One More Day
Page 25
"That mind of yours is going," Colby said, pushing open the front door.
"Nah." Mack stepped past him. "Just haven't been there in a while. Crazy, since it's right next door, you know?"
"Mhm. And?"
"And that's where it all changed." She casually tossed her arm around his waist. "That's where I met Ryan, where I went when they told me I had cancer, and where he finally talked to me." She paused. "Colby, is he ok?"
"Yeah, fine, why?"
Mack paused, her hand on the door to the coffee shop. "I dunno, maybe I'm freaking out for nothing, but ever since we made it down to the shop, it's like he's avoiding me."
Colby laughed and reached around her to pull open the door. "And lemme guess. You're convinced that somehow you've scared him off, and you're not worth it, and blah blah blah, yeah? Close?"
"Well, I keep telling that part of my mind to shut up."
"Good." He moved to her left side, plopping his arm over her shoulder as they moved into the line. "You ever think that maybe he's nervous, too? Maybe he has those little thoughts in his head just like you do?"
"Ryan?" She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Colby, Super Hot Guy? That's what I used to call him, you know?"
He laughed and pushed her forward another step. "Then stop worrying. Put it out of your pretty little fuzzy head. If you're still worried in a few hours, then just ask him."
"Yeah." Mack dropped her head against his chest. "Thanks, Colby. When you get a girl, I'll listen to all of your crazy delusions, too. Deal?"
"Deal, and I may have one." He didn't say more because the guy in front of them took his cup and left, leaving the attendant waiting for their order. "Double espresso, black, and a caramel macchiato."
The guy smiled strangely, nodded, then turned to make the drinks. Mack's head twitched, but she blew it off, assuming that Colby usually just ordered something else. She waited patiently, shifting slightly from foot to foot, until their drinks were done. Murmuring sweetly at her cup, she took a sip.
"Oh," she moaned. "Just like I remember."
"Wanna sit?" Colby asked. "Figure standing and walking's a bit more work than you want to admit."
She laughed and bumped into his side, but made for her regular table. She made it five steps, then paused. Sitting there, in his regular spot, Ryan had his face buried in a book, but this time he wore just a simple t-shirt. The corner of his lip lifted, and he closed the book, clutching it in his hand as he stood.
"Hi," he said, taking a step toward her. "I've seen you in here all the time, and always wanted to meet you. Ryan Sterling." Mack laughed and took his hand, but instead of shaking it, he just knelt, taking another deep breath. "One hundred and ninety-seven times I wanted to do that. One hundred and ninety-seven times I was too scared to talk to the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Can you ever forgive me, Mack?"
"Yes." She tugged, trying to pull him up, but he just shook his head.
"It took the worst day of your life for me to finally realize that it wasn't going to get easier. I may be selfish, but that was the best day of mine. I got to talk to you, got to know you, and together, we managed to beat the shit out of cancer. Mackenzie Lawrence." He closed his eyes and breathed. "Baby, if we can do that..." He opened the book, and pulled out the ribbon that marked his place, a small silver ring sparkling at the end, and held it up.
She gasped, and her fingers trembled. Without a word, Colby reached over and took her cup before it spilled, then pressed his free hand against her shoulder. It wasn't much, but she wasn't sure she could stand on her own. Mack pressed her quaking hands against her lips and just stared at the man on his knees before her.
"Please say you'll give me the chance to stand beside you in everything else? I love you, Mack. I'm so in love with you. I think you hung the moon and dance with ribbons. I swear to you, I'll always be your bright angel, to shield you from the pain of what could have been." He smiled, but reached up to wipe at his eyes. "I can't imagine not having you with me. Sick or well, rich or poor, or any way I can get you. I want you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Mackenzie, will you marry me?"
Her mouth opened but no words came out, so she just nodded, bobbing her head up and down so hard he couldn't mistake her answer. "Yes!" she finally gasped, and around them, everyone started to cheer.
Only then did she realize that the crowded coffee shop was filled with familiar faces. Behind her was Leanne, from the cancer clinic. On the other side was Theresa, her nurse from the hospital. Sitting along the wall was Doctor Janis. They weren't the only ones. A man who she'd made three designs for lifted his cup and across the table from him was a girl who she'd spent hours with, making sure her piece was perfect. Every client, every friend, every person who she'd felt close to in the last year all were there, beaming back at her.
And Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger.
Finally, he stood, smiling at her so proudly. "I love you," he said, then crushed her against his chest.
Everyone cheered again, but this time something else joined them. A high pitched yowl made everyone laugh, and Mack turned to the sound. There, in the back corner, stood Tony, holding a black puppy.
"He's ours," Ryan whispered in her ear. "I was going to wait, but it was his last day, and they said black ones don't get homes. Figured we could at least give him a chance in the land of misfit toys."
"A puppy?" she asked. Mack glanced down at her hand, up at him, then back to the dog Tony held. "Ryan, I need to sit down."
"Yeah," he said softly, steering her to the closest chair. "Too much?"
She laughed. "It's perfect. Oh my god." She twisted the ring, unable to stop giggling. "It's gorgeous. It's perfect. I thought you were upset."
He chuckled and brushed his fingers across her cheek, then leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were soft and gentle, trembling as much as his hands, but their friends didn't care. The puppy barked as everyone laughed and clapped again.
"I was scared to death," he said, squatting before her. "I kept thinking you'd say no, or ask to wait, or maybe you'd have another bad day or something." He grabbed her hand. "My fiancée."
"Soon to be your wife," she promised.
He grinned, nodding like he still couldn't believe it. "Colby busted his ass to make this happen, too. Told me he almost forgot about the coffee upstairs, so hurried down as soon as his alarm went off, to stash it."
"You," she told the big guy, "are going to be sexy in taffeta. Still going to be my maid of honor?"
A woman whistled appreciatively, and pushed forward to wrap her arms around him. Mack laughed when she realized it was Maria. "Floor length dress, I think," she teased.
"Fuck," Colby laughed. "I'll wear a damned taffeta speedo if I get to see those two get hitched." He lifted his cup. "Mack, today, I want a drink, but I want this kind, not the other. You're going to be the most beautiful bride ever."
Mack cleared her throat and shook her head. "Until you get one, right?"
"Oh hell yeah." He sighed, and moved to slap Ryan's shoulder. "Grats, bro. You braved the jungle, slayed the dragon, and got to be the knight in shining armor."
"Ink," Mack clarified. "Knight in shining ink. Now bring me that puppy!"
Tony laughed and made his way over, passing the dog to her. "Can't believe you didn't hear him barking in the back room."
She glanced up at Ryan, her hands rumpling the little guy's face. "I was distracted." She bent and kissed the puppy, then hugged him to her, looking at her ring again. "Ryan?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"Thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being perfect, for being beautiful, for being sweet, for the ring and the dog." She paused, her throat closing up again, and wiped at her eyes. "But most of all, thank you for helping me make it through just one more day. Today, tomorrow, and the next. I promise you, I'll keep trying if you will."
"Forever," he swore. "One more day, and then one more after that, until there aren't any more days to count."
***
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One More Day.
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Auryn Hadley is happily married with three canine children and a herd of feral cats that her husband keeps feeding. Between her love for animals, video games, and a good book, she has enough ideas to spend the rest of her life trying to get them out. They all live in Texas, land of the blistering sun, where she spends her days feeding all of those addictions, plus drinking way too much coffee.
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