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MACKENZIE DIDN'T SEE the text from Dylan until the next day.

I'm on my way over- 11:46 am

She didn't need to check her phone to know she was too late. She hadn't even woken up until 1:00pm and her brother had kept her occupied all day, well past sundown.

Within seconds, Mackenzie dials Dylan and waits for him to pick up. Luckily, she doesn't have to wait too long.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Dylan. It's Mackenzie," It comes out quicker than she intends. Mackenzie takes a deep breath before she goes on. "How are you?"

"I could be better."

There was a couple of seconds where neither of them spoke, but Dylan has never been great with awkward silences and he quickly fills it.

"I went to visit you today and some guy opened the door. He broke my glasses."

Mackenzie puts her hand over her mouth and holds her breath to keep him from hearing the shaky breathe she finally released. She doesn't blink, doesn't respond. She realizes the hidden question in his statement. She just isn't sure she can give him the answer he wants.

"Who was he?" Dylan's tone is almost firm. Mackenzie had known him almost a year and she found it endearing how hesitant he is. It's a far cry from Junior who always does what he wants and uses her how he likes, talking to Dylan made Mackenzie feel in control. He always leaves room for hesitance. 

When she first opens her mouth, a small noise rises from her through. It was still scratchy with unuse. She looks at the ceiling fan above her as she contemplates her answer.

"My fiancée." Although thick and laden with tears, she manages to form a clear enough sentence.

"Oh."

Another long silence. Her phone shows that they had been talking for less than 2 minutes, yet it feels much longer. It feels like years have passed in the span of those two minutes.

"I gotta go."

With that, he ends the call.

The screen of her phone lights up in her hand and catches her attention. She looks down at the lock screen. 10:11 pm shone brightly on top of a picture of a happy couple. A younger, more naive, version of herself smiles up at her through the screen. Junior was holding her from behind, his own smile shining and his tanned arms popping against the yellow of her dress, a favorite of hers at the time. Their hands connected over her inflated stomach, a silver ring gleamed on her ring finger and she held a small piece of cardstock paper in the center. It read Lucas in big, bold, blue letters. They were going to be a family.

All they ever wanted was to be a family.