Seemingly back on track, I stand up from the couch, taking Mac with me. Her legs wrap around my waist and she lays her head on my shoulder as I carry her back into the kitchen.
I set her down on one of my barstools and start to cook breakfast again. She chatters away at me, telling me a funny story about Lorraine, but I’m only half listening. I’m kind of bugged about this Cal conversation. I know she said she would cut ties with him, but something just doesn’t feel right about this.
I’m not sure if it’s unease that perhaps Cal will sink his claws into Mac… take something away from me again? Or maybe I’m a little pissed at Mac that she could even want to be friends with someone that hurt me so deeply?
Then there’s the part of me that is now curious, no thanks to Mac’s quick words moments ago. She asked me if I really knew what happened between Cal and Marissa.
And, of course, I didn’t.
But here is what I did know.
My wife had been f**king around on me, and I had proof. I intended to divorce her and use said proof to cut her free from my life. Cal then f**ked my wife. I know this because he told me as much, but that’s all he told me.
That’s all I let him tell me before I beat the snot out of him.
Now, Mac is implying there’s more to the story, and that is rubbing my nerves raw. Is it possible that there is something I don’t know that would cause me to change my mind about Cal?
I snort to myself because that’s just preposterous. That’s nothing more than Mac having a soft heart and Cal probably making himself out to be like a wounded bird or something that needs cared for.
No matter. I’m pushing all of this aside, and I refuse to think about it again. Mac said she wouldn’t be friends with Cal, and I accept that.
I don’t necessarily trust in it, but then again, no matter how f**king good things are with Mac, I just don’t ever see trust becoming part of the equation. I know I’ve opened up in amazing ways the last few days, but I don’t see me ever offering up that part of me again.
Chapter 27
The next time I have the stupid idea to take Mac and Macy out together, someone please just shoot me.
I was just trying to be a good boyfriend… take my girl out and relax with a few drinks because she had her first solo hearing today and won it. I’d never tell Mac this, but it really wasn’t much of a fight, and the other side didn’t even show up, so it was sort of a slam-dunk. But she was really, really stoked to have handled it all on her own, and I felt the need to ce
lebrate with her.
I think my mistake was in asking her if she wanted to invite Macy. I’ve met Macy before and I know that this woman is capable of just about anything. Yet, I still made the suggestion all the same.
Not ten seconds after we grabbed a table at The Bar, Macy was ordering some vile concoction called a Slippery Nipple, along with vodka tonics for her and Mac. They pounded through three of each in the first hour while I sipped on one glass of scotch. Also within that first hour, Macy hit on a married man… while his wife was sitting right next to him, and tried to convince Mac to start up an impromptu wet t-shirt contest, which I promptly shut down.
Now I’m trying to keep my focus on babysitting the two of them so that they don’t get arrested. Or worse yet, get me arrested.
It’s been a hell of a week. As I watch Mac and Macy playing a game of darts with the same local dudes I had played with week before last, I take another sip of my drink and try to let some of the tension go.
The real pisser this week was that I got a bad jury verdict in a horrific wrongful death case, all because I had the biggest jackass of a judge who f**ked up my jury instructions. When the jury came back with a verdict of no negligence, I watched as my clients’ faces crumbled. Looking over at the jury, not one of them would meet my eye, and it’s a shame too. I wanted to flip them the bird.
It took every bit of professionalism I could muster not to ream the judge, but I didn’t feel like having to deal with Bill or Mac needing to bail my ass out of jail. Instead, I gave oral notice I’d be filing an appeal and stormed out of the courthouse.
I’m not sure who told Mac that I was back from court—probably Bea, our receptionist—but not five seconds after I had slammed the door to my office, Mac was slipping inside. Not two seconds after that, Bill came in.
“What happened?” Mac asked me, wringing her hands together as I paced back and forth.
Spinning on her, I snapped. “What do you think happened? I f**king lost the case. ”
“It’s not a big deal,” Bill said quickly. “We didn’t even have that much money invested in it. ”
I almost punched Bill for those words. Turning on him in fury, I said, “It’s not about the f**king money, you jackass. My clients’ lives are screwed up. The judge totally f**ked us on the jury instructions. ”
Mac then stepped toward me, putting a calming hand on my arm. “Is there any appealable error?”
I took in a deep breath and let it blow out, trying to release some of my tension so I didn’t take my anger out on her.
Picking her hand up and bringing it to my lips for a light kiss, I smiled at her. “Yes. There are several errors for appeal. I’ll have you help me get the Notice filed. ” As an afterthought, I glanced at my partner. “I’m sorry I yelled, Bill. ”
Chuckling, Bill turned away and headed for the door. “No worries. And I think Mac is better equipped to deal with your snarly ass than I am. ”
I dropped Mac’s hand and took off my jacket, absently tossing it on a chair. Walking toward my desk, I deftly undid my cuff links, pocketed them and rolled my sleeves up, mentally putting together what I’d need to get started on the appeal for this case.
Motherfucking jackass prick judge.
I heard Mac close the door, and then I clearly heard the snick of it locking. Turning my head, I saw Mac leaning back against it with a devilish smile.
“What are you doing?” I asked curiously, because I was thinking it had something to do with kissing since she locked the door. That was definitely something I was down with… a little make-out session before I got back to work.
Mac pushed away from the door and walked toward me. Her hands came up and started working at the buttons on her shirt. My mouth dropped open, and I was helpless to look away as she removed the yellow silk blouse and let it drop to the floor. My eyes roved over the perfect swell of her br**sts pushing up from a white lace, demi-cup bra.