“Probably a good idea,” I muse. “I’ll meet you back at the table.”

She looks at me curiously then, studying my expression with a discerning one of her own—but for the life of me, I have no clue what she’s thinking. She gives her head a little shake as if to clear her own thoughts away, pasting on a smile that feels more practiced than the one she’d given me during our dance. “Sure. If Dennis bothers you, just holler. I’ll be sure to beat him up.”

“Perfect,” I laugh. “I feel much safer now.”

She tosses me a wave over her shoulder as she meanders back in the direction of our table, and I take a deep breath of air that is less clouded with her scent after her retreat. It makes it a little easier to think.

I really do need a drink.

A lot of things happen over the next hour.

I do get that drink, and polishing it off does wonders for my nerves and the tension that comes from being in such a crowded place. At some point, Priya loudly announces that she has decided I am good enough for Mackenzie—something that makes the entire table burst into laughter. I meet Betty, and she does tell me that she delivered Tim Allen. She also tells me I’d better not break Mackenzie’s heart, and for a seventy-something-year-old woman, she comes off as pretty intimidating. Paul says good night and heads home after giving me another sly smile and knowing look, and I can’t pretend I’m not a little jealous of his departure. Although, I have to admit—I’ve had a relatively good time tonight. Mackenzie has made sure of that.

My faux mate in question has been considerably less touchy-feely than she’d been on the dance floor, and I can only assume this is due to her sobering up a little bit more after her round of shots. She’s still touching me familiarly, her arm still looped with mine whenever she isn’t using it to sip her drink or expressively tell a story—but I haven’t seen that sweet smile or that dreamy look since that song ended. She definitely hasn’t sunk into my embrace again. Which I suppose a more rational me would be relieved over. Drink or no, it’s not a good idea for us to be too familiar with each other outside of what’s expected of us.

Even if every inhale brings on more of her sweet scent that threatens to drive me crazy.

Tonight is the closest thing I’ve had to a date in I can’t remember how long, and even if it’s completely false and only for show, it’s honestly sort of . . . nice. Spending time with other people. I’ve spent so long sequestering myself off from others to keep my secret that I had forgotten how pleasant an experience socializing can be when given the proper chance.

But it could very well be the company I’m keeping.

“You doing okay?”

I glance down at Mackenzie, who is leaning into me conspiratorially, her voice low so that only I can hear it while Priya tells a terrible joke to an ophthalmologist she brought back to the table.

“I’m fine,” I tell her. “I’m having a fairly decent time.”

“Wow,” Mackenzie laughs softly. “Noah Taylor having a fairly decent time. Someone alert the media.”

“Cute.” I press my lips together. “I suppose socializing isn’t as horrible as I first pegged it to be.”

She lets out a mock gasp. “Oh my God. Next week I’m going to have to drag you out of a rave or something.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that,” I say, cringing.

She smiles up at me, not the inviting one from earlier that had made my stomach twist, but still a soft and sweet number that says she’s genuinely happy to hear this. “I’m glad you’re having a good time. It’s not good for someone to keep all cooped up to themselves like you do.”

“Is that your professional diagnosis?”

Her face splits into a full-on grin, flashing me her teeth. The stomach knots are back. “It is. No need to seek a second opinion.”

“You guys are grossing me out,” Priya groans from across the table, breaking apart our quiet conversation. “I liked you better when you were grumpy,” she adds, pointing at me in accusation. “At least then I wasn’t so jealous.”

I chuckle under my breath. “Trust me. No need to be jealous. Well.” I peek over at Mackenzie. “Not of Mackenzie, at least. Maybe of me.”

Mackenzie’s lips part at the compliment, but Priya makes an ack sound. “Couples.”

But of course, because nothing about this situation has been easy—the night simply can’t end on a good note. I notice him approaching out of the corner of my eye, my body immediately tensing as my smile dissipates. I’ve never really fully scented Dennis before; blessedly, I have had the good fortune of missing out on it while being dosed on suppressants, but catching a whiff of it now makes my nose wrinkle, assaulted by the smell of what feels like cheap cologne.

“Noah!” His voice is loud, carrying over the chatter of the people around us, and everyone at the table turns to look at him as he approaches. “I can’t believe you actually came. I didn’t think this was your kind of thing.”

“Yeah, well.” I keep my expression passive. “Now that our secret is out, it didn’t feel right to let my mate go alone.”

“Of course,” Dennis says with a smile that feels disingenuous. “Mackenzie. Good to see you again.” He eyes her up and down. “You look fantastic.”

My fists clench under the table as he eyes her, and it is only a moment before I feel the gentle slide of Mackenzie’s hand over mine, calming me. “Thanks,” she says blandly.

“It really is so nice to see you guys out together,” he gushes. “I know everyone was worried when the rumor started flying about Noah. It’s lucky that he had you up his sleeve, isn’t it?”

I can’t say why I am on the verge of vibrating with anger—something about Dennis has always gotten under my skin—but without the safety net of my suppressants, I can feel the urge to deck him a lot more strongly than I have in the past. Thankfully, Mackenzie’s hand gives mine a squeeze, and something about her touch keeps me from tipping over the edge.

“We’re both really lucky,” she says, keeping her eyes locked with his. “It seemed silly to worry about what people might think of me when my mate’s job was on the line.”

“Right,” Dennis says, still smiling with that same slimy smile. “So fortunate. We would have hated to lose our best cardiologist.”

The table is silent then, the rest of our party looking uncomfortable as I quietly seethe, and it isn’t until Mackenzie clears her throat that any of us move.

“Yeah, well.” Mackenzie never lets go of my hand. “We should probably get going. Right, Noah? You have an early shift tomorrow.”

I briefly wonder how she knows that, but am too distracted with not wiping that smile off Dennis’s face to dwell on it.

“Right,” I agree tightly. “Early shift.”

“Oh, of course,” Dennis says. “Don’t want to keep you. I know how important work is to you.” Another gross smile. “You guys have a good night.”

No one speaks until Dennis is out of earshot, and then there is a loud burst of air as Priya blows out a breath. “Wow. That guy is a dick.”

Mackenzie whips her head around. “You caught that?”

“Oh yeah,” she answers. “He does not like Noah.”

“We probably should get out of here,” Mackenzie tells me. “Before you break something.”

I unclench my fists, unaware that I was even doing it, blinking a few times as I come back to my senses. “Sorry, I—” I press my lips together. “I just . . . He gets under my skin.”

“Jessica from Radiology told me he offered her a ride home from work once and that he made a point to let her know what kind of car he drives,” Priya says.

“Fucking Jessica,” Mackenzie mutters before giving me her attention again. “Seriously. We can go, if you want.”

I shrug. “If you’re sure you’re ready to go.”