Page 109 of Play Fake

“Where’s Wren? I need the check.” She stands abruptly, looking for her friend behind the bar.

“Wren!!!” she belts out her name, and I stand too. Now I know I’ve fucked up.

“Mac, slow down… I know it was a lot.”

“A lot? It was more than a lot. You need to take me home.”

“What’s up?” Wren appears behind the bar.

“We need the check.”

Wren frowns at the two of us, and her eyes catch mine as if to ask how I’ve fucked it up. I give her a look of desperation and shake my head.

“But you haven’t even had dessert. And I made the bread pudding with the whiskey sauce you like so much.”

“Damn. Take home?”

“Don’t you want to stay a while?”

“Nope. I need to get back to the house.”

Wren studies her face for a second, and then glances back at me.

“Got it. Take home bag coming up.”

I guess being on my side only holds up for so long before the girl code takes over.

Wren appears a few minutes later and hands Mac the bag.

“I put an extra cup of whipped cream in there too.”

“Of course you did.” Mac smiles at her.

Wren winks at me as we walk out, and I’m even more confused than before, fumbling for what I’m going to say once we’re back in the truck. I’m not ready for this to be over.

THIRTY-THREE

Mackenzie

When we getinto the truck Waylon puts the keys in the ignition but doesn’t start it. He stares at the windshield, and then finally breaks his silence.

“Can I take it back?”

“Take what back?”

“What I said?”

“Why?”

“Because you’re having me take you home?”

“Yeah because the house is empty right now and Wren loves me a lot, but if I jumped you in the middle of the restaurant, she might not forgive me.”

“Wait, what??” He stares at me utterly confused.

“Was I not clear?”

“No, and I think we really need to work on this communication thing because it seems to be a sticking point.” His furrowed brow is adorable.