Chapter 19

Alexandria

My heart jumped. I stared at the mirror one last time, smoothing out the pleats of my brown skirt and adjusting the beige crop top. My beige crème Mary Jane shoes tapped anxiously against the floor as I took a deep breath.

I could do this.

Gabi, sitting on the couch, gave me an encouraging nod. "Go get him, tiger."

I rolled my eyes but smiled, grabbing my purse before heading to the door. When I opened it, my breath caught in my throat.

Macklin stood there, hands in his pockets, looking effortlessly good in black pants, a crisp white shirt, and a beige crème jacket and now that I noticed, it sort of matched my outfit.

But that wasn't what surprised me.

It was the bouquet in his hands. A gorgeous arrangement of white baby's breath mixed with soft lavender-colored flowers.

I blinked in surprise. "You—" I reached out, taking the bouquet. "How'd you know these are my favorites?"

Macklin smirked. "I have my sources."

I squinted at him. "Will."

He laughed, not even bothering to deny it. "Maybe."

Shaking my head, I lifted the flowers, inhaling their delicate scent. My heart felt warm, fluttery. "Thank you. These are beautiful."

"You're welcome," he said easily. "Ready to go?"

I nodded setting the flowers on the counter top to cater to later before glancing at Gabi who gave me a very unsubtle thumbs-up before I followed Macklin out.

The night air was crisp, but not too cold. We walked to his car, and he opened the passenger door for me like a total gentleman. As I settled in, I realized I was clutching my purse like it was some kind of lifeline.

Macklin got in the driver's seat and glanced over at me with an amused smile. "Nervous?"

I scoffed. "No."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe a little," I admitted. "It's been a while since I've been on a first date."

He started the car, pulling onto the road. "Then let's make it a good one."

I glanced at him. "So where are we going first?"

"You'll see."

I narrowed my eyes. "Macklin."

He just grinned, eyes on the road.

A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of a neon-lit arcade. The place was buzzing with energy; kids running around, couples laughing, and the sound of game tokens clinking into machines.

An arcade.

I turned to him with a smile. "You thought of this?"

Macklin shrugged, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Yeah. Thought it'd be fun."

I grinned. "It's perfect, I love arcades."

Inside, the scent of popcorn and candy filled the air. The flashing lights from games casted colorful reflections across the floors. Macklin went straight to the counter and exchanged cash for tokens, handing me a small cup filled with them.

"Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders like he was prepping for battle. "What's first?"

I scanned the room, then smirked. "Skeeball."

His lips quirked up. "Oh, you're going down."

I laughed, leading the way to the lanes. We lined up, side by side, and I watched as he rolled his first ball. It shot up the ramp, hitting the fifty-point ring effortlessly.

I groaned. "Of course you're good at this."

Macklin smirked. "I've got skills."

I rolled my first ball and missed terribly, landing only ten points.

"Solid effort," Macklin teased.

I shot him a glare. "Okay, warm-up round."

We played a few more rounds, with me gradually getting better but Macklin still dominating the scoreboard. Every time I landed a decent shot, he'd give me an approving nod and a high five.

Eventually, I tossed my last ball and sighed. "Alright, I admit defeat."

Macklin leaned against the machine, grinning. "Want me to let you win next time?"

I gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me? I don't need your charity!"

He chuckled. "Alright, alright. What's next?"

I scanned the room, then pointed to a basketball shooting game. "This one."

He smirked. "You sure? Might crush your confidence even more."

I rolled my eyes. "We'll see about that."

We stepped up to the game, each taking a side. The timer started, and I focused, launching the basketballs as fast as I could. Macklin was good.. really good, but I wasn't half bad either. The balls swished through the nets at a rapid pace, both of us fully locked in.

When the buzzer sounded, I glanced up.

My score: 48.Macklin's score: 47.

My eyes widened. "No way."

Macklin stared at the numbers, then looked at me with pure disbelief. "You beat me?"

I grinned, smug. "Guess I've got skills too."

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I don't know if I should be impressed or embarrassed."

"Be both," I teased.

He laughed. "Alright, what do you want as a prize?"

I pretended to think. "Hmm. I think we should redeem these tickets for something cool."

We played a few more games, racking up tickets until we wandered over to the prize counter, where a pile of tickets from our games had stacked up. I was already eyeing the candy, but Macklin grabbed a pack of sour gummies before I could say anything.

"You prefer gummies over chocolates?" I ask him while eyeing the different candies on display.

"Yeah, what about you?"

"Chocolates, I have a major sweet tooth" I say while picking up a pack of peanut M&Ms.

A keychain shaped like a cute little puppy, squishy and soft to the touch also caught my eye, I couldn't resist it.

"That's adorable," Macklin said, glancing at my prize. "You're such a sucker for cute stuff."

I smirked, tossing the keychain into the basket. "Guilty. What about you?"

