Page 46 of Returning to Rockport

“It’s open!”

Tatum scoffs. “I could have done that.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

Their banter is usually something I find amusing, but all I can focus on is the sound of the front door closing and footsteps coming down the hall. As soon as she comes into view, my lungs forget how to breathe. She’s in a pair of black leggings and an oversized, gray sweater that goes down just past her ass. Her eyes meet mine for only a second before Maverick pulls her attention to him.

“I didn’t expect to see you. Are you coming to dinner with us?”

She shakes her head. “Tatum has some paperwork I need to sign.”

“Paperwork? For what?”

I don’t miss the way she nervously plays with her sleeve and glances quickly at me. “The venue.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she’s talking about her wedding. Every thought in my mind disappears and I can only think one thing – she’s still marrying him. Even after kissing me, not once but twice, he’s still the one she wants.

I stand up and head for the stairs, mumbling something about needing to get ready and for Maverick to have fun at dinner. As I slip past McKenna, she looks down at the ground and steps out of my way. It isn’t until I get to the top of the stairs that I hear her even acknowledge my existence.

“Is he okay?” Not even in the slightest.

“Yeah, don’t mind him. He has a date tonight. I think he’s just nervous.”

Not waiting to hear her answer, I go into my room and try to figure out what I’m going to wear. We’re not going anywhere fancy. Hell, this wasn’t even my idea. Roman set it up. Apparently, Layla is a friend of a friend. She saw a picture on his facebook a while ago and has asked him about me a few times since. After turning down the proposition twice, I decided to let him play matchmaker. We’re meeting for dinner at 7th Wave, a restaurant down on the ocean front.

I hear Maverick and Tatum call out that they’re leaving and then the door shuts behind them. Relived to finally be alone, I let out a breath. A guy can only pretend he isn’t emotionally wounded for so long.

I pull on a black button down and stand in front of my floor length mirror. I’m about to start buttoning it when something catches my eye. McKenna leans against my doorway, looking as if she wants to say everything and nothing all at the same time. Her gaze meets mine through the mirror before I force myself to look away and focus on the task at hand.

“So, you have a date?”

“Yup.”

“That’s, uhm, that’s good.”

I turn to face her. “Is it?”

“Yes.” She sighs and shakes her head. “No. I don’t know.” I don’t really know what to say to that, so I don’t say anything. I grab my cologne and spray it across my chest. She hums. “I’ve missed that smell.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t play innocent like you’re not the reason this date tonight isn’t with you.”

Her eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”

“What? You can’t tell me I’m wrong. Twice now you’ve kissed me and then went fucking AWOL. Not once, twice.”

“Well I’m sorry this isn’t all black and white, but you can’t blame everything on me. Besides, you moved on pretty quick. I can’t be that important to you.”

Did she just…?

I run my fingers through my hair frustratedly. “What the hell do you want me to do, McKenna? You’ve made it crystal fucking clear that you don’t want to be with me. Christ, you’re engaged to someone else! Am I supposed to just wait around for you while you go spend your life with him?!”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, starting to walk away. “This was a bad idea.”

“So, what, you’re just going to leave?”

Her body stops and when she turns to face me, the look in her eyes makes me w

ish I had just kept my mouth shut. Gone is the warmth that radiated off her and all that’s left is nothing but hurt and anger.

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