Page 18 of Rescuing Macie

Annie frowned. “I don’t get it.”

“You will, baby. When you’re older.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “You always say that.”

“That’s because it’s true.”

“Uh oh, Mommy! Look! It’s Ethan time!” Annie said and pointed at Emily’s shirt.

There were two wet patches on the front of it.

“Oh crap. You’re right,” Emily said, then looked up at the group in embarrassment. “He usually eats around this time and even though I pumped”—she gestured at herself—“my body is on the same schedule he is.”

The others all laughed, but Macie could only look at Emily in horror. Not because she’d leaked through her shirt, but because if that was her, she would be embarrassed beyond belief. She wouldn’t ever be able to face the other women again. She couldn’t understand how Emily wasn’t completely mortified.

“I should probably get going too,” Casey said. “I’ve got papers to grade for tomorrow.”

“And I just want to see my husband,” Mary said with a smirk.

Macie walked the women to the door and said goodbye to Casey and Mary. Annie ran ahead to the car so she could start it, apparently one of her favorite things to do.

It was just her and Emily standing in the doorway, and Macie struggled to find something to say and not stare at the wet splotches on her shirt.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you,” Emily said softly.

At that, Macie’s eyes whipped up to hers. “What?”

“I can tell you’re uncomfortable. And I’m sorry.”

“I just…if that had happened to me, I would die of mortification. Then I’d have to take one of my strong pills and hole up in a dark room with my headphones on for the rest of the night.”

Emily chuckled. “Having kids does wonders for my tolerance for embarrassment. Annie has a habit of saying the absolute worst thing at exactly the worst times. And Ethan is always hungry. If I don’t feed him on schedule, he screams bloody murder. I’ve learned it’s easier to just find a corner and feed him rather than try to calm him down. And let me tell you, people are not that comfortable with breast-feeding in public. And it’s not like I just whip out my boob or anything.” Emily shook her head. “Annie was so much easier than Ethan for some reason. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m okay, thank you,” Macie told her. And surprisingly, she was. The fact that Emily wasn’t upset over what happened with her body went a long way toward soothing Macie’s own apprehension about it. It was a natural thing. It happened. “Thank you for coming over today. I had a good time.”

“You sound surprised,” Emily observed.

Macie shrugged. “I’ve had a hard time making friends.”

“I don’t know why. You’re funny. You’re kind. And you aren’t afraid to stick up for your man…which in our circle goes a really long way.”

Annie chose that moment to honk the horn a few times.

Emily laughed. “That’s my cue. Thanks for having us.” Then she leaned over and gave Macie a quick hug, careful not to crush their chests together. “We need to do it again soon. I’ll be in touch. Bye!”

Macie didn’t have a chance to get a word in before Emily was halfway down the sidewalk and yelling at Annie to hush and to get in the backseat.

Two words stuck out from everything Emily had said. “Your man.”

Macie wanted to admit that Colt wasn’t her man. That she was only staying with him until he thought it was safe for her to go back to her apartment in Lampasas. That he was simply looking after one of his soldiers’ sisters.

She was afraid to think anything else. Especially since she’d left her number for him after the wedding and he hadn’t bothered to call.

She waved at Annie as Emily pulled away and went back into the house and shut the door behind her, making sure to lock it. She turned to go back into the other room and screeched in surprise when she almost ran into Colt.

“Everything good?” he asked.

Macie nodded.