Her silence cuts deep.
I open my mouth, ready to put an end to this farce, when Rina beats me to the punch.
“Oliver, your date seems lonely.” She tips her chin toward Gabby, who’s waving from across the room.
“She’s not my date,” I grind out, but the excuse sounds weak even to my own ears.
Rina’s mouth curves slightly as emotion flickers behind her expression.
Sadness?
Regret?
Resignation?
Whatever it is, I don’t like it.
Not one damn bit.
The moment stretches until it turns awkward.
Unless I’m willing to cause a scene, there’s nothing more I can do. And as tempting as the idea is, it’ll only push Rina further away when all I want to do is pull her closer.
Fuck.
I do the hardest thing I’ve ever done and walk away. Every step back to my table has my muscles coiling tighter.
Gabby’s voice greets me before I drop onto my chair. “Who was that?”
“The owner of the team and our PR manager,” I mutter. Although Rina is so much more than that, and we both know it.
Stubborn, infuriating woman.
Gabby continues to chatter. It’s a constant, useless drone I can’t focus on.
Instead, all I hear is Rina. Her quick wit and the sound of her laughter.
It’s impossible to ignore.
She’s impossible to ignore.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
Especially when she smiles at something Lucas says. Or tucks a tiny lock of hair behind her ear. And I sure as shit don’t miss the quick glances around the restaurant that never seem to land on me. Each one strips away another layer of my composure until there’s nothing left.
Heat builds within me until blotting out everything around it. I rake a hand through my hair, fighting the urge to stand up, stalk across the room, and force her to listen.
But here’s the thing—if I storm across the restaurant, she’ll shut down entirely, and I’ll lose whatever opening I still might have.
So, I sit.
And I silently simmer, waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself.
19
Rina
I should’ve suspected Evelyn was up to something.
