Page 52 of Unspoken Hearts
“I’ll get the heavier things,” I say, not wanting her to injure herself. Macie sidling me is enough for my body to start vibrating from the intense energy seeping off her. The magnetic pull between us has intensified since she’s moved in, amplified to the point where my body has this constant hum running through it when she’s close by. It’s as if she electrifies everything in me, making the ends of my hands prickle comfortably.
Giving my head a small shake to clear it, I grab a few bags, handing them out to her. Skin on skin, I try my best not to look affected from the rush of energy that courses up my arm. Round eyes blink up at mine. I think she felt it too, but I’m not quite sure. I wish I could ask her, but I don’t want to overstep and mess up our friendship.
She goes over and unlocks the shed with the combination I rattle off to her before I get the bulkier items like Axel’s guitar and amp, Macie’s lamp and books, and photos albums.
Moving everything into the rusted shed, I start stacking things in an orderly way. Cole and Grayson like to joke that I have OCD, but I don’t. I just like things to be neat, and clean, and in order. There’s really nothing wrong with that, it just makes things easier.
There’s less chaos in my mind, then.
After making a dozen trips from the car to the shed, a layer of sweat coats my forehead and neck from the evening heat. Putting down yet another box of older looking books, I let out a huff, raising the bottom of my shirt to wipe my face dry before droplets sting my eyes. Dropping it, my eyes move to Macie, whose gaze is stuck on what was my abs, but now is covered by my shirt.
The corner of my mouth quirks, chest swelling a little as her lashes quickly flutter and she turns away, but not before I catch her cheeks flushing.
Interesting.
Stacking up a few more boxes, I walk to the tray of the ute for the final ones. Macie silently trails behind me. Pulling them off, I hand her the one with papers and folders, while I take the box full of photo albums Macie has collected over the years.
Putting it down on the concrete floor at my feet, Macie looks down at it, wiping her face before bending and opening up an album. I crouch opposite her as she peels it open to reveal baby photos. They’re faded and worn, but I can tell immediately that it’s her with her parents. From the wide eyes that stare at the camera, and bright orange hair frizzing around her ears, I can’t hold in my smile because she was adorable.
“You were a cute baby,” I murmur.
Expecting her to agree, Macie snickers softly, “What, am I not cute now?” Eyes lifting to hers, I watch them dazzle in the dim light of theshed. Lips pulling into a grin, she chuckles, pushing me with her hand to my chest. “You don’t have to answer, because I know I’m cute.”
My grin widens at her sassiness. “Talk about having a big ego, too.”
Macie feigns a gasp. I laugh huskily. “Hardly. Have you met your brothers?”
“Unfortunately. It’s part of the deal of being related to them,” I joke.
It comes out so easily with her. It’s just so comfortable, like I don’t have to think about the words. They come naturally when I’m talking with her.
Macie shakes her head, not at all trying to hide her amusement. She takes out one of the photos—it’s of her as a kid, wearing a bright yellow dress, her orange hair curly and wild as she sits on a bench, ice cream staining her lips and cheeks.
She laughs, shoulders moving as I smile wider. “This was back home. On the rare occasion that Mum and Dad were actually sober on the weekend, they would take me to the ice cream shop, and I always got rainbow flavour.”
My heart sinks a little, but her face glows brighter, like she’s hanging onto that bright memory amongst the darker ones.
Macie grins, handing me the photo to inspect. Fingers brushing, my pulse stutters as I focus on the photo.
“I’m not at all surprised you got rainbow flavour,” I murmur.
She snorts gently, taking back the photo and holding it against her chest. “I was a smart kid. Everyone knows that rainbow flavour is caramel, and caramel is my favourite.”
Okay, mentally adding caramel and rainbow ice cream to her list.
Wait? Rainbow is caramel?
I frown as she stands, smiling wickedly.
“Rainbow is not caramel flavoured?”
Macie nods, eyebrows raised. “It so is. Look it up.”
“All right, I will.”
“Okay, and if I'm right, then you owe me a rainbow ice cream, and I’ll make you taste it just to see that I’m right.”
Grinning, I dip my chin, getting back onto my feet. “Deal,” I utter, knowing that even if she’s wrong, I'll be taking her out for that ice cream.
