Chapter Eight - MAC
It’s been while since all of us have been together. Even longer if you add Five into the mix, because we haven’t all seen him since Pax and Cindy had their little run-in with Nolan’s sister back in the desert.
So it’s nice.
I like these guys. And not in the way I normally like people, which is mostly based on business decisions and mutual agreements on how to get things done. I just… enjoy them.
Nolan is probably the most fucked-up person I’ve ever met. But look at him now. The only one of us who is already married. And holding that adorable baby girl. If you had asked me a few years ago if Mr. Romantic would ever get married and have kids, I’d have laughed in your face.
Weston should be way more fucked up than he actually is. I mean, his genetic family were all kinds of out there and his adopted family were on their own personally-funded crazy train. Crazy jet. Crazy spaceship. I’d never have pegged Corporate as a second-chance kind of guy. But here he is. Committing to a woman who could probably take him in a fight—business or otherwise.
Paxton. Jesus Christ. Even though he’s not nearly as twisted as Nolan, he’s definitely the most dangerous of all of us. Mr. Dangerous, they should’ve called him. He and Oliver have been tight for years, so when I found out Pax had fallen for Ollie’s sister, well, I mostly went to that little impromptu meeting at Nolan’s resort just to see them fight.
I wasn’t disappointed.
Which leaves Oliver. He did fight with Pax over his baby sister, but he’s holding it together for now. Probably because of the wedding. Mr. Match is one of those never-see-them-coming kinda guys. You know, the quiet type who snaps one day and decides to lock himself away in a mountain cabin for the rest of his life making his own ammo and living off the land.
But you know what I don’t understand—
“Hey,” Ellie says, coming up to take my hand and give it a squeeze.
“Hey,” I say, letting that thought dissipate as I take in my future wife.
“What’re you thinking so hard about?”
“Oh, nothing. Just taking it all in, ya know. It’s hard to believe that whole Mister thing might be over.”
“Too good to be true,” Ellie says, reading my mind.
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“It’s over. Mac.”
I turn my head to look down at her. Ellie is so pretty. She’s not seductive like Victoria. And she’s not crazy like Cindy. Or even dangerous like Katja or innocent like Ivy. She’s just… pretty normal.
I like that. So much.
“You sure about that?” I ask, enjoying her small smile.
She squeezes my hand again. “Goddamned positive.”
I huff out a small chuckle. “I’m glad you brought Ming with you.”
“Yeah, me too,” she says.
“No, I mean… really glad. She’s symbolic, right?”
“Is she?” And now it’s Ellie’s turn to laugh.
“Yeah. Of your life before me. Which was pretty damn good, and that’s kinda like a good omen for me. Like your life from now on will be pretty damn good too, because you’re bringing the most important parts along with you. Like the book stuff. That next book is gonna be another hit. You really know your way around a self-help plan. I sometimes wonder if I’m taking you off track, ya know? I don’t want to do that, Ellie. I want you to be all the things you were before.”
“What was I before?” she asks.
“Perfect,” I answer back.
“Shit,” she says, shaking her head. “I was a fucking mess before you came along.”
“Not true. You were the most valuable employee at Stonewall. And if you were still there, you’d probably be vice-president by now.”
“Oh, come on.” She snorts.
“Ellie,” I say, taking both her hands in mine. The sun is just beginning to set, coating the surface of the ocean with a red-gold blanket of ripples. It reflects off her beautiful face. Makes her shine in a way that makes me want to touch her cheek, just to make sure she’s real. “You were Mrs. Perfect long before I came along.”
She looks away, allowing herself a sweeping smile as she studies the disappearing sun. “You know what that means, right?”
“What?” I ask.
“We really are Mr. and Mrs. Perfect. Soulmates.”
“We are,” I say, leaning down to kiss her.
I want to say more. Things like… You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. Or, You make me better. Or a thousand other sappy things that men say just before their wedding.
But all that comes out is a promise. “I’m gonna be yours forever.”
She stares up at me and frowns. “You don’t have to cheer me up, Mac.”
“Ellie—”
“You’re enough. You’re more than enough. I refuse to be sad for things that aren’t meant to be. This is a celebration and there’s no place for future regrets or past mistakes. Or even present problems. This is our happy time.”
“Oh, Ellie, there’s so much more to come,” I whisper, kissing her soft lips until she opens her mouth to kiss me back.
“Like what?” she sighs back.
“Butter,” I say.
We both crack up laughing and everything she just said comes to pass. Because we forget all the future regrets, all the past mistakes, and all the present problems.
“We’ll always have the butter.” She laughs.
“Always, babe.”