Page 72 of Rumor Has It

“She wiggles that thing, and I’m sprung! I’d drop my grandma for ‘dat ass’!” He waggles his brows, and I laugh with him, jealous as hell.

“I heard that.” A frenzy of desire makes my temperature rise as a memory of Kenzie’s fine ass comes to thought. “Damn, do I know it.”

He side-eyes me. “Aweeee, dang! You’re thinking about Mackenzie; you need to cool that jet power pack.”

“My jet has been cooled for so long, he’ll need extra fuel or a jump-start!” I rub my face, banishing the image of her laying beneath me, naked.

“Hold up!” Riley glances at me, lowering his voice. “Are you telling me, you haven’t … dated, since her?”

I grimace, turning my head toward the window. “No one was ever her, alright?”

“Boone, I might sound like a stud, we all know I have the looks.” He winks. “But in all seriousness, I refused to even try to replace Ava.”

“There’s no replacing some women, is there?”

“You can say that again.” He holds his fist out, and I bump it, happy to be around someone who gets it.

I pick at a pretend piece of lint. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous being with her, them.”

“I get it. I was a mess with Andi.” He looks over at me quickly. “She has Walker wrapped; it’s a problem.”

“Yeah, the whole Walker thing blows my mind.” I chuckle. “A redhead, twins, and now Andi.”

He holds his hand up. “Like putty when they call; he’s such a pansy.”

“Didn’t Ava make you late picking me up?” I scratch my head.

“Hell, yes! I didn’t say I wasn’t a pansy, only that Walker is.” He laughs.

I side-eye him. “So, how’d you get Andi to warm up to you?”

“You have no worries, man. Just be you. Mackenzie’s always loved you. And trust me, Rumor will too as long as her momma is happy. Actually, if Rumor’s happy, Mackenzie will be too.”

I drop my head into my hands. “I can’t mess this up, it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Tell them.” He turns to me as we come to a stop at a light. “Tell them as many times as you can, and then, tell them again.”

“I want to show them too. I need them to see this is what I want.”

He nods. “You got this, so do your thing.”

***

I’m sitting outside her house, breathing into a paper bag. My heart is pounding in my ears at the thought of walking into her home. Being near her for hours might drive me insane.

Something catches my eye, and I turn to see what it is. Her neighbor is checking me out; I must look like a stalker or something. “Now, you have to go in.” I push my door open, taking one step at a time.

“Breathe,” I mutter, then take a second to check it. “Dear Heavenly Father, I know we haven’t been on good terms lately, but I could use some good ju-ju right about now.”

Holding my hand up, I hesitate before knocking. “Stop being a pansy unless it’s for them; just do it.” I rap my knuckles on the door, holding my other hand behind me.

The handles moves, and I suck air into my lungs. Mackenzie opens the door, smiling. It swings wide, and she steps to the side. She’s stunning in a white silk button-down and washed out jeans.

Her hair is piled high with wisps around her face. “Hey, there.”

“Wow.” I’m breathless. “I thought I was prepared for this.”

Her brows furrow. “Are you alright?”