“You don’t even know?” He laughs incredulously. “Of fucking course you don’t.”
“Noah, talk to me,” I demand. “What did I do?”
“Do you know you’ve been cuddled up with him all night?” I frown at his venomous words, his eyes shooting daggers at me as I stare. “You’re at a table with your peers and team, and you’ve completely ignored them forhim.”
“Conan?” I frown. “We were just talking?—”
“All night.” His head tilts down as he glares at me so strongly, I shiver. I love Noah’s dominant side just as much as I love his caring side. In fact, I sometimes piss him off just to rile him up like this. “This is a work dinner. You shouldn’t be flirting like that.”
“Skylar and Bones flirt all night, and so do Evan and Alek. Why is it a problem if I do?” I mutter.
“So you were flirting?” he hisses.
I stare into his dark eyes, and something hopeful unfurls in my chest. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” he scoffs, looking away. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just annoyed that my team member isn’t behaving appropriately.”
That hope dies, and I swallow the pain, growing annoyed.
“I’m not on the clock right now, and I’m not at work. Whoever I drink and talk with outside of work is none of your concern. You don’t mind if it’s any of them, so why do you care when it’s me?” He doesn’t answer, so I step closer. “I think you’re jealous. You’ve been glaring at Conan all night.” He doesn’t speak, so I move closer until I’m pressed against his chest. His eyes flare as he looks down at me. I can smell the distinctive scent that is Noah—metal and oil mixed with something darker, something that never fails to make me hard.
My eyes drop to his lips as I recall how he devoured me, backing me into a wall like he couldn’t get enough.
It was the best kiss of my life, and he doesn’t remember it.
“I think you’re jealous. Admit it. Say it and I’m yours,” I state. I tried to be patient, and I’ve made myself clear, but none of it worked,so I’m being direct now. I want Noah. I have since I first saw him on my screen when I was a teenager, before I knew what that meant.
“I am not jealous,” he retorts as he pushes me back a step, “nor do I want you to be mine, Mackie. How many times have we had this discussion?”
“Liar,” I murmur as I look from his lips to his eyes, almost pleading with him to admit the truth. “Just say it. Just admit why you’re so angry right now.”
He pushes me, and I stumble backwards.
“Stop it. You’re just a kid. You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Noah snaps, and my teeth grind.
I always bite back these words on the tip of my tongue, but I decide I’m sick of holding back. “I’m a kid? I’m a fucking adult, Noah, and it’s about time you started treating me like one.” His eyes flare for a moment. “When are you going to see what’s right in front of you?”
“When are you going to fucking listen to me?” he yells. “I don’t want to date you. I don’t want you, Mackie, so stop reading more into this than what it is. You’re an employee to me, nothing else. You never will be, so stop imagining things that aren’t real just because you want it.”
When he’s finished, he’s panting, and my heart lies in splinters.
Sky told me to never give up. I thought I was finally getting somewhere after we kissed, but I was wrong.
I’m so fucking tired of my heart hurting, of wanting someone who is determined to push me away. I’m so fucking tired of being made to feel like shit by the person I love most in the world. I feel myself shutting down as I stare at him. He’s right. I can’t keep doing this. It isn’t fair to either of us. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable at work, and I can’t keep holding out for someone who will never be mine.
It hurts too much.
“I apologize, sir. It won’t happen again.” My voice is cold as I try to stop my aching heart from shattering in my chest. Whatever I thought was between us is over.
“Mackie, wait—” He reaches for me, but I turn away and rip thedoor open. He calls my name again as I walk to the table. I grab my bag and force a smile onto my face as everyone stops to look at me.
“I have a headache, so I’m heading home. Thanks for today. Great job, everyone.”
“I’ll drive you,” Noah mutters as he grabs his coat.
“No need, sir. I will find my own way.” Nodding at everyone, I refuse to look at Noah as I hurry outside, grab a taxi, and get the hell out of there before I break down.
Noah doesn’t want me, and maybe he never did. It’s time I stopped trying to make him.
