MacKenzie Fire(68)

I resist the urge to snort my disbelief. Ian being the baby of the family has taken on the worst kind of meaning. They totally treat him like he’s ten.

“He finally made the decision to leave town and strike out on his own, which is a pretty big deal around here but more so in my family, and everything got messed up.”

“So?” I counter. “You move on from stuff like that. You don’t wallow in it for three years.”

Mack shakes his head. “No, it’s not that simple. See, he’s been living in my shadow his whole life. I don’t like it any more than he does, but it’s a fact. Getting into architecture was his way of trying to distance himself, to be his own person.”

“Well, it is very different from ranching.”

“Yeah. The problem is, he’s not really interested in doing architecture. Not at all, actually.”

I frown. This is the first I’m hearing of this. “What? He didn’t say that to me.”

“How much has he told you?” Mack looks at me for a moment before going back to focusing on his driving.

I shrug, trying to remember. “Not much. Just that he’s not a fan of the winters here but he likes taking care of the animals. I think that’s what he was saying, anyway.”

Mack nods. “That’s about right. Fact is, he was all set to move to Portland and be this person he really didn’t want to be, just to get out of here.”

“Sooo … Ginny messing that up wasn’t really a bad thing is what you’re saying.”

“Weeelll, it was and it wasn’t, depending on your perspective.”

“How so?” I feel like I’m being given the keys to the kingdom here, learning all Ian’s secrets.

“It was good in that it kept him from making two mistakes. Ginny being number one, and starting a career he doesn’t really like deep down being number two.”

“And what’s the bad part?”

“He had to start all over. Back under my shadow with the added rumors going around that I destroyed his marriage and chance at life.”

“He doesn’t believe that garbage.” I’m mad at the people who are saying those things, whoever they are.

“Not on the surface, but I’d be willing to bet there’s a piece of him that does believe it … the piece that doesn’t want to get up and start over.”

“See? That’s what I’m saying.” I’m getting all excited. “You get it, Mack. He’s totally wallowing in the past. He just needs to forget all that and move on. I mean, all of it. Being under your shadow, Ginny, the architecture thing … everything.”

Mack chuckles. “You got it all figured out.”

“Of course I do. That’s my special talent you know … solutions. You’ve got problems, I’ve got solutions.”

“So what’s your solution to the problem of an almost thirty year old guy who doesn’t want to move on? What’s the solution there?”

I chew on my lip as I consider what my plan of attack would be, if I were still into Ian, which I am not.

“First, I’d talk to all his friends and family and tell them to stop feeling sorry for his sorry, pity-partied-out butt.”

“Then what?” Mack’s voice has laughter in it, but he’s holding back, so I continue.

“I’d sit him down and ask him what he really wants to do with his life. If it isn’t ranching and it isn’t architecture, it has to be something.”

“Okay, sounds reasonable. And then?”

“And then I’d kick him in the butt until he went after it. Went to school or started doing that thing, whatever it is.” I smile and look at Mac. “See? Simple.”

He nods. “I agree. When do we start?”

I blink a few times as his words sink in.

The truck goes silent.

“Well?” he prompts. “When? Tomorrow?”

I shake my head. “No, not me. Someone else has to do all this.”

“Why not you?”

“Because.”

“You like him, I know you do.”

My face goes red, but he can’t see it because it’s too dark, thank goodness. “Sure, I like him. As a friend.”

He chuckles. “You always chase your friends around the house naked?”

“Maybe.” Now my face is on fire. His whole family saw that, and now my humiliation is back full force with him bringing it up.

“I doubt it. Andie says you like him, so I know you do.”

“Andie’s wrong a lot, you should know that about her,” I say.

“Oh, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure she’s right a hundred percent of the time.”

I look over to catch him smiling. It’s sweet and annoying all at the same time.

“You are so whipped it’s not even funny.” I try to sound disgusted instead of jealous. I’m happy my friend has Mack beside her when he’s clearly awesome, but it makes me acutely aware of the fact that I don’t have something like that and I want it. I want it bad.

“Whipped and proud to be.” He looks over, catching me scowling at him. “Ian’s the same kind of guy, you know. Once he loves a girl, there’s no going back. He’s in for life and there’ll never be another one for him.”