“Is our stuff okay out there?” I ask, indicating the stuff I left on the sand.
“Yeah, no one will mess with it,” he tells me, looking at the scattered groups of people on the sandbar.
“How did you know where this place was?” Tanner asks Mac as he starts to pull out the subs he mentioned.
“A few buddies and I come out here for the major holidays. It’s much more packed then,” he tells him.
“Can we come back then?” Tanner asks.
Mac glances at me. “Yeah, if your mom wants to.”
Tanner nods, going to take a seat next to Emily, who is in her own little world.
“I have turkey and cheese, Italian, chicken tender, and ultimate,” he says.
“Emily will want the turkey and Tanner the chicken tender,” I tell him.
“What do you want? They are all twelve inches, so we can mix and match,” he says as he looks at me.
I smile. “The Italian sounds good.”
He nods, making the plates. I’m surprised when he turns around with half a sandwich, chips, fruit, and veggies on a plate. He hands it to Emily.
“Remember, queens eat their fruits and veggies.”
She nods, picking up a carrot, crunching on it.
He does the same, handing it to Tanner.
“Mom should get served first,” he tells Mac.
“You’re right. Here you go, Mama.” Mac hands me my plate.
“Thank you,” I tell him, taking a seat before I take a bite of my food.
Mac sits next to me, eating his sub in like five bites. Then he demolishes half a bag of chips, a bowl of fruit, and a lot of vegetables.
“Were you hungry?” I joke, taking my time eating my food.
“I’m a growing man. I need more calories than most.”
I bite my lip, wondering exactly what he could do with all those calories.
He leans closer, whispering into my ear. “Keep looking at me like that and I’ll be fueling up for something a bit more naughty.”
I swallow hard, turning away from him as I feel my cheeks heat. I can only hope he thinks it’s a sunburn.
“This is good, Mac. I want more,” Emily says, holding out her plate.
“You want more sub or the other stuff?” he asks.
“Sub, please,” she says.
I watch as he takes care of my girl. It’s disarming how he can go from flirting with me to taking care of my kids as if they are his own. I like it far too much. I’m worried that this is all some trauma-bonded shit and that he will disappear one day. I don’t know if I could handle that. I have come to depend on him in ways I never imagined depending on another person.
Evan was always about control. He provided shelter, food, and money, but he never fed our souls. He made us afraid to breathe easily in our own home.
In contrast, Mac has only known us for a couple of months, and I already feel like myself with him. I don’t feel like I have to play a part or be a certain way. He likes me for who I am. He loves the kids, quirks and all. He doesn’t get mad at them. He leans into them and takes care of them.
