My heart raced as I kept my eyes on his. I wasn’t expecting to see him and wondered if Melanie knew he would be there. He hadn’t talked to me since Wednesday when he’d called me out in class to go over my case. Embarrassing me to the point of tears. I didn’t understand how he could go from showing me so much passion and lust to treating me as if he wished I didn’t exist. I felt like he was juggling with my emotions, but I was letting it happen. I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head, but I had to stand up for myself. Letting him treat me that way was unacceptable. He’d said I would be his, that he couldn’t get me out of his head, but then he’d pushed me away.
I didn’t want to play his game and I knew I just needed to move on. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
We made our way over to the group standing next to the bar, all deep in conversation except for Mason and the woman standing closest to him. I averted my eyes from Mason’s to look her over. She was tall, blonde, and dressed in a royal blue, silk halter dress. She was beautiful and I noticed her eyes kept drifting to Mason, who was still staring at me.
“I’m going to need a drink,” I whispered to Melanie as we came to a stop by the group. I was right beside Mason and kept my eyes to the floor as if there was something more interesting happening down there. Being with him in a public setting was the hardest part for me. How was I not supposed to stare at him? Or blush?
I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and then felt a touch on the side of my hip. I lifted my head up and looked at Mason, but he was turned toward the bartender. I wondered if he’d touched me on purpose.
I bit my lip and looked up to see the blonde glaring at me. A sense of unease knotted up my stomach. I wasn’t sure what her problem was, but I could tell immediately we definitely wouldn’t be becoming best friends.
“Melanie, there you are. I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
Melanie grabbed my arm as soon as John started to speak, and when I looked up I knew why.
Tim stood there with Stacey the slut and his father Calvin. I could feel my face go slack as we looked at each other. I hadn’t seen him since the day I’d gone to the apartment to get my things, and an ache I’d thought had long passed rose to the surface.
I furrowed my brow and swayed a little on my heels as I stepped away from the group, walking to the other side of Mason to get the bartender’s attention. I’d leave my sister to do her thing and question her later on whether or not she knew he’d be here.
I flagged the bartender down and ordered a chocolate martini. I needed alcohol and chocolate, and there was no better way than to have them together.
“Ms. Blake.”
I didn’t turn to look at him because I could feel him standing next to me. It confused me yet again. Why could I not get a clear read from the man?
“Mr. Cline,” I replied.
“You feeling okay? You look slightly pale.”
“Are you asking out of concern, Mr. Cline? Or are you trying to make small talk?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the bartender.
“Ah, there’s the feistiness I love.”
I turned to glare at him and looked down to see exactly how close he was standing next to me as he leaned on the bar. It would definitely look inappropriate to anyone who knew I was his student.
“Should you really be standing this close to me, Mr. Cline? We wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, now would we?” I raised my brow.
We stared at each other for a few moments until my drink was placed in front of me. I turned away from him and grabbed it, taking a big sip to calm my nerves.
“If I didn’t know any better, Ms. Blake, I’d say you were unhappy with me.”
I turned and glowered at him. “You’re so perceptive.”
“Em, come here for a moment,” Melanie called to me. I turned toward her, plastering a smile on my face, but not before noticing Mason grin at me. “Mr. Cline, I’d like you to meet my sister, Emmalynn.”
I looked toward John and put a bright smile on my face. I’d told Melanie to introduce me to other well-known attorneys, so I needed to be grateful for the opportunity. Thus I needed to ignore the fact that my lying, cheating ex was within ten feet of me with his new slut and the man I was currently having sex with was standing right next to me.
“It’s good to finally meet you, Emmalynn,” he said as he clasped my hand. “I hear you’re also one of Mason’s students.” He smiled and let go of me.
I nodded. “Yes, sir. He’s my criminal law professor.”
“And what do you think of Emmalynn so far, Mason?” John asked.
I looked toward Mason, wanting to narrow my eyes at him, but refrained. I could feel the sheen of sweat coat my forehead as I waited for him to answer.
“She’s definitely one you’re going to have to watch out for.” He smiled and looked down at me.
Out of all the things he could have said, I didn’t expect him to say that after what had happened on Wednesday.
“I’ll have to keep an eye on her then,” he said to Mason, a glint in his eye.
I could see Mason’s jaw twitch at John’s words. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but I could feel the tension coming off the both of them.
“Mason, dear, would you mind getting me a white wine?” the blonde asked.
Mason gave her a slight nod and turned toward the bar.
I tried not to make it obvious as I watched her looking over Mason’s every move.