And I stand there, in my yellow dress, trying to stop the tears stinging my eyes.
33
“Are you shitting me?”
I hear Mark before I actually see him, and as soon as I do, I know this won’t be good.
“You’re moving? Seriously?”
I throw him a bored look as he barges into the store. “I sent that email over aweek ago, Mark. Where have you been?” I just assumed he was giving me the silent treatment because he was pissed. He’s childish like that.
“Don’t change the subject. Are you really—” He stops abruptly and turns on the spot, noticing for the first time that the walls are lined with nothing but empty shop fixtures.
“I am,” I say, forcing a jovial tone. I don’t feel jovial in the slightest, but there’s no way I’m letting him know that. “On to the next big thing.”
Mark’s eyes narrow to suspicious slits. “Is this because of Myles?”
There’s a shiver of displeasure along my skin at the mention of Myles’s name, and I have to fight to keep my expression pleasant. “Yes. And it was a brilliant idea. It’s about damn time.”
“You do realize you’re making a huge mistake, right?”
I perch my hands on my hips. “Really, Mark? Please, tell me how this is a huge mistake.”
“Well—” He opens and closes his mouth, glancing around, and I smirk.
“Exactly. You’re just pissed because you can’t come in here and annoy me anymore. But it’s not personal, it’s business,” I say, parroting his words from a month and a half ago back to him. Then I pause, reconsidering. “Except itispersonal, too.” I glare at him, waiting for more of his usual bullshit, but he gets very quiet, stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets and looking down at his feet.
“Don’t do this, Cat.”
I falter, surprised by the strange plea in his tone, by the way his posture has slumped. “Do what?”
“I know you’re angry with me. But… I don’t want to lose you.”
“Loseme?”
“Yeah.” There’s something in his eye that makes my stomach turn over.
“Mark,” I say uneasily.
“I always imagined we’d end up together again. One day.”
I feel my jaw unhinge as disbelief knocks me back. I actually have to grip onto the edge of the counter to steady myself. Is this some kind of joke?
He mistakes my stunned silence as an indication that I’m feeling the same way, because his mouth slants into a sleazy smile. “I always knew this was never really over. And seeing you withhimthe other night, in that dress… Come on. You know this isn’t the end.”
I absorb his words, each one like a punch in the gut. Fury pulses hot in my veins and I take a step toward him, speaking through gritted teeth. “There are a lot of things in this world that I don’t know, but if I’m certain about anything it’s that you and I will never, ever be together again.”
Mark is unmoved. “You know we were great together.”
“Yeah, so great you felt the need to cheat on me repeatedly, then start screwing my friend behind my back.”
His lip curls smugly. “What choice did I have? When a woman like Mel wants you, then—”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter. “If she’s so amazing, why are you in here telling meweare meant to be together?”
He peers at me for a second, then gives an indignant huff, straightening up. “You know what? You’re right. And you’ll never compare to her.”
“Ha! Well, thank God. You two deserve each other. Now please…” I rub my eyes and heave out a sigh. “Just go, Mark. It’s over.”
