Chapter 28

Alexandria

It had been a while since we'd actually sat down like this; just the two of us and despite the initial awkwardness of the very obviou setup by Will and Gabi, I found myself oddly at ease.

After scanning the menu briefly, I set it down. "I already know what I want."

Macklin smirked, setting his own menu aside. "Let me guess, salmon and mashed potatoes?"

I raised a brow. "How'd you know?"

He shrugged. "I remember it being one of your favorites when you meal prep."

"You remembered that?" I state shocked.

"Of course" Macklin says calmly.

"What are you getting then?"

"Steak and mashed potatoes," he said without hesitation.

I nodded approvingly. "Solid choice."

When the waiter came by, we placed our orders, and soon enough, we were left alone again. A slight silence settled between us, not entirely uncomfortable but noticeable. I traced the edge of my water glass with my fingertip before finally speaking.

"I, um... I'm sorry for leaving you hanging," I admitted, my voice quieter than before. "I got your text. I just... didn't know what to say."

Macklin exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "Lex, you don't owe me anything. You had a rough night, especially with Jackson showing up."

At the mention of his name, I instinctively tensed. The mere thought of Jackson sent a chill down my spine, even now.

I hesitated. "Did Will tell you... everything?"

Macklin's expression softened, his hazel eyes studying me carefully. "Just that he's your ex," he said. "... and that he was a horrible boyfriend, manipulative, controlling. Will didn't want to give me details that weren't his to tell. I figured if you ever wanted to talk about it, you'd tell me yourself."

I swallowed, staring down at the table for a moment. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk about it, I just hadn't really said it out loud to many people before.

Taking a breath, I looked back up at him. "We dated for a year," I started, my voice steady but cautious. "At first, he was perfect. Charming, sweet, always saying the right things and then... little things started to pick up. He got jealous so I couldn't talk to any guy as friends including Will, but I thought it was normal—like, oh, he just cares. But it wasn't just caring. He started controlling where I went, who I talked to, making me feel guilty for things I didn't even do wrong."

Macklin's jaw tightened slightly, but he stayed quiet, letting me continue.

"I convinced myself for months that it was just his way of loving me. That maybe I was the problem. But then... one night, in his truck, we got into an argument.. he—he laid his hands on me. That was the last time I ever spoke to him."

The air between us grew heavier. Macklin's eyes darkened, his fingers curling slightly into a fist on the table before he exhaled, forcing himself to relax.

"That's... fucked up," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "Lex, I'm so sorry. No one should ever go through that. And the fact that he had the nerve to show up at that party like that?" His jaw tensed. "I don't know how you kept it together."

I let out a humorless laugh. "I didn't, really. I panicked. I was lucky Will and you showed up when you did."

Macklin shook his head, still looking pissed but trying to keep his emotions controlled. "You should never have to feel like that scared, trapped. That's not love. That's control. He doesn't deserve to be anywhere near you."

A lump formed in my throat at his words. He wasn't saying anything I didn't already know, but hearing it from someone else, someone new, hit differently.

Macklin exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "For what it's worth... I'm really glad you got away from him. And if he ever tries to pull some shit like that again—" He shook his head, a quiet anger simmering beneath his words. "Just know you're not dealing with him alone this time."

Something warm settled in my chest. I met his gaze, holding it for a moment.

"...Thanks, Macklin."

Macklin leaned back slightly, an easy smile tugging at his lips as he shifted the conversation.

"So," he started, voice deliberately casual, "what about that guy from cup pong? Lark? Lake? Something like that?"

I blinked, caught off guard before I realized who he meant. "You mean Luke?"

Macklin nodded. "Yeah, him."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why?"

He shrugged, fiddling with the edge of his napkin. "Just seemed like you two got along."

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "Oh, totally. Our connection was as strong as— an old landline that hasn't been paid for"

(A/N sorry guys I know that was bad ^ I just was so stumped on what would sound decent. The answer is nothing that my brain developed sounded good.)

Macklin chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "So, no plans to go out with him?"

"Not even in an alternate universe," I said easily, flicking a piece of lint off my napkin. "I mean, sure, he's nice but he's not my type."

Macklin gave me a thoughtful look. "And what is your type?"

I hesitated just a second too long. "That's classified information."

"Got it," he said, a small smile on his lips. "No further questions."

Deciding it was time to redirect, I tilted my head. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"That gorgeous blonde girl by the pool," I said smoothly, watching for his reaction. "You two seemed very friendly."

Macklin blinked, caught off guard before he responded. "Who? Oh—Allie?"

I nodded, feigning interest as I sipped my drink. "Mmhmm. Allie." The name left my tongue as if it was venom due to the jealousy deep in my heart no matter how much I denied it.

His brows furrowed slightly, like he wasn't sure why I was bringing her up. "She's just a friend."

I hummed, unimpressed. "Oh, just a friend."

Macklin let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Lex."

I raised an eyebrow. "I mean, she's gorgeous. You two looked good together."

