Page 18 of Hooked on Mack (Hooked #7)

Mack

The weekend with Larissa had been nothing short of heavenly, and it was going to take more than the usual Monday morning blues to dampen my spirits.

“Morning, everyone,” I greeted my coworkers, who were scattered about the office, hunched over their desks or congregating in small clusters.

The place was buzzing with activity—phones ringing, fingers tapping away at keyboards, and the gentle hum of the photocopier in the corner churning out fresh pages of legal jargon.

“Morning, Mack!” came a chorus of responses, accompanied by knowing smiles and a few mischievous glances exchanged among my colleagues.

It seemed like word of my romantic escapades had found its way around the office grapevine, and as much as I wanted to keep my blossoming relationship with Larissa under wraps for now, I wasn't ashamed of it either.

If anything, I felt invincible—like it had given me a new kind of strength I never knew I had.

As I settled into my leather chair, feeling the familiar embrace of its well-worn contours, I took a moment to absorb the energy of the room.

This was my sanctuary, the place where I felt most alive and capable.

And now, with Larissa by my side, it seemed as though even the toughest cases and longest hours would be a breeze.

“Alright, let's get this show on the road.” I powered up my computer and dove headfirst into the day's work. But even as I busied myself with emails and legal briefs, I couldn't shake the persistent feeling of happiness.

“Hey! How was your weekend?” My coworker, Samantha, asked. I looked up from my computer screen, feeling the corners of my mouth tug into a knowing smile.

“Great, actually.”

“Really? Just great?” Samantha nudged, raising an eyebrow. “Because, you know, Becky and I might have seen you and Larissa at that fancy restaurant on Saturday night. Table for two, candlelight… very romantic.”

A few other coworkers who had been listening in snickered and exchanged knowing glances. Suddenly, I found myself at the center of office gossip. I knew there was no point in denying it—the cat was out of the bag.

“Ah, so you two were spying on me, huh?” I teased back, attempting to deflect the attention. But Samantha was relentless.

“Can you blame us? After all, we've never seen our golden boy, Mack Harrington, so smitten before!” She grinned, winking at me.

“Did you guys share dessert?” another coworker chimed in, his voice dripping with innuendo. The office erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks grow hot.

“Alright, alright, enough with the third degree!” I exclaimed, trying to maintain my composure.

“Come on, Mack, you can't expect us not to be curious!” Samantha said, grinning broadly. “You two certainly make quite the power couple.”

“Thanks, I guess,” I replied sheepishly, feeling the weight of their gazes upon me. In my heart, I knew that what Larissa and I had was special, and no amount of teasing or gossip could change that.

The laughter continued, my face turning as red as a ripe tomato. Clenching my jaw, I tried to keep my cool, but the teasing was really getting under my skin. My fingers tightened around my pen, threatening to snap it in half.

“Alright, guys, let's give Mack some space,” said Pete, noticing my discomfort. But his words only seemed to encourage others.

“Come on, we're just having a bit of fun,” chimed in Mindy with a sly smile. “Besides, isn't Larissa the one who usually puts people in their place?”

“Ha! You've got that right.” I managed a chuckle despite my irritation. My heart swelled with pride at the thought of Larissa—her intelligence, her confidence, and her unwavering determination. We were a formidable team, both in and out of the courtroom, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

“Look, I know you guys are just teasing, but I'm genuinely happy. Larissa is an incredible woman, and our relationship is something I'm proud of. So yeah, we had a great weekend together, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.”

There was a pause, and then everyone started talking at once, offering congratulations and expressing support for our newfound romance.

“See, Mack, we knew you'd come around. Just remember, we're all here for you—even if we can't resist poking fun every now and then.”

“Thanks, guys.”

As the chatter died down and everyone returned to their work, I allowed myself a moment to take it all in.

Sure, this office was filled with gossip and teasing, but at the end of the day, we had each other's backs.

And as I settled back into my chair, my thoughts returned to Larissa when her name appeared on my phone.

Larissa: Can't wait to see you later tonight.

Me: Neither can I.

I immersed myself in a particularly complicated case file, trying to push away the lingering unease that still clung to the edges of my thoughts.

As the day drew to a close and the office began to empty, I took a deep breath, letting the last remnants of tension dissipate into the air.

My coworkers had shown their support for my relationship with Larissa, and any lingering doubts or concerns would have to be faced in due time.