Page 22 of On the Dean's Naughty List
“So, forget him and make your own choice. You and Mark are great together, Mackenzie. I’ve known Mark for over three years, and I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen him so happy. But you have to tell him about your dad. He needs to hear it from you.”
“You’re right. You know, he said something weird to me last week at the game. He was explaining about the day he got caught flirting with my mom, but Mark said he was helping her out. He said there was another man there hitting on her and she was clearly uncomfortable, so he stepped in to ease her mind. Of course, Dad freaked out before he knew the complete story, as usual, but I thought it was strange my mother didn’t correct him.”
She furrows her brows. “That is weird. Have you asked your mom about it?”
I drop my eyes. “No, because then I’d have to explain why I’m asking.”
She lets out a long sigh. “You know what to do.”
I nod. “I do. I’ll talk to him. I promise.”
There’s a knock on the door that has us both turning towards it. When I see who's walking through, all the tension leaves my body and my smile spreads. Mark makes me feel good, alive.
“Ladies, this is perfect timing. We were looking for you both.”
“Oh? What do you need?” Summer asks as she jumps from my desk and walks right into the arms of her man.
Mark nudges Dash. “Think they were counting out our cardio events to the new music for halftime?”
“Mark.” Dash warns. All I can do is giggle. I don’t care that he’s outing our sex life, or that we have one. I just can’t wait to hear what he says next. It’s freeing to be with people who won’t judge you for your comments. Not having to think twice about what you say is when you know you’re with the right people. To be comfortable enough in the presence of others, knowing they understand the real you and will laugh right along with you. That’s peace.
“Do you count our thrusts as if a stunt is going up?” Mark walks directly to me and pulls me from my chair. “Is that what you think about when you’re on top?” He lifts me from under my thighs and places me on the desk, stepping right in between my legs.
“Mark!”
“One, two, down, up. Hip roll and thrust. Am I close?”
Laughing, I run my hands down his abs and hook my fingers into the top of his jeans. “If you don’t know if I’m close, we’re doing something wrong.”
He nuzzles into my neck, and I giggle as his beard teases my skin. A throat clearing brings our heads back around. Dash is scowling and Summer is grinning.
“Sorry guys.”
“No, no, don’t apologize. I like this. This is good.” Summer is grinning like the cat who caught the canary. Or like the base who just threw the highest basket toss of the day.
“Oh? Do you like to watch sweets?”
“Mark.” Dash barks out. “Watch yourself.”
Mark doubles over in laughter. “Anyway, we came looking for you two beauties to ask you to the Masquerade Ball.”
I snap my eyes back to Mark. “Yeah? You want to go?”
“Of course I want to go. With you, Tink.”
“You know we have to dress up, right?” Summer questions.
“Yes, and we are prepared to let you two make the choice.”
“Hang on a second.” Dash stalls. “I didn’t agree to any costumes. I thought it was just a mask.”
“That’s all part of it, babe. It will be fun.” Summer purrs and whispers something in his ear. His eyes roll in the back of his head. She’s got me blushing and I don’t even know what she said.
“What are we going to wear?” I ask Mark.
“You can pick, but I thought the Spartan Cheerleaders from SNL would be funny.”
I laugh as Summer snorts. “That’s actually perfect.”