“Not my fault. It was bad circumstances,” Tex muttered, his cheeks red.
Mack turned to Reggie, who held up his hands in surrender and said, “I plead the fifth.”
“Too late.” Mack grinned. “You, who can’t help helping, even if it’s an old girlfriend who would grind you into yesterday, nearly lost Maggie when you let your ex stay with you. It’s like you have STUPID stamped to your forehead.”
“It was a mistake,” Reggie said through his teeth. “And I learned from it.”
“So how any of you think you can counsel me in matters of the heart, I just don’t know.”
They all stared at him before bursting into laughter.
“Matters of the heart?” Tex sputtered. “What are you? A Lifetime movie?”
“You mean Hallmark,” Reggie added, still laughing.
Mack glared. “I’msotelling your sisters you said disparaging things about Hallmark.”
Reggie paused. “Erm, no. Nadia and Lisa are being nice since I’m engaged to someone they like. I apologize, Mack.”
“Ha. That’s what I like to hear.”
Brad punched him in the arm.
“Ow.”
Brad lowered his voice. “Oh, stop being a pussy. You know we care about you. If you like this tough-as-nails cop, she must be pretty great. Because she was seriously on your ass at the soccer game. Good luck charming her. I don’t think she’s the naive type.”
“She’s not.” Mack thought about her. “She’s tough, generous, and funny. It’s a dark humor, and she’s vicious, but I’m finding that I like that about her.”
“See? I told y’all. He’s gone on her.”
Mack blinked at Tex. “What?”
“Yeah, there it is. That same stupid look on your face when you talk about her.”
Brad nodded. “I see it.”
“Me too,” Reggie said. “Mack, I’m betting ten bucks you seal the deal. A girlfriend by Christmas.”
“I’m in,” Tex said. “But I’ve met this woman. Twenty says he screws it up.”
Mack frowned. “Thanks a lot.”
“I call ’em like I see ’em.” Tex tipped an imaginary hat. “But I think you’ll eventually find a keeper. I believe in you.”
“Asshole.”
“Hey now.” Brad shook his head at Tex. “Mack’s better than that. He’ll ruin things by Thanksgiving but make it up to her by Christmas.”
“You guys are hilarious.” Mack gave them a snide grin, followed by the magic finger for their eyes only.
They laughed.
Despite the jokes at his expense, he accepted the taunts. He’d done his own share of tormenting the guys when they’d been having troubles with the women in their lives.
Oh wow. Is that what Cass is? Is she the woman in my life?He’d never had one of those before. He didn’t know if he should feel excited or unnerved at the prospect.
Well, she might not be his yet, but soon. “I mean, come on, guys. Cass has met me. Of course she’ll be falling for me in no time. I showed her my devastating peepers.” He batted his eyelashes.
