So I decided to ramp things up a little, to make sure we spent as much time as possible together. Feeling emboldened by his surprise lunch at my work, as my own surprise, I’d driven to Inverness to meet him after his class. I’d talk him into grabbing dinner in the city, and I’d flirt my arse off until he couldn’t resist me. The payoff might not be tonight, but I had patience. I could keep this up until Mac admitted he loved me too.
Just as my fingers touched the handle on the car’s door, the entrance to the sports center burst open and Mac strolled out, laughing over his shoulder, the sight of his gloriously tall, broad-shouldered body exciting me as much as the sound of his joy. I was obsessed. Seriously obsessed.
Snorting to myself, I had just opened the car door when the person responsible for Mac’s laughter walked out behind him and reached for his hand.
A woman.
A brunette who looked younger than me in her yoga pants and racer-back tank top. She was everything I wasn’t. Petite, curvy, tits for days.
My heart plummeted as Mac pulled her into his side, and she wrapped an arm around his waist as they strolled across the car park.
I sank down in my seat, cursing the bloody Defender I drove and loved for being so conspicuous. My pulse throbbed, sweat dampening my palms.
Mac was too engrossed in his younger woman to notice me. They stopped at an unfamiliar car, and the brunette pulled his head down to hers to kiss him. He pressed her up against the passenger door and kissed her hungrily.
Like he’d kissed me all those years ago.
Tears I despised filled my eyes as I watched the couple get into her car and drive away.
I noted Mac’s SUV left behind in the lot.
I let myself cry in the car park.
He didn’t love me.
He’d been telling the truth all those years ago.
My age wasn’t the reason Mac didn’t want me. Clearly not if he was fucking his younger students. I glowered at his SUV. What did he want with me, then?
To be his friend? His confidant?
She was his sexual release. Just as I was now sure many women before her had been.
I was his emotional release.
This way, we saw to all his needs without him ever having to commit to one woman.
“Well, fuck that,” I spat angrily, swiping at my tears.
Fuck that!
I fumbled for my phone and swiped the screen to bring up Guy’s text.
Okay, I texted back, I’ll go on a date with you.
* * *
“Arro?”
Regan’s voice brought me out of the past.
I blinked to find her staring at me in concern.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
I shook my head and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s fine, really. And I’m fine.”
Regan didn’t look convinced. “You know you can tell me anything. I won’t tell anyone. Not even Thane.”