“This is not just about getting at him.”
Macy watched the Gelderman brothers as they talked. Neither had raised their voices, but there was no doubting the tension between them; like two wary dogs, they circled each other.
“Now's not the time to discuss this.” Brad ended the conversation. “We'll work through it when and if we need to.”
Macy hated tension; it unsettled her. Her ex would just walk into a room, and it nearly choked her.
“Are you staying for a while then, Brad?” She made herself ask the question.
“I'll see how this plays out before I decide.” He focused on her.
“He’s staying for a while.”
“Ethan, shut up,” Brad then said, much to everyone’s surprise.
“Oh now you just have to stay.” Buster hooted with laugher. “Anyone who will speak to the giant ego like that has my backing.”
“Is your cabin still empty, Macy?” Newman asked her the question, and Macy's instant and thankfully silent reply wasno!
“Yes.”
“Maybe Brad could stay there then, as I'm sure the brothers don't need to be under the same roof.”
Macy looked from Brad to Ethan. There was definitely tension between them.
“Okay, sure. If Brad wants to use it, I have no problem with that, as it's still standing empty.”
“I don't want to put you out.”
“No, it's fine. I was going to let it this year, but never got ’round to it again.”
“I'll pay the going rate.”
His voice was cool, with nothing in it to indicate she had climbed onto his lap last night and—Shut it down, girl. No good can come from going there.
“Sure,” she said. “When we leave, you follow me, and I'll show you the way and check everything is all right.”
“Thanks.”
She breathed easier when he turned away to speak with Annabelle.
She could do this, be professional, if he could. She would take him to the cottage, check everything was as it should be, then leave. Billy would be there, so she wouldn't be completely alone with the man who had, quite simply, made Macy realize that she was not emotionally dead.
Brad rodeup the steep drive and then pulled his Harley in beside Buster’s car in front of the small rustic cabin. Macy’s friend was going home with his girlfriend and would pick up his car tomorrow.
The sun was setting over the town of Howling and he was surprised that he had spent the entire day at Ethan and Annabelle's house talking with them and their friends. He’d been aware of Macy, as he knew she was of him, but they’d managed to maintain a polite façade, and he thought that next time it would be easier. Well, he hoped it would, and that he would want her less.
He watched Macy get out of the car and open the rear door for Billy. The boy ran to Brad, who was now settling the bike on its stand.
“Can I have a ride soon?”
“Sure.”
“No.”
He and Macy spoke at the same time. She was standing by the front door now, a key in her hand.
“It's up to your mom, Billy.”
