Strictly for Now by Carrie Elks

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

ELI

Mackenzie’s face falls. The journalists start doing exactly what Hart told them to, googling her name.

Brian turns to look at her with a frown and she nods. There are tears in her eyes and I’m going to kill Danny Hart.

If I can find him.

Just as soon as I know my girl is okay.

Okay I’m not going to kill him but the urge is strong. Luckily, I’m stronger.

Greg looks horrified. I’m not going to tell him that half of this is his fault. There’s no way he should have brought Hart here to play. And he’s also the one who asked Mac to come here in the first place – if he hadn’t she wouldn’t be going through this right now.

But then I would never have met her.

And I’m so damn glad I did.

“Mr. Gauthier,” I say.

He turns to me, blinking at the proper use of his name.

“I’m in love with your daughter,” I tell him. “And we’ll talk later about how you’ve treated her.”

“You’re in love with Isabella?” he says, looking confused.

“No. Mackenzie. I’m so in love with her it hurts.”

And then I walk past my team mates, around the table, and toward the only person in this room that really matters. She’s frozen to the spot, her eyes on the dozens of phone screens being watched by journalists.

Of that day she skated onto the ice and her life changed.

Be strong,I think. Baby, please be strong.

I stop a foot short of where she’s standing. Brian is holding her hand. I remind myself to send him a crate of beers for looking after her.

“I got this,” I tell him.

“Didn’t you just kiss her sister?” Brian asks. Then wisely shuts up when he sees my expression.

I reach out and cup her face. “Mac…”

She nods her eyes watering.

“Listen to me. We’re going to walk out of here, okay? And then we’re going to get through this. Together.”

She nods again. She’s trembling. Brian’s still holding her hand, the trooper. Fuck the beer, he’s getting a barrel of whiskey.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say to her. “I’m not letting you go. Come on, let’s go home.”

Her eyes meet mine as she shakes her head. I frown, wondering if I’m going to have to carry her out of here.

“No,” she says, her voice hoarse. “I’m not running away from this. I’m going to answer their questions.”

“What?”

She blows out a mouthful of air. “I’m not going to hide any more,” she tells me, and pride heats my body.

This woman. She’s killing me. In the best damn way.

“Are you coming?” she asks, letting go of Brian’s hand. She rolls her shoulders and looks at me.

“Where?”

“To the table. Let’s answer the peoples’ questions.”

“You sure about this?” I ask her.

“Certain.” She lifts a brow. “You?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I say. And for the first time she smiles.

I take her hand and we walk back to the table. Her dad is looking at us but saying nothing. I’ll talk to him later, we both will. But now I’m taking Mac’s lead.

“You and Mackenzie?” Goran asks, glancing down at our hands. She’s holding on so tight her knuckles have gone white, but you wouldn’t know it from her face.

She looks serene.

“Yep.” I nod. “Can I explain later?”

He shrugs. “Sure. Hey, can I still bring her coffee in the mornings?”

“If you like.”

We take the center two seats. Mackenzie taps the mic and laughs when a loud bang fills the air. She clears her throat and somehow her hold on my hand gets even tighter.

I squeeze back.

“Well, I think you’ve all had the chance to watch my highlight reel,” she says. And damn if they don’t all laugh the way they laughed for Greg. “I’d like to tell you a little story. About a girl who made a mistake and embarrassed herself all because she fell for the wrong guy. Then who hid away because she was embarrassed.” She smiles, and though I can tell it’s fake, nobody else can. Lifting her arm, she glances at her watch then looks at the journalists again. “Buckle up and get comfortable, because this could take some time.”

* * *

ELI

“I’m mortified,” Isabella says, running toward us as we leave the press conference. I’m still holding Mac’s hand. She’s still trembling, but it’s getting softer.

I don’t think I’m ever going to let her go.

“I’m so sorry,” her sister continues. “I didn’t know about you two.” She looks at Mac, her eyes wide. “If I did, I never would have touched him. Not after everything.”

“It’s okay,” Mac says. “I know you wouldn’t have.”

Isabella’s lip wobbles. “But I should have known. I should have guessed.” She shakes her head. “If I’d been the sister to you I was supposed to be, you would’ve confided in me ages ago. Instead I was so busy plotting revenge I didn’t think…” she trails off and looks at me. “I’m sorry I kissed you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, you shouldn’t.” I’m not quite as forgiving. She’s hurt Mac before and I’m wary that she’ll do it again. But she’s also Mac’s sister and I intend to be around this woman for the rest of our lives. “But I’ll get over it.” Just not today. Maybe not even this month.

Her parents join the three of us and Mac apologizes for not telling them before. Wayne is leaning on his walker and it’s my turn to apologize for falling in love with his granddaughter when I was supposed to be working for him.

He waves me off. “Don’t sweat it. My wife was my coach’s daughter. He beat me up enough for the two of us.”

“She was?” Mac asks. “I didn’t know that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Wayne says. “Maybe we can change that.”

“I’d like that,” Mac says softly. “Very much.” She leans down to kiss his cheek and the nurse leads him back to the van he arrived in. I’ll go see him at the nursing home tomorrow to apologize for my conduct on the ice.

But now I just want to go home with Mac.

Her lips curl up and I realize she’s looking at somebody over my shoulder. I glance in the direction of her gaze and realize it’s more than just one person.

It’s my entire family.

Myles and Ava are at the front, with Liam and Sophie behind them. Then there’s Holden, Brooks, and Linc, along with my mom, my step-mom, and Dad with his wife.

I try not to groan. “Shall we run?” I ask Mac. Because two huge families are about to meet.

I don’t think either of us are ready for it.

“Who’s going to eat who for breakfast?” she asks me.

“I have no idea.” That’s the scary thing. My family is huge and disordered and hers… well, is exactly the same.

Maybe that’s why we’re so compatible. We know the pain of being the only normal people in our family groups. Though I’m sure my brothers would beg to differ.

“Imagine our wedding,” she says, then slaps her hand across her mouth. “Ugh, ignore that.”

But I can’t ignore it. I’m too fucking happy thinking about it. Thinking about marrying this woman.

Thinking about how lucky I am.

“It’s going to be a blast,” I tell her.

“If it happens,” she mutters.

“Oh, it’ll happen. It’s a matter of time,” I tell her.