Misery Company

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Mac spent the rest of the day with Megan and made sure the little girl was never far because she didn’t want to end up alone with Dean. She hated that she was such a chicken but facts were facts. At least Mrs. Chandler was gone for the day but tomorrow she was coming over to make dinner and spend time with the family as she had put it to Dean before he dropped her off.

Since she was coming to cook tomorrow Mac and Megan had won what they wanted for dinner, sort of. They didn’t get pizza but they did order pasta and cheese sticks. Mac was a sucker for Italian food and it seemed so was Megan.

They were watching a movie in her room, Megan was under the covers ready for bed while Mac laid out of the floor. Dean had a test to study for and used the living room as his area. As the movie went on and the night got later Mac felt her eyes grow heavier.

IIII

Dean shut his math book a little past eleven and got off the couch. He stretched his arms and legs before going up to Megan’s room. He suspected Mackenzie had fallen asleep as the hours passed and now seeing her on the floor he was right. He stepped closer to wake her up but careful not to wake Megan. “Mac?” his whispered, shaking her shoulder she wasn’t moving. He snaked his arms under her shoulders and legs and lifted her off the carpet. How she fell asleep on the hard floor and stayed that way he’d never understand.

Inside their room he laid her on the bed then tried to wake her again. “Mackenzie?”

She turned over away from him on her side. “You’re the only person who calls me by my full name.” she said, still half asleep.

He grabbed her ankle and pulled off her sneakers. “I like your full name. Come on and get up so you can change and go to bed comfortable.” He could understand why she was so tired, every night she fidgeted for hours before finally falling asleep only to wake up a few hours later and then last night stressing over his mother’s visit he wasn’t sure she slept at all. “Hey,” he went around the bed and laid across from her. He gave into impulse and the building need in his chest; he leaned forward and brushed her soft hair away from her face. “Mackenzie? If you don’t wake up I might have to have my way with you.” With each word he moved closer until his lips did touch hers, his hand came around her jaw. He knew it constituted taking advantage but what he had planned as a small kiss turned into more when she returned it.

He leaned forward, hovering over her body as she laid flat. Whoa, he thought in the back of his head, she was letting him kiss her. He tasted every inch of her mouth he could, nibbling on her bottom lip when he pulled back for air. Of course the moment couldn’t last too long.

She sat up, touching the back of her hand to her mouth as she turned away.

Dean wanted to yell out in frustration. “You know you don’t have to like me or forgive me to have sex with me. I’m shallow like that, I wouldn’t mind being used.” He reached out and took her hand.

“I can’t sleep with you Dean, it’s not that simple. I’m sorry for kissing you back because I’m really trying not to send you mixed signals.”

She was scaring him. Mackenzie was actually saying she was sorry without being sarcastic and hadn’t even threatened him yet. He didn’t know what to say and that in it’s self was weird. He sat there dumbfounded as she got off the bed and left the room with her pajamas to change.

“Why can’t it be that simple?” He asked when she returned. “We’re getting married.”

“You can have mistresses on the side.”

“I don’t want another woman, I want you.” It was the first time he said it and they both realized it. She stopped cold at the foot of the bed, her blue eyes went wide. “I’ve been trying to get in your pants all day; this shouldn’t be news to you.”

“This constitutes complicating things and when we decided to do this we agreed we wouldn’t expect anything from each other. I’m really tired; can we just go to bed?”

He saw her swaying on her feet and the need to close her eyes. “Fine.” He got off the bed as she laid down. Not caring to dig around for pajamas he stripped down right there and climbed into bed wearing only his boxers after turning off the light.

He laid there completely awake and confused but one thing he was sure of was the fact he didn’t regret admitting that he wanted her. Tip toeing around the truth only got him in trouble and he didn’t want to do it anymore. “Mackenzie?” he called out minutes later. When he was sure she was asleep again he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her sleeping frame.

IIII

Mac woke up to the sun shining in the room and Dean’s arms around her waist. She looked over her shoulder and found him sleeping behind her and still very shirtless. She must’ve been bone tired to fall asleep after the strip show he gave her, any other night she would’ve stayed up all night stressing over the fact he was almost naked next to her.

Yesterday came flying back to her, everything he did and said. This was a mess, she thought. She laid back down before he woke up and wanted to have another talk. He wanted to have sex with her. The thought made her stomach hurt again. Why? She silently wondered. He could have any girl of his choice, beautiful girls who he didn’t have a bad history with.

She couldn’t do it, lay next to him with the warmth of his hands coming through her t-shirt was too much to handle. She got up as fast as possible thinking it was better to do it like a band-aid, quick and fast. She smiled to herself, it worked; she was off the bed and he was still asleep.

She left the room to find Megan; it was a safe bet the kid was awake getting ready to make a mess somewhere.

Using her same logic as yesterday Mac stuck to Megan like glue to avoid Dean but also because she really enjoyed spending time with the little girl. She was full of life and not yet corrupted to the world’s cruel ways.

That afternoon around two Mrs. Chandler arrived via taxi cab. Dean gave her a tour of the house and stopped last in Megan’s room so the older woman could spend time with her. Mac joined Dean in the kitchen to help put the food away that Alicia had brought. She hadn’t just brought supplies to cook with; she used that as an excuse to buy much more to help Dean out. Mac thought it was sweet. His mom could be a bitch but she loved her son.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Dean said as he put boxes of pasta away. “I thought you’d have to be pried out of Megan’s room.”

“I like spending time with her and since I start work tomorrow I won’t have much time anymore.” She explained which was true but judging by his expression he didn’t believe it. “What?” he was staring at her and at the moment it felt like a big bright light in her eyes; very uncomfortable.

“Nothing. My mom’s here visiting so let’s focus on that and later we can talk.”

“What’s with the talking? Normal guys don’t like talking.”

“You don’t want to do what I have in mind.”

And just like that she felt her cheeks grow abnormally hot. “I’m gonna start considering this sexual harassment.” She turned and left the room before he got any ideas. Dean had already proved he didn’t mind kissing her in front of his mom or Megan since it made it harder for her to pull away.

She and Megan did some finger painting then joined Mrs. Chandler in the kitchen to help with dinner. It was going pretty good, Mrs. Chandler like most people became pleasant and a big softy in front of Megan.

An hour later just as dinner was almost done someone knocked on the door. “I’ll get it.” Dean offered from the living room.

Mac wiped her hands on a dish rag to clear the graham cracker crumbs she was helping Megan smash for a pie before going to see who it was. She laid eyes on their guest and grew lightheaded and very emotional. “Jake.”