“If you’re about to break up with me, I don’t accept it. Plain and simple.” She puffed out her chest.
“I’m a mess.”
“No, you went through a mess.Youare not a mess.”
“I hurt you.” God, my stomach was bubbling. Sweat covered my body. My vision blurred. She looked so serious though. I had to hang on. Just another minute.
“I mean, I was angry you didn’t show up, but that wasn’t like you. You’re kind and sweet and communicative. You careabout your friends so deeply it’s amazing. You don’t ghost us. This isn’t the norm. You helped me dye my hair. You helped me pee outside yesterday. You are nice and protective, and honestly Dean? I love you. I’m just gonna say it. You’re drunk and probably not gonna remember this, but I love you.” She licked her lips before smiling, her blue eyes crinkling on the sides as she stared at mehard.“I loveyou,Dean, not the footballer, not the popular guy on billboards or the guy who won some awards. I love your heart and playfulness and the way you see the world. I love your scars and how you laugh. You might not want to do this for real, but what we have is rare.”
My eyes flickered, and the last thing I remembered was feeling an insane amount of joy and luck that she’d said those things. Then, night took over.
A construction company formed home base in my skull. That was the only explanation to the bangs and crashes going around me. It was so bad I wondered if this was a slow death. But I wouldn’t feel the sheets against my skin if that was the case. If I moved either to the left or the right, a throbbing pain reminded me of last night.
Jessica. The baby.Mackenzie.
“Fuckkkk.” I hit the pillow, but then someone stirred next to me. Who the fuck…I bolted up, terrified beyond anything about not remembering the night before when a familiar scent hit me.Sunscreen, flowers, grass.
My girl was here, next to me.
“Hi.” She yawned and slowly pushed herself up to sitting. She gave me a sleepy grin, her face having lines from the pillow all over it. The shirt hung off her shoulder, showcasingher collarbone and a little freckle she had there. “I have sports drinks, medicine, and cold bacon for you, since I know that’s your favorite hangover cure.”
How did she… why was she… my brain wouldn’t compute the equation. The playbook was unclear.
“What?” I asked, dumbfounded that I was staring at her in my bed, with me, when she should’ve punched me in the face and ran. “Wait, why are youhere?”
She blinked a few times, and a blush crept up her cheeks. I loved that red color on her skin.
She cleared her throat, her voice hoarse and lacking her normal confidence. “Uh, I wanted to make sure you were okay. You passed out and were a bit of a mess.”
“But you’re in my bed.” My slow-ass brain was still drunk or hungover because why the hell would she want to be with me? After I ghosted her for a date? With my literal baby mama drama. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry, I can… I might’ve misread this; I think. I just…” She jumped from my bed, clearly flustered. She hopped from one foot to the other, grabbing her stuff.
She wore one of my shirts, and that was it. Her long, toned legs and bare feet were gorgeous, and I had to take a deep breath before I connected the dots. “Wait, I’m not mad you’re here.”
“Are… are you sure?”
“Mack, oh my god.” I shook my head, then winced. “Don’t leave. Please. Give me a second.”
The pounding subsided enough to slide out of bed. “My mouth tastes like a bowling alley dumpster, my head feels like a band is playing in it, but I’m trying to explain and doing a shit job.”
“Explain what?” She held onto her things tighter and moved farther from me.
“I figured you were pissed at me. I want you here, fuck, I do. But I stood you up. Hell, I don’t even know where my phone is.” I shrugged and regretted it instantly. “I messed up my shot with you, a real shot.”
“Your phone is charging on your desk over there. Luca helped me find your stuff. He also helped me get you to bed after you passed out.”
“That’s… embarrassing.” I ran a hand over my face. “I’ve never passed out before.”
“You had a lot on your mind.”
“Would you stop backing up to the door and sit with me for a second?” I asked, my voice scratchy. “I’m worried you’re about to run for it, and while you probably should, I want to talk to you if you’ll let me.”
She set her clothes down on the chair and glided toward the bed. She sat upright and faced me with an expectant look, like she thought I had the answers to everything.
I knew jack shit.
I raised my hand, hoping inspiration would hit, but nothing profound entered my dumbass mind. Just a plain old apology. “I’m so sorry. I’m fucking sorry about all of this. This wasn’t my plan at all.”
