Mackenzie and AJ finally got their order and slid into a booth. They had decided to stop at McDonald's and surprisingly AJ had wanted to eat inside. He had already signed five or six autographs between ordering and sitting, but Mack could tell he loved the attention.
"So," AJ said as he unwrapped his burger and began opening ketchup packs, "how did you end up working for my mom?"
"Well," Mackenzie began, "I was hanging out with Howie this morning and he mentioned that he needed to go down to the office. So I decided to tag along." She looked up and caught AJ's grin. "I know, I know," she laughed. "Old habits die hard. Anyway," she continued, "your mom was pretty swamped so I offered to help. It's just going to be for a few hours each morning until she hires someone." Mackenzie took a bite of her salad, looking wistfully at the fries AJ was stuffing in his mouth. He didn't miss her look of longing and waved a fry in front of her face. "Come on, take it," he cajoled. "You know you want it."
"You're right," she agreed. "But I want to fit into my wedding dress even more," she said, taking another bite of salad.
"What'd ya do? Buy it a size too small?" Alex guessed.
"It's Charles' mother's dress," she said. "And it's two sizes too small," she said holding up two fingers for emphasis. "I'm going to have to lose twenty pounds before I can get into it. Maybe that's why she hasn't told me when the wedding is," Mackenzie laughed.
"You don't have twenty pounds to lose," AJ said, suddenly reaching out and caressing her face from her temple to her jaw. "What'd ya do to your face? It's different."
"I had plastic surgery," Mackenzie said quietly.
"Plastic surgery," AJ repeated. "Your scar wasn't that noticeable, Mackenzie."
"Well, it bothered Charles," she said defensively. "Besides, he paid for the surgery as a birthday gift."
"He gave you plastic surgery for your birthday?" AJ asked, his mouth gaping open. "How romantic. What's he giving you for Christmas? A boob job?" he asked sarcastically. Mack pressed her lips together and stared out the window. "Oh, God, he's not. Is he?" AJ said disbelievingly.
"So he likes women with big tits," she said heatedly.
"Yours are plenty big," AJ told her. "I. . .I. . .I m. .mean, they l. . .look really nice," he stuttered, waving his hand towards her chest.
"Quit looking at them!" she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him.
AJ turned his gaze upward to the ceiling. "They're p. . .perfect," he said. "Th. . .they felt r. . .really good. I. . .I mean when I hugged you," he added.
"Oh, God," she groaned, laying her forehead down on the table, her arms still crossed in front of her. "This has got to be the dumbest conversation I've ever had with you. With anybody," she amended.
"Well then, while we're at it, you look better as a redhead," AJ informed her.
"Like I care what you think," she smarted back.
"Your idiot boyfriend is turning you into a freakin' Barbie doll!" he retorted.
She raised her head from the table and looked at him. " I'm not going to discuss this with you, AJ. It's none of your business," she told him.
"Fine," he huffed, "but if he loves you then none of that stuff should matter to him!"
They ate in silence for a few minutes before AJ finally said, "Marissa and I are going clubbing tonight. Wanna come?"
"Marissa?" Mackenzie said, "As in Marissa Jackson? Are you still dating her?"
"We broke up for a while," AJ said, but we've been dating again for the last month or so."
"No," she said slowly, "I think I'm gonna pass on that. Besides, Howie's helping me move into one of his rental houses tonight."
"Why are you getting your own place?" AJ asked curiously. "You'll be getting married soon anyway. Why not just stay with your family?"
"I don't know how long I'm going to stay in Florida," Mackenzie said.
"I
still have to lose twenty pounds before I can get married, remember?"
she
said, stealing the fries out of his fingers and stuffing them into her
mouth.
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