AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good for you. I wish you all the happiness and luck in the world,” Hope said.
“Thanks. Wow. Goodness. I just realized I’m the third wheel on this date. I really should leave you two alone,” he said.
“No. Stay. Finish your drink,” Hope said.
“Yes. Stay,” I said, though that was the last thing I wanted the man to do.
“I really should get going. I have an early meeting in the morning. It was wonderful to catch up with you two. Maybe we should do it for real when I’m back in town,” he said.
“That would be wonderful,” Hope said.
“Let us know when you are, and we can set it up. Safe travels, Bash,” I said.
It wasn’t the kindest way to brush him off, but it seemed the easiest. While what he was saying told me that he was okay with the change in his and Hope’s relationship status, the way he was looking at her and his body language was telling me something else. The sooner he was away from Hope the better off I would feel.
“Will do. Enjoy the rest of your evening,” Bash said as he slid off of his chair.
When he vacated the chair, I moved in and sat down. Hope eyed me and took a sip of her water. I leaned toward the bartender as he approached and ordered a glass of Macallan Scotch and asked if Hope wanted another drink, she hesitated for a second before nodding that she did.
“You aren’t going to drink a glass of your namesake?” Hope asked after the bartender left.
“They don’t have it here, plus, I’m more of a Macallan fan.”
Most people either forgot or didn’t know that I was named after MacKinlay Scotch, not Macallan. Hope had never forgotten and was one of the few people, besides my mother, who called me by my full name.
“I’m surprised you’re a Scotch fan at all.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s good stuff,” I said and lifted my glass in toast after the bartender put it down.
Hope thanked the bartender, Maria, for her glass of wine and took a sip. I liked that Hope had taken the time to learn the bartender’s name, though it didn’t surprise me. It only added to all the things that I liked about Hope. Though I couldn’t think of a single thing that I didn’t.
“Cheers.”
“What are we toasting?” she asked as she lifted her glass towards mine.
“To us and our new relationship.”
“Mac, that was very sweet of you to come in and help me out like that but we both know you and I aren’t dating.”
“You’re right. Let me buy you that drink and we can talk about it?”
“Thank you, but I’m more than capable of buying my own drink.”
I had never seen her upset with anyone, not even me. As I saw her green eyes get a little darker and her breathing get a little labored in her frustrations, I saw just how sexy she could be, even when she was mad at me.
“Fair enough. You can buy.”
“What the hell were you thinking saying that to Bash. The way he was going off about it being a secret he’s going to tell it to the first tabloid who will give him anything for the information.”
“He wouldn’t do that. Would he?”
It explained why he was so unaffected by Hope and my announcement. He thought he could get something more from the gossip than being with Hope. To me, nothing was better than being with Hope.
“The man was just pushed aside by a woman who he was considering moving in with by, well, you. I don’t think he took it as well as he let on,” she said and shook her head at me.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke. I could see you were having some issues with Bash, and I just wanted to help you out. I take it he thought the evening was something more than you did?”
“Yes, but I was handling it just fine on my own.”
