Chapter 6

Alexandria

I woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that made me regret every decision I made last night. My mouth was dry, my body felt like it had been run over, and the worst part? I had no idea where I was.

Panic crept in as I sat up too fast, my head spinning like I was still drunk. The room around me was unfamiliar—clean, neat, and way too put together for it to be mine. Navy blue sheets, simple decorations, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. A small shelf sat on top of a desk, lined with a few framed photos and some trophies.

Then I saw him.

Macklin was stretched out on the grey plush couch that looked absurdly comfortable, his body relaxed in deep sleep. That couch looked so comfortable, I should get one like it for my yet to be fully furnished apartment. Macklin's black t-shirt clung to his arms just enough to make me aware of how built he was, and his grey sweatpants were slung low on his hips. The blanket had half-slipped off the couch, his shirt had ridden up slightly, exposing a sliver of toned skin. My brain short-circuited.

Oh my god.

What happened last night?

I scrambled to search my memory, but my brain offered nothing. Just static. How much did I drink? Why was I here? I didn't remember getting back.

Before I could spiral any further, Macklin stirred in his sleep. His arm shifted, his fingers flexing against the couch cushion. I panicked, reacting purely on instinct—I flopped back down onto the bed, yanking the sheets over my head like a child pretending to sleep.

Smooth, Lex. Real smooth.

I barely had time to process my own stupidity before I heard a low chuckle.

"Good morning, Lexi."

Lexi.

My heart skipped at the deep, groggy morning voice, at the way he said my name.. so heartwarming and like it was something familiar. And then—Lexi?

Something clicked.

Flashback—Last Night

The party had been loud, chaotic, and exactly the kind of energy I didn't need but somehow got dragged into. At some point, Macklin and I ended up teamed up in cup pong against two random people. We weren't just winning—we were destroying them.

"Alright, last shot, Lex. Don't choke," Macklin teased, nudging me with his elbow.

I rolled my eyes, dramatically shaking out my arms. "Please, I thrive under pressure."

The ball left my fingertips, arcing through the air before sinking perfectly into the last cup. The room erupted into cheers, but all I could hear was Macklin's laugh, warm and comforting.

"Hell yeah, Lex!" He held up his hand for a high-five, but instead of just slapping his palm, I clasped his hand in a victorious shake. "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship," I declared.

Macklin smirked. "As a prize for our win, I think I should get to call you a nickname."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what do you have in mind?"

"Lexi," he said easily. "Has a nice ring to it."

I pretended to think about it, then shrugged. "I like it, Macky."

His eyes flickered with something unreadable before he shook his head with a grin. "Macky, huh?"

"Yep," I said, popping the 'p.'

End of Flashback

I wanted to disappear. I groaned internally, squeezing my eyes shut as embarrassment crawled up my spine. I didn't even remember saying that. How much worse did it get?

"You okay?" Macklin's voice pulled me back to the present. I peeked up at him, only to realize he was now standing beside the bed, looking down at me with amusement as I lean my back against the headboard.

I swallowed. "I feel like I got run over a billion times."

He huffed a quiet laugh. "Sounds about right, hold up." Then, without another word, he disappeared into the bathroom. A few seconds later, he returned, holding out an aspirin and a glass of room-temperature water.

I blinked at him.

"Here," he said, nudging it toward me.

The gesture was so simple, but it made my chest tighten. "Thanks," I murmured, taking it from him.

I hesitated, gripping the glass like it held the answers to all my problems. I needed to ask. My stomach was twisted in knots from not knowing. "Did we..." I swallowed hard, my face already burning. "Did we, uh... you know... sleep together?"

Macklin's eyes widened slightly before he let out a quiet chuckle. "No, Lex. We didn't."

I exhaled in relief, though that didn't solve all my problems. "Oh. Okay. Good. I mean—not that it wouldn't be good if we did, but just—" I groaned. "Forget I said anything."

'Oh my god lex please stop' I say to myself

His lips twitched into a slight smile. "Will took Gabi home earlier into the party since he knew where your apartment was and Gabi drank a little more while you and I were still enjoying cup pong. You at the end of the night on the other hand..." He tilted his head. "Didn't know your address."

I winced. "Oh god."

"You kept saying 'Pure Nightclub' when I asked where you lived."

I dropped my head into my hands. "That's humiliating."

"It was funny."

I groaned. "So you just... brought me here?"

"You were too sleepy to function," he said, amused. "And you refused to give me anything helpful."

I peeked at him through my fingers. "That still doesn't explain why I'm in your clothes." I look down at Macklins shirt that I'm wearing which is a plain black shirt that is baggy on me and basketball shorts that are gray.

Macklin leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "I asked if you wanted to change. You agreed and insisted you could do it yourself. Twenty minutes later, you were still in the bathroom. I knocked, warned you I was coming in, and found you curled up on the floor."

Oh. My. God.

I covered my face. "Please tell me you're lying."

"I picked you up and put you to bed." He shrugged. "Nothing else."

I groaned again. "I'm so sorry."

He smirked. "For what?"

"For... all of it."

I sat in my humiliation for a moment before another memory hit me.

FlashbackThe guy at the party. The one who had gotten too close, whispered in my ear, made my skin crawl as he asked me to go back to his place.

Macklin stepping in, voice firm. "Don't start something you can't finish."

The guy backing off. Me clinging onto Macklin, murmuring into his chest, "You saved me."

End of flashback

I cringed.

"You saved me?" Seriously, Lex?

I took self-defense classes after my ex. I'd been through therapy. I wasn't some helpless girl who needed saving. And yet, when I froze up last night, Macklin was there when I needed him. Honestly I am grateful he was there and that he stood between us protectively.

I shook off the thought.

"I should go," I blurted, suddenly desperate to escape my own embarrassment. I threw off the sheets and stood up too fast, my vision spotting.

Macklin moved instantly, steadying me before I could fall.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said, his voice softer than before. "I'm glad I spent time with you. I enjoyed every part of it."

My heart stuttered. Stop it Lex.. Just a friend.

"How about we grab something to eat?" he continued. "And then I'll take you home."

I hesitated, still unsure, but the warmth in his eyes made my walls lower just a little.

"...Yeah," I finally said. "Okay."

After a little while of Macklin rummaging through his clothes he finds a pair of sweats that's a little small for him but still slightly baggy for me considering that macklin has longer legs due to his height and I continued wearing his black shirt from last night.

He grabs his keys after changing and once we get outside to his black SUV, he opens the passenger door for me to get in. With how sweet he's being and how I acted last night, drunk, makes me feel a little guilty..

-=+=-

Do you guys prefer longer chapters than this (might take me longer but I'll try to work hard) or around this amount of words (that I can publish more often)?

Hoping u guys enjoy mwah