Anything but this.
I’d worked hard all day at the shop to make sure I was done in time to get home, shower, make myself look presentable, and be able to pick Megan up on time for our date at my house. Taking a page from her book, I managed to show up a little early.
I expected, and looked forward to, a quiet night in at my place, with supper I’ve been planning for two days, maybe a movie on Netflix amidst some easy conversation, and my son right there with us so I could show him off like a proud dad is supposed to.
What I didn’t expect was for the entire evening to be shot to hell before I even knocked on Nancy’s front door and had the chance to come face to face with Megan, a bouquet of lilies in my hand.
I didn’t have to see her to know what she was thinking. Her words carried through the opened screen door as I’d stood on the front porch.
I never said I was falling in love with him, she’d stated, which was enough to stop my hand in midair, preventing me from knocking on the door. You never said you weren’t, Nancy had replied, which had pushed a grin onto my face and made me bite the inside of my lip. Leave it to Nancy, always the matchmaker.
Megan’s pause after that had made me grin wider to myself. I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but since there was a part of me that was hoping Nancy was right about Megan’s feelings for me, I couldn’t help myself.
That should have been my first warning to get the hell out of there, seeing as everything went so downhill afterwards.
I got another job offer in Dallas. A few days ago. I want out of this town, you know that.
I left the front porch after that, too furious and hurt to want to object myself to anymore of Megan’s true feelings, almost stumbling down the fucking stairs in my haste and anger. When she still didn’t come outside after a few minutes, I figured she must not have realized I’d arrived yet.
I debated just driving home, saying screw it and not even bothering to give an explanation. Letting her think I just hadn’t shown up.
But, no. To hell with that. Megan had lied to me, to my face. She could damn well admit the truth to me, face to face, as well.
Which is why I flashed my truck headlights, announcing my arrival.
My back pressed up against the driver’s door, I stand outside, leaning with my arms crossed in front of me, waiting. Megan appears a minute later, a smile plastered on her face as she shuffles down the steps.
A smile I know is fake.
“Hey,” she greets me, her eyes scanning down my casual outfit of a green and black plaid shirt over a black t-shirt and jeans. “You look good.” She leans forward to kiss me, but I push away from the truck, away from her, which causes her expression to fall. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t speak immediately, too afraid the anger boiling inside me will overflow into every word. Then, “When are you leaving?”
“Leaving for where?” she asks, her brows drawn down in confusion.
“Dallas,” I snap.
“I’m not—”
“If you’re going to answer, Megan, do me a favor and let the next words that come out of your mouth be the truth. Because the last ones you said to me sure weren’t.”
Her eyes grow wide as realization dawns on her. “You heard me tell Aunt Nancy...” Her voice trails off, not finishing her sentence.
“About the job interview in Dallas? Yeah, I heard that.” And as though I need to defend my actions, I add, “The door was opened when I came up the front steps. I didn’t plan to overhear you, but here we are.”
“I didn’t think—”
“Tell me, Megan,” I continue, running my hands through my hair, exasperated. “You said you found out about the interview a few days ago. When, exactly?”
Her eyes are locked with mine, and she shakes her head. “Craig, I—”
“When?” I bark, cutting off her stammers.
She holds my gaze, searching my eyes. For what, I don’t know, but when she answers, her shoulders sag in defeat, her head bowing forward. “I got the call before I left to meet you at the arena.”
It’s like a stab to my gut, even though I suspected as much. “Before you and I had sex,” I correct her. “Before you stood in front of me and said you wanted this. Wanted us.”
“I did want you!” she exclaims, tears brimming her eyes. “I still do, Craig.”