Attention Runner-Up

Chapter 39

"That wasn't so bad," I unlock our hotel room door.

"I'm pretty sure your cousins think I'm just one of your fangirls."

"Let them think what they want, besides, that was actually the nicest my family has treated any of my girlfriends. That, is a win, Mackenzie James Wilson." I pull her into my arms.

"Girlfriend huh?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, I didn't mean to assume anything. I just thought—" she cuts me off by kissing me.

"Just kidding," she smirks against my lips.

I smile too and kiss her again.

I pull her into the hotel room and shut the door behind us.

"Ugh, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted." Mackenzie plops down on the bed.

"That makes two of us," I take my shoes off and leave them by the door.

"I call the first shower," Mackenzie says.

I sigh and plop on the bed next to her.

"You okay?" she asks me.

I rest my head on her shoulder.

She grabs my hand in hers and rubs her thumb across the back.

"Aphrodite called me today," I say.

"When?" she asks, not even a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"This morning, I wanted to tell you but didn't want to ruin the mood."

"What did she want?"

"What she always wants."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth," I pull away and look into Mackenzie's eyes.

"Which is?"

"That me and her, we weren't meant to be. That what we want is two different things. I told her about us, about how I want to grow as a person, but I can't do that with her. I told her that we should stay away from each other for a while. Just until it stops hurting." I say.

"Are you okay?"

"I just told you I talked to my ex and we talked about getting back together and you are asking if I'm okay?" I eye her in confusion.

"I know what she means to you. I don't want to see you suffering."

I let out a soft airy chuckle before resting my forehead against hers.

"Any one of my previous girlfriends would have been a jealous mess." I point out.

"Do you want me to get jealous?"

"No," I giggle.

"Are you sure? I think I can muster something up."

I push her down on the bed and tickle her. She screams out in laughter and tries to fight me off. Finally, I pin her down to the bed by holding her wrist down.

"You're amazing," I say to her.

"Sometimes I don't feel like it," she admits.

"You are. I've never met anyone as cool as you."

"I just want you to be happy. If going back to her makes you happy, then I won't stand in your way. I won't hold it against you either. You've done so much for me already and even if it was only for a couple of days, I'm still happy I got a chance to experience this kind of relationship with you."

That makes my heart hurt and my eyes water. My smile quickly fades from my face. I let go of her wrist and push her hair behind her ear.

"Don't say that," I say softly.