There was no point.
When it got to the point that Bruno was actually getting in the movers’ way, I went ahead and tugged him upstairs toward the bedroom so he wouldn’t get a box dropped on his head. As we reached the landing, he let out a pitiful howl, and Mackenzie’s gaze met mine. I had to tell myself the regretful look on her face was all in my head.
I stayed in the room with Bruno while the movers got the rest of Mackenzie’s things. He walked back and forth between the door and where I sat on the edge of the bed—a bed that hadn’t been made up from where Mackenzie and I had slept in it the night before. There had been so much space between the two of us that it was hard to believe that at one point, we’d made love in that very bed.
I sighed. Bruno came back to me and nudged my hand with his nose until I scratched his head. Why was it that the right thing, the smart thing, was the thing that hurt the most?
Eventually the commotion filtering in from the rest of the house died down. Footsteps trekked to the room, and the door opened. Mackenzie stood in the doorframe, looking in with an air of apprehension.
“They’re… they’re done. They’re taking the truck to Alex’s place.”
She was going to be staying there until she found an apartment—which wouldn’t be that hard between her check and the money she was now earning through her commissioned art pieces.
I nodded. “That’s good.”
Bruno went over to her, nudging her hand with his nose. Mackenzie crouched down in front of him, petting him and running her fingers through his gray hair. Bruno gave a pitiful little whine, snuggling into her side.
“Aw, it’s okay, Brunoie,” she cooed at him. “You’re still the best pup.”
He licked her cheek; I could have sworn there was a doleful tear that slid down it before he did.
She stood up and straightened out her clothes. With a soft sigh, she looked to me.
“Well. I guess this is it.”
“Do you want a ride?” Anything to have a little more time with her.
Her eyes widened in surprise before she blinked rapidly. “Um, no. That’s all right. I was just gonna get a cab. Something quick and easy. Besides, I know all the—the divorce stuff took time away from your work. I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do.”
So much. But still…
“Yeah,” I said eventually. “Yeah, there’s a lot to do around here.”
Mackenzie nodded. We stood there awkwardly with each other. It felt so wrong… And I wouldn’t quite put my finger on why it felt wrong, just that when she came up to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, it felt like it was going to be the last time.
“Thank you for everything, Walker,” she said, looking down as she stepped away. “I’m glad I could help you out.”
?
?Yeah… yeah me too.”
And just like that… she was gone.
* * *
Three Weeks Later
“You look like shit.”
I glanced up from my computer as Grant strode in. I vaguely remembered my secretary telling me he was coming in; my attention had been steadfastly focused on the work in front of me. I couldn’t recall Grant telling me that he was coming here, and I couldn’t recall asking him to do so. How he got here, then, was a mystery.
Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to my laptop. Grant scoffed and came to seat himself on my desk, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at me.
“You haven’t been returning my calls.”
“Yeah. I’ve been busy.”
“I hear you’re not taking breaks.”