Free Just Jack by Meredith Russell Page A

kitchen.
    Leo shook his head. He was torn between wanting to put off the inevitable and just ripping the bandage off and confronting Mac. At least if he got facing Mac out of the way, it might be one less reason for the nauseous grip on his stomach.
    “He sent me a text message this morning.”
    “And?” Ruby raised her eyebrows.
    The message had been cold and formal. “It was about work. Nothing else.”
    What had he expected? Or more importantly, what had he wanted Mac to say? Leo’s head was a mess. He’d pretty much run himself in circles trying to figure out what he wanted. One minute he was so sure it was all over between him and Mac. The man had cheated on him, and it hadn’t been the first time. But then Leo remembered all the good times when it was just the two of them, the laughter and the tender moments.
    “Don’t you dare forgive him.” Ruby looked at him pointedly. She knew Leo still held on to the picture-perfect image in his head of what his relationship had been like with Mac.
    Leo didn’t answer her. Even if he forgave Mac, he wasn’t sure he’d ever forget, not this time. This wasn’t office gossip, this wasn’t Mac confessing months down the line about a faceless fling on a business trip or an intern who was long gone. Leo had walked in on Mac getting a blow job. That image was an unwanted memory burned prominently into his mind.
    “Hey.” Ruby rested her hand over his on the table.
    With a sniffed laugh, he slid his hand from hers. “Don’t want to start any rumors.”
    “Honey, I know this hurts now, but it’s for the best.”
    How did she know what was for the best? Three years he’d put into him and Mac. Was it really that easy to just throw it all away?
    Mac was able to .
    “I need a piss.” The chair legs made a grating sound as he pushed his seat back. He squeezed Ruby’s shoulder as he walked behind her.
    Alone in the bathroom, he stood in front of the mirror over the basin. What he wouldn’t give for a cold, wet flannel. He lowered his head and turned on the faucet. He watched the water for a moment, then closed his eyes. The sound of the water running into the drain was weirdly soothing. Holding his hands under the faucet, he enjoyed the sense of calm that washed over him, or he did while it lasted. The bathroom door opened, and Leo raised his head. Any peace he’d found was quickly dispelled at the sight of Mac standing behind him in the mirror.
    “Hey,” Mac said. He pushed the door closed behind him and stepped forward. “I hoped we could talk.”
    Leo met Mac’s eyes. Shaking his hands, he turned off the water and reached for a paper towel. “I’m not sure now’s a good time.”
    “Well, I am.” Mac looked at him firmly.
    Sighing, Leo turned around and leaned back against the basin. “You’re about to give a presentation to the CEOs and you think now’s a good time to talk?”
    Mac pressed his hands together and chewed on his lip. He moved toward Leo and, after tapping his fingertips together, awkwardly touched Leo’s shoulders, barely making contact, as if he might be burned. “We need to fix this. You were upset, I get that.”
    “Upset? Try livid, embarrassed, mortified.”
    Mac ran his finger and thumb down the collar of Leo’s shirt. “I love you.” His voice was low and seductive as he smoothed his hands over Leo’s. “You’re going to throw what we had away, just like that?”
    Leo reached for the basin behind him, welcoming the cool, solid surface. He’d thought maybe Mac was going to apologize. Guess he was wrong.
    “I thought you loved me.”
    With a sniffed laugh, Leo shook his head in disbelief. How could Mac even pretend this was Leo’s fault? “And I thought you loved me. Guess we were both wrong.”
    “I’m an idiot. I know that. You know that. And you also know I do love you.”
    Leo closed his eyes as Mac dared to stroke his arms. He could feel Mac’s touch, warm through the material of his shirt. He felt cornered, trapped.