Page 73 of The Playboy SEAL
The wedding ceremony makes me cry, and I’m a blubbering mess as it concludes. Carina and Smith are this picture of stunning love simplified and magnified at the same time. She hugs me tightly in greeting as they make their rounds. There are already people bustling around, folding the chairs and putting them away.
Carina pulls back to look at me and says, “I’m so happy.” Her words are watered down now, too. How can you choose the proper words at a time when mere words aren’t enough?
I nod and sniffle. “I want to be happy,” I whisper in reply.
“Then be it,” she says. Carina nods hello to Dr. Rhodes and finds Smith standing next to his friends. She links her arm through his and leans her head to rest on his shoulder.
I know Macs is over there just from the sheer size of the men in the group.
I turn back to my date. “Everyone is heading to the restaurant for dinner. I think I would rather go home,” I explain.
“Would or should?” he asks.
I smile. “I’m not paying you right now. You’re my friend! Don’t ask me vague, introspective questions.”
He laughs, and his eyes crinkle in the corner. The sight makes me smile. I’m finally okay. This is okay. Even if I have to see Macs, I’ll live.
A male clears their throat behind me. I read it on Dr. Rhodes’s face. He knows who it is. His smile fades, but it doesn’t vanish completely. His eyes narrow as he studies Macs. Perhaps he’s finally sticking every story I’ve ever told him to the person it belongs with. It’s fun to watch, but I know what I need to do.
“Teala,” Macs says.
My name is all it takes for my body to respond. Every hair on my skin stands on end, and flutters invade my stomach—like little Stormtroopers readying for a battle no one wins.
I smile at the doctor and give him a wink to let him know I can handle this without hysterics, and spin to face Macs. His smile doesn’t mirror mine. Not even close. “Well, ifit isn’t Macallister Newstead? How are you? It’s been so long,” I exclaim, keeping my posture relaxed and my smile wide.
His neck works as he swallows, and his eyes flick to the side. “Oh, I’m so rude. This is…” My voice wavers. Do I admit I brought my shrink as my date? How crazy would that look?
Dr. Rhodes strides forward and extends his hand toward Macs. “I’m Salvatore,” Dr. Rhodes says, saving me from any and all embarrassment. “It’s so good to meet you.”
I knew his first name by proxy of the bills I finally looked at, but I have never referred to him that casually. I owe this man a lot. Macs grabs his hand, and they shake, Macs eyeing him up and down more than once.
“Nice to meet you,” Macs replies as they’re separating. “I’m Macs,” he adds as an afterthought.
“Teala, I’ll go get the car, okay?” Salvatore says, smiling.
He doesn’t shrink away from the massive bulk of Macs, even though he’s probably half his size. Confidence comes in all shapes, I muse. Nodding, I mouth a quick thank you out of sight of everyone else. I watch as Dr. Rhodes runs up the grassy hill toward the parking lot. A light breeze picks up my hair as I turn to face him.
“New boyfriend?” Macs asks.
I shrug. “Someone I talk to from time to time,” I reply, twisting my hands in front of me. “You look good.”
The excuse I’ve needed to let my gaze flick from head to toe. He’s dressed in a crisp button-down shirt and dark navy dress slacks. He’s so handsome hemakes my mouth water. I wish I could take a photo so I could look at him longer than is socially acceptable in person.
Macs shoves his hands in his pockets and looks to the left. “Thanks,” he mutters. He looks tired, his face a little more weathered than the last time I saw him. “I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“I don’t like this,” I reply.
He quirks an eyebrow. “What? The space between us or the small talk?”
I shake my head, smiling. “You never should have come over that day. Do you know how many times I’ve gone over that scenario? If you’d stayed away for longer and I had time to heal first? What if right now was the first time you saw me again? I wish I could erase that day and the things I said. I couldn’t see past my nose.” Things happen for a reason. The reason is usually that you’ve made a choice. He made the choice to visit me, and I made a choice I had no hand in. “Did you ever get any other emails from me?”
He shakes his head but doesn’t meet my gaze. “I didn’t. Just the one, and even that was too little, too late. I’m sorry,” he says.
“You were busy. It’s fine.” I wave him off. “Someone has to save the world.”
He glances behind him, over his shoulder.
I shudder. “Did you come with someone?”
