Page 29 of Tempting the Tender Guy: Imperfect Heroes

“Next one?” the guy with her cuts in. His voice is teasing and the way she gazes at him tells me this is all cute play on their part. I drift away to let them have their privacy and head to the kitchen to check on my other tables’ orders.

I can’t help feeling conflicted as I go. I called Mack my boyfriend. It came out so naturally, but is he?

At the end of my shift, I’m walking to my car while my phone rings. Hope soars in me that it’s Mack calling, only to deflate like a blown tire when I see it’s Yvonne instead. I try to summon up some enthusiasm for my friend.

“Hey, girl!”

“Hey stranger. How have you been?”

Unlocking my car, I slump down in the driver’s seat. “Oh, you know, busy.”

Her laughter flows through the connection. “Oh I bet. Busy with a certain attractive tattoo artist.”

Pain bursts in my chest and moisture springs to my eyes. I blink the tears away, but it’s not as easy to escape the pain.

Yvonne, oblivious to my inner anguish, continues on. “Speaking of tattoos, I have a great idea for one. Didn’t know if you wanted to come with me when I get my appointment with Mack.”

I thump my head against the headrest. “That might not be a good idea,” I say quietly.

“Afraid you might distract him from his work?” She laughs. “The man is a professional. Despite all the times I caught him making goo-goo eyes at you, he never once delivered a bad tattoo.”

Hearing that makes the tears come harder. I sniff and rub my wet face. “I think I blew my chance with Mack,” I sob. “I’m going to disappoint your Nana and her friends by being their first matchmaking failure.”

“Sadie, what’s wrong? Where are you?”

“I’m still at work, sitting in the parking lot in my car.”

“Listen, I’m on the other side of town, but if you need to talk I can be at your place in forty-five minutes.”

Despite my tears, I smile at that. Yvonne is seriously the best friend. “No, I’ll be fine. I promise. Just have some things to work out.”

Her sigh comes through as loudly as if she were here beside me. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Mack, but know that I love you and I only wanted you to be happy. My Nana and her friends didn’t exactly set you and Mack up.”

“They didn’t?”

“Not really. You wanted to be matched like I was, and I hated watching you miss what was right in front of you. Mack’s been crazy about you for as long as I’ve known him. And you’ve been just as into him. I thought a little push would help things along. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re not?”

I laugh. “No, how could I be? I did want Mack to be my perfect match, and he is. Maybe it took a little lie to get us together, but your heart was in the right place.”

“You didn’t sound very happy a few minutes ago. You said you blew your chance with Mack.”

“My mind is a little messed up right now. I’m being lazy again,” I admit. “Listen, there’s something I need to do. Will talk soon and I’ll explain everything, I promise.”

“You better,” Yvonne threatens. “Just be happy with whatever you do, okay?”

Smiling, I nod. “I plan to be better than happy. I’m going to get me, my man.”

With both laugh at that and Yvonne ends the call.

This is what I needed. I always want things on my terms. And when things don’t work out exactly the way I want them to I push and fuss to make it my way. I did that with Mack.

When he didn’t leap up and tell me he was interested when I was subtly flirting while he was tattooing me, I decided he didn’t like me. Because I refused to think anything other than a declaration of attraction was interest. I was being stubborn and rather childish. The whole ‘my way or the highway’ bit is great if you want to be a jerk and end up disappointed.

And I did that again in the name of helping him. He told me he was still processing his hearing loss and I needed to give him time. Instead of doing that, I rushed to get him books and practically shoved them in his face. I wanted him to get better, and I wanted it on my terms.

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