19. Relic

Chapter nineteen

Relic

M acie and I entered the Game Place, and like I had hoped, Marsh stood behind the counter. Pure shock rippled over my best friend's face as the two of us approached, and he almost didn't recover as I held my hand out to him. "What's happening?"

His eyes were stuck on Macie, but then he tore his gaze away, focused on me, and we gave each other a fast shake. "Nothing, brother. Hey, Macie."

"Hi, Marsh," Macie said in that upbeat way of hers, as though sunshine followed wherever she went. "How are you?"

"Eh, I'm working here, but I'm not the one hanging out with this idiot." With a smirk, he motioned to me with his chin. "So, I gotta be better than you."

Marsh and I hadn't had a chance to talk since the other night, and I was bringing Macie here to show Marsh that I wasn't giving up on her. Not yet. He needed to see that Macie and I were cool. No relationship. Just friends. Friends who kissed. He'd get it. He'd understand. Did I need his approval? No, but he was my best friend and not having him in my life on something like this tore me up. "Do you have time for a break?"

I wanted him to get to know her. Understand why I liked being around her. Marsh gave me a quick glance that said no, but because he cared for me, he said, "Yeah. Order and I'll come out when I can."

"You first," I said to Macie, and she surveyed the menu.

"I'll take a crispy chicken sandwich, extra mayonnaise, and a cup for water."

She rummaged through her purse, and Marsh said, "Your money's no good here." He then looked at me, ignoring her perplexed reaction. "And you?"

"Whatever you got."

"Got you." Marsh turned to the kitchen. "Hey, Brayden. Crispy Chicken, extra mayo, and the regular for Relic."

Brayden stuck his head out of the back. He gave me and Macie a spicy smile. "What's up, Relic?"

"Nothing much," I answered. "You?"

"Living the dream." His eyes landed on Macie. "Are you two on a date? If so, Gianna's going to find that interesting. I'm seeing her after work. I'll tell her you both said, "Hi."

Macie shifted uncomfortably, and choosing to ignore Brayden, I tilted my head toward the game area. "What do you want to play?"

She headed toward the game room, then I glared at Brayden. He chuckled, well aware he was an ass.

"I'll get your food out soon," Marsh said.

"Thanks." I followed Macie. The Game Place served fast food, and people could eat while playing board games or lawn games like corn hole for free. Billiards cost money, but Macie sat at a checkerboard table, so that wasn't a worry.

"Do your friends always feed you for free?" she asked in a whisper, as if scared someone would hear, but except for a family on the other side of the room we were alone.

I sat in the seat across from her and slid the red pieces in her direction. "Marsh and I take care of each other. It's a constant give and take."

"Is he going to get into trouble?"

"Naw, it's near closing and they can take home any excess food. They're giving me leftovers Marsh would have brought to my place anyhow."

The panic on her face was cute and unwarranted. "You could have told me. I would have done the same as you, or I could have paid."

"You heard Marsh," I said. "Your money's no good here. You're a friend of mine, which makes you a friend of his." I hoped I could make that true.

"Sounds like you have amazing friends." She had this look of awe and, having spent all day thinking about the last time we kissed, it suddenly became all I wanted to do again.

"You have that look," Macie said.

"What look is that?"

"Like you're going to kiss me."

I moved closer to her and placed my hand under her chin. "That's because I am."

"Food's up!" Marsh called out, and Macie and I cut our gazes from one another.

I ran a hand through my hair to wake myself up, but fuck that. This was a dream I wanted to continue. Macie's cheeks had turned an adorable red, and she fidgeted with one of the checker pieces.

"Mazie," I said, and she glanced up. I gave her a wink. "That conversation is definitely to be continued, you got me?"

Her shy smile hit my chest like a lightning bolt. No, I didn't know shit about relationships, but I definitely loved everything about this girl. Feeling as if I were walking on air, I went to the counter to gather the tray full of food, and Marsh raised an eyebrow at me. "You look too happy."

"Is that a problem?"

Marsh moved to look behind me, and when he saw I was alone he said, "Yeah. You're falling for her."

"I know where I stand with her. It's not forever. But come and sit with us. Talk to her. You'll see she's not the rich bitch you've got drawn up in your head."

"Look, you and I did not finish our conversation," Marsh pushed. "I know that you're trying to use her for that fifty-thousand-dollar reward."

