Page 44 of The Brickwall and the Bombshell

“I’m worried about being here,” I admit.

“Don’t be,” she says, reaching out to take my hand. “I’m not and neither should you. All of this is going to go away soon and you’ll be able to go back to living your life without looking over your shoulder all the time, but I do need to know what the heck is up with you and Mack. I’ll expect a full disclosure after dinner.”

Later, after the kids are in bed and the kitchen is clean, Sophie and I are settled on the couch with two glasses of wine and a plate of chocolate chip cookies, while I tell her everything that’s happened in the last week.

“So, he just asked you to move in with him?” Sophie asks, biting off a chunk of cookie, her eyes growing wide.

“Yeah, he needs to clean up his image and his agent suggested a relationship—real or fake—to help change how the public sees him. I agree it is a good publicity stunt. I’ve seen it work with other professional athletes and celebrities.”

“And you’re okay with this?”

Sighing, I take a sip of wine before answering. “Yeah, I’m good with it. I mean, I need a place to stay right now because I don’t feel comfortable staying alone and I hate that my building was so easily accessed. There’s no way I could stay here all the time, for all the reasons you already know, and not to mention you and Owen are still technically newlyweds and I don’t want to interfere with that. I’m hoping to become an aunt again sometime in the next year.”

Sophie swats at me. “Stop trying to get me knocked up.”

“You know your babies are going to be so cute and Molly and Ryan will be the best big siblings ever. I don’t know why you’re holding out on me.”

We both laugh, but she knows I’m right and I see the twinkle in her eye any time I bring up babies. Who wouldn’t want to procreate with Mister Sexy Balls?

For some crazy reason, that thought brings Mack to mind and I try imagining him with kids. Funny enough, it’s not that hard. He’s great with Molly and Ryan, and I’ve witnessed him holding Ross and Casey’s little boy. It’s adorable. Kids love him and I can tell he’ll be a good dad one day.

“All in good time,” Sophie says. “But for now, I’m going to enjoy this wine with my best friend.”

“I do really appreciate you letting me stay this week.”

“You’re always welcome here,” Sophie says, taking my hand in hers and intertwining our fingers. “My home is your home, always.”

“Thank you.”

For a moment, we just sip our wine and soak in the peace and quiet of the house. My mind still wanders to the cop car parked outside and whoever Theo might have watching the place, but I try not to dwell on it.

“So, there’s nothing going on between you and Mack?” Sophie asks, breaking the silence. “Because it might not be a bad arrangement if you were getting a little more than a place to stay out of the deal.”

Fighting back my smile, I swat at Sophie. “Oh God, don’t even. I can’t—”

“You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it, Greer Bradley-Hawthorne. I know you and I can see it all over your face. That man is a hunk and you want a bite.”

I could lie, but this is Sophie, so of course I won’t because she’d see right through it.

“I want to ride him so hard.”

She gives me a knowing smirk. “But nothing’s happened… yet?”

“No,” I reply. “Unless you count a few hugs and sleeping in his bed.”

Leaning forward, she dips her head. “Wait, you slept in his bed? You should’ve started with that. How on earth did you sleep in that man’s bed and not end up doing the horizontal mambo?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I say with a laugh. “I just didn’t want to be alone, and he didn’t mind.”

“I’m sure he didn’t,” Sophie purrs. “He’s always looked at you like you’re a whole damn meal, so it’s no surprise he invited you to stay in his house and his bed.”

I shake my head. “Mack is attracted to anything with tits and legs,” I tell her, going after another cookie.

“No, he’s actually much pickier than you’d think,” she says with all seriousness. “I’ve seen the way he’s looked at you. He’s been interested, but if I had to guess, he’s also felt like you were off-limits because you’re my best friend and he’s close with Owen. And I’ve heard his spiel about not doing relationships, but yet he values family a lot, so I think that’s a façade. I’m not a therapist, but if I was, I’d say he’s protecting himself or trying to avoid repeating something from his past.”

“I don’t know, Soph,” I say, staring down into my almost empty glass of wine. “My body says go for it, but my mind is telling me to keep it platonic, and my heart is all over the place. I just don’t see Mack committing to one woman. I mean, look at us, we’re pretending to be in a relationship for God’s sake. What does it say about him that out of all the women he’s slept with over the years, he couldn’t think of one of them to propose this to. Instead, he chose me, someone he’s barely friends with and comes with enough baggage to sink the Titanic.”

Sophie laughs again, but this time it’s kind of sad. “I think you’re both good people and have a lot to offer someone. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I can see this turning into more than a fake relationship. I’ve always thought the two of you would make a good match.”

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