Kicking his desk in anger, Mac growled, “I should have fucking known it! If I hadn’t been so busy trying to stay away from her for a few more years, until she was old enough for us to consider dating, I would have been with her that night. She was so young, though, and I wanted her to enjoy high school before overwhelming her with my feelings.”
“Well, guess what, man? You’re human. You can’t predict the future and neither of you had a fucking clue what would happen that night. Saying it’s your fault that you didn’t go with her is like saying it’s her fault for going without you. It’s over. It was a shitty, fucked-up twist of fate that no one had any clue would happen. Now if you want a life with the woman who has kept you tied in knots for years, then it’s time you trust that fate won’t screw you over again and stop being her protector and start just being her man. Show her that you can check your OCD where she’s concerned at the door and just be the guy she originally fell in love with all those years ago. I mean, he’s there, right? Buried deep . . . deep, really deep . . .”
“All right! Shit, please stop.” Glaring in annoyance, Mac said, “I don’t think Ava’s idea of a fun guy is one in prison because he strangled his smart-ass coworker. Christ, when did you and Gage become so insufferable? I hope he’s not coming in next for his part of the come-to-Jesus intervention that you’ve got going on.”
“Nope, Gage needs help almost as much as you do. I mean come on, all that whoring that he does has got to be hiding deeper problems. I’m betting that he was a bed wetter. His mama probably hung his pissed-on sheets out front for the other neighborhood kids to see. Since that early embarrassment, he’s been unable to form attachments with women for fear of it happening again.”
Mac threw his head back, howling with laughter. He had no idea where Dominic came up with this shit, but he was pretty sure that even Gage would be amused by the other man’s assessment . . . well, unless there was some truth to it. “Dr. Phil’s got nothing on you, bro. I feel like I should warn Gwen or something. She might not be as amused by your deep insight as I am.” At the look of dejection on Dominic’s face, Mac found himself whistling. Apparently, he wasn’t having any luck wooing his woman either. Getting to his feet, he clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I need you to hold down the fort for a few days. Think you can handle that?”
Dominic shrugged a shoulder, saying, “Of course. Where ya going?”
Mac grinned before throwing an imaginary three-point hoop shot. “I’m going to go be young, crazy, and reckless for once in my life. Isn’t that what you just suggested?”
Cocking his finger, Dominic said, “Yep, that’s about the gist of it. Wear a condom, though, son. I’m not ready to be an uncle.” Mac nudged his chair in answer, laughing when Dom tumbled out on the floor shouting obscenities. God, would he and Gage never learn to keep their feet firmly planted on the floor?
Chapter Twenty-two
“Come on, Ava, we’re in Vegas! We can’t sit in the room eating cartons of cookie dough ice cream instead of having some fun.” When Ava just opened her mouth for another heaping spoonful of the creamy goodness, Emma put her hands on her hips, releasing a long-suffering sigh. “You were more fun when you were all uptight and reserved. At least then, I had all your insults to keep me amused. Some of them were so detailed that I had to Google the meaning. Now you’re just like a lovesick teenager. Binge-eating, listening to sad music, and writing Mrs. Ava Powers over and over on your notebook.”
“Hey!” Ava protested around the spoon in her mouth. “I’ve only done that once and it wasn’t on a notebook.”
“Same thing,” Emma grumbled. “Why don’t you at least do what grown women do when they’re lonely? Rent some porn and have a vibrator marathon. We’re in Vegas. There’s a store on the strip called Cock of the Stars. Want me to go get you an Adam Levine to test-drive? Suzy bought the Channing Tatum yesterday. She said Gray took it as a challenge and, well, long story short, she seems to have thrown her back out.”
“Oh my God.” Ava giggled. “Please, tell me you’re kidding . . . about everything you just said. And tell me you didn’t get one.” Ava knew she’d made a mistake with that last sentence when Emma flashed her a wicked grin.
“Honey, I don’t have anything left for a plastic friend. Brant fu—”
“Stop! I know I literally asked for that, but please don’t finish your sentence. Remember, that’s my brother.” Ava shuddered.