Page 100 of Fairy Tale Lies
Turning from the window, Jacob found Macy had returned to her desk. Her posture was stiff, her movements jerky. He exhaled, guilt ebbing at him. Sure, her constant come-ons were a nuisance. Still, he didn’t want to be a dick-boss.
“Listen, I’m sorry I barked at you. I’m stressed.” Before heading into the back shop, he stopped at her desk. “We okay?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Do you need anything else before I get back to work?”
“No. I only had the one question regarding Ms. Delft’s order.”
All was forgiven. Too bad everything in his life wasn’t as easily absolved.
Before his palm smacked against the shop door, Macy called after him. “Tony has to leave early. Let me know if you want company later.”
Jacob gave a weary sigh, not bothering to answer before pushing through the workshop’s metal doors. He hoped like hell Macy would leave him alone. All he wanted was to lose himself in work. To forget his colossal fuck up that had ravaged his heart and screwed with his mind.
Chapter Forty-One
“Why did I let you talk me into this?Again.” Greta asked, sitting on her bed and watching Cindy and Susan rummage through her clothes.
Cindy stuck her head from around the closet. “Because you need a girl’s night.”
“Yeah.” Susan kept digging through Greta’s opened dresser drawer. “When was the last time you left your apartment? And no, going to work doesn’t count.”
“Why not?” Greta huffed. Work required her to leave her homeandtalk with people. Something that, lately, took all the energy she had to give. “Let’s order in and watch TV.” At least with a movie she wouldn’t have to plaster on a pleasant smile or try to follow along with the cheery chatter.
“No,” Cindy and Susan said simultaneously.
Geez. These two really wanted to go out.
They’d arrived at her door, explaining they’d joined forces and wouldn’t leave until she agreed to come with them. How these two found each other was beyond Greta, but she was touched.
They were apparently worried enough to find each other and work together in hopes of brightening her permanent gloomy mood. She should tell them they were fighting a lost cause.
Instead, she decided to humor them.
I can pretend for one night, right?
“Fine. Where are we going?”
Cindy emerged from the closet with dresses piled high in her arms. She dropped them on the bed and clapped her hands like a sweepstakes winner. “We’re going dancing,” she squealed.
“No.” Greta fell back on her bed, lying flat. What little enthusiasm she had for the night drained away. “The last time I went dancing with you, it didn’t end well.”
Cindy’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows came together. “Was Glengarry’s house the last time we partied together? This time I promise not to leave your side. Though…as I recall, the night ended quite satisfactorily for you. Something to do with a motorcycle and a dark park…”
Susan perked up. “This sounds interesting. Sharing is Caring. Do tell.”
Greta warmed, not from embarrassment but a deep yearning. She recalled the sensual night vividly. She could almost feel Jacob’s hands on her and the ghost of the pleasure he’d given her.
“Some other time.” The gaping hole of pain she experienced those first couple of weeks after the breakup had lessened, but it ached enough she avoided talking about him.
The two women eyed her, pity etched on their pretty features. Greta hated those looks. “I admit that night was nice. However, the fallout wasn’t great.”
She decided no one was meant to be that happy. At least not forever. Such things only happened in fairy tales. In real life, happiness was permitted in small doses and for short periods of time.
Susan sat next to Greta, taking her hand and pulling her up. “Down the line, when you’re married to a hot husband and have two point five kids, you’ll remember your whirlwind romance with Jacob fondly, without pain or regret.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Greta said without much conviction.
