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I look back at Mack. He’s standing there with his hands on his hips. Whoa. That’s not a good sign.
“I need a word with you,” he says.
“Okay…”
“That guy,” and he points briefly at the disappearing Huxley, “is so in love with you that he’s prepared to jump off a fucking building. He’s absolutely terrified. And I’m not going to let him put himself through this unless you tell me right now that you’re prepared to follow through with the bet. If he does, if he jumps, are you going to do it?”
I’m so shocked that I can only stare at him. “He told you about our bet?”
“Yeah. And I think it’s fucking crazy, but hey, whatever makes the two of you pull your heads out of your arses and get your act together.”
I glare at him. “He’s not in love with me. He just wants to get in my knickers.”
“Elizabeth, for fuck’s sake, stop it. You’ve led him on for ten years. It’s time you brought this to an end, one way or another.”
Fury blows through me like a Saharan wind. “What are you talking about? I didn’t tell him to ask me out every month! I’ve repeatedly turned him down, but he’s so fucking stubborn that he won’t give up.”
“He won’t give up because he’s crazy about you. He always has been. And I know you feel the same way. Shut up—you’re going to listen to this. At any point you could have taken him to one side and told him to stop. But you haven’t—you’ve teased him and flirted with him, and kept him hanging on.”
A sudden rush of emotion tightens my throat. “That’s not true.” But it stings because it is true, of course.
“I understand why you’re frightened,” he says, a bit more gently. “Hux explained what Tim and Steve did.”
My face burns. “I told him not to tell you.”
“He told us because he knew we’d understand. He loves you, and he’s furious that a guy would dare to treat you like that. So yeah, I get why you’re reluctant to get involved with anyone. You know what he told me yesterday? He said he knows he contributed to your broken heart, that he put the first crack in it.”
I swallow hard.
“Elizabeth… what happened ten years ago… Do you think yours was the only heart that was broken?”
I stare at him.
“He was devastated to lose you,” Mack says. “The night before he told you, we went out to a bar, and he spent the whole evening talking about you while he slowly emptied a bottle of whisky.”
“I didn’t know,” I whisper.
“He felt that he didn’t have a choice.” He looks over at the building, then back at me. “Look, I need to get in there with him. But like I said, I’m not going to let him put himself through this if at the last minute you say no. You have every right to turn him down, of course you do. It’s a stupid bet, and it’s your prerogative to say you’ve changed your mind. But if you’re going to do it, do it now. Because I swear, if he does this, if he faces his fear and does the fucking jump, and then you refuse to carry it through, I’m never going to talk to you again.”
“He won’t do it, Mack. He hyperventilates if he stands up too quickly. He’s never going to jump off the Sky Tower.”
His eyes gleam. “He will, because I’m going to fucking push him off, if it comes to it. So tell me, are you in? Or are you out?”
My mind has gone blank. He really thinks Huxley will go through with this? I can’t believe it. But I suppose there is a miniscule chance. So, if he were to do it, what would I do?
“He won’t jump,” I say. “Which means he’ll donate for me. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“That’s not an answer. If he does, will you give him the one night he wants?”
I meet his eyes. His right is blue—his left is a peculiar mix of blue, green, and brown, like the planet Earth. They’re slightly feverish. He has ADHD, and he’s always like this when he’s feeling hyper.
“Of course,” I say, surprising myself. “I wouldn’t back out if he did it. That wouldn’t be fair. I do know what he’s putting himself through. I just don’t believe he wants me that much. I think he’s going to get up there and realize he’s made a huge mistake, and it was all for show, and he’ll back out and come down all sheepish.”
“I’d ask for it in writing,” he says, “but there’s not enough time.”
“All right.” I’m annoyed now. “Let’s get this over with, one way or another.”
He backs away. “I’m holding you to it,” he says, pointing at me. Then he turns and strides across to the building.
