Guy turned away and glanced out the window.
Macie couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t fucking believe it.
Zac Sparks.
Of all the people in the world, she had been flirting with Zac fucking Sparks.
Macie turned on her heel and headed back toward her apartment, dropping the rose in the trash along the way.
ZAC CHECKED THE TIME on his watch again. She was almost fifteen minutes late. He’d done some work while he waited, running numbers and planning Ford’s investments. And he’d checked the Blind Friends app every minute to see if she’d canceled on him or at least messaged to say she was running late.
As much as he hated to admit it, Zac knew he’d been stood up. It had been foolish, childish even for him, to dream that he’d meet his future partner over a stupid app. It wasn’t like he didn’t have time to find someone. It wasn’t like he was pushing fifty and still single with no family. He was twenty-two. He wasn’t bad looking. What if she thought he was? What if she glanced through the windows and took one look at him then left? Zac didn’t think that would happen. She wasn’t that shallow.
The door opened, and he steeled himself as he looked for a rose. The woman who walked in didn’t have one, but she did have something. A serious attitude problem. Macie was the last person he wanted to see. She turned toward the dining room and caught his gaze. Zac expected to see the usual hate mixed with anger, but her shoulders drooped as if resigned. She held her head high and strolled over to him.
“Can we talk?” She sat down, glaring at the rose on the table. She picked it up and twirled it between her fingers. “Or am I interrupting something?”
Zac reached out and plucked it from her fingers. “What do you want, Macie?”
“We need to plan the party.” Her gaze glanced at the rose still in Zac’s hand. He pulled it under the table, away from her prying eyes. “How’s she going to know it’s you now? Or is she late?”
“We can meet this weekend. Preferably Saturday afternoon,” Zac said, ignoring her question and the rising bile in his throat. “I’m taking Dad to the club in the morning.”
“How’s he doing?” Macie rested her elbows on the table.
“Fine. It wasn’t anything major.” Not that you’d care. Zac searched Macie’s face for any sign of insincerity. He was surprised to find the opposite. “Thanks for asking.”
Macie smiled, but it looked more like a grimace. “I have to work on Saturdays. It would have to be in the evening. Same for Sundays. Right now my Mondays and Tuesdays are open.” She bobbed her head. “That might change, though.”
Zac squeezed the rose in his hand, the thorns biting against his skin. “Saturday evening would be fine. Where do you want to meet? Here? Crafts? Some place else?”
Macie bit her lip. “Sure you won’t have a hot date? I mean, the suave Zac Sparks has never had a Saturday free since I’ve known him. Or were you so confident that you never expected to be stood up tonight?”
“Pretty sure I’m free.” Zac leaned in, glancing at the spot where she’d sucked her lip into her mouth. “And to answer your smartass question, I was supposed to meet someone. Said someone did not show. Does that make you feel superior? I know it’s killing you not to laugh. And I know it’s killing you not to make a sarcastic comment. So just get it out, Macie.”
She sat back in her seat. Her mouth stuck open as if he’d just slapped her across the face. “Is that really what you think of me? That I’m that big of a bitch?”
Zac couldn’t believe it. Macie actually looked hurt. Guilt welled in his chest, but he pushed it down. She’d never been nice to him, never bothered to get to know him. Yeah, they’d gotten off on the wrong foot, but that was four years ago. They’d both grown. They’d both matured. Well, he had, but that wasn’t the point. “No, I—”
“Just forget it. It doesn’t matter, anyway. Once the wedding’s over, we’ll never have to see each other again.” She stood from the chair and pushed it in. “It would be easiest to meet at my place. Then I don’t have to lug everything with me. I’ll text you the address.”
Zac didn’t stand. He didn’t try to stop her as she walked away. Why would he? She was right. They could finally be done with each other soon enough. Out of each other’s lives except for the occasional meeting at Ford and Lauren’s. That didn’t stop him from feeling like a jerk. Zac normally kept his composure. He was always polite, respectful, and kept his opinions to himself for the most part. One of the first things his father taught him was how to walk the line. But when it came to Macie Regan, he had a hard time holding back.
He pulled the rose out from under the table and stared at the petals. Thoughts of Macie disappeared as he wondered what happened to his mystery girl. Every natural and unnatural possibility floated through his mind. There was one that he hated to admit, but it was the most likely scenario. She’d stood him up.
Zac dropped the rose on the table along with a twenty to pay for his drink and the waitress’s time.
He’d give her until tomorrow to message him. Then he’d delete his profile and the app completely. He’d be done with her. Then he could move on with his
