A few seconds later he rises to his feet. “I can’t believe you’d embarrass me in front of all these people,” he snarls through gritted teeth. How is this my fault? We’ve never even discussed marriage.

“I’m sorry,” is all I manage to get out, in a voice that doesn’t even sound like mine. He doesn’t reply. Instead he turns and storms away, heading towards the exit. I run after him. Words cannot express how terrible I feel.

“Mark. Mark, wait,” I call out as I chase after him.

“Go to hell,” is all he says as he abruptly pushes the restaurant door open and walks out into the night. I continue after him.

“Mark, please. Let’s talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. We’re through,” he says as he opens the driver’s side door and climbs into the car. I’m stopped in my tracks. Did he really just say we’re through?

“Mark,” I cry as tears rise to my eyes. Ignoring me, he starts the car. What? Is he just going to leave me here all alone? The car inches forward, and I have to step out of the way so he doesn’t run me down. Surly he’s not going to just drive away. He’s just upset. I can understand that. “Please,” I call out as he passes me. “Talk to me.” He slows, inching down his window.

“There’s nothing you can say that’s going to fix this,” he snaps angrily.

“Can we at least talk about it?” I plead. “You’re not even giving me a chance.” Anger sweeps through me. He’s acting like a complete dickhead. “We’ve never even discussed marriage. Hell, I haven’t even told you I love you yet. What possessed you to think I was even ready for this?” He continues to look straight ahead. The gutless prick won’t even make eye contact with me. He exhales a large breath before meeting my steely gaze.

“Because I panicked,” he admits. “I didn’t want to lose you.” Tears rise to my eyes again when the anger on his face is replaced with sadness. I hate that I’ve hurt him, but he’s acting like a tool. This is not the Mark I thought I knew. “You’ve changed since that thug has returned. I’m not stupid, Indiana. I see the way he looks at you … the way you look at him. Deny it all you want, but any fool could see the connection you two have.” I can’t reply because in my heart I know everything he’s saying is true. “That’s what I thought,” he says in a defeated tone when I don’t deny it. “I think it’s for the best if you find another job.” What the hell!

When he winds up his window and drives forward, anger broils inside me. I’m so pissed with him, I’m tempted to kick his stupid, ridiculously expensive car as it passes, but that would only bring me down to his level. He’s carrying on like a spoilt brat.

Wrapping my arms around my torso, I watch him drive towards the exit of the parking lot before pulling into the traffic. He’ll be back. Regardless of what he said, I know deep down he’s a good guy. He’s just hurt. He’d never leave me stranded like this. He’d never walk away from me like Carter did. Never. I wait, and I wait, but he doesn’t return.

Wow. I guess he would.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Carter

Five long days pass before I return. I’ve worked my arse off to get back to Indiana as quick as I could. I can only stay for a few days, but it’s better than nothing. I’m still not sure how this back and forth thing is going to work, but I’m not giving up yet. Truth is, I’d travel to the ends of the earth for her if I had to.

Jax and I changed our usual Friday night card game to last night. We’ve been doing this for years now. I love catching up with him and having a few drinks. It’s our way of unwinding after a busy week. We used to alternate between my place and his, but lately he seems to be coming up my way. He likes it up here. We have the best pubs and nightlife.

He cheats his arse off at cards, but I don’t care. I’m just grateful for the company. After I left mum and Indi behind, he was all I really had. I’m not sure where I would’ve ended up if it weren’t for him.

He knows all about my predicament with Indiana. Only because one night I had too much to drink and blurted it all out. Confessing my love for the girl I left behind. He’d only seen the other side of me before then. The fuck ‘em and chuck ‘em side. He thought I was a legend until he found out I was secretly hung up on a chick from my past.

He gave me shit about it for weeks. One night he went too far and we nearly came to blows over it. It wasn’t mentioned again until last night. I was the one who brought it up. I needed his advice. We discussed opening up another parlour close to where Indi lives, but there’s already five existing tattoo shops within a twenty-kilometre radius. It just isn’t viable at the moment. I’ll work something out, or die trying.

My stomach is in knots as I drive into my old street. I have no idea what to expect. I’ve had no contact with her since I visited her at work five days ago. I pray she’s given what I said some serious thought. I pray that fucker hasn’t proposed to her yet. Fuck. What if he has? What if she said yes? I suddenly feel like I’m going to be sick.

Pulling into my mum’s driveway, I look over towards Indi’s house. Her car and Ross’ are both parked under the carport. It makes me wonder why she’s not at work today. Unless she got a lift with that wanker.

As I turn off the ignition and go to exit the car, Ross comes out of my mum’s house. I smile as he walks towards me. I’m grateful to know he’s been here comforting her. My mum told me when we spoke on the phone that Ross had been calling in every day to check on her. He’d been bringing over food and running errands. He’s such a great guy.

I’ve called her every day since I left, sometimes more than once. She cried every time we spoke. I still find it hard to comprehend her devastation. Especially for Fuckwit. But, I guess I didn’t love him like she did. If only she knew what a cocksucker he really was, but who am I to burst her bubble? I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t think he was so wonderful if she knew how he treated me when she wasn’t around, or what he did to Larry.

“Hey, son,” Ross says smiling. I love how he always seems happy to see me. “I wasn’t expecting to see you back so soon.”

“I tried to get back here as soon as I could,” I reply, reaching for his outstretched hand. “How’s my mum doing today?” He shrugs.

“As well as can be expected.” From our phone calls I was kind of expecting him to say that.

“I appreciate you keeping an eye out for her. Is Indi home from work today?” I ask, flicking my head in the direction of her car.

“She’s been home all week.”

“What? Why? Is she sick?” I feel panicky when I ask that.

“Heartbroken more like it,” Ross replies, making my mind race. What does he mean by heartbroken? What the fuck has happened?

“Why?” Ross shakes his head in disgust. The anger rolling off him is as clear as day. What the fuck is going on?

“Thinking about it still makes my blood boil,” he confesses.

“Don’t leave me hanging. Tell me what the hell you’re talking about.” I can already tell I’m not going to like what he has to say.

“That lowlife, Mark,” he sneers. I don’t even know what he’s done, but I already want to kill him. “He took Indi to a fucking restaurant on the North Shore. He got upset because she didn’t accept his proposal, so the mongrel abandoned her. Left her all alone in a strange place late at night. She was an absolute mess when she called me to go and get her. He’s lucky I didn’t damn well kill him for treating her like that.”

“He fucking what?” I scoff. I can clearly hear the venom in my voice. Utter rage consumes me. My hands are trembling as I turn and walk back towards my car.

“Where are you going?” Ross asks reaching for my arm.

“To pay that prick a visit.”