He tilted his head, studying me closely before responding. "I don't know about that but it doesn't matter, I have my eye on someone else."

Something about the way he said it sent a jolt straight to my stomach. His gaze was steady, like he wanted me to know he was serious.

I twisted the bracelet on my wrist, an old nervous habit, and tried to act unaffected. "Oh?" I said, keeping my voice light. "Do I know her?"

Macklin's lips parted slightly, like he was choosing his words carefully. "Yeah." His voice was quieter this time. "Because it's you."

I froze for a second, my fingers stilling against the bracelet.

Macklin leaned forward slightly, his forearms resting on the table. "I'm not interested in getting to know anyone else, Lex. Just you."

My mind scrambled for something clever to say, but all I could feel was the warmth creeping up my neck.

"You're sure?" I finally said, aiming for nonchalance. "Because I could've sworn I saw some very intense eye contact between you and Allie."

Macklin smiled softly. "I was being polite. I didn't want to be rude when she was talking to me. She's one of the ice girls from the rink. We were talking about the games and the half time show."

I pressed my lips together. "So, you weren't flirting?"

His brows lifted slightly, like he hadn't even considered that a possibility. "No," he said simply. "I wasn't."

I glanced down at my plate, pushing my mashed potatoes around with my fork. "I don't really get you, Macklin."

He rested his chin on his hand. "What's there to get?"

I huffed out a laugh. "You're just—" I hesitated, trying to find the words. "You're... nice. But also competitive. Really kind, but nonchalant about it."

Macklin's smile was soft, patient. "That almost sounded like a compliment."

I rolled my eyes. "I just mean—I don't know, this is all a little confusing for me."

He tilted his head. "Lex, if I was confusing, you wouldn't know exactly where I stand right now."

That made my stomach flip again.

I opened my mouth to argue but our waiter appeared, setting down our plates. I used the moment to collect myself, because suddenly, this dinner felt much more date-like than I was prepared for.

Macklin, on the other hand, looked perfectly at ease as he cut into his steak.

"Alright, fine," I said after a beat, spearing a piece of salmon. "Let's say I believe you."

His eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Let's say you do."

I pointed my fork at him. "What's your actual goal here? Like, are you just being nice, or—"

Macklin met my gaze, his expression gentle but certain. "Lex," he said quietly, "I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't want to be."

I hesitated, caught between my instinct to keep my walls up and keep making jokes as a reflex or give in to the way my heart was betraying me by hammering against my ribs.

I glanced down at my plate, trying to suppress the small smile threatening my lips. "You're really not gonna make this easy on me, huh?"

Macklin chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't want to make it hard on you. I just... want to be honest."

I swallowed, my fingers brushing the cool metal of my bracelet. "That's new," I murmured.

"What is?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes. "Someone actually meaning what they say."

Macklin's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought he might reach for my hand across the table. But he didn't. He just nodded, like he understood exactly what I meant.

"Well," he said lightly, a small smile playing at his lips, "guess you'll just have to get used to it.. you're worth the wait, Lexi"

And for the first time in a while, I wasn't sure if I wanted to fight it.

Macklin cut into his steak with ease, a small smirk playing at his lips. "So, if Luke isn't your type, what is?"

I rolled my eyes, spearing a piece of salmon. "You're really stuck on this, huh?"

He shrugged, taking a bite before replying. "Just curious. I mean, you ruled him out real fast."

I leaned back in my chair, pretending to think. "Okay, fine. My type is..." I dragged out the words for dramatic effect. "Someone who doesn't ask a million questions over dinner."

Macklin let out a soft laugh. "Alright, I walked into that one."

"You really did," I said, grinning.

He took a sip of his drink, tilting his head. "But seriously. Do you go for an introverted person? You don't go for athletes?"

I gave him a look. "I never said that."

Macklin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

I huffed out a laugh. "I just mean—I don't have a type type. It's more about how someone treats me, how they make me feel, you know?"

He nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah. I get that."

I twisted my fork in my mashed potatoes. "But if I did have a type, it would probably be someone kind, but not in a performative way. Someone who's actually thoughtful—not just nice when people are watching."

Macklin's lips curved slightly. "That's a pretty good answer."

I raised a brow. "What about you?"

He leaned back in his chair, considering. "I don't know. I guess I like people who are real. No fake stuff, no pretending to be something they're not."

I tapped my fingers against my glass. "So, no influencers?"

He chuckled. "Depends. Are they posting for fun or just for clout?"

"Oh, big difference," I said, nodding. "You're saying you'd totally date someone with, like, a small book review account but not someone who sells those random diet teas?"

Macklin grinned. "Exactly."

I laughed, shaking my head. "So specific."

He shrugged. "I know what I like."

There was something about the way he said it that made my stomach flip.

I cleared my throat. "Okay, so let's say, hypothetically, I was a TikToker who only posted unhinged rants about bad coffee shops. Would I be out of the running?"

