***
The next week was perfect. Mack spent time with Cass at her house or his. They played with the kittens, exercised together, and continued to try to outdo the other. He managed to avoid the guys by telling them he needed the space to figure out how he and Cass could make things work.
And for the most part, they left him alone, still laughing and acting tight at work, but Mack thought he saw them giving him odd looks a few times.
He’d ignored a call from his mother and two calls from Alec and James, not in the mood to deal with any of them. Maybe not for a long while. Immature, but he needed the emotional breather, and Cass agreed he should talk to them whenhefelt up to it.
The weather warmed up to a crisp 39 degrees, just in time for the big rematch soccer game on Saturday.
Mack dressed for the game in sweats and his jersey along with much-needed cleats. Though the cold would be challenging to play in, it wouldn’t be a muddy game today. The frozen ground would be unforgiving when he fell, however.
Mack met up with his teammates, including the guys, who gave him a ration of shit for being so out of the loop lately.
“You sure you know what you’re doing on the field?” Tex taunted. “The last time we played, you lost us the game.”
“Only because Xavier has a big mouth,” Mack muttered.
“Hey, we’re all on the same team here,” peacemaker Brad said. “And before you say anything obnoxious, Hernandez, just don’t.”
Hernandez shot Brad the finger, said something in a low voice to one of his buddies, and laughed.
Brad turned to their leader. “Okay, Captain. Any words of wisdom?”
Lori, one of their fellow firefighters on A shift, nodded. “The Top Cops are assholes, but they have size and brutality on their side. They also have a few key scorers. Today is not going to be pretty.”
At least Reggie had shown up this time, not like the last time, with his lame excuses.
Mack turned to see the guys’ girlfriends and Emily in the stands, all sitting together. Bree spotted Mack and waved. He noted Cass’s parents too, both of whom waved at him from the Top Cops side. He waved back, pleased they’d come.
And there, up a few rows from the Carmichaels, his parents, Sasha, Alec, and Dean. Dean gave him a thumbs-up. Mack nodded then hurriedly looked away, not wanting to deal with his family even though they likely had no idea he was annoyed with them despite not having answered their calls.
And why was that? Because he didn’t have the guts to tell them how he felt.
Cass was right. He had been silly about it all. More like a huge pussy too afraid to deal with the fallout of hurt feelings instead of making his family own up to the shitty way they treated him.
Tex smacked him on the back.
“Ow.”
“Pay attention, boy. Lori wants you on that tough halfback of theirs. What’s her name?”
“Carmichael,” Lori sneered. “Such a bitch.”
Mack did his best to keep his grin to himself. Cass was a bitch…on the field. He loved that about her. “I got her.”
“Yeah, right,” Reggie muttered.
“Mack’s got her covered, don’t ya, stud?” Tex grinned wide.
Hernandez looked from Mack to the Top Cops huddle and nodded. “Ah, so that’s why Mack’s been in such a snit lately.”
“A snit? This coming from you, God’s gift to bad moods?”
“Fuck you, Revere.”
“Dream on, Hernandez. But tell your mom I’ll see her later under the bleachers after the game.”
Hernandez sputtered with laughter. “Yeah? Well, your mom can…”