Not use, but before I could say anything in response, my stomach dropped as I heard Macie say from behind me, "What did you say?"

My insides withered as my eyes snapped shut. Fuck. Me. I turned and when I met her gaze, I felt kicked in the gut with the confusion and pain ripping along her expression.

"Are you using me so you can collect the reward for the carjacking?"

"You misunderstand," I started, then stopped because I had no idea how to get myself out of this situation. Macie's mouth trembled, turned down, then she fled the restaurant.

I snapped my head toward Marsh. "Did you see her there when you said that?"

Marsh looked down and I had my answer. "Fuck," I muttered then ran after her.

She stood at her car, trembling from head to toe, the driver's side door open, her keys in her hand, clinking together because she shook so hard. We were four miles from her home and my lungs hurt. She wanted to do it. She wanted to get in the car and drive far from me, but she couldn't. Fuck me. Fuck whoever carjacked her. Fuck Marsh. Fuck this entire damn world.

"Let me drive you home," I said in the gentlest voice I could find in me.

She swung around and shouted, "We are not friends!"

No, I didn't guess we were. Not anymore. I had a chance of being friends with her. Had a chance at a lot of other things; but like I always did, I fucked it all up. What could I say to her? That I didn't mean it? That I had no intention of talking with her so we could find her carjacker and I could reap the reward? If I said any of that, it'd be a lie. Now, I'd be the guy who was using her and wasn't there a shred of a truth in that? "Let me drive you home. You don't have to talk to me. You don't have to look at me. We never have to see each other again if that's what you want, but please let me drive you home."

"You didn't have to kiss me and pretend you were attracted to me. You didn't have to convince Marsh to lie and say you had a crush on me. You didn't have to cross that line."

"I wasn't pretending. I am attracted to you. I do want to be your friend. This is all fucked up. You don't understand."

Macie's eyes smashed shut and she shook her head as if trying to dispel the image of me from her mind. "I hate you."

Yeah, I hated me, too. "Please let me drive you home."

As if it were cutting her in half to do so, she gave me her keys and didn't meet my eyes as she went to the passenger side. She got in, slammed her door shut, and I fucking hated my life.

I eased in, started the car, and pulled out onto the road. The silence between us was so thick that I could hardly breathe. We reached her neighborhood too quickly, and as soon as I put the car in park in the empty cul-de-sac, she wrenched her door open and jumped out. With a heavy sigh, I got out and met her at her at the front of the car. She stared at the blacktop as I stared at her. I wish I had words. I wish I could find a way to make this better between us, but maybe Marsh was right. Maybe it was better things were broken off now before it went too far. Because here was the truth—Macie and I would have never worked.

"Are you going to be able to drive yourself the rest of the way okay?" I asked.

My answer was her stalking to the driver's side.

"Macie," I called out, and she stopped. Didn't turn to look at me, but she stopped. Fuck me for not having the right words. "I understand if you don't want anything to do with me, but I'll still drive you to work. We can keep doing this if you want."

"You are not my friend. A real friend wouldn't use me or the worst moment in my life like that."

But I had wanted to be her friend. I wanted so much more with her. "It's up to you. I understand whatever decision you make." With that, I walked away.

***

My sister pulled out of the parking lot as I had walked onto the street for our place. She stopped then yelled at me out the window, "Don't give him attitude."

My response to her before she tore off: "I wasn't supposed to be home for another hour. Don't purposefully leave Camila alone with him again." Fuck whoever it was Lyra was dating. Because of this person, she left us alone more and more each week.

I trudged up the stairs of the complex, opened the door to my place, and found Dad on the couch. He glanced up at me from a phone I assumed he either stole or Eric bought him.

"Hey," he said. "Lyra left for a date before work, and she called me to babysit."

No fight left in me, I started for my room, but Dad said, "Marsh stopped by."

Marsh. I rubbed both of my hands over my face. So determined to keep me from Macie, he'd said what he had to drive her away.

"He seemed torn up," Dad said. "He left an envelope on the counter for you."

I took the two steps, snatched the envelope, and my stomach dropped. Inside was one hundred dollars in twenties. In Marsh's messy handwriting was a note: I'm sorry. I'm looking out for you, brother. I paid off what you're short for on the next payment on your dad's debt. Here's another hundred to keep the electricity on. I owe you for hurting you. Text me when you're ready to talk again. Until then, I'll give you the space you need.