Four days since she'd watched him standing alone on Main Street while she drove away in an Uber.
Four days of silence.
She should feel relieved. This was what she wanted; space, distance, time to think without Mac's overwhelming presence making her brain stop working properly.
Instead, she felt... empty.
Her phone sat on the desk, accusatory. No good morning texts with photos of Puck looking judgy. No random cat updates or Pride & Prejudice observations. No texts period.
Nothing.
Which was what she'd asked for. Practically demanded, actually, in that parking lot while her voice shook and Mac looked at her like she was breaking his heart.
You need to figure out if you can actually slow down or if thisis who you are.
God, she'd been cruel. Necessary, maybe, but cruel.
Rachel's phone buzzed, and her heart leapt before she could stop it. But it wasn't Mac. Of course it wasn't Mac. She'd told him not to text her.
Sophie:I’m going to the Eagles game Friday night. You should come.
Rachel stared at the message, anxiety immediately spiking. A hockey game. Where Mac would be on the ice, doing the thing he loved most. Where the whole town would be watching. Where she'd have to see him and not talk to him because she was the one who'd created this distance.
Rachel:I don't think that's a good idea.
Sophie: Why not? You like to watch hockey, no? You live in Evergreen Cove. The Eagles are our team. Come support local sports.
Rachel:Sophie.
Sophie:Rachel. It's been four days. You can't avoid him forever. It's a small town.
Rachel:I'm not avoiding him. Space, remember?
Sophie:Space doesn't mean becoming a hermit. Come to the game. Sit with me. Ellie will be in the PT booth. Mac won't even know you're there, he'll be focused on playing. And if it's too weird, you can leave.
Rachel wanted to say no. Every instinct screamed to decline, to stay home with Mr. Darcy and a book and pretend Friday night didn't exist.
But she'd been doing that for four days already. Staying home. Avoiding places Mac might be. Taking different routes to work so she wouldn't pass the ice rink. Declining Sophie's lunch invitations because she didn't want to talk about it.
And she was miserable.
Rachel:What time?
Sophie:7 PM. I'll save you a seat. And Rachel? It'll be okay. I promise.
"Ihaven't seen the MacKenzie boy in almost a week."
Rachel looked up to find Mrs. Henderson approaching the circulation desk, her arms full of her usual romance novel selection. Mrs. Henderson missed nothing.
"He's been busy," Rachel said, forcing a professional smile.
"Hmm." Mrs. Henderson set down her books with a soft thump, her eyes far too perceptive. "You two had a falling out?"
"We're... taking some space."
"Space is what people say when they're running from something." Mrs. Henderson patted his hand, then fixed him with a look that saidthis isn't a suggestion."Rachel, dear, I've been watching you for almost half a year. You've been keeping everyone at arm's length, going through the motions of living without actually living. And then Mac MacKenzie shows up with those ridiculous flowers and you actually smiled. Really smiled, like you meant it."
"Mrs. Henderson—"
