Page 73 of Invisible String
He nods and starts his fancy Porsche. After ten minutes of silence, he breaks it. “So why was he peering at you like that?”
“Who?”
“Don’t act fucking dumb, Rainey. You know who.” He squeezes the steering wheel. “Have you dated him?”
My blood is boiling like a pot on the stove. “Who I date or don’t date is not your damn business. We are friends. That’s it.”
“You were strangely peering at him.”
“Yeah, maybe I was worried about the guy. It was a brutal match. All of them were. Why bring me to this?”
He blows air out. “I wanted to spend time with you. I’ve had more than a crush on you for years, but it seems you’ve been oblivious. I thought we could have a nice dinner and see some action. I didn’t think it was this bad. I’m sorry if it frightened you.”
With my trembling, I squeeze him. Now I feel bad. He’s jealous of Max staring at me. My head is rambling with so many thoughts. Like, why was his jaw tightening while watching Andrew? Was he jealous? Does he have feelings for me?Fuck. Stop it, Rainey. He left you, and you hate him.
“I’m sorry. It just was too much.” I want to cry, seeing Max for the first time in years with his face all bloody. Why do I want to go repair it? Kiss it… “Let’s just go to my place. I’ll make us some coffee.”
Unlocking the door,I toss my purse on the sofa. Andrew shuts the door behind him. Like a zombie, I walk to the espresso maker. I really could use a huge bottle of wine. No, more like tequila.
Andrew’s arms wrap around me, and his lips skim my shoulder. “You’re still shaking. I’m sorry if the bloody fights were too much. I didn’t know it would scare you this much. Let me relax you. Give us a chance.” He kisses the slope of my neck.
No sparks or magic, but I do desire the touch of a man. He unzips the back of my dress, and it drops to the floor.
He moans. “Ney, you’re beautiful.” His erection presses into my back.
I close my eyes tightly. Not wanting to see the image of Max in my head.
“Let me make you feel good,” Andrew whispers seductively. His hand slips into my panties.
His finger brushes my sex. I’m not wet. In fact, I’m dry as a bone. I squeeze my eyes harder. The image of Max won’t disappear. The caresses of his hands on me. The smile on my face with him. The way his tongue traced my body, and the way my body reacted to anything he did? I felt safe with him. It always felt like his arms were my safe haven. I loved him with everything in me. I chose him, and I religiously believed in himregardless of what my father had to say about him. I didn’t care if he had a dime in his pocket, but he left me in the cold. Tears run down my cheek.
“Rainey?” Andrew withdraws his hands and steps back.
“Get out, Andrew. Now’s not the time.”
“I thought you wanted this.”
“Not today. I had a rough day. I’ve been up since three this morning, and I’m overwhelmed and tired.” Foolishly, I let another man touch me who wasn’t Max.
He hands me my dress. “Let me stay and keep you company. You’re crying, Rainey. Am I moving too fast?”
He doesn’t get it. No man will ever be able to fill that space in my heart. “No, you’re not moving too fast. I’m just tired, and the truth is I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“Okay, that’s fine. We can work something else out. Did you have a bad experience with someone?” He zips my dress up.
“No,” I lie.
“Okay, well, I’ll go. I see you need your space.” He leans in and kisses my cheek.
The second the door slams shut, I collapse on the sofa and sob. The memories all come in like a wave—the love, then the anger. Like always, I rub my wrist and repeat the words: I willneverfall for him again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MAX
“What the fuck was going on with you? You zoned out. Staring into the crowd. You almost got your ass handed to you.” Carlos's voice booms in the back room. “He could have killed you.”
“He didn’t,” I say, unwrapping my hand wraps while my corner man addresses my wounds. “She was in the crowd.” Fuck, I groan when he puts pressure on the cut. What in the fuck was she doing here and with him? Of all fucking people, him? That’s who she’s seeing? I didn’t look through the surveillance cameras to see if it was her who owned the bakery. My plans were to drop in instead to see for myself, but I just never made it. But now I know it’s Rainey’s.
