Page 30 of Drive Me Crazy

I race to the garage; I need to tell Mackenzie everything. I have to run upstairs and get the apartment in order too. As soon as I'm done there, I'll have to hurry like hell to get to the house.

In my hopes to dodge the heavier traffic, I take a side road hoping to make better time. The weekends are always busy here, but the weather's warming up, so it's picking up daily.

Sometimes, living on the border of two states makes things interesting at times. The fact our shops are spread out over both and three counties is even crazier, but it's great for business. Now, commuting is another story.

"C'mon!" I hit the steering wheel, honking at the guy who just cut me off. I take a deep breath, releasing the tension in my coiled and tightened nerves.

I whip into the back lot, opening the door before I can shove it into park. I hit the back door in a jog to find Mack staring at me as it shuts behind me.

"I take it, things went well." Her smile is the best I've ever laid eyes on, I love her like I do Emerson.

I lean in, kissing her cheek. "Can we talk?"

"I'm waddling behind you." She turns to follow me, but I latch her arm with mine instead. "Oh, you're in a good mood."

"What makes you say that?" I furrow my brow.

She side eyes me. "Because you're touching me and not complaining about it."

"Ha, ha, ha." I toss my head back dramatically. "You do realize you're not as funny as much as you are snarky."

"That's why this works so well, you get me." She releases my arm to walk through the office door, allowing it to close after me. She leans against the desk, hands resting on her bump. "What's going on?"

"I know I left you hangin' yesterday, I apologize." I wince. "But I have something I need to do today too. Harper needs a safe place, one where he can't find her."

"And you're going to be the one to give it to her. Is she staying here?"

"No! I'm gonna run up and do a quick sweep of the place but I've invited her to take the house so I'm going to get it ready for her." I bite my lip, waiting on her thoughts because if there's one thing I know, Mack will give me her honest opinion.

"Are you sure about this? I mean, it's your house. Bit have you considered what you're doing?" She narrows her eyes, and the pit of my stomach begins to sink. "You and I both know how you feel about her Ridge, that girl needs all kinds of time and understanding. I'm positive she's not wanting to jump into another relationship."

I fall against the wall, her words honest and painful. "I know, Mack. What do you want me to say? That I promise not to expect anything because I don't, but I need to help her."

"I'm not wanting to hurt you, Ridge." Her forehead creases. "Have you thought all of this through? This is your home you're talking about."

"She's been through so much; I know she needs time to heal. I'd be lying to everyone if I said I wasn't hoping for a second chance here and by god, I'm not letting her slip away again. I can't, for her and me, I won't let her get away this time."

Mack shakes her head with a sly grin. "There you are, I've wondered for years where in the hell you've been."

"I can't explain it, you know I've been lost without her but right now, I have this deep-seated desire to protect her. I have to make sure she's Alright, to do what I should've done years ago." I rub the back of neck as flashes of the past fill my thoughts. "I have to make it up to her."

"Make what up, Ridge?" Mack worried her lip between her teeth. She's going to hate me; I've never kept anything from her until this happened and it's still my darkest secret.

I drop my head; I can't face her. Not yet. "I need to be the man I should've been before, maybe none of this would've happened. I hope you understand."

"Of course, I understand ya big lug." She pushes off the desk, wrapping her arms around me. "I know what she means to you, make sure you mean as much to her before you give her everything."

I release her as she steps away. "I have so much to do and I still need to get to the grocery store, there's nothing at the house."

"Probably because you don't live there, it's a shrine." She snickers as I open the door for us. "Ooh, you better get over there and hide that stuff or she's gonna see you're a stalker."

"Do ya think?" I glare at her. "There's no way I'm gonna let her see all of that shit before she even sees me."

"Wait," Mack's eyes bulge. "she didn't see you last night?"

"No," I wince. "or at least I hope she didn't."

Mack's forehead wrinkles. "Huh? Either she did or didn't, there is no in between."