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I shrug. “Matches your eyes.”
“Fuck my life,” He mutters as he steps into me, making me shuffle a foot back so I don’t fall over. “And this?” He moves a hand to my ponytail and grabs, hard. He pulls to expose my neck and talks into my skin. “Is this for me this time?”
“Yes. It’s for you.” I whisper, sounding too earnest. At least I think that’s how I sounded, because he immediately releases me.
“Good. Let’s go get this over with.”
He opens the door for me, already pulling out his phone to work on the drive. As soon as we arrive at the venue, he dons his persona. I do the same.
It’s easier tonight, though. Tío Fausto seems genuinely pleased with Mark and whatever situation they’ve resolved at the southern border. Being with Mia and my brothers is exactly what I needed. Mamá wags her eyebrows in silent praise when Mark smiles at me across the room. She doesn’t know it’s fake, but I can tell. He’s agreeing with whatever my cousin’s just said about either me or the marriage or our family. I can feel his disdain from tables away. So fake and still so brutally handsome.
The one real look I catch is a frown when the server mentions the specials for our family, including one of his favorite chicken dishes and a few different fruity desserts, