Page 2 of Revealing Mark
Her warning didn’t stop me from taking another gulp of my drink.
“I’m only tipsy,” I reasoned with her.
She gave me a disbelieving look. Sometimes she knew me well.
My immediate family, which included Matthew and Sarah along with my aunt, my sister’s mom and her husband, finished dinner. Mark’s presence drew my attention again and I hated how relaxed he looked compared to how worked up I felt inside. It had been stressful and I couldn’t wait to get back to my apartment to be on my own. I liked my own company. Having people around just seemed to complicate things.
Maybe I would be better off as a spinster. Maybe I needed a cat or dog? But I dismissed the thought. I couldn’t even keep a plant alive, so how could I could keep a living thing alive? No, it was more than I could handle, at least for the moment.
I had helped my sister in organizing a weekend to my parents’ favorite country club to celebrate their twenty-seventh wedding anniversary but, seated in the midst of it, I now wished I hadn’t. We should have stuck to a celebration dinner and been done with it. To be around Mark for an entire weekend seemed too much to handle at the moment. Maybe if things had gone better with Jack it would have been easier.
Excluding Mark from the weekend would have only raised eyebrows. He was as good as family, a surrogate son to my parents.
I didn’t know the whole story about Mark’s family and home life but he had spent almost every spare moment outside of school at our house. From the day my brother had befriended him, they had been inseparable. They could have passed for brothers with the same coloring and dimples. He hadn’t been very talkative, instead he had spent most of the time observing our family. He had always been polite but reserved.
Even now, years later, he was still the same guy but just more grown up. Gone were the boyish features that had stolen my heart, and in their place was the hard, defined features of a man who made my skin tingle and pulse quicken.
I’d practically grown up with him around but there was still so much I didn’t know. I had once asked Matthew about Mark’s family but my brother had told me in no uncertain terms to mind my own business. I had let it go, too scared that my brother would discover the crush I harbored for his best friend.
The alcohol warmed my tummy and I set down my empty glass. I had hit my limit and without much food at dinner it was more lethal. I sat back in my chair and watched my parents head to the dance floor. It was difficult not to stare at them wistfully,wishing I could find that special someone to share in moments like this. My mother leaned her small frame into my father’s strong embrace.
My gaze drifted to my brother, who led Sarah onto the dance floor, and I smiled. They were blissful. I wanted him to be happy but it was also a reminder of what I was missing in my life. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the moment that made me feel a little tearful.
“You okay?” Sophie asked, still seated beside me.
I nodded, unable to speak. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I tried to compose myself. “I’m just feeling a little sentimental.”
She put her arm around me and gave me a squeeze. I leaned my head on her shoulder momentarily before releasing a breath. I was too emotional to remain there, I needed space.
“Tell Mom and Dad I had a headache.” I let out a breath to ease the buildup in my chest.
Sophie looked at me with concern but nodded her head. “I love you,” she murmured.
“Ditto,” I replied, squeezing her hand before I hurried out to the nearest exit that led to the lobby at the front of the building.
I opened my clutch purse to fish out my key card for my room. I couldn’t even remember what number it was. I stopped as I searched but couldn’t find anything.Damn it!
I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a heavy breath, trying to remember if I might have left it at the table. The last thing I wanted to do was go back to look for my room key, but no amount of wishing was going to make it appear in my purse.
Irritated, I turned and walked straight into someone. My half-open purse dropped to the floor, scattering its contents as hands steadied me. Startled, I stared into familiar green eyes that made my heart leap out of my chest, leaving me struggling to catch my breath. Mark. He steadied me before kneeling topick up my purse and its contents. When he reached for the can of mace, he stood and held it in his hand.
Not wanting him to make a big deal out of it, I snatched it from him. “Thank you,” I mumbled as he gave me my purse.
“Is there a reason why you’re carrying it?” He cocked his head slightly. He missed nothing, and I could feel the scrutiny of his gaze.
I was a terrible liar, so instead of looking him in the eye I dropped my gaze to make as if I was ensuring I hadn’t forgotten anything else that might have fallen out, but it was only a ploy to be able to try and lie without him picking up on it.
“You and Matt gave me the longest lecture on the planet on why I should always carry it with me,” I replied, making myself look back up into his deep green eyes. The truth was my fight with Jack had been explosive and having the mace made me feel a little more secure.
“We did and I remember you vowing never to use it. I think your exact response included your fear of mixing it up with perfume and landing up in the hospital.” A smile tugged at his lips.
I got distracted with the way his smile accentuated his dimples and it was difficult to concentrate.
“Tracy?” he prompted.
I shrugged, trying to downplay it, but it was difficult to lie to him and the alcohol was muddling my thoughts.
“You okay?” he asked, taking a closer look. His hand wrapped around my wrist as he pulled me closer.
