“I’ll be fine. It’s still light out.”
“I’ll walk you.”
Walking away from him, I yell over my shoulder and the Thomas Rhett song now playing. “No thank you. I’ll be fine.”
He yells back, “Meet you by the door after you’ve said your goodbyes.”
Great.
The group is standing near the bar, watching us. Miles gets to them before me. I do my best to ignore him and focus on the girls as I tell them goodbye.
“Rachel, it was great to meet you, and I hope your trip is amazing. I really appreciate you including me tonight, but I’m gonna head home.”
“Thank you for coming. I know you weren’t really in the mood.” She smiles, pulling me into a hug. “Give him a shot. I think you’ll be surprised to find he won’t let you down.” She gives me a squeeze, and when she pulls back, she gives me a wink and motions toward the door with her head. “Someone’s waiting for you.”
Sure enough, Miles is at the exit leaning against the wall.
Not sure what else to say to her, I wish her and Reece safe travels waving at the rest of the group and apprehensively cross the bar. Before I reach him, he pushes the door open with one arm and wordlessly ushers me through with his free hand.
There aren’t any words exchanged on the walk home, but the way he takes my hand, linking my fingers with his and not letting go until we reach the front door clearly says he’s not giving up. He stands with his hands in his pockets with no intention of moving.
“It was really nice of you to walk me home,” I say, staring intently on the keyhole while I unlock the door. Anything not to look at the eyes I avoided all the way here. “I’m sure they’re waiting for you, though, so good night and thanks again.”
“Why did you wear that dress tonight?”
Shit.
“Why, what’s wrong with this dress?”
I’m playing stupid, but I don’t know what else to say or do.
“Mase, give me a break.”
“Listen, thanks again. Have a good…”
He cuts me off. “Let’s just stop with all of the bullshit, shall we?”
“What bullshit? I’m just saying good night.”
“Why did you wear the dress you were wearing the first time I made love to you?”
I stare at my feet, feeling what I don’t know.
“Were you trying to hurt me even more than you already had?”
“I didn’t think you’d notice.”
“I notice everything about you, Mason.”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t even gonna go, but the girls showed up and dug through my closet, and this is what they threw at me to put on.”
“You had no control over what you wore tonight? You’re trying to blame the girls for wearing something you knew would have an impact?”
“I guess I didn’t give it much thought.”
“You did too, and you know what?”
“What?”