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“I’m a little stuck right now with consultation, but I’m taking a break soon, then I can try. What do you need?”
I hesitated. This was going to sound like I cared a lot, which I’d been trying to convince myself that I didn’t, the past couple of days.
“Could you check in on Rachel Frye, Mackenzie’s sister, and let me know how the operation went? I think she went in two days ago.”
“Why don’t you call Mackenzie and find out for yourself?” Scott suggested.
“Yeah, tried that,” I said. “She won’t talk to me. She’s not answering her phone, and she’s not responding to my messages. Come on, bro, it’s not a big ask, is it?”
Scott was silent for a moment. “I really think you should keep trying to reach out to her until you get through.”
“I don’t see the point,” I said. “If she wants nothing to do with me, there isn’t much I can do about it.” I couldn’t blame Mackenzie for writing me off after what I’d done to her. Hell, I’d have written me off, too. I hated myself for how I’d cheated her out of the contract. I liked winning, but at what cost had it come this time? It had been a price I’d realized far too late I hadn’t been willing to pay.
“Just keep trying,” Scott said. “Trust me on this.”
I snorted. “Yeah, because you’re the leading authority on good relationships, huh, Mr. Single Forever?”
“Hey, just because I’m not dating doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Scott snapped. “She needs you more than you realize.”
“How would you know what she needs?”
“She’s here all the time. Do you think I don’t see her and see what’s going on with her?”
“So tell me,” I said. “What’s going on with her?”
Scott hesitated again, and that just pissed me off. If he wanted me to be the big guy, to be a hero and swoop in to save the day, he could shove it. Mackenzie was as stubborn as I was, and I doubted she wanted to see me. I wasn’t going to be that guy, pushing in there when she didn’t want me.
“If you won’t tell me how her sister is doing, that’s fine,” I said tightly. “I was just asking.”
Scott sighed. “I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.”
“Thanks,” I said and ended the call.
Fuck, I was over this shit. I hated how I felt. I hated that I was heartbroken. I should never have gotten this attached to her, allowed myself to get this involved. It was just so damn easy to love Mackenzie. I hadn’t even noticed it was happening until I was in way over my head and in love.
Stupid heart. I much preferred using my head—it didn’t get me in nearly as much shit as my heart did. Although that stunt I’d pulled with the presentation…
I shook off the thought. I wasn’t going to keep beating myself up about it. I’d made a mistake; I was suffering the consequences and it was time to pick myself up and move on.
It wasn’t like I was looking for something serious, anyway. I’d started thinking along those lines when I’d been around Mackenzie, allowing myself to envision a life where I didn’t go through all of this alone, but now that it was gone, I could go back to business as usual. I was good on my own—always had been, always would be.
I didn’t hear from Scott for the rest of the day, and I dismissed the idea completely. If he didn’t want to help me out, then fine. I wasn’t allowed to find out information directly from the hospital since I wasn’t part of the family, but I could live without knowing, I guess. I just hoped that it had all gone well, for Mackenzie’s sake.
Stop thinking about it and put her in the past.It was the only way I would be able to move forward.
When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed Scott’s car at the end of my line of expensive collectibles. I frowned and got out, and Scott did the same.
“How long have you been sitting here?”
“About five minutes,” Scott said. “I figured you’d be here soon.”
I nodded and gestured toward the house so Scott would follow me inside.
We walked into the house, and I made a beeline for the bar.
“Rough day?” Scott asked, his eyebrows raised when I didn’t bother pouring myself one or two fingers of whiskey but filled the tumbler up to the top.
“Saves me having to refill the damn thing,” I said and sipped the whiskey. “What can I get you?”
