Page 13 of Revealing Mark
“Just because I wasn’t head over heels for him doesn’t mean I won’t still miss having someone around.” I sighed.
“Why would you waste time on someone it wouldn’t work out with?”
I didn’t know how to respond to his direct question. I couldn’t reveal to him I had been trying to find someone I could feel the same way I did forhim.
“I don’t want to end up alone.” My honesty surprised me and I didn’t like how revealing I was with him.
“You won’t.” He didn’t look in my direction.
“You’re just saying that so I don’t feel like some kind of failure.” I stared unseeing into the distance, unable to stop myself from letting him in.
He remained silent while I looked down to study my fingernails.
“You are not a failure, just a little scatterbrained.”
I glared at him. It reminded me of why it was so importantto keep him and my family from discovering more about my breakup with Jack.
“Thanks,” I responded sarcastically.
“It’s the truth.” He shrugged, like it was more fact than opinion.
I sometimes wondered if that was what attracted me to him, that he was the complete opposite of me. He was organized where I was always misplacing things and forgetful. I bet he never lost anything. I had often wondered what his place would look like. Looking around his car, which was spotless, I bet his apartment wasn’t cluttered, where everything had a place.
There were times I wished I was the same but there always seemed to be more important things to do than tidy up. Maybe I just had to accept my shortcomings and make peace with who I was instead of trying to change now.
Even with that new outlook I still wasn’t going to tell anyone anything further about Jack. Besides, later today I would get the keys and I would never have to see Jack again.
The next time I met someone, I was definitely going to take things slower. I had learned my lesson and would ensure I didn’t make the same mistake again. It was difficult to think about the possibility of meeting someone when the guy I wanted sat beside me now, oblivious to how I felt about him.
My shoulders were stiff from tension when Mark pulled up in front of the familiar apartment building. The trip had felt a lot longer and I was glad it was finally at an end. I hadn’t opened up about Jack, and Mark had driven the rest of the journey in a contemplative silence.
It would take more than just my say so for him to let it go but I didn’t know what more I could say to stop him. I just hadto hope I could get hold of Jack and sort out the keys. So far I hadn’t been able to get through to him. The signal at the country club had been too weak, and it had been beyond frustrating.
I unclasped my seatbelt as soon as Mark switched off the car. “Thanks for the ride.”
He got out to help me with my luggage but, instead of allowing me to take it, he kept it firmly in his grasp. “I’ll see you to your apartment.”
“That’s really not necessary,” I argued. I held out my hand for my luggage but he shook his head.
“Call me old fashioned.” He gave me an impatient look, and I frowned.
Feeling annoyed, I retracted my hand to fumble for my keys as I walked into the building to the elevator. Mark followed behind me. Usually I spent a good while trying to fish my keys out of my purse but this time I found them easily and held them tightly in my hand.
I poked the up-arrow button twice, feeling annoyed at how long it was taking for it to open. The elevator pinged when the doors slid open and I refused to even glance at my unwanted companion as I hit the fourth floor. I tapped my foot as the car groaned from one floor to the next. I knew Mark was taking in everything and I didn’t want to know what he thought.
It was an older building and I loved the décor, but some would view it as just another old building that needed updating. I bet it wasn’t a place Mark would ever live in. I could feel the silent judgment as he followed me out of the elevator and down the corridor.
“Thanks,” I muttered, opening my door before turning back to take my bag from him.
“Let me at least see you inside,” he insisted, and I studied him for a moment, knowing arguing with him was futile.
I hurried in front of him, grabbing a few items I had discarded across my sofa in my rush to pack, and hid thembehind my back. I had never imagined that he would be the one bringing me back, otherwise I would have attempted to tidy up a bit. This was the first time he had ever stepped foot into my apartment.
He casually put my luggage down beside my sofa but I didn’t miss how he scanned the room.
“See? There is no intruder waiting behind the curtain to attack me,” I couldn’t help pointing out. It wasn’t normal for most people but in his job I bet things like that happened. I never knew the details of his or Matthew’s assignments other than they had been dangerous.
He pinned me with a look before proceeding to look around my apartment.
