She felt frozen in place as she watched the two of them walk toward the pub together, chatting amiably.
While Lara was constantly around, Tank typically ignored the other woman, always remaining glued to McKenna’s side. She’d stupidly thought that meant whatever feelings he’d had for Lara were gone. But now…she wasn’t so sure.
He’d said from the start he was committed to doing whatever the PR department deemed necessary to protect his career. Perhaps McKenna had overestimated just how committed he actually was.
Had he been avoiding Lara not because he was uninterested in her but because he was determined to play his role of doting boyfriend just long enough to get out of the doghouse?
McKenna’s chest grew tight, her heart starting to race—and not in a good way—because it felt as if someone had just told her that Christmas was canceled. Try as she may, she couldn’t think of any reason why Tank and Lara should be showing up together. Well, no innocent reason. Especially when Lara reached for his arm, clinging to it as if she was afraid of falling in her ridiculously high heels.
Because the bar was so crowded, Tank and Lara stopped at the entrance once they walked in, seeking out the team’s table. Even though they were standing relatively close to her, neither of them spotted her near the front window, probably because of her short stature and the fact they were aware their party would be sitting toward the back in their usual area.
Tank said something to Lara, but McKenna couldn’t hear him with his back turned toward her. However, she could hear when she raised her face to Tank, shifting too close to him.
“Thanks, lover,” Lara purred. “It’s always fun taking a ride with you.” She winked before walking toward their table.
Tank remained a few steps behind, and McKenna wondered if that was on purpose. If he was trying to make it look as if he and Lara had arrived separately.
She’d spent the last few months of her relationship with Eddie, questioning his actions and the motives behind them, driving herself insane because he’d gaslighted her into feeling like a jealous, suspicious woman, seeing things that weren’t there.
She hated that she was now doing the same thing with Tank.
God. She was the world’s biggest fool. And literally the worst judge of character when it came to men. Her track record proved it, considering she’d dated two cheaters and an emotional abuser.
Now, she was standing here, her heart cracking in two…because she’d fallen in love with a man who saw her as nothing more than a means to an end. A tool he could use to save his career. The worst part was, she’d volunteered to be that tool, then promptly let herself forget that’s exactly what she was.
Tank wasn’t the bad guy in this. He had agreed to a fake relationship and sex without strings. Nothing more, nothing less. And she’d let him believe she could handle that. Hell, she’d told herself she could handle that, because she was a stupid idiot, drunk on orgasms.
The fact that she was standing here, feeling as if her heart was being ripped to shreds, proved just how wrong she’d been.
She’d fallen in love with the wrong man.
Again.
“Here you go, Mac,” Padraig said, loud enough to capture Tank’s attention.
He grinned when he spotted her, walking over.
“There you are.” He wrapped his arm around her, giving her a curious look when she stiffened uncomfortably.
She pulled away under the pretense of reaching into her back pocket for her credit card, which she handed to Padraig. The bartender took it but hung around for a minute to congratulate Tank on the big win.
McKenna listened with half an ear as Tank chatted with Padraig about the game, her thoughts and emotions creating too much havoc for her to follow along.
“That goal in the first…” Padraig continued, describing how Tank got the momentum rolling within the first five minutes of play.
“…wouldn’t have known it from the way Coach just ripped me a new one over that high-sticking penalty in the…” Tank complained.
“…just part of the game…” Padraig commiserated.
“…couldn’t have pulled off the win without Coulton…” Tank discussed how amazing their goalie had been, stopping shot after shot.
“…might be the year the Rays go all the way…” Padraig gushed excitedly.
McKenna stood there, fighting to regulate her breathing, trying to act normal despite the fact it was taking everything she had not to fall apart.
Finally, Padraig went to run her card.
“Did you save me a seat?” Tank pressed a kiss to the side of her head. He was an affectionate man, always finding ways to touch her, always giving her those sweet kisses. She could almost convince herself the pain she was experiencing was his fault, because he played this game too fucking well.
