Sherryl Woods - Beach Lane

“Then what?”

He heaved a sigh, stopped and met her gaze. “I came within a heartbeat of kissing you.”

She blinked at the shock in his voice. “Would that have been so terrible? Do you think the world would have come to an end or something?”

“I can’t just start kissing you because I feel like it,” he said angrily. “Not after all this time.”

“Maybe you should leave that decision up to me. Maybe I want you to kiss me. Maybe I think we’ve been waiting way too long to start kissing like crazy.”

“No way,” he said adamantly. “Not now.”

“Why?”

“Because the timing’s all wrong.”

“Because we had an audience?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What makes you think I’ve ever cared what anyone else thinks?”

“Okay, then, if it’s not because you were afraid that Will, Jake, my brothers and all the rest of them would give you a rough time, what was going on?”

“I told you the timing was bad,” he practically growled. “Now leave it alone.”

“No,” she said fiercely. If he’d wanted, even for a second, to change things finally—and hallelujah for that—and she wanted to change their relationship, why shouldn’t they? They were both consenting adults, for heaven’s sakes. “I’m half of this equation, and I get to have a say in what happens, too.”

“Not now,” he insisted grimly.

“Are you worried because my dad and Uncle Mick were there? Do you not want the pressure of getting those two all worked up, because believe me, I get that.”

“It’s not that,” he insisted.

“Then enlighten me, because I am totally confused.”

“You just have to take my word for it that this isn’t a good time for us to be thinking about getting any more involved than we already are.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, stopping and looking directly into his eyes. “But I happen to think it’s way past time, so if there’s something I’m missing, you need to fill me in.”

“No,” he said. “Once I’ve worked everything out, we’ll talk. Until then, you just have to give me some space, Susie. I mean it. It’s the only thing that’ll work right now.”

She scowled at his edict. He’d obviously made yet another arbitrary decision and was expecting her to go along with it without argument. Well, not this time.

“You want space?” she said heatedly. “You’ve got it. But don’t count on me being at home waiting when you’ve worked everything out to your satisfaction. That’s not how it works, Mack. Either we’re friends or we’re not. Either we’re something more or we’re not. Whatever you want to call what we have, we both need to be all in. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

He regarded her miserably. “Susie, please don’t pick now to start issuing ultimatums.”

“Why not? Isn’t that exactly what you just did? Give me space, or else, Susie. That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?”

“Okay, yes. If you can’t accept that I know what’s best, then I won’t have any choice but to walk away.”

Fighting tears, she simply nodded. “Your decision,” she said quietly.

But despite his words, she was the one to turn and walk away. At least she was able to cling to her dignity, if only by a thread, by not letting him see her tears start to fall.

Back at the house, Susie managed to slip around to the parking area without anyone noticing her. Fortunately she’d driven earlier, and her car keys were tucked in her pocket. Mack could get home under his own steam. It would serve him right, though, if every one of the O’Briens declined to give him a ride.

She was about to pull out of the driveway when Shanna tapped on the window, a worried expression on her face.

“Why are you leaving without even saying goodbye?” she asked. “Did you and Mack have a fight? Everybody inside has been speculating about what’s going on ever since the two of you took off together. Add in the fact that Laila and Matthew got into some kind of argument and she left in a huff, and it’s turning into an interesting day.”

Momentarily distracted by that bit of news, Susie said, “Laila and Matthew argued? What on earth would they argue about?”

“I have no idea,” Shanna admitted. “But it caused quite a stir when she left. Now you’re doing the same thing. Curiosity is at a fever pitch.”

“Then is it any wonder I don’t want to come inside?” Susie asked wryly. “I’m not in the mood for talking right now.”

Shanna studied her face, clearly saw the dampness on her cheeks and sighed. “Then you did have a fight,” she said with real regret. “I’m so sorry.”

“Not really,” Susie replied wearily. “Mack doesn’t fight. He just makes decisions and expects me to abide by them with absolutely no explanation at all. I’m sick of it. If he has all these secrets he suddenly doesn’t want to share with me, that’s his right, I suppose, but it makes me feel like an irrelevant outsider.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sure that was never his intention. He’s just the kind of guy who’s used to relying on himself. Isn’t that what he’s had to do for years now?”

It was true, Susie was forced to admit. Mack’s family had been a far cry from the O’Briens. He didn’t even know who his father was, and from an early age he’d been more of a grown-up than his irresponsible mother. As his confidante through a troubled adolescence, she knew better than anyone how tough it had been on him to maintain a facade of good cheer when his home life was a shambles.

College would never have been an option if it hadn’t been for an athletic scholarship. He’d taken any odd job available to pay for extras, and he’d worked as an unpaid stringer for the Baltimore paper just to prove himself. His work ethic as much as his knowledge of sports and his writing ability had earned him his coveted column.

“You’re right,” Susie reluctantly admitted to Shanna. “I know Mack isn’t used to leaning on anyone, not even Will and Jake. I guess I just hoped I was different, that he trusted me enough to let me help. He used to.”

“Maybe that was before you were the problem,” Shanna suggested gently. “Besides, what did you do the second he trusted you enough to say he needed time? Instead of taking him at his word and giving him time, you got in a snit and bolted on him.”

“I’m not in a snit,” Susie said, not liking the characterization.

“Really?”

She sighed. “Okay, maybe a little bit of a snit.” She regarded Shanna plaintively. “You’re not saying I have to go over to his place and wait for him and apologize, are you? I don’t think I could do that right now.”

Shanna laughed. “Heavens, no! That would definitely be asking too much. I’m just saying that when he does come to you, and he will, you should keep an open mind. Really listen when he decides to talk.”

“I’ve always listened.” She regarded her friend curiously. “I don’t suppose you have any idea what’s going on, do you? Has Kevin said anything?”

“Not a word, but he’s the last to know anything. He’s so wrapped up with his work with the foundation and their attempts to protect the bay, he has no idea what’s going on with me and the kids, much less the rest of the family or this town. Trust me, when I do manage to snag his attention, local gossip is not on my mind or his. We’re trying to make a baby.”

Susie finally had a reason to smile. “Really?”

Shanna nodded, though she didn’t look especially happy. “Sadly, accomplishing that requires two people to be in the same room, preferably in the same bed, and awake. It’s not as easy as you’d think.”

“It will work out,” Susie assured her. “You two are such wonderful parents for Henry and Davy. Any child you have together will be totally blessed.”