Macklin pretended to think about it. "That depends. Are the rants funny, or are you just mad?"

"Obviously funny," I said, feigning offense. "I have taste."

"Then yeah," he said, nodding. "I'd still be interested."

I arched an eyebrow. "You would?"

He held my gaze, his expression soft but steady. "Yeah, Lex," he said simply. "I would."

I swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how close we were, even across the table.

I shifted in my seat. "Well, good thing I don't actually post coffee shop rants."

"Yet," Macklin teased.

I laughed, shaking my head. "You know, you're kind of annoying."

"I've heard that before," he admitted, grinning.

I rested my chin on my hand, watching him. "You don't seem too bothered by it."

He shrugged, taking another bite of his steak. "Not when it's coming from you."

I blinked, caught off guard by how easily he said things like that—like it wasn't a big deal, like he meant every word.

I glanced down at my plate, my fingers absentmindedly toying with the bracelet on my wrist.

Macklin's voice was softer when he spoke again. "You fidget with that a lot."

I looked up. "What?"

He nodded at my wrist. "Your bracelet. You mess with it when you're thinking."

I hesitated, surprised he'd noticed. "Oh. Yeah, I guess I do."

He rested his chin on his hand, studying me. "What are you thinking about?"

I huffed out a small laugh. "You ask a lot of questions."

He smiled. "I like getting to know you."

I swallowed, warmth creeping up my neck. "That's... nice of you."

"Lex," he said, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "You really don't take compliments well, do you?"

I exhaled, playing with the bracelet again. "I just don't always know what to do with them."

He nodded, like he understood. "Then let me make it easy for you."

I met his gaze, and he gave me the softest smile.

"You look beautiful tonight."

My breath hitched slightly, but I covered it up with a scoff. "You already said that."

He smirked. "And I meant it."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't fight the way my lips curled up into a smile.

Macklin leaned back, clearly satisfied. "See? Not so hard, right?"

I shook my head, laughing. "You really know how to flatter me huh."

He grinned. "I'd say it's working out well, you're still here with me."

I glanced down at my bracelet again, the feeling in my chest both happy and completely overwhelming.

I took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his gaze settle on me again. My fingers stopped fidgeting with the bracelet, but I couldn't ignore the pull in my chest. It was strange, how easy it felt to talk to him, how at ease I was with him even after all the uncertainty.

I shifted in my seat, glancing down at my plate as I tried to find something to say. "I missed this," I admitted, glancing back up at him.

Macklin tilted his head slightly, looking intrigued. "Missed what?"

I smiled, resting my chin on my hand. "You know, this. The joking around. The... not feeling like everything is so serious all the time."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "So you missed me, then?"

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "I didn't say that."

His lips twitched with a smile. "Uh-huh. Sure, you didn't."

I shook my head, a playful smile still on my face. "Okay, maybe I did. But it's not like I've been counting the days or anything."

Macklin leaned back in his chair, a relaxed, confident look on his face, though there was a softness in his expression. "Nah, I get it. It's been quieter without me around. I know how you hate the quiet."

I snorted. "Well, it was definitely weird. I couldn't even get in a good rant about anything without feeling like something was missing."

"Ah, so it's my wit you've been craving," he said, his tone light but with a hint of teasing.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, definitely. Your wit.'"

He grinned, leaning forward slightly. "Okay, okay. I'll admit it." His voice lowered slightly, but there was no arrogance in it—just honesty. "I've missed being around you too."

I raised an eyebrow, a little caught off guard by his change in tone. "Really?"

He nodded, his usual coolness still there, but there was something deeper in his eyes. "Yeah. I missed this. The banter. Talking to you."

I let out a breath, feeling something shift in the air around us. "Well, I guess it's good to know I wasn't the only one," I said, glancing away for a second to steady myself.

"Definitely not the only one," Macklin said, his voice warm now, a slight smile still tugging at his lips. "I've always enjoyed talking to you, Lex. It's... easy, you know?"

I nodded, feeling a quiet understanding pass between us. "Yeah. It is."

I fiddled with my napkin for a moment, feeling a slight nervousness I hadn't expected. "It's just been... a lot, you know? With everything going on."

Macklin's tone softened. "I get it. It's been a crazy ride. We'll figure it out, yeah?"

I looked at him then, feeling that familiar pull, the one I hadn't fully acknowledged until now. "Yeah. We will."

There was a pause, but it wasn't awkward. It felt like we were just two people finding their way back to something they knew was good.

Macklin's grin returned, that charming smile of his. "And hey, just so you know," he said, his voice light, "I'm still not going anywhere."

I couldn't help but smile back. "Good. Because I might need to get a few more of your expert opinions on my coffee shop rants."

"Oh, I'm so in for that," he said with a laugh. "I'm your biggest fan."

I smirked, my chest lighter than it had been all night. "Glad to hear it."

It felt easy, like it always had when we were together. Like no matter how much time had passed, we could pick up right where we left off. Something stable.