Page 48 of That First Flight
I’ve always thought I was pretty good at making friends and getting to know people. But that was about eight years ago. When I was still in high school before my world changed completely. Losing everyone close to you because of what they deemed a ‘mistake’ really fucks with your head.
I hate even saying that. I never once—since the second I laid eyes on my daughter—thought she was a mistake. But to outsiders, that’s exactly what Mackenzie was.
The goal was to get to the city and make a life for us. Thishasto be one of the steps if I’m going to survive. You can’t go through life without ever having friends. That shit gets lonely.
Trust me.
I hear female laughter erupt from the living room, telling me that they are here. I allow myself a few deep breaths as I give myself a once over in the mirror.
“You got this,” I whisper to myself.
Once I step out and round the corner, I see the girls sitting around the couch, still full on laughing with each other. My immediate thought is that this is a tight group of girls. You can tell they blend well together and have the best time just from watching them be with each other.
My eyes land on Oliver who's looking at me intently. He doesn’t speak yet or move an inch from where he’s standing, but he’s looking at me like we’re the only two people in the room right now.
Like he doesn’t care if anyone catches the way he’s looking at me.
He snaps out of his daze quickly, before clearing his throat. “There she is.”
All three girls snap their head in my direction, the smiles never leaving their face from the previous laughing fit they were just in. I immediately recognize one of them from the time we met at the Bar and Grill. I remember how fun and free-spirited she was that night and think this might not be so bad after all.
The really pretty blonde is the first one to jump off the couch and rush to me. She doesn’t even say hi or give me her name before she’s wrapping me in her arms for a hug.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Macey.” She releases me from her hold. “I’m Peyton. This is Kali.” She points to the last girl with the cowboy, copper-orange hair before pointing to the girl I already recognize. “And this is Avery.”
“Yes, I remember you. It’s nice to see you again.” I offer Avery a smile. “And it’s so nice to meet you two.”
“I was so excited to hear you finally made it to the city.” Avery claps her hands together, gushing in excitement.
I actually had forgotten that I told her that this was where I wanted to end up. She was one of the first people—outside of Flora and Samuel—that I admitted my future plans to out loud, which is weird now that I think about it.
But you know how you come across people who you just feel comfortable around? I got that feeling within seconds of meeting her.
“I’m really excited to be here.”
“Oliver told us you made a bomb ass taco dinner,” Avery starts.
“I mean… It’s just tacos. You can’t really screw that up.” I nervously laugh.
“You don’t know Avery very well yet,” Kali scoffs. “This girl can screw up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
Avery pops her hands on hips, giving Kali an evil eye. “I take offense to that. And I’ve gotten a whole lot better since moving in with that guy over there.” She hikes her thumb over her shoulder, causing me to direct my gaze to the two other men sitting on the couch with Oliver. “Plus, you’re obsessed with my apple crisp recipe.”
As if the men can sense Avery’s talking about them, they both stand from the couch and make their way over to us. I recognize Marc from the bar, but if I had met the other brother on the street, I would think they were twins. Oliver doesn’t look like either of them so I would have never guessed they were brothers.
“Nice to see you again, Macey.” Marc extends his hand for me to shake it before gesturing to the man standing next to him. “This here is my brother, Thomas. Peyton’s husband.”
“Nice to finally meet you, Macey,” Thomas says.
My eyes find Oliver and my brows pinch together in accusation. Has he been talking about me with them? What has he told them?
Marc leans in to whisper in my ear as if he can sense exactly what I’m thinking. “Trust me, he’s only said good things about you.”
“Good to know.” I nod.
Oliver hasn’t moved from his spot in the middle of the living room. He’s just standing back and witnessing everything unfold in front of his eyes. He looks happy but also anxious, as if me meeting his family and close friends is something he’s equally excited and nervous about.
The way the two of us keep our eyes locked together also tells me that neither of us want to screw this up.