“I know. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to get in the way of your happiness.”
“Like I’d let that happen.” Reggie shoved him at Brad, who put him in a headlock.
“Uncle,” he said on a gasp. Geez, Brad had been seriously bulking up. Talk about killer biceps.
“Damn right.” Brad let Mack go and thumped him on the back. “We all have issues, Mack. Next time let us help them get better. Together, we’ll deal with Xavier. A dark alley, brass knuckles…”
Mack laughed. “Right. Though I have to get to him first. Where he gets off counseling me about Cass? What a jackass.” Saying it made him feel so much better.
As they set the table with wide cups and prepared to shoot on both ends, Tex asked, “So what’s with you and Cass? You guys a real item then?”
Mack sighed. “Yeah. Except she’s being weird. We need to straighten a few things out.”
Brad nodded and sunk a ball. “Good. Do that. Then we’ll see you guys at Reggie’s on Sunday. I know your girl is off duty because Jed gave Tex her schedule.”
Mack frowned. “What?”
“Big mouth,” Tex muttered. “Nothing. Just me and Jed getting to be friends from hangin’ at the bar that night.”
Mack studied him, and Tex refused to meet his eye. “Oh my God. Her partner set her up with me?” Mack laughed and laughed. “She’s gonna be so pissed when she finds out.”
“Maybe pissed atyou,” Brad said, “for something not your fault. Be smart and shut up. If Jed wants her to know he set her up, he’ll tell her.”
Mack brightened. “That means I have the partner’s okay. I already ran her gauntlet.”
“That’s right. Now it’s time for her to run ours.” Reggie grinned. “Don’t worry, buddy. I have no doubt she’ll fit right in. A woman who works to let her man win in front of his friends must really love you.”
“I could have taken her.”
Tex snorted. “You keep thinking that, Mack.”
Even Brad disagreed. “Mack, we love and support you. But no. She’d have kicked your ass if she wanted.”
“Only at soccer,” he muttered. “Because I trounced her at pool.”
Tex nodded. “You did at that.” He paused and asked with a smirk, “So what’s the deal on those kittens you’re fostering? I talked to Gerty about adopting them out, and she’s got some interest.”
“They’re mine. The woman’s mine. And this game…” He sank all six Ping-Pong balls in all six cups. “Is mine.”
Brad sighed. “You sure it was a good idea to bring him back into the fold?”
“We ain’t playin’ for money, Brad.” Tex chuckled. “It’s fine.”
Mack grinned. It was. And it would be. Just as soon as he and Cass had a meeting of the minds. He loved her. He had to tell her.
And she had to tell him some of her own truths.
***
Except the blasted woman had to work, and she texted him that she had some real thinking to do. So she asked him to wait.
Mack didn’t want to wait. He wanted their issues settled now. Getting all the ugliness out with his friends had been more than necessary. He could only thank his lucky stars they hadn’t given up on him and his stupid notions of what people needed.
Being honest, something he had trashed Cass for not being, mattered. It always had. Not telling his friends the truth had bothered him. As had not telling his parents where he stood. He couldn’t control their actions, but he certainly could control his.
On a roll, he called his mother and asked to come and talk to her and his father.
When he arrived, he noticed James’s truck in the driveway as well. Great. Another person to deal with. Whatever. He’d get the job done.
