Misery Company

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Mackenzie couldn’t remember the last time she woke up smiling if ever. She was happy and it felt strange but exciting. She had never believed one person could affect another person so deeply until now. Jake did make all the difference; last night had been the best night of her life. They connected and she was able to trust another person without fear. She jumped out of bed and got ready for the day.

IIII

Dean laid in bed staring at his plain white ceiling. For the first time in awhile Megan didn’t need his attention and yet he couldn’t sleep.  He sat up and decided he was tired of feeling depressed over what he couldn’t control and even more tired of feeling confused over Mackenzie. If he had his old life back he wouldn’t care at all what Jake was doing with her. Except he did and the sheer thought of what happened made him want to vomit and still punch Jake in the eye.

He got out of bed and grabbed his cell phone calling some of the guys. A guys day out at the beach checking out hot women was the perfect way to spend a Sunday and Megan would like playing in the sand. None of the guys would suspect a thing if he was babysitting his ‘cousin’ for the day.

IIII

Aunt Kate was acting strange, Mac thought. She had left early to the supermarket to shop for tonight’s dinner, who was so important? Maybe a guy, Kate seriously needed a life or maybe it was her boss and she was still trying to sweeten the deal about the promotion. Mac shook her head and turned away from the kitchen where Kate was busy checking off lists and searching the cabinets.

She left to go meet Kira, having used all her free time with Jake her best friend was feeling neglected. They met halfway between both their houses and started walking together toward downtown. “I didn’t think you’d show,” Kira said chuckling. “How is lover boy?”

“I didn’t tease you at all when you started dating, back off and Jake is fine.”

“Where is he that you’re here with me?”

“I don’t know, I’m not here because he’s busy, I’m here because we made a date so where are we going?” On purpose Mac didn’t ask last night if Jake had to work because the temptation to spend the day with him was too big.

“Don’t know, we’re looking around and being bored outside then inside. Tomorrow is back to school.” Kira said with a sigh. “I just got my paycheck, let’s go spend it.”

IIII

The beach idea only last a few hours before it started to rain. Megan had enjoyed the sand and none of the guys questioned her presence. Dean buckled her into the car seat and headed home to get cleaned up.  

“Where have you been?” his father asked.

“I am not abandoning Megan, anywhere I go she goes.” That was all his parents worried about but he didn’t plan to abandon Megan ever again. He could still have some sort of life and give Megan all his love, it’d work he vowed. “She doesn’t want to be locked up either. She should play in the park and touch sand, she had fun but she’s dirty.” He used that perfect opening to head back upstairs before his father had anymore charming advice.

With the bathroom inside his room it was easy to start Megan’s bath and ignore his parents. He loved them and respected them but at times especially lately their disappointment was too much to handle.

He picked Megan up from the floor and glanced out his window on the way to the bathroom. He looked at Mackenzie’s window and saw a peak of her room through the parted curtain. He remembered when he first saw her room to pick up the baby and how surprised he had been to see how peaceful she seemed. She had been pretty asleep on the bed; something he wouldn’t have admitted then. He chuckled as he continued to remember that one second she was taking a dig at him then trying to help. Mackenzie was a weird one and he almost believed she wanted to help him.