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I take a step back, then tilt my head. “How’d you know Stephen lived in a penthouse?”
“You told me.”
I frown. “Not recently I haven’t. Maybe back when he and I were dating, but that’s been years.”
Mark turns away. “I dunno, Kell. Guess that detail just stuck with me. Don’t make it weird.”
I let him off the hook as I follow him back toward the back porch, but now my mind is racing. Come to think of it, Mark always does seem to remember an awful lot about my relationship life. How long I dated each guy, and when. How and why we broke up. And, apparently, where they lived.
He pauses, kicking around in the snow until he comes up with my shovel, which has already become reburied by fresh snow.
“We’ll finish your garage faster together.”
“What about yours?”
“Done. I’ll do it again later tonight.” He retrieves his own shovel from the porch and heads toward my garage door.
“You don’t have to help me,” I say, following him through the now knee-high snow.
“Noted,” he says.
Then he starts shoveling without another word. I do the same, starting at the opposite side, until half an hour and much arm soreness later, we meet in the middle.
And by middle, I mean he did about three-quarters, but let it be stated for the record that he’s much bigger.
“Thanks,” I say, a little out of breath, as we survey our (his) handiwork.
“Anytime.”
“Come inside,” I say, nodding my head toward my back door. “I’ll make us a late lunch to thank you.”
“Better idea,” he counters. “You come to my place, and I’ll make us a late lunch.”
“But—”
“Kelly, I’ve had your cooking. The best thank-you you can give me is not to subject me to it.”
I laugh. “Fair enough. Do you have materials for a hot toddy?”
“Pretty sure I can rummage something up,” he says, lifting his shovel to his shoulder and turning toward his house. “A boozy beverage is probably the only way I’ll get through the awful holiday movie you’re going to make me watch.”
A snowy afternoon. With adult beverages. And Christmas movies. And my dog.
And Mark.
I follow after him, feet frozen, face numb, and heart so full I don’t even know what to do with myself.
Kelly Byrne’s Ex List: Ve
rsion Six
Jack Chance
Joey Russo
Chad Morrister
Doug Porter
