Page 92 of Unspoken Hearts
I sniff a laugh. “She’ll learn one day.”
“Not when she’s four.” He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’ll traumatise her.”
My lips roll when I feel the cushion beside me sink, and glance up to find Delly and Laynie sitting down.
Why isn’t it Macie?
Aspen returns with a plastic cup of water, and Holden picks her up again as the others come to sit. Grayson switches off the main lights and falls onto the other couch with Macie beside him.
My foot taps against the floorboards as I watch them out of the corner of my eye.
“Aspen, what are we watching first?” Grayson asks, flicking through the streaming sites.
Macie sits silently beside him, her gaze meeting mine for a brief moment before moving back to the screen. I shuffle uncomfortably in my seat, itching to be closer to her when Aspen points to one.
“That!” she squeals happily, but I can’t concentrate on anything other than Macie.
Her knee jitters as Grayson rests his arm on the back of the couch and whispers something in her ear, making Macie grin.
Jealousy burns through my veins like acid.
Staying away from her is hard, as if I’m addicted to her like a drug. She’s becoming what my world rotates around, my very own sun, but Grayson is trying to block all her light from me.
My jaw clamps tighter.
The movie plays, and my gaze flicks between the screen and Macie’s straight face. She occasionally glances my way, the corner of her mouth curling, then she looks back at the screen. I can see the splash of pink covering her cheeks every time, and that makes my heart warm.
When the first movie finishes, Holden takes Aspen to bed, even though she whines to stay for the second one. “Kiddo, trust me. You won’t want to see it. It’s not for kids.”
“But, Daddy!” she cries as he carries her upstairs. I feel sorry for her. All she wants is to hang out with us, but I can also tell she’s exhausted as it’s well after her bedtime.
I get up from the couch and walk to the kitchen for some more water. I sense her behind me. My spine shivers as I look down at Macie beside me, holding an empty glass that was half full five seconds ago.
I smile at her, knowing that she downed it just to come over here with me.
“I ran out accidentally," she murmurs, her grin growing as I take the glass. Filling it up, the back of my neck prickles. I can feel Grayson watching us.
“Did you enjoy the movie?” Macie asks, leaning against the bench as I fill her glass so slowly, like we’re watching each droplet fall.
I nod. “It was fine.”
She snickers beside me. “I think you were watching me most of the time.”
My chest sears as I turn off the tap and put her glass down on the bench, peering down at her glowing face. “You’re what I want to look at, Mae.”
Her lips part slowly, and my gaze drops to watch them, outlining their perfect roundness, remembering her in my arms last night. Her throat works softly, and I know she’s thinking the same thing.
Her eyes glisten with longing.
Laynie walks in, breaking us apart. “Reid, do you have anything that isn’t plain water?” She opens the fridge, answering her own question. She pulls out some fresh juice, and I take the interruption to duck upstairs, leaving the two of them before someone starts asking questions.
Entering the bathroom, I relieve myself before brushing cold water through my hair. I need to try and cool myself down before going back out there. My body feels like it’s on fire.
Once I feel a little more in control, I walk out into the hallway to see Macie’s bedroom door half open. Peering in, she’s pulling on an oversized jumper, already wearing trackpants. Her hair is out now, like a glossy copper waterfall.
“Cute,” is all I whisper, leaning against the door frame.
She spins around, cheeks flushed. She rushes over to me. Her hands hold the sides of my face as she lifts up onto her toes, pressing her lips against mine. I melt into her, craving her touch and scent. Macie hums against me.
