"That's why this works so well, you get me." She releases my arm to walk through the office door, allowing it to close after me. She leans against the desk, hands resting on her bump. "What's going on?"
"I know I left you hangin' yesterday, I apologize." I wince. "But I have something I need to do today too. Harper needs a safe place, one where he can't find her."
"And you're going to be the one to give it to her. Is she staying here?"
"No! I'm gonna run up and do a quick sweep of the place but I've invited her to take the house so I'm going to get it ready for her." I bite my lip, waiting on her thoughts because if there's one thing I know, Mack will give me her honest opinion.
"Are you sure about this? I mean, it's your house. Bit have you considered what you're doing?" She narrows her eyes, and the pit of my stomach begins to sink. "You and I both know how you feel about her Ridge, that girl needs all kinds of time and understanding. I'm positive she's not wanting to jump into another relationship."
I fall against the wall, her words honest and painful. "I know, Mack. What do you want me to say? That I promise not to expect anything because I don't, but I need to help her."
"I'm not wanting to hurt you, Ridge." Her forehead creases. "Have you thought all of this through? This is your home you're talking about."
"She's been through so much; I know she needs time to heal. I'd be lying to everyone if I said I wasn't hoping for a second chance here and by god, I'm not letting her slip away again. I can't, for her and me, I won't let her get away this time."
Mack shakes her head with a sly grin. "There you are, I've wondered for years where in the hell you've been."
"I can't explain it, you know I've been lost without her but right now, I have this deep-seated desire to protect her. I have to make sure she's Alright, to do what I should've done years ago." I rub the back of neck as flashes of the past fill my thoughts. "I have to make it up to her."
"Make what up, Ridge?" Mack worried her lip between her teeth. She's going to hate me; I've never kept anything from her until this happened and it's still my darkest secret.
I drop my head; I can't face her. Not yet. "I need to be the man I should've been before, maybe none of this would've happened. I hope you understand."
"Of course, I understand ya big lug." She pushes off the desk, wrapping her arms around me. "I know what she means to you, make sure you mean as much to her before you give her everything."
I release her as she steps away. "I have so much to do and I still need to get to the grocery store, there's nothing at the house."
"Probably because you don't live there, it's a shrine." She snickers as I open the door for us. "Ooh, you better get over there and hide that stuff or she's gonna see you're a stalker."
"Do ya think?" I glare at her. "There's no way I'm gonna let her see all of that shit before she even sees me."
"Wait," Mack's eyes bulge. "she didn't see you last night?"
"No," I wince. "or at least I hope she didn't."
Mack's forehead wrinkles. "Huh? Either she did or didn't, there is no in between."
"She might've, she tossed and turned most of the night. It appeared she roused up this morning, but then fell right back to sleep. So, I'm fairly sure she has no clue I was there."
Mack winks at me. "You're the sweetest, ya know that?"
"Don't tell anyone, Rumor's the only other person who knows."
"True dat." She snickers. "What do you need, the basics?"
My head snaps to hers. "Are you offering to help me?"
"Maybe." She cuts her eyes. "If it doesn't involve me going physically, I can place the order so you can pick them up."
I hold my fist up. "Sounds like a plan, love ya."
"I love you!" She yells as I take off toward the stairs to the apartment. "I'll text when it's ready, love you."
I hit the door in a frenzy, grabbing a trash bag and supplies. I clean or toss everything I touch. I'm so crazy, I even flip the mattress fearing if she ever comes up here, she'll know who's been in it.
I'm busy putting the sheets in the washer when there's a knock on the door. "Come in, I'm doing laundry and you shouldn't be walking up here."
"How else is a girl supposed to get to see you?" I whip around at the sound of Mena's voice.
"Hey, what are you doin' here?" I glance around knowing I'm trapped in the laundry room with her and although she's dirty enough to need a cleaning, I don't have time to deal.
She slides next to me. "I'm in need and you haven't called."
"I actually have some things going on and was about to leave, let me see you out." I duck past her, heading toward the front.
She jerks on my arm, trying to pull me back. "Ridge, I'm talking about sex!"
"I'm not! I gotta go and so do you." I point at the door.
She glares at me, fists on her hips. "I'm not going anywhere; we need to talk."
"About what, Mena?" I run my hand over my face, realizing this is all my fault and I'm an idiot. "Please don't say us."
She blanches. "What else is there? I want to know why Trixie was here the other night, are you seeing her?"
"I 'see' all kinds of people, but I'm not attached to anyone." I grip the knob, pulling the door open.
Her mouth drops before she suddenly finds all the words. "You asshole! We've been together for months and now you're saying we're not dating? Is this because of Trixie? You know she sleeps with anything that swings a dick!"
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind for future reference, but I still need you to go." I truly don't want to be rude, but she's leaving me with no other choice.
"Are you wanting to be with her?" She glares.
"No, and to be honest, I shouldn't have been with anyone until I got my own shit straight." I release a heavy sigh. "Listen, we've had fun, but I have no intentions of dating anyone."
"Now you tell me, we've been dating for months!" Her eyes are wide in disbelief. Good, because that makes two of us.
"We have not been dating, Mena, and you know it. We've been having fun, I never promised anything more." I lower my voice, hoping to help curb her response. "That's all this has been, and you know it."
She grabs a bottle off the table, hurling it at my head. "You son of a bitch, I hate you!"
"Hey!" I dodge it in the nick of time as it hits the wall and smashes into a million pieces. "Seriously, what the fuck was that? Stop acting like a child!"
"You better get a good look, once I leave, I'm never coming back!" She flips me off on her way out.
I slam the door shut, loathing my stupid choices. "For the love of Elvis and peanut butter banana sandwiches, that was bad." I step over the glass to go find a broom and dustpan.
An hour later, I'm finally on my way to the house. Mack not only ordered the food, but she had them deliver it, I'm hoping to get there before they do.