Not Broken: The Happily Ever After(75)

She took her bag from me. “Do I still get a second date?”

I reached out to brush her bangs to the side then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“You can have all the dates you want.”

Ginger smiled and nodded then headed inside. I waited until she was safely in the house before getting back in my truck and driving away.





Chapter 41


Malcolm





I cussed under my breath when I spotted Macy’s car parked in my driveway. Not only was this a surprise visit, but she’d parked right in the middle, blocking the garage.

“Is your phone broken?” I asked as I climbed out of my truck.

“Nope. Why?”

“Because I don’t recall getting a call or text asking to come over.”

“Oh, I thought I had the same open invitation you appear to have at my house. At least I came at a decent hour.”

“Whateva.” I stepped forward, giving her a hug. “You don’t look green today.”

“Is that your way of saying I look nice?”

“Nah, just not green,” I replied with a laugh. My comment was met with a frown and a punch to my arm. “Ouch! So violent.”

“Please, you know it didn’t even hurt. Now open the damn door. I have to pee.”

She made a beeline straight to the half-bath as soon as I unlocked the front door.

“Feel better?”

She nodded as she took a seat beside me on the couch. “Indeed. I’m peeing all the damn time already. The bigger I get, I might as well live in the bathroom.”

“TMI, Mace, TMI.”

“Stop being such a wuss.”

“Why are you here? Just to annoy me?”

She started smiling. “Isn’t that what little sisters do?” She moved over, throwing her arms around my neck. “You know you like seeing me. Not like you were going to do anything important other than play video games like some twelve-year-old.”

She got up, and headed to the kitchen. “Whatcha got to eat?”

“Ramen noodles and cereal.”

“You’re joking right?”

I shrugged as I picked up the TV remote. “Hadn’t made it to the store. Might be some sandwich meat, can’t promise the bread ain’t molded.”

She made a gagging sound that made me laugh.

“I’m kidding. About the bread. But I really haven’t restocked.”

After some unnecessary loud opening and closing of my cabinets and drawers, she finally fixed herself a bowl of cereal and took a seat at the bar. I channel surfed before settling on ESPN.

“Ginger’s fine. I just got back from taking her home. And no, I didn’t really take her to the strip club.” I spoke without even looking in her direction. I wasn’t a fool; there could only be one reason she showed up today unannounced.

“I didn’t even ask.”

This time I did turn to look at her. “You ain’t slick, Mace. I know you didn’t pop up here today, out of the blue, just because you missed my ass.”

She picked up the bowl to drink the remaining milk before rinsing it out and leaving it in the sink.

“Fine.” She plopped down on the couch next to me. “But I’m not here because of the date. I can talk to Lee about that. You’re turning my husband against me.”

I raised an eyebrow when I looked over at her. “And how am I doing that?”

“Because he somehow thinks I’m being too hard on you where she’s concerned. And...Lee asked me to stop giving you a hard time.”

I folded my arms, giving her my full attention. “So, this visit is a ceasefire of sorts?”

“Something like that. Look, I worry about her. And while I think you’re a major pain in the ass...I know you aren’t out to hurt her.”

“Holy shit. Hell must be freezing over.”

Macy rolled her eyes as she shoved me over. “What on earth does she see in you?”

“I ask her the same thing about you.”

She scowled at me and stuck out her tongue. I laughed and turned my attention back to the TV. My hand absentmindedly went to where Ginger had scratched me last night. My intent wasn’t to hurt her, but unintentionally I was doing just that. She’d said I made her feel safe. Hearing those words helped ease my guilt, but didn’t alleviate it completely.

“She told me she has panic attacks.”

I’d drifted off into my own thoughts, and had almost forgotten Macy was here.

“Yeah.”

I looked over when I heard the sniffle. I could count on one hand how many times I’d seen my sister cry. Growing up with brothers, she got tough real fast. When she would get upset, being pissed was her normal reaction.

I put my arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Your face is leaking.”

She rested her head on my shoulder. “You’re an asshole.”

“But you love me.”

“Only because Mom and Dad say I have to.”

“Whateva, cupcake.”

She wiped at the tears. “I used to have nightmares. Wake up in the middle of the night scared shitless and bawling my eyes out. Mitch would hold me, reminding me I was home and safe.”

She paused, taking a shaky breath. Macy didn’t talk to me a lot about her ordeal. We knew the basics; that bastard had shown up looking for Ginger after she’d ran. Three weeks that bastard held Macy. She had a broken nose, arm, and jaw, plus three fractured ribs when she’d been found. Not to mention she was dehydrated and malnourished from lack of proper food and water because he only gave her enough to keep her alive.