Page 120 of Unspoken Hearts
“Please don’t—leave me,” she chokes out against my ear, making my heart shatter all over again into a thousand pieces.
I pull her tighter. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper, because truthfully, I don’t think anything could drive me away from her. Not even my own brother.
Another thick cry echoes, and I hold her impossibly close, feeling the thudding of her chest and the trickle of warm tears dropping on my skin.
“I lose—everyone,” Macie hiccups, letting out another cry.
Pressing my eyes shut, I shake my head quickly, not bearing the sound of her breaking. Is this how she was when her parents never returned, and her aunt? Did she cry like this with nobody to hold her?
The thought makes my stomach curl as I kiss her temple. “You’re not losing me, and you’re not losing Grayson.”
That makes her cries heavier. I bite down on my lip harshly, wanting her to stop hurting, but this must have destroyed her.
“H-e told me—I’m not his friend anymore,” she coughs out, fingers scrunching my shirt material.
I swallow, pressing my nose against her cheek, the sinking sensation in my chest returning. “I don’t think he meant that. He’s just mad.”
“Yeah, because of me,” rasps Macie.
“It was also my fault. Not just yours, Mae. I was the one who messaged you and he saw.”
“Because I left my phone in the bathroom.” Another wave of tears comes.
“It wasn’t your fault, Mae,” I repeat softly.
Running my hand over her long copper hair, I listen to her cries, understanding how torn her heart must be. Another string in her life is frayed, and if it’s cut off completely, then I don’t know how she’s going to respond.
Macie sniffs again. “I screwed this up. I should have told him when he asked me.”
My frown deepens. “Did he ask you about us?” Macie nods again, and my throat bobs. “It’s okay that you didn’t say anything. I didn’t either.”
Macie pulls back, wiping under her eyes and blinking at me. Wet lines streak down her face and her skin is blotchy, but she’s still the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. “You didn’t want to hurt him either,” she murmurs.
More tears drop down her face, and I wipe them away with my thumbs. “Yeah. I don’t want to hurt anyone in my family. They mean a lot to me, just like you, Mae.”
Biting her lip, Macie blinks down, hands fiddling. I hold onto her waist, studying her closely. She looks defeated but also predisposed, like she’d already mentally prepared for this, or maybe because so many people have left before...
That last thought feels like a dagger to my chest.
I cup her face in my hands and kiss her softly. Her wet lashes close as she holds onto my chest, leaning into our kiss, but not pushing it further.
Letting go, I release a small breath, her forehead resting on mine as I whisper out, “I’m never going to leave you, Macie. You’re the only one I want to be with, and nothing will change that. Nobody will change that.”
She chokes on a sob, nodding. She pulls her away and wipes her cheeks again, lips trembling. “Why did you choose me?” she asks in a hushed tone, making my chest still. Glassy eyes searching mine, Macie adds before I can say anything, “You could have had any girl. One a lot less complicated than me.”
“But I wanted you,” I remind her, tucking away her beautiful hair. “You’re the only one I’ve wanted, cowgirl.”
Shutting her eyelids, Macie pulls me into another brief kiss when the back door opens, separating us again. Aspen runs in, followed by Holden and Sawyer.
Macie slips off my lap, standing uncomfortably still. I get to my feet, putting my arm around her waist protectively. “Are you ready to go? Laynie wants to speak with you.”
Her green eyes blink up at me as Aspen comes up to her, looking very confused with her hair in pigtails and wearing a woollen sweater. “Aunt Macie, why are you sad?”
Macie clears her throat. “I’m just a bit upset. That’s all.” She gives Aspen one of her small, forced smiles that I have seen too many times.
Aspen puts her arms around Macie’s thighs, hugging tightly before grabbing onto her hand. “We are going now. Dad said I get a ice cream,” she squeals, clearly not old enough to read the room yet.
“Kiddo, let Aunt Macie go with Uncle Reid,” Holden says gently.
