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“What’s good tonight, dude?” Jack asks, apparently oblivious to our friend’s mood. Jack and Mark are friends, but not that close. As evident in the fact that Jack apparently can’t sense the storm approaching.
Come to think of it, perceptiveness was never Jack’s strong suit. He’s always been a have-to-hit-him-over-the-head-with-it kind of guy. Not so much about the details.
Mark crosses his arms. “All of it.”
Okay, that’s enough of that.
I stand and, with a wait-here finger at Jack, drag Mark to the corner of the room. “What’s up with you?” I ask once we’re out of earshot of any tables.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t want a scene in my restaurant.”
“The only one causing a scene out there was you.”
Mark flinches, because he knows I’m right. He crosses his arms again, but this time it’s in defensiveness rather than anger. “You two weren’t good for each other, Kelly. That’s not going to change because some crazy lady said otherwise.”
“I’m not proposing to the guy, we’re just having dinner. Quit being a jerk.”
“Fine,” he snaps.
“Fine,” I snap back.
I start to turn toward the table, but then he says, “What was the mistletoe for?”
I smile, because I’m pretty pleased with this particular development in my plan. “It’s for my mistletoe test. What better way to find out if I have a spark with an old flame than to kiss him? And what better excuse for a kiss than mistletoe, right?”
He makes a noncommittal grunt.
“Turns out a certain uptight turd wouldn’t let me put it in his restaurant, though, so I’ll have to find a way to coax Jack back to my place.”
I waggle my eyebrows, and I expect him to roll his eyes. But instead he shoves his hands into his pockets, his face unreadable.
I feel a little pang of…hurt? Mark’s always gently made fun of my superstitious ways and my corresponding “plans,” but usually it’s pretty good-natured. I can’t help but think I’m disappointing him somehow, and it…well, it bugs me.
“See you tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
I return to my table, and a few seconds later a server comes out to take our food order.
I don’t see Mark the rest of the night.
Kelly Byrne’s Ex List: Version Two
Jack Chance: Pleasant dinner, followed by worst. kiss. ever. Was he always that grabby? Was his tongue always so much like a dead slug? I can’t kiss that for the rest of my life. I just can’t.
Next up: Joey Russo, I’m comin’ for ya…
December 17, Sunday Morning
The next morning, I do what any good daughter would do and dutifully “like” each and every photo my mom posted on Facebook. Of their hotel room. At the Seattle airport.
All twenty-one of them.
Even the one of the bathroom soap that apparently “smells divine.”
Then I text both parents telling them I love them, to have a great time, and to post more pictures!
Considering their cruise leaves this morning, I think it’s safe to say that the photos will improve from here on out…I hope. But if all I get is toiletry photos, I won’t mind as long as they’ve having a good time.
