Cocky Notes - Leesa Bow Page 0,66

to run and not look back.

If she wants nothing from me other than a bit of fun, then I’m going to refuse because if anything, these last few weeks have taught me that with the way I feel for Macy, it’s all or nothing.

I have to get off this damn roller coaster and focus, with or without her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

REEF

Considering it’s after ten, I knock quietly on her front door.

The door opens. She smiles, then closes it behind her as she steps outside. “Dad’s in bed and already asleep. It was a big night for him. His girlfriend is here now, so…”

I point the remote at my car, and it beeps before I open the door for Macy. Before I start the car, I pause to look at her—dark hair flowing over her shoulders, brown eyes, innocent one minute and alluring the next, and a heart-shaped mouth, plump lips I’ve missed kissing. I allow my eyes to dip momentarily in acknowledgement. “You look stunning. And happier.”

“Thanks.” She wipes her hands over the figure-hugging black dress. “It’s new.”

“Not the dress, Mace. I mean, you look great. It’s your eyes and when you smile. You seem different than when I saw you at Adele’s.”

She dips her head. “Yeah, about that.”

I start the car because it sounds as though she wants to talk. There’s awkwardness in her voice, so it’s better to be staring at the road and not her.

“I owe you an apology.”

“No, you don’t. This mess is because of me, and I wanted to apologise in person, so I dragged out what I was trying to tell you and went about it in the wrong way.”

“You tried. I appreciated it. It was me. I was in a bad headspace, and yeah, it was partly because of you, but it made me realise the steps I needed to take to grow.”

I glance sideways, and my heart flips the way she’s sitting, pivoted toward me. Looks like we’re doing this now. Not another time over dinner like I had planned.

“If I could take it back, I would. I should have known those dickheads would pull a prank. You may have noticed I have trust issues.” I glance and give her a quick smile before turning my gaze back to the road while keeping her in my periphery vision.

She pushes strands of hair behind her ear. “They haven’t been back to Lombardi’s.”

“I banned them until they apologised, but I said they had to wait until I spoke to you. It took longer than I anticipated, so I’m sorry they haven’t apologised to you in person.”

She shrugs. “If it were earlier, I may have said something I’d regret.”

“Wish you did. They need pulling into line.”

Drunk-walkers step onto the road as they head from pubs to nightclubs. I lift my foot from the accelerator to the brake as we drive through the busiest part of the city. We continue in silence until I turn onto a quieter street.

“Keep your eyes open for a park.”

“So… trust issues,” she murmurs.

My knuckles stretch over the steering wheel.

“I may have looked you up on the internet. Extensively. Seen pictures of you and Felicity. When I searched her, I found pictures with my m-mum.” Her voice cracks on the last word. “I’ve never searched Mum before because I didn’t know her married name and didn’t want to find her.” Macy wipes her eyes and remains silent a while. I place a hand on her knee and leave it there. “It broke my heart to show Dad. But the trooper he is, he said he was happy that she was happy. At this point in time, he said he’s content and holds no bitterness, and even though she might have money, we are richer for we have each other.”

I squeeze her knee. “I really like your dad. He’s a wise man. You know she’s not happy unless she’s causing drama. I know she’s your mum, but she’s not a nice lady. You are nothing like her.”

Macy’s hand covers mine on her knee. “Thank you for saying that because I’ve spent my life trying not to be, and fearing I am exactly like her. It’s where my mental health stems from.”

“Gorgeous, you’re nothing like her.”

She nods, then wipes her eyes again. “There are times I think I am. But when I went to see her, I was so nervous. Then I went through all the emotions while we sat together like I was experiencing the grief of losing her and feeling fifteen all over