"His name is Scott, and you can stop right there. He’s a nice guy and has been coming around for a fewmonths."
"Nice, my ass. I don't likehim."
She gives me her best motherly, don't-be-serious eyes. "You be nice now. No funny business. She seems to really like thisone."
I stand to walk toward the sliding glass door. "I'll be the judge ofthat."
"Connor,” she drawlsout.
I give her a dismissive wave and go outside, spotting them sitting at a table in a corner of the property. I take a beer out of the cooler, buying time while staring down the guy who thinks he's getting in my sister'spants.
When he wraps a hand around her thigh, a little too close to some areas for my liking, I clench my jaw. My sister doesn't even flinch from his movement, and it's written all over their body language: they've fucked, and I'm going to killhim.
2
Mackenzie
My nerves have beenshit all day. I knew today would happen, they planned it weeks ago. Of course I knew his birthday was the reason why we were all gathering for dinner, but after last night, so many things fly through myhead.
Will I fall flat on my face or do somethingstupid?
Will he even rememberme?
More importantly, will he recognizeme?
The glass door slides open, and I close my eyes, forcing myself to breathe the air it needs so I don't passout.
I purposefully sat facing the house so I could stare under the disguise of my sunglasses when hearrived.
Connor.
My high school crush, but also my best friend’s big brother. All those years I stayed at their house, swam in their pool, dying for him to notice me, but he neverdid.
After our dance lessons, we'd sit in Tracy's room for hours on end, gawking over pictures of boys from our class, and I had to lie every time, saying I wanted one when really I wanted the boy in the nextroom.
He became my biggest fantasy. My everything. I'd hear him talk to his friends about other girls, and my dreams would be crushed, but every once in awhile I’d see it—a glimpse of what I saw in him reflected in his eyes while he looked at me. Those glimpses gave me hope, even after all thistime.
“Tracy,I’m leaving for the night. Don’t you dare go in my room,” Connor says after barging in to Tracy’sroom.
“Oh like you just came into mine. Get out of here, jerk,” she fightsback.
“Just stay out this time, you hear me?” Before he leaves, he turns to me. “Hey,Mackenzie.”
I try to respond but nerves have sealed my mouth shut. Sudden fear coursed its way through my body and left me looking like a horriblemime.
He shuts the door and I’m finally able to breathe again, only to now feel like the stupidest little girl on the planet. That was my chance, the first time he spoke directly to me and I blewit.
That momentwhen I was eleven haunted me for years. I couldn’t help but think my first impression of us interacting is what ruined my chances. I know it’s a silly thought but as a young girl I kicked myself anytime I thought aboutit.
No matter of how lacking our relationship was, when I moved away to college I always kept his memory tucked away in my hopes-of-one-dayjar.
He and Tracy have the best sibling relationship I've ever seen. He's crazy protective of her and any guy she dates. She hates it, but I think it's the sweetest thing. Showing the love he has for his sister that way only proves he's a greatguy.
A guy I've wanted for so long and finally got last night, only he didn't know it wasme.
My eyes glaze over as Connor crosses to the table. Every step is carefully placed, like he's on the prowl and Tracy's new boyfriend, Scott, is histarget.
Wisely, Scott removes his hand from Tracy's thigh and stands. Holding out a hand, he says, "You must beConnor."