He picked up a small, shark-shaped keychain. It was black and silver, with a little twinkle in its eye that gave it a quirky charm.

"A shark?" I asked, laughing softly.

He grinned. "I mean, I do play for the Sharks, Lex. What else would I pick?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his logic. "Fair enough. Guess you've got to represent."

Macklin looked satisfied with his choice, his tone light and teasing. "Exactly. You can't blame me for repping my team."

I grabbed another prize, a colorful stress ball shaped like a puck, and tossed it to him. "Well, I guess we both came out of this with some cool finds."

"Not gonna lie," he said, tossing his shark keychain into his pocket with a shrug. "I'm pretty proud of this one."

As we walked past the claw machines, Macklin suddenly stopped. "Hold on."

I turned to see what he was looking at. Inside the glass case sat a small white stuffed dog that looked almost exactly like my dog, Clover.

My heart melted.

"You want it?" he asked.

I bit my lip. "You don't have to—"

But he was already inserting a token.

He maneuvered the claw carefully, his face focused like this was the most important mission of his life. The claw dropped, latched onto the plush, and—

It slipped.

I gasped. "No way, you were so close."

Macklin exhaled. "Alright. Again."

Three attempts later, he finally won it. He pulled the plush from the prize slot, then turned to me, grinning as he held it out.

"For you."

I took it, my heart swelling. "You're so sweet, thank you."

"You're welcome," Macklin said with a small smile. "Just wanted to see you smile again."

I felt my face flush, and I quickly glanced away, trying to hide the warmth spreading across my cheeks. "Well, mission accomplished," I muttered, nudging him lightly with my shoulder as we head for the exit of the arcade. He grinned, his gaze lingering on me for a moment.

As we left the arcade, the cool night air wrapped around us. I hugged the stuffed dog close, glancing at Macklin.

"That was fun," I admitted.

He looked down at me with a small smile. "Good. 'Cause we're not done yet."

My eyebrows lifted. "There's more?"

He nodded, opening the car door for me. "Like I said, we're making this a good first date."

The city lights started to flicker on as the last hints of the sunset faded behind the high-rise buildings. The cold air in the car made me shiver, my arms instinctively wrapping around myself as the warmth from the arcade began to dissipate.

I glanced over at Macklin, whose eyes were focused on the road ahead, his grip steady on the wheel. There was an effortless calmness about him, a way he handled everything like he had done this a thousand times before. But when he caught the quick shiver that ran down my spine, I saw his attention shift, just a little. It was subtle, but it was enough.

Without missing a beat, he reached over, his large hand gently resting on top of mine. Before I even had a chance to react, he interlocked his fingers with mine, the warmth of his touch instantly chasing away the chill.

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. There was something about how natural it felt, how easily he slipped into the moment without hesitation. His hand was warm, like a source of heat that spread through me, and for the first time that evening, the cold seemed less important.

"You okay?" Macklin asked, his voice soft, like he was trying to read me in the dim glow of the dashboard lights.

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "Yeah, just a little cold."

He didn't let go, and I didn't want him to. His hand felt steady, and the way he held onto mine made me feel like everything was just right.

The car hummed quietly as we made our way through the city, the streetlights casting a soft glow across the windshield. I could tell we were heading in a direction I wasn't familiar with, and curiosity bubbled up inside me, making me lean forward slightly in my seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Macklin glanced over, his expression playful but with that hint of mystery in his eyes. "You'll see." He states yet again, he loves surprises I guess.

I raised an eyebrow but didn't press. I had a feeling it was going to be something unexpected, something that would make the night feel even more special.

The car slowed to a stop in front of a tall building with sleek modern lines and a design that felt like it belonged to a different era. It was a little tucked away, not the kind of place you would stumble upon by accident.

As we stepped onto the rooftop, I felt like I had just walked into a scene from a movie. Fairy lights stretched above us in delicate loops, casting a soft golden glow across the space. The air was slightly cold, but not unbearably so, and the faint hum of the city below only added to the quiet intimacy of the setting. And right in the middle of the balcony, there was a single table, small, round, and set just for us. A candle flickered between two neatly arranged place settings, the warm light dancing against the gentle breeze.

I turned to Macklin, my chest tightening at how effortlessly he had put this all together. "This is... really beautiful," I admitted, my voice softer than I intended.

His lips quirked up into a small smile as he pulled out a chair for me. "I'm glad you think so. I wanted tonight to be special."

As I sat down, I felt a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the candlelight or the way the fairy lights above seemed to wrap us in a quiet glow. Macklin took his seat across from me, the city skyline stretching out behind him, but I barely noticed it anymore.

A waiter appeared soon after, offering us menus, though I was still too caught up in the moment to look right away. Macklin, on the other hand, seemed relaxed, flipping through his options like he had all the time in the world.

