Mack Daddy(30)

He was leaning back into his chair, swiveling back and forth slightly as he just looked at me with a mischievous smile.

I began to pack up my things. Without looking him in the eyes, I said, “You’ve never run a school event before. Don’t you think you’re going to be in a little over your head?”

“Not when I have you to help me.”

“Isn’t it typical to ask someone first before assuming they’ll help you?”

“Frankie…can you help me run the book fair?” He joked.

“You have more than enough volunteers, actually.” I held up a piece of paper. “Look at this list.”

“Yeah, but none of them are as smart and resourceful as you. As an example, none of those women would know to use their boogers as glue.”

I couldn’t believe he remembered that. I’d once confessed to him that as a kid, I’d run out of glue during an art project and used some of my own snot to hold some construction paper together. It was an absolutely disgusting thought now. Nevertheless, I couldn’t deny it.

“How do you even remember that?”

“I know everything about you, Frankie Jane. Well, up until a certain point.”

“Anyway, there are easier ways to spend time with me than hijacking a school fundraiser, you know.”

“Really? Because you don’t make it easy at all. Every time I mention getting together, you change the subject. Is it because you truly don’t want to spend time with me, or are you just afraid of what you might feel if you do? Personally, I think it’s the latter. You think I can’t read you, but I can.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s one of my many talents.”

Holding out my hand, I said, “Stop.”

“What?”

“I know you’re about to go on about your other talents, and you’re gonna say something suggestive. Don’t forget where we are.”

“Jesus…you’re no fun.”

“Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain, either,” I whispered. “Sister Theresa is right outside that door. She’ll come in here and hit you with her famous stick.” When he smirked, I held out my index finger. “I know you want to say something right now about your famous stick.”

“God, Frankie…what kind of a pig do you think I am?” he teased.

“Don’t say God.”

“You are totally putting words in my mouth, trying to predict what I’m going to say next. Although, words are not what I f*cking want in my mouth right now.”

Jesus Christ.

Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.

I tightened the muscles between my legs.

“See?” I spewed.

“See what? That I’m a crass king of sexual innuendos who’ll use any opportunity he can get to make you blush? Yes. Then I am completely guilty. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”

“Shh. Don’t say that!”

“Maybe that’s what I need, to go to confession.”

“You have issues.”

“You’re absolutely right. I think I’m gonna go this week, in fact. I’ll tell Father Louis about my coveting the beautiful, young teacher who used to be my best friend. I’ll tell him how I fantasize about what my hand print would look like on your ass. Maybe he can splash some holy water on me, cool me down. I hope to God he can help me get over you, because nothing else has ever worked.”

“Stop.”

“You’re not even enjoying this a little bit?”

I was enjoying it a lot…a little too much to the point where my panties were now drenched.

Lifting my bag over my shoulder, I said, “We should get out of here. They need to lock up the building.”

He stood up and gestured his hand toward the door. “After you…”

The air was cold outside, and it was foggy. Mack quietly walked me to my car.

As we stopped in front of my vehicle, we just looked at each other for a few moments.

His expression turned serious. “I thought I saw you once.”

“What?”

His breath was visible as he spoke. “Jonah was about six months old. Torrie and I had taken him to the mall. He was in one of those carriers on my chest. She’d gone off to shop in one of the stores, and I was standing there in the middle of the mall carrying the baby. There was this girl. She looked just like you from the back, same straight, red hair that was exactly the length it was the last time I’d seen you. Same posture, too.”

“You really thought she was me?”

He nodded, looking sullen. “I was sure of it. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I was so caught up in the idea that it was you, I couldn’t even rationalize in my brain that your being in Virginia at that time probably wouldn’t have made any sense. I guess that was because I wanted so badly to believe that it was you. And I did. I truly believed it.”

“What did you do?”

“I stood there for the longest time working up the nerve to go up to you. Jonah was crying, but it was like I’d forgotten he was even there attached to me. Nothing else mattered in that moment as I began to gear myself up to tell you how much I missed you, to tell you all of the things that had been building inside of me in the time we’d been apart. In my delusional state, I didn’t even doubt for one second that it was you. I remember my chest feeling so heavy. One step at a time, I moved closer and closer to where you were standing in the food court, checking out a menu. I don’t know what I was thinking would happen. It wasn’t like I could have run away with you or something. I just remember feeling like I’d been given a second chance, that somehow, some way, God had brought you to where I was in that exact moment.”