SUNNY
“You sure you’re okay, sweetie?”Felicia asks. The same dark blue eyes as Mack has stare into mine. She puts the back of her hand to my forehead again for the fifth time now. “You’re flushed.”
“I’m okay,” I try to reassure her so she doesn’t worry. The truth is, I’m far from being okay. My emotions are all over the place.
I want to be excited, but I’m scared to be at the same time. I’m not sure of how Mack is going to react when he finds out we’re having a baby together. So many thoughts keep rushing through my mind. Felicia studies me for a long second. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from blurting out all my secrets. It stinks not being able to talk to her about this. She became like a mom to me after my parents passed away.
“All right.” She goes back to packing up the leftover apple crisp for us to take back home with us. “Mack has been a little off lately, though.” She peeks over at me, and I know she’s trying to read me. I fidget with the end of my sweater, pulling it away from my body. I know I’m not showing, but I swear this woman notices everything.
“He volunteered to speak in front of my class.” That is definitely out of character for Mack.
Sure, he’ll do anything for me for the most part, but he’s the opposite of a social butterfly. This might be horrible, but I kind of enjoy that he’s that way. It means I get him all to myself. If he ever needs a plus one, it’s always me.
“True, but Mack will volunteer for anything for you if you push.” Her tone sounds off when she says it or maybe it’s me that’s off and looking for something that isn’t there.
“Is that a bad thing?” I find myself asking.
“Yes—well, actually no.” She snaps the lid onto the dessert and slips it into a bag for us. “I’m just worried about you two. You’re never going to find partners with how close you are. At a glance people assume you’re together, and others that do know you are likely intimidated by the friendship you two have and would never try to date either of you because of it.”
“Really?” We’re intimidating? I never would have thought that.
“I mean, would you date a man who lived with a beautiful girl? And then there’s the fact that Mack would basically do anything you asked him to do. Think about it from an outsider's point of view.” When she points it out, it’s painstakingly obvious. “I even asked if he’d be interested in taking Nina out this Saturday to a charity event she’s hosting, and he shot me down saying Saturday night is scary movie night and tacos with you. That he’ll give a check instead.”
“It is scary movie night and tacos.” Felicia’s brows raise at how defensive I’m being. “I didn’t know Nina was into Mack,” I quickly add to try and hide my jealousy. Of course, she is. Who wouldn’t be into Mack? He’s the perfect man.
Nina is the daughter of one of Felicia’s friends who does a ton of philanthropy. Nina isn’t only beautiful but she’s following in her mom's footsteps of trying to make the world a better place. She’s super outgoing, too. She and Mack might actually balance each other out. My stomach starts to turn at the thought of them being together.
“Can’t you move taco and scary movie night over a day?” she suggests. “Because her stepbrother Eric needs a date as well. He is very handsome. I think you two would get along great.” I don’t think I’ve met Eric yet. Tracy, Nina’s mom, remarried a few months ago. It was a bit of a whirlwind. The wedding was last second on a beach in the Caribbean.
“Like Saturday as in tomorrow?”
“Yes, as in tomorrow.” She laughs. “You can borrow one of my dresses. My stylist actually just bought me a bunch of things yesterday!” she says excitedly, grabbing my wrist to pull me along with her out of this kitchen.
This is escalating quickly. Felicia is always pushing off clothes onto me. She has a bit of a shopping addiction, but she can afford it. Not that I complain. We’re the same size not only in clothing but shoes too. Ever since she dolled me up for prom, it’s been her favorite thing to do when she can corner me into it.
When we enter her bedroom, there are two racks of clothing set up in there. All brand new with tags still on them. There are boxes of shoes sitting under the rack. She lets go of my wrist to grab a clipboard and starts to flip through it.
“Oh, this one,” she says to herself before dropping the clipboard down and going over to the rack. I watch as she grabs one of the shoe boxes and then a dress. At first glance, I think it’s white, but when I step closer, I see it’s a soft petal pink. She knows I love pink.
“It’s pretty.” I run my fingers down the material.
“So you’ll wear it.” She thrusts it at me.
“Wait, I didn't say that.”
“Sunshine!” Mack shouts my name from somewhere in the house.
“When did he start calling you Sunshine?” Felicia asks. I shrug, pretending not to remember. “I’ve got her.”
Mack comes rushing into the room. “Something wrong?” I ask.
“I couldn’t find you.” His eyes take me in. “That’s pretty. It suits you, and it’s your favorite color.”
“She's going to wear it tomorrow night at the Hoffman charity event.”
“You are?” Mack looks to me for an answer, but Felicia answers before I can get a word out.
“Yes, she’s going with Eric, and you can go with Nina since taco and scary movie night is postponed till Sunday.” The look on Mack’s face changes in an instant.
“No,” Mack snaps. “She’s not going.” What the hell?
“Why can’t I go?” Is he saying he can go with Nina but I can’t go with Eric? Because if that’s what he means, he has a reality check coming his way real soon.
“You haven't been feeling well.” Mack starts to backtrack some when he sees my irritation.
“I’m better.” In fact, I’m kind of thinking about those apple crisps and if we have ice cream at home for them or if we need to stop and get some on the way.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll let Eric and Nina know. You two can meet them there.”
“Mom—”
“It’s for a good cause.”
“What cause?” he challenges.
“I don’t know. It’s something for children. I can’t keep up. They do something every month.”
Felicia and Mack have some kind of stare-off. I hold the dress to my chest wondering what the hell I just got myself into. My jealousy got the best of me.