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“If she’s carrying around guilt for hurting you—” I begin.
“She’s not,” he snaps. “You don’t know anything about it, so just leave it.” I wish he’d open up and talk to me about it. After a few silent, awkward minutes, he stands. “I gotta go.” I nod sadly. I can’t force him to talk, but I hate the ache it causes in my chest when he gets like this and runs away.
* * *
When I get back to the club after work, I head straight for the kitchen. Frankie looks up from her stool as I place a bag full of groceries on the table. “What’s all that?”
I smile. “I thought I’d make Mac dinner tonight.”
“How come?” She pulls the bag closer and inspects the contents, raising her eyebrows with approval. “Steak? Nice.”
“Because he’s been really good to me lately, and I think he’s having a hard time.”
“You need any help?”
I shake my head. I haven’t cooked a good meal in a very long time, but I want to do it for Mac. Frankie smiles as she passes me to leave. “Shout if you need anything.”
“Actually, there is one thing. Do you think you could help Eva set up the table on my balcony? She got really excited and started talking about romance and stuff. I don’t wanna send him the wrong signals. I think she even ran off to find fairy lights.” Frankie laughs, nodding as she disappears to find her.
Once the vegetables are cooked and the steak is resting, I rush upstairs to shower quickly and change into something more comfortable. The women did a great job setting a table up on my balcony, although I blew out the candle in the centre and rolled my eyes at the fairy lights strung around the plant. I hate to think what it would have looked like if Frankie hadn’t stepped in.
I go and get the food and lay it on the table, covering the dishes and rushing off to find Mac. I knock on his bedroom door and wait a few minutes. I can hear him inside talking, and think maybe he’s on the phone, so I knock louder. This time, I hear him curse before he rips the door open and stands before me in a towel with a scowl on his face. I spot Kiera lying on the bed naked and wince at my shitty timing. “Sorry, it’s not important.”
Mac’s face pales slightly and his scowl softens and transforms into what looks like regret. His mouth opens likehe’s about to say something, but I don’t give him a chance. I rush back to my room, my face burning with embarrassment. I pace, running through excuses as to why I needed to see him, just in case he asks. Then, I spot the domes of food waiting to be uncovered and I groan. I lift the first and look around for somewhere to hide it, but the door opens, and Mac stares at me. He’s got jeans on this time. His eyes fall to the dome, and he curses again.
“I was coming to ask for advice,” I say quickly, “about how Brick would like his steak. See, Frankie said medium, but then I panicked and thought maybe he’s not a medium kind of guy. Do you know how he takes it?”
“Brick?” he repeats. It’s the first name that came into my head. He’s single, and if I’d have said Vinn, Mac would have gotten mad. I sigh. I should have said Vinn—it’s more believable.
“Yeah. I heard steak was his favourite.”
“Christ, you’re moving on quick.”
“You said I should forget Vinn,” I say, shrugging.
“I know but, Brick, really?”
“I mean, it was just an idea. A stupid one. If you’re free, maybe you could,” I stare at the dome and then the table. I’m so glad I blew the candle out.
He looks uncomfortable, and I immediately regret asking. “It’s just, I’ve got Kiera and—”
I nod, smiling wide and cutting him off mid-sentence. This shit is embarrassing and painful enough without him going into details. “Of course. Sorry. Go and finish . . . her . . .” I turn away, cringing at my choice of words.
“You want me to find Brick?”
I shake my head. Fuck, that’s the last thing I want. I wait for him to leave before taking a seat and pulling the cork from the bottle of red wine. I don’t even think he drinks wine—what fucking biker drinks wine? I sigh and pour myself a large glass, taking several big mouthfuls and then refilling. I lift the lid on the dome and pop a potato wedge into my mouth. I’m such a loser.
There’s a knock on the door, and I pray to God it isn’t Brick. I’m relieved when I find Eva there. “I just saw Mac and Kiera together. What happened to having dinner?”
I open the door wider, and she follows me onto the small balcony. “I just assumed he’d be free. Stupid, really.”
I refill my glass and then offer her the bottle. She tops up the other glass. “Oh. Maybe if you tell him, he might come and eat with you.”
“A pity date, no thanks.”
“I thought this wasn’t a date,” she says, grinning.
“It’s not . . . I mean, I just wanted him to open up a little.”