"I'm starving," I admitted, finally forcing my eyes down to scan the menu.

Macklin chuckled. "Well, lucky for you, I think we're covered with options. What are you thinking?"

I pursed my lips. "I don't know. Everything looks good, but I think I'm in the mood for pasta. Maybe the... fettuccine alfredo?" I glanced up at him. "What about you?"

"Steak," he said easily. "Medium rare. And maybe a side of mashed potatoes."

I hummed in approval. "Solid choice. Very classy."

He grinned. "Oh yeah? So if I got, like, chicken tenders, I'd lose all my points?"

"No, not at all," I teased. "Chicken tenders are elite. You'd actually gain points."

The waiter took our orders with a polite nod, disappearing back inside, leaving just the two of us under the fairy lights. For a moment, I let myself take it all in; the soft flicker of the candle between us, the way Macklin's face looked in the glow.

"I still can't believe you did all this," I said, resting my elbow on the table and leaning into my palm. "Like, the arcade was already fun, but this? This is something else."

Macklin shrugged, though there was a quiet pride in his eyes. "I just wanted tonight to be memorable."

"Well," I said, smiling at him, "mission accomplished."

His fingers toyed with the edge of his napkin, like he was thinking about something, before he finally spoke again. "You know... I was kind of nervous."

I blinked, tilting my head. "Really?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. I mean, we've hung out a lot, but this is different. I didn't want to mess it up."

There was something so endearing about the admission, something that made my chest tighten in the best way.

"Macklin," I said, leaning forward slightly, "you couldn't mess this up even if you tried."

He lifted an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

I grinned. "Yeah. Even if you tripped over a chair or spilled water all over yourself, I'd still be having the best time."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, good to know. But let's not test that theory."

Our food arrived not long after, and the second I saw my pasta, I knew I had made the right choice. The sauce was creamy, the noodles perfectly coated, and the smell alone was enough to make my stomach rumble. Macklin's steak looked just as good; perfectly cooked with a side of buttery mashed potatoes.

The first bite of my pasta was heaven. I sighed in satisfaction, closing my eyes for a second. "Okay, this is ridiculously good."

Macklin chuckled, cutting into his steak. "I'll take your word for it."

"You should try it," I said, twirling a forkful of pasta. "Here."

His brows lifted slightly, but he leaned forward, letting me offer him a bite. He took it without hesitation, chewing thoughtfully before nodding.

"Yeah, that's really good," he admitted. "But I still think mine wins."

"Oh, bold statement," I said, smirking. "Prove it."

Without a word, he sliced off a piece of his steak, scooping up a little bit of mashed potatoes with it before holding his fork out toward me. I leaned in, taking the bite, and wow.

"Okay," I mumbled, still chewing. "That's crazy good."

"Told you." He grinned, looking all too pleased with himself.

For a while, we just ate, trading bites here and there, the conversation flowing as easily as it always did. We talked about the arcade, about the ridiculous games we played, about how neither of us would ever recover from how competitive we had gotten.

"By the way," Macklin said after a moment, "I'm still a little offended you didn't let me win that last round of air hockey."

I snorted. "Let you win? Oh, no. If you wanted to win, you should've played better."

He shook his head, but he was laughing. "Unbelievable."

When our plates were cleared and we decided on dessert which was 1 slice of rich chocolate cake that we absolutely did not need but immediately agreed on to share.

"I really like spending time with you," Macklin said after a while, his voice quieter now, more certain.

Something warm bloomed in my chest. "I really like spending time with you, too."

He exhaled a quiet laugh, almost like he was relieved to hear it. "Good."

As we sat there, the last bits of chocolate cake disappearing between us, a soft melody drifted in from the rooftop speakers. It was slow, the kind of song that made everything else feel just a little bit softer, a little more intimate. I barely noticed it at first, too caught up in the warmth of Macklin's presence, the way the night had settled into something so effortlessly perfect.

But then he shifted slightly in his chair, tilting his head toward the music before turning those beautiful hazel green eyes on me.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice gentle, but with that quiet confidence that always made my heart skip a beat.

I blinked at him, a little caught off guard. "Here?"

He grinned. "Why not?"

I bit my lip, glancing around the rooftop, but we were still the only ones out here, the fairy lights above us casting a golden glow across the space. The city below buzzed with life, but up here, it felt like it was just us.

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head, but I was already slipping my hand into his as he stood. "Okay," I said softly.

Macklin's fingers laced through mine as he pulled me toward the open space beside our table, the candlelight flickering behind us. He didn't hesitate as his other hand found my waist as he gently guided me into the rhythm of the music.

The moment I settled into his arms, it felt like I belonged there.

We swayed together, the world outside the rooftop fading into the background. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the warmth of his hand against my back, the way his thumb traced the lightest circle against my hip.

