Page 37 of Revealing Mark

When I got in my car, I felt the tension that had plagued me for most of the day begin to ease from my body. I leaned my head against the steering wheel and took a deep breath. I was so confused that nothing I had expected had happened.

The door to the passenger side opened and Mark got in.

“What are you doing?” I asked, taken by surprise at his unwanted presence. I bet he was going to yell at me for not locking the car doors.

“We need to talk,” he stated, like getting into someone’s car uninvited was normal.

“You didn’t tell Matt, did you?”

“No.”

I turned to face him. “Why?”

“He has a surprise week away planned for Sarah and I don’t want to ruin it.”

I had completely forgotten about it.

“Oh,” I murmured. “You going to tell him when he gets back?”

“Yes.”

I was only getting a momentary reprieve.

“I’ll have to pick up the rest of my equipment later, I need it for a shoot on Monday.”

“Sure. I’ll let the doorman know. They’ll let you in.”

He wouldn’t be there, which would make it easier.

“Okay then.” There was nothing left to say. I turned back and switched the ignition on.

He got out but, before he closed the door, he leaned down to my level. “Take care of yourself.”

“Same to you. You look like crap,” I couldn’t stop from snapping back at him. “Maybe give those late nights a miss and catch up on your sleep.”

He frowned slightly before he stepped back.

I pulled away before I said something else I might regret. The figure in my rearview mirror watched my departure and I felt guilty for being so bitchy, but how was I supposed to act when he was going to rat me out to my brother? And, besides, how could he tell me to look after myself when he clearly wasn’t doing that for himself?

I kept reminding myself it wouldn’t be the first time my brother would be lecturing me about a decision I had made.

On the way to my place, I decided to take the detour to Mark’s place to get my stuff. The sooner the better.

The doorman greeted me with a friendly smile when I told him I was coming by to collect some stuff from Mark’s apartment.

“Mr. Bishop did call to inform me.”

He followed me up to the door of Mark’s place and unlocked it.

“Thank you. I shouldn’t be too long.”

“Take your time.”

It was strange to be coming into his apartment without him. Everything was still in the same place it had been just the day before. Mark was still at my parents’ place and would probably be there for at least a couple of hours. The urge to snoop was difficult to resist.

If he wanted me to know something, he would have told me. If he wanted to live his life without opening up to anyone, who was I to judge? If I got to live the way I wanted, surely he deserved the same.

I sighed as I walked to the room I had used. My stuff was still in the same place I had left it. It would take a couple of trips but I wanted it over and done with so I didn’t have to come back here.