“Is she serious?”
His grin broadened to a smile. “Probably.”
“Shit,” I whispered.
His arms got tight. “You okay?”
“Your Dad is the Supreme Asshole of Al Time.” His smile died and his arms went from around me to my biceps. He fingers curled around, his thumbs stroking the inside skin softly.
“I hurt you?” he asked in a soft voice.
“I’l live,” I replied in a softer one.
His eyes flashed but he let it go.
“Vance’l take you home. We’l talk more later.” I nodded.
From across the room, Shirleen entered our conversation, “Can I just ask what in the f**k is goin’ on with you two?”
Mace and I twisted to face Shirleen.
“It’s a long story,” I explained.
“Wel , get your ass over here and start tel in’ it,” Shirleen shot back.
I looked back at Mace. He smiled, bent low and kissed my forehead.
“Got things to do. You got a grocery list?” I pul ed the grocery list out of my back pocket and handed it to him.
Then I stared at the piece of paper in his hand, wondering if it was the grocery list or the flight numbers. I snatched it back and whipped around, flipping it open.
It was the grocery list.
I let out a big sigh, turned back and handed it to Mace again.
His eyes were narrowed. “What the f**k?”
“Nothin’, just, erm…” My mind raced for some reason to explain why I was such an idiot, then I came up with something. “Thought that was the set list for tomorrow. You know I’m weird about those.” I wasn’t, that was a total lie which had to be why his narrowed eyes got narrower.
“Anyway, it’s not the set list. It’s the grocery list.” I leaned up and brushed his mouth with mine and said, “Now, go forth and conquer bad guys, starting with your Dad.” He stared at me a beat, decided to let it go then lifted a hand to my neck and gave me a squeeze.
Then he was gone.
For your information, it wasn’t lost on me that he didn’t say a word about the fact that I told him I loved him.
* * * * *
“It’s covered,” Al y said in my ear. “Indy’s Dad, Tom, is picking up Mace’s Mom and Chloe. They arrive an hour apart. You’l need to cal Lana and tel her to tel Chloe Tom’l meet her at the fountains and keep her company while they wait for Lana.” “Okay, I’l cal Lana,” I told Al y.
Al y went on, “They’re gonna stay with Daisy ‘cause they’l probably want to be together and she’s got plenty of room. Marcus’s boys can’t do it; Tom says he’l take them to your gig tomorrow night. Then you can do your thing.”
“That sounds good,” I replied. “Can you tel Tom that Chloe looks like Caitlin, except older?”
“Sure,” Al y hesitated a beat and then said, “It doesn’t sound like you think this sounds good.”
“No, it’s al good. It’s just…” I stopped then asked. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”
“Shit yeah,” Al y answered. “If family’s good, family’s everything. Mace can’t move on unless he sorts this shit out. You’re definitely doing the right thing.” I looked down at one of my arms. On the inside, four smal , shadowy, brown bruises had formed, three fingers and a thumb.