Page 46

Stomp, stomp, stomp.

When the phone rang, she tugged it out of her pocket, pulled herself together and forced herself to sound normal.

“Hi, hey.”God, she was terrible at this.

“Where are you?” Mack asked. “I’m outside the house.”

Oh really? Was he? As if she’d just be home sitting around waiting for him.

Ella wasn’t going to let him think that.

“I’m on a date.” She lied, pressing her fingers to her eyelids and cringing.

Mack didn’t reply.

“Hello.” Ella looked around and spotted a bar, so headed in that direction. If you were going to tell little white lies, it helped to cover your tracks.

“On a date with whom?” Mack’s voice was rough.

She let out a laugh. “Um, why?”

Her brows lifted when she thought she heard a growl through the phone. Stepping into the bar, the loud music filled the air.

“You caught me in the restroom; I have to go.”

“Ella!” Mack yelled.

She stopped, taking in the busy establishment, and caught a table with three handsome looking human men checking her out.

Smiling, blushing, she glanced away.

“What?” she asked Mack, sounding annoyed. She was. This male had rejected her too many times, and she’d almost had enough.

Almost.

Because, let’s face it, if he came storming into the bar and confessed his love, she’d crumble. Perhaps it was time she gave up. After that kiss, if he still didn’t want her, then she’d be a fool to keep wishing.

Clearly, hermate sensorwas broken.

Like, out of warranty, completely useless, broken.

“You’re on a fucking date?” he asked, sounding incredulous. “After I flew you out to Maine and fucking kis—”

Another growl sounded.

She waited, her eyes shooting back to the men. One of them winked at her. Ella tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled, then turned around and huffed.

“Whichyousaid wouldn’t happen again. God, you can’t even say it. I have to go. My date is waiting,” she snapped and ended the call.

Heart pounding, Ella put her phone in her purse and walked to the bar. It took sixty-seven seconds before the human sidled up beside her.

“I just canceled my Spotify,” the six-foot blond said, smiling down at her.

Weird.

“Um, okay.” Ella glanced up at him.

“Ask me why.”