Page 85 of The Facilitator 1

“Not with me. I’ll get over it. But I don’t want you to get hurt, and I have a feeling you’re aboutto.”

“So do I. I got in to whatever it is with open eyes; I’m a big girl. I’ll deal with it, and to be honest, it’s coming to an endanyway.”

“Your choice, orhis?”

“Mychoice.”

One more night, and I’ll call a halt to it.Hadn’t that been mythought?

“Can we skip that walk? I think I’d like to go home,” I said. Jerry laid some cash in the leather holder with the bill and weleft.

* * *

Jerry gaveme a hug as I was dropped off back at my apartment. I tried not to let the misery overwhelm me as I opened my apartmentdoor.

Why couldn’t Addison have been ugly? Or mean? Why did she have to be pretty andnice?

I made tea and sat at the kitchen table. My phone began to ring. I rifled through my handbag to retrieve it. Mackenzie had calledme.

“Hi,” I said, as I answered thecall.

“Hey. I’m sorry about that. I guess that wasn’t the best lunch you’vehad.”

“It’s okay. I was a little surprised, of course. You have every right to dine with yourwife.”

“Ex-wife. We’re divorced,Lauren.”

“Ex-wife then. It’s okay; there was no need to call. She seemed a lovelywoman.”

“Yes, there was. I wanted to make sure you wereokay.”

“Honestly, I’m fine. You have a lovely evening,” I said, forcing my voice to soundcheerful.

“I’ll be in the office tomorrow, I want to meet withyou.”

“Of course, just let me know whattime.”

He paused and I heard himsigh.

“Mackenzie, I’m not going to kick off about you spending time with your ex-wife. You have every right to spend time with whoever you want. It’s not like we have any kind of arelationship.”

He didn’t answer and I wondered if the call had been cut off. I brought it away from my ear and looked at thescreen.

“Are you there?” Iasked.

“Tomorrow then, Lauren. Say ten o’clock?” His voice wasclipped.

“I’ll be there. Thank you for calling,” Isaid.

He said goodbye and I cut off the call. I placed the phone on the table and thencried.

I will not fall for…fuck, I already had.I criedharder.

* * *

Idressed in a purple shirt,black trousers, and black high-heeled shoes the following morning. I piled my hair on top of my head, letting loose tendrils fall around my face, and I applied my makeup. I wasn’t going to let Mackenzie know that I’d spent the night pining for him; or that my stomach ached for histouch.

I concealed the nerves as I walked into my office and bade a good morning to my team. I laughed at the wolf whistle I received from Jenny. I kept the fake smile on my face until it was nearly teno’clock.

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