“No, I'm not asking for permission. I’m just asking you not to shoot me in the back when I do.”
Penny appeared in the doorway and gave Trent a soft smile. “Hey Trent.”
He returned her smile. It was a small ray of sunshine not to feel like everyone hated him.
She crossed the room to Matt and hugged him. “I have to go to work. Your sister loves him so be nice.” She whispered the last part before shooting Trent another hesitant smile.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Trent turned back to his friend. Matt had his attention fixed on the television with the kind of marked determination only achieved when you were ignoring someone.
"I'm not going away."
Matt slammed his beer bottle back on the table and stood. "Yes, you are. You spent years lying to her and Mara isn't just going to take you back because you're Mr. Moneybags now. You fucked up and there's no taking that back. We're talking about years, Trent."
His friend had a point and he knew it. It was going to take a hell of a lot more than an apology before Mara could forgive him. That was why he needed her to agree to go to the city with him. There was no way to explain what he'd been running from. She had to experience it to understand.
"I know that. That's why this trip is so important. I want her to understand why I left. And over time I hope you'll understand, too. Our friendship is important to me. I’ve admired you for years. We played beer pong together. You’ve had my back in more than one bar fight. I mean, shit, you taught me how to do laundry.”
Matt laughed and for a moment things were the way they’d always been. Then his expression got grave. “Look. I still don’t understand everything that’s going on but I have to look out for Mara. I can’t let you hurt my sister."
“I would never do that. I love her.”
“You won't mean to but that doesn't mean it won't happen anyway. You thought you were protecting her before and look how that turned out.” Matt looked almost as frustrated as he felt.
Trent couldn’t really argue against the point since he knew that he’d shattered her trust once already.
“I want to take Mara to New York and introduce her to my parents.”
“Well, she's not going anywhere without me.”
“You’re more than welcome to come along.”
Matt stared at him, then seemed to come to a conclusion. He pulled out his cell phone and hit a button. “Tank? I know you’re out on leave right now but I need a favor. I need you to cover my shifts.”
* * * * *
MARA SHUT THE last filing cabinet and stood, massaging the ache in her lower back. If Ethan wasn’t so anal she could have one of the file clerks help her but he insisted that no one else touch his stuff. She rolled her eyes and hit the button for the elevator to take her back to her floor.
Lanie had insisted that they go out of the office for lunch today. Originally, she hadn’t been too enthusiastic about it but after an hour of handling files, she needed a break. A little sunshine and fresh air would probably do wonders for her mood after being stuck in that dark storage room.
The elevator doors opened and she narrowed her eyes. Trent stood next to her desk talking with Lanie. Her friend’s high-pitched giggle was audible even from across the room. It sounded tinny and fake. Then she leaned forward and playfully batted at Trent’s arm. He stiffened and took a step back but Lanie moved closer, keeping the contact.
“Trent, what are you doing here?”
At the sound of her voice, Lanie stood up straight and has
tily pulled her hand back from where it had been resting on Trent’s arm.
Mara walked forward slowly, the ache in her back completely forgotten. Trent had only come by her office a few times but Lanie had met him before. She hadn’t been nearly this friendly then. Or this giggly.
“I came to take you to lunch.” Trent moved away from Lanie and stood next to her. She got the sense that he was happy to get away from her friend and into “safe” territory.
“Actually I already made plans with Lanie.” She glanced over at her friend, annoyed to see Lanie staring at Trent like he was covered in chocolate.
Lanie brushed away a nonexistent wrinkle in her skirt and giggled again. “Oh well, I’ll take a rain check.” When she met Mara’s eyes finally, she blushed slightly. “It’s no big deal. I’ll see you later, Mara.”
Mara watched in disbelief as her friend trotted away. When she got on the elevator, she sent Trent one last smile before the doors closed.
“If you’d rather not have lunch, I understand.” Trent watched her from beneath lowered lashes.