Page 15 of Best Man Speaking

I need him to let go.

Lifting my eyes toward his, I notice they no longer seem as cold or as hard. It might be a trick of the light, but if anything, they burn with a banked heat.

“We should really catch up at some point, just the two of us.”

I pull my arm back, dropping both hands into my lap. I rub where he’d been holding, as if I could massage his touch away. The first touch between us in the better part of a decade. As concerned as I might be for my own welfare, I don’t miss the way Marcus’s jaw stiffens at my actions. As if knowing he’s crossed a line, he shifts again ever so slightly, and the space he’d taken up a moment ago widens.

“Can I get back to you on that?” I ask. “I’ve got a lot going on at the moment.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I have four weeks here, time off to specifically deal with my life. Four weeks until his brother’s wedding, where we have to act under the pretense of getting along—at least in front of others.

His face is back to neutral, the getting-along-in-public face that’s only managed to break character once so far. “Of course. You just let me know what works for you.”

You would’ve thought he was talking to a work colleague—just the amount of impartial distance I want and need.

He looks down at his phone on the table, a small frown line taking up residence between his brows, and I make my decision quickly. I tell myself it’s so we can be around each other more easily for the sake of organizing the joint bachelor and bachelorette party.

“Okay, well, I don’t want to hold you up—just give me a call later. I’m sure Julian will be able to give you my number. He’s always known how to get in touch.” I don’t completely mean to say it as a parting shot, but that’s exactly what it sounds like as the words leave my mouth.

Both Marcus and I know there’s always been a way for him to reach out to me, and he never chose to do so. There’s the past, the present, and the truth to be considered between the two of us, and there’s no point pretending otherwise.

Chapter Four

Marcus

Hallie reaches for her laptop, and I don’t move to stop her.

In fact, it takes all my self-preservation skills to maintain my current look of ease.

However, I’m not controlled enough to stop my jaw from clenching at her cavalier tone, laced with the barest hint of disdain.

Yes, Julian had always known how to get in touch with her. It was information never given to me freely, and the one time it had been on the table at all, it’d been too late. A fact Hallie is thankfully unaware of.

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to give me your number if I sayplease,” I respond mildly.

Hallie’s less than impressed, but I’m happy to have her undivided attention. “It’s probably a word you could do with extra time practicing,” she quips.

Her hands have remained draped over her laptop, and I’m happy to see she hasn’t pulled them away like she did earlier; if anything, she’s leaning forward.

I push past my own discomfort. “Would you like to hear me say please, Hal?”

Her deep blue eyes narrow on me, her chin lifting just slightly; she won’t be backing down. It’s one of the traits I like best about her.

The corners of her lips tilt up. “Only if you’re begging.”

I press my index finger into my lower lip, and her eyes track it, snared completely. I refrain from smirking like the cocky ass I know I can be. Nothing exists right now but Hallie and me, and the feeling is heady. It’s a feeling I’ve missed.

“Preferably on my knees?” I brace my elbows on the small table, brows raised, awaiting her response.

Hallie eyes me. “Are you offering?”

I know she’s most likely thinking of a scenario where I’m begging not to have my balls chopped off, but I take us in a more fun direction. “I can think of a few scenarios where I’d happily beg, Hal, regardless of which one of us is on their knees.”

A small smirk touches her lips, but it’s fleeting. The softness disappears instantly, leaving me with each of her defenses back in place. Her cool, disinterested gaze hits hardest.

“I don’t think that’d be conducive to us helping out with the wedding.” She hasn’t moved, but the change in her demeanor feels like a physical step back.

---