighs, her breath warming the spot just below my shoulder. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll see you when you get back.”
I give her one last squeeze. “See you soon.”
Chapter 20
Mackenzie
15 years old…
“So you’re going to spend the next seven yearsjustkissing?” Tessa asks—again—as we paint our nails.
I roll my eyes. “Yes. I’m perfectly fine with it. Happy, even. As long as in the end, I get to marry Talmage. I’d never jeopardize his mission eligibility or our temple marriage by pushing things further.”
“But you said you don’t want to be part of the church anymore. After—”
“I’ll stay for Talmage,” I interrupt. I still don’t want to talk abouthim.
“You know it’s normal for teenagers to have sex, right? Most people lose their virginity before they turn seventeen.”
“Not me. Not Talmage. Not most Mormons.”
Tessa rolls her eyes at me, and I’m starting to question if she’s as good of a friend as I want to believe she is. She seems so adamant that I end things with Tal before I get hurt, and I don’t understand where she’s coming from.
