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Oh.
“No. No problem.” My lips pull into a thin line to keep from frowning. I turn on my heel and head toward the gray brick building for my next class.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” he calls.
Annoyed, I face him again and sigh. “What?”
He catches up to me, his stride long and confident as a laughing couple walks around me, their fingers entwined. They look so happy. So at ease. So…natural.
“You lonely, Kate?” Mack asks, his deep voice snapping me back to the present.
“What?”
“I asked if you’re lonely.” His gaze is soft, as if he knows how weighted his question is, but his stance is relaxed. Like we’re discussing the weather instead of something pretty damn personal and intimate.
I shake my head, refusing to analyze his question or how close it hits to home. “What kind of a question is that?”
“A pretty simple one.” He takes a sip of his coffee and steps closer, pinning me with his curious stare. “Are. You. Lonely?”
“Of course not.”
“You sure?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“I dunno.” With a shrug, he rocks back on his heels and takes another sip of coffee, the cool wind leaving the top of his dark brown hair tousled. But his eyes? They never stray from mine. I swear he can see into my soul with those bad boys. And I’m too weak to break the connection. Too weak to turn away and get the hell out of here. Too curious about what could happen if I don’t.
“Maybe I’m thinking we’re kindred spirits,” he murmurs.
“Kindred spirits who are lonely despite having amazing friends who would kill for us?”
The guy has to see how ridiculous he sounds. Hell, I know his brother. I’ve heard of how sweet his mom is. How much she cares about him. Not to mention my family. My friends. Honestly, even Colt and Theo would take a bullet for me, and we aren’t very close.
How dare he ask me if I’m lonely? I mean, sure, I miss intimacy. Even the platonic kind. But it doesn’t mean I’m lonely. I have plenty of great friends. Plenty of people who love me and would do anything for me. I mean, yeah, I’ve been busy, and they’ve been preoccupied with their own lives. But that’s normal, isn’t it? We all have our own stuff to deal with, and life gets busy. It’s no one’s fault.
If anything, it’s mine. I’m the one who’s been distracted. Preoccupied. Distant.
It’s on me. Not my friends.
Yup. It’s official. The guy’s delusional. But if that’s the case, why do I kind of feel like crying all of a sudden?
Wowza.
I blink away the moisture in my eyes as Mack steps closer, analyzing my expression like a seasoned detective. The heat from his chest practically melts me on the spot, but I don’t step away.
I should.
I know I should.
No one’s ever called me out like this. No one’s ever been so blunt with me. Whenever people ask how I’m doing or if I’m okay, I tell them I’m good. And I am. On paper, I’m fine. Mentally, though? Emotionally? It’s complicated. And having someone like Macklin Taylor see through my façade so quickly while offering a sense of camaraderie is…overwhelming. Really overwhelming.
As is his presence. I lift my head, peeking at him and those blue eyes.
Blue. Blue. Blue.
I never knew blue could be warm.
Inviting.