"This is nice," I murmured, looking up at him.

His lips tugged into a small smile. "Yeah?"

I nodded, my fingers tightening slightly where they rested against his shoulder. "Yeah."

Without warning, Macklin spun me out, our hands still joined as I twirled away from him. A surprised laugh slipped from my lips before he pulled me back in, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

I sucked in a soft breath, my back pressed to his chest, the warmth of him wrapping around me like a shield against the night air.

"You good?" he asked, his voice close to my ear.

I swallowed, tilting my head slightly to glance up at him. "Yeah," I whispered.

He held me there for a second longer, the song still playing softly around us. And then, with a small chuckle, he twirled me back around to face him. The motion sent my heart into a frenzy, my balance just the tiniest bit off, but before I could even think about it, Macklin caught me.

And suddenly, we were close. Just like we were a few days ago. Except, this time, nothing and no one can interrupt us.

His hands found my waist, his touch steady but gentle. My breath hitched as I tilted my chin up, our faces just inches apart now. His eyes flickered down to my lips, just for a second, but it was enough to send my pulse racing.

The air between us felt heavier, electrifying in a way that made it impossible to think about anything else.

He hesitated for half a second, like he was giving me a chance to pull away. But I didn't. Not this time.

And then, slowly, he leaned in.

The moment our lips met, everything else melted away.

His lips were warm, soft, and impossibly gentle against mine. It wasn't rushed, it was slow, sweet, like he was savoring the moment just as much as I was. My fingers curled into the fabric of his sweater, pulling him the slightest bit closer as the kiss deepened, his hands steadying me as if I was something delicate, something precious.

The music, the city, the cold; all of it faded into nothing.

There was only him in the world.

When we finally pulled away, I let out a shaky breath, my forehead resting lightly against his.

For a few more moments, we just stood there, wrapped up in each other, the slow song still playing softly in the background.

But then the night air crept back in, making me shiver slightly against him. Macklin felt it immediately.

"Cold again?" he asked, pulling back just enough to look at me.

I opened my mouth to deny it, but before I could, he was already shrugging off his jacket. "Here," he said, draping it over my shoulders.

I sighed into the warmth of it, the fabric still holding his heat. "You're really determined to make sure I don't freeze tonight, huh?"

He grinned as he tucked the jacket around me a little more snugly. "Well, yeah. Can't have you turning into an icicle on our first date."

I rolled my eyes, but my smile stayed in place as we started making our way toward the exit.

The walk back to the car was quiet, but it wasn't awkward, it was the kind of quiet that felt full, like neither of us needed to say anything to know exactly what the other was feeling.

As we pulled up in front of my apartment, Macklin put the car in park but didn't move right away. Instead, he glanced over at me, his expression soft, almost like he didn't want the night to end just yet.

Before I could reach for the door handle, he was already stepping out of the driver's seat. My heart did a little flip as I watched him walk around the front of the car, and a second later, he was pulling my door open like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I smiled up at him. "You're really committing to the whole gentleman thing, huh?"

He smirked, offering his hand to help me out. "Of course. What kind of guy would I be if I let you open your own door?"

I rolled my eyes playfully but still slipped my hand into his, letting him help me out of the car. He didn't drop my hand right away, and I didn't mind. The walk to my front door felt slower than usual, neither of us in a rush, like we were savoring these last few moments of the night.

When we reached my doorstep, he finally let go of my hand, but instead of stepping back, he reached up and tugged his jacket around me a little tighter.

"Keep it," he said simply.

I blinked up at him. "Macklin—"

He shook his head, smiling. "No arguments. It looks good on you."

A warmth spread through me, one that had nothing to do with the jacket itself. I bit my lip, fingers curling around the edges of the fabric. "You sure?"

He nodded. "Yeah." Then, with a small smirk, he added, "And, y'know, this way, you have a reason to see me again."

I laughed softly. "I thought we already established that I don't need an excuse."

He grinned, but before he could respond, I stepped a little closer, tilting my chin up slightly. His gaze flickered to my lips, just for a second, and then—

He leaned in.

The kiss was soft, unhurried, like the perfect way to end a perfect night. His hands rested lightly on my waist, steadying me, and I felt myself melt just a little more into him, savoring the warmth, the way he kissed me like he never wanted to stop.

When we finally pulled away, he lingered just inches from me, his breath warm against my skin.

"Goodnight, Lexi," he murmured.

I smiled, my fingers still gripping his jacket. "Goodnight, Macky."

He took a slow step back, his eyes lingering on me for just a second longer before he finally turned and made his way back to the car. I watched as he drove off, my heart still racing, my lips still tingling from the kiss.

-=+=-Live laugh love this chapter4100 words my longest one yet 🤭First kiss, first date, first time Macklin's lost in arcade basketball. Hope you guys liked it, thank you for voting and commenting! ❤️