He moved toward the door, glancing over his shoulder one more time to take in the beauty of a sleeping Macie. Only she wasn’t sleeping. She was wide awake with her hurt feelings on rare display over her face. Zac’s hand fell from the doorknob as he turned to face her. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to, he could read it on her face. She knew he was bolting on her. He never in his life would’ve thought she’d be hurt by it.
Macie stood, letting the sheet fall from her naked body. Zac’s gaze took in every inch of her in the morning sun. How could he just walk out on this beautiful woman without an explanation? He loathed himself for it and despised himself more for still wanting to leave. Macie didn’t say anything as she strolled toward him, completely unashamed of her exposed skin. Even that was a turn on. A woman confident in who she was and how she looked had been on his checklist for a very long time. And here she was in front of him as he was ready to run out the door. Macie didn’t stop until they were toe-to-toe. Her head tilted back and her eyebrows crinkled together. Zac swallowed hard.
“Mace.” His voice burned through his dry throat.
Macie didn’t answer with words but with her mouth on his neck.
Zac weakened under her gentle touch, but he fisted his hands together and forced his arms to stay locked at his sides. “Macie, stop.”
She pulled back and stared up at him. Tears filled her eyes before falling down her heated cheeks. She pursed her lips and nodded. Her voice cracked around each word. “It meant nothing to you?”
He never thought Macie would show any emotion other than disgust or anger, but she laid it out in front of him with five little words. “That’s .... Yes, it meant something.”
“But not enough for you to face me this morning,” she said, nodding again and stepping back until he could see her entire body. “Just another notch in your bedpost.”
“Jesus, Macie, that’s not true. I’m not like that.” Zac wanted to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness, but he had no reason to. Macie wasn’t more than a friend at best. This was just a colossal mistake. Why couldn’t she see that?
“Then what was it, Zac?” She put her hands on her hips, her fiery attitude returning on full blaze. “If that wasn’t another fuck for you, what was it?”
He didn’t know what to say to that. Macie had always been brutal in her honesty, but this hit him in the gut. “I don’t know,” he answered, because he didn’t.
“Seriously?” She threw her hands above her head. “Well, I’ll tell you what it was. It was perfect. It was fantastic. And it clearly meant more to me than to you. I thought... It doesn’t fucking matter what I thought. You’re still the selfish asshole I met freshman year.”
“That’s not fair,” Zac snapped.
“It’s not?” Macie closed the distance again. Her anger shook her entire body. “Then why are you leaving? Why were you going to take off without saying a word?”
“Because I’m in love with somebody else,” he said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
She wanted to know who. In her head, she demanded to know. But there wasn’t any point. The only person she’d fooled was herself, and poorly at that.
“I’m sorry,” Zac said. He had enough shame to duck his head, but she didn’t want that.
“Look at me,” she said. When he didn’t, her anger exploded. “Grow some fucking balls and look at me.”
Zac’s head snapped up and he met her gaze.
“Does she know?” Macie asked. She fought every urge to cry, to be that stereotypical girl that the media loved to play up.
Zac averted his gaze once again. “Can you put some clothes on? This is a little distracting.”
Macie rolled her eyes. Her body was good enough for him last night. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a t-shirt that hung to the top of her thighs. “Better?”
Zac glanced toward her and winced. “Not really.”
“Whatever. Just answer my question. Does she know?” Macie resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest.
“Is this really appropriate conversation?” Zac rubbed the back of his neck. “Considering.”
“Considering what? The fact that we fucked?” Macie smiled as he winced again. He was such a prude sometimes. “What else do you want me to call it, Zac? It wasn’t making love. Obviously.”
“I don’t know.” He reached for the door again. “I should really go.”
“Running away? That’s so like you.” Macie knew she was being a bitch, but she couldn’t stop herself.
“Stop it, Chomper,” Zac said with the same poisonous tone.
“Look, you regret something that I don’t. We’ve established that.” Macie backed away from him and sat in her wingback in the most unladylike position possible. She threw one leg over the arm of the chair, completely exposing herself. “You’ve seen me at my best and my worst. Just answer the damn question.”
“No,” he said. Zac shook his head and leaned against the door.
“No, you won’t answer me? Or no, she doesn’t know?” Macie’s hope soared.
“She doesn’t know,” Zac muttered.
“Why?” Macie fought the smile building inside her.
“I haven’t exactly met her yet.” Zac’s cheeks blazed a brilliant red.
It was her. Internet her, but her nonetheless. She wasn’t sure until he admitted it. Telling him now was out of the question. The timing couldn’t be worse. So she’d have to do this a little differently. “Excuse me?”
He closed his eyes. “You know that app Lauren and Ford created?”
“Lauren created. Not Ford. And yes, I did the graphics remember?”
“I met her on there.”
“But you haven’t actually met her.”
“No.”
“Again I ask why?” Macie closed her legs and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Maybe this
