Getting the Axe - Nikki Mays Page 0,58

even prettier than my bike. And that’s saying something because I’ve loved all of my bikes.”

I turn towards him to be able to listen better and he does the same. “So what happened?” I blurt out and give him a sheepish smile. “That is if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Nah, that’s alright Darlin’, it’s all in the past now, anyway. We started seeing each other pretty seriously, even though everyone told her that she was better off without me.”

“That’s kind of harsh,” I mumble and earn myself a kind smile.

“They weren’t wrong. I was a bit of a shit, to be honest. I was definitely too big for my britches, that’s for sure. I was young and dumb and didn’t realize what I had until someone else came along, did what I should’ve been doing.” He says in a wistful voice.

“What should you have been doing?”

“Treating her like my queen instead of like any other woman who was on the back of my bike.” He smiles, but it doesn’t hold any mirth. “Another man came along and treated her like she was the only thing that mattered in the entire universe.”

“Noah’s dad,” I say gently.

“Mhmm, one in the same.” Mac takes a sip of his beer, his eyes losing focus for a moment. My guess is he’s replaying things from long ago. “Man, did I hate his ass for a long time when really the only person that I should’ve hated was myself. I was the one who screwed up, not him. If anything, he treated her better than I would’ve ever been able to during that time. I’m glad that she married him. He gave her the type of life and love that she deserved.”

I give him a sly look. “So, you two being together now, that isn’t by some weird cosmic accident, huh?”

“No, darlin’ it is not. I waited as long as I could after he passed away before I made my move. I made sure that she had a few years to grieve before I even tried being her friend again, though. I didn’t want her or the boys to think that I was trying to sully what the two of them had. But it was damn sure hard knowing that the woman that I’ve loved most of my life was only a few blocks away. It might as well have been countries away for how far away she seemed to me.”

I don’t even realize that I’m crying until I see him eyeing me with a worried expression. I wave my hand in the air and wipe away the tears. “I’m sorry, don’t mind me. I’ve been crying at the drop of a dime for the past few weeks.” I do a weird snort/chuckle thing. “I think moving in with Noah has made my hormones go crazy or something. Seriously, that was such a cute story.”

There’s a weird twinkle in his eyes that wasn’t there a few moments ago. “Moving in with Noah is making your hormones go haywire, huh?” His lips twitch and I can’t figure out what he thinks is funny.

I nod slowly. “Yes, I’ve been a weird mess ever since I moved in. It must just be all the changes or whatever.”

He keeps eying me over the rim of his beer-making me feel awkward. I go to take a sip of my drink but his hand snatches it out of my own as quickly as lightning. “Hey!” I protest. “I was drinking that.”

I must’ve yelled louder than I meant to because everyone is suddenly staring at the two of us.

“What’s going on?” Dee questions while looking between Mac and me.

“I was about to take a sip of my drink, but he grabbed it out of my hands like it was poisoned or something,” I grumble and slide the drink stealer a glare for good measure.

He gives me an infuriating smirk and wink that makes me narrow my eyes at him even more. “I took it away because you don’t need to be drinking that.”

“Why would you take it away from her?” Noah questions. “Sure, they’re disgusting, but she seems to like them. She’s fine with them.”

My lips thin and I have a strong urge to strangle both of these men. Huh? Maybe I am more homicidal than I thought.

“No son, she’s not. Not right now, anyway.” Mac replies cryptically. What in the world is going on with him?

“You got drunk off of those things?” The love of my life questions incredulously.

“I’m not drunk!” I