was our time together, bonding and reassurance knowing Dad was coping. I enjoyed hanging out with him, and it was somewhere I could concentrate to complete my homework while he watched television with earphones. It was a much more relaxing environment than being at home.”
“Jesus, she’s a class act,” he murmurs, disdain lacing his voice. He pushes up onto his knees and takes me in his arms. I melt into the hug. He kisses the top of my head. “You know, I’m here for you, Mace. We’re also friends, so you don’t have to run off with Chance if you’re spooked and need to talk.” He takes my hand and helps me to my feet.
“Thanks. But you’re the one who sometimes spooks me.” I give him a half-smile. “I have my girlfriend, Georgia, but our friendship is more about the good times. We’re close, but not super close, and we don’t tell each other everything. Honestly, I’ve never opened up, kept a lot of stuff to myself. You’re the first person I’ve really blurted it all to. I’m sorry to lay it on you like that.”
He glances down to the rug on the sand before meeting my gaze once more. “Don’t be. I like you trusted me enough to tell me. You might’ve noticed I’m not a man of many words. Tend to keep to myself. Being friends with Chance, well, it was easy because he has a way of saying things, and it comes out right—even through school, and especially with the ladies. I love him, but I can’t help being protective when it comes to you.”
“Me? You know he’s seeing someone, right? A model.”
“Yeah. I know that, but there’s something about you, and when you went away with him…” He scrubs a hand through his hair. “I’m not usually the jealous type.” He reaches out and touches my cheek. “I wasn’t happy with him. As I said, I’m possessed.”
And so am I.
Chapter Sixteen
MACY
“Have you decided what you’re doing for Christmas?” Reef asks while sitting with me at a table during my break.
“We’re not doing presents, right?” I blurt out after swallowing a mouthful of gnocchi—Dominic’s special dish of the day.
“I may have bought you something small.” He grins as though he’s thinking about it. “And I wasn’t referring to gifts. What are you and your dad doing on Christmas Day? Do you have a tradition? A special dish?”
“Lucky I bought you something small also.” I jab my fork in his direction. I bought it in Broken Hill and decided to keep hold of it until the right time to surprise him. “So, nothing else, okay?”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“Oh, right.” I shrug. “We usually stay in under the air conditioning, exchange presents, and I cook a turkey breast in the morning. We keep it simple with roasted vegetables, or if the heat’s unbearable, we have salad. I buy the microwave pudding and custard. In the afternoon, we watch an old-time classic movie together. What about you?”
“Yeah. Something similar, I guess. I’d prefer to have lunch with your father and you. It sounds enjoyable.”
“Christmas at yours isn’t enjoyable?”
“It’s not relaxing.”
“What do you eat?” I offer him some of my gnocchi.
Reef lifts a hand from the table. “I couldn’t eat another thing. I ordered three times waiting for you to have your break.”
“That’s true love.” I chuckle, then freeze realising what I’ve said. I don’t make eye contact, keep eating, and act blasé.
He’s staring at me, and I can’t meet his gaze.
“Roast meat. Seafood. Much of the same,” he murmurs. “People always wish for expensive gifts at Christmas. As if the more expensive the gift indicates your degree of love. And it makes them happy to think you spent X amount of dollars on them.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t think along those lines.” I swallow down more pasta with water, wondering where he’s going with this.
“I know. You’re unique. I know you’re not with me for the money I can spend on you.”
I meet his gaze. “No. I didn’t take you to be careless with money.”
“I’m not.”
“Neither am I.” I place my fork on the table, no longer hungry because I have a feeling he’s getting to a point. “I don’t know what you bought me, but I wasn’t expecting anything. And I’m wondering why we’re discussing it now.”
“Because I wanted to spend more on you.” He takes a sip of his sparkling water. “Didn’t because I thought it would spook you. And then I got to thinking—”
“You’re making assumptions about