Texts from Luca, Callum, Oliver. Xavier sent numerous texts. I had four voicemails.Is the team okay?
I called Luca immediately. “What’s going on?”
“Come to the housenow.”
“What… what happened?”
“Jessica is here. With a baby.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Mack
Getting ready for agoodbyedate had me in a weird headspace. I showered, twice, because I loved camping, but the smell in my hair wasn’t the best. Then, I shaved my legs, put myself in my favorite bathrobe, and lay on my bed as sadness overtook me.
A way to celebrate you and the summer.
That was what Dean said. But he asked me on a real date? That had to mean something, right?
A soft knocked tapped on my door, and I got up, unlocking it. Lo grinned at me, brows going crazy, as she clicked her tongue. “Eh? Eh? You and Dean? Maybe we can be sisters-in-law?”
“Okay, crazy.” I shoved her as I went to sit on my bed. “Nothing like that. We had a great time this summer, but tonight is it, I think.”
Lo tilted her head. “Why would you think that? Dean asked you on a date, right?”
“Yeah, but to celebrate this summer.”
“Okay, there are things to unpack here.” Lo pulled out the desk chair and sat on it backwards, putting her arms on the back and resting her chin on them. “Dean askedyouon a date. You. On a date. I’m sorry, has this ever happened before in my entire life? Maybe once in high school? He doesn’t date. He doesn’t ask people on dates.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t dare say a word.
Lo continued, her smile a tad manic. “What do you think that means, Mackenzie? I’ll answer for you: he’s into you. For real.”
“I know he is. We both… we’re into each other, but football and soccer will always come first. We spoke about us, and it would be complicated.” I chewed my lip, needing to hold onto the reasons why we wouldn’t work because if hope slipped into this, I would be done for. “It’s easier for us to have this really nice dinner, no list included, and part ways as friends.”
“You silly, sweet, naïve friend of mine. That’s not what this is.”
Glimmers of hope went from my heart to my gut, my stomach swooping dangerously. “You think it’s… more?”
“Look, I don’t want ruin my brother’s game even though he’s done that to me so many times, but whatever.” She rolled her eyes and flicked her hand in the air, dismissing her own thought. “You love him, right?”
I nodded.
“He has feelings for you and wants this. Let him try to ask you or figure out how to make this work, okay? He’s gonna be a mess because Dean Romano has never had to do this before, so make him sweat a bit.”
“What if you’re wrong?” I blurted out, my voice shaky. “I want this, Lo. I think him and I would be good together if webothwant to be together, but what if tonight is him sayinggoodbye? I’m too afraid to hope or want more. It’d be foolish to not prepare for the worst.”
“I understand that girl, I do. I know it feels weird to hope or put your heart on the line, but isn’t it worth it? Dean might fuck it up. He says the wrong things sometimes, but he wanted to talk to me about you and what it would mean.”
I exhaled, my breath shaky. “I need to do a makeover for the dinner tonight.”
“Then I mean this with respect, but we’re gonna make you look hot as hell for my brother.”
“Not too weird for you?”
“Not even a little bit.” She pulled out her phone and winked. “I’m calling the girls. It can be a team effort.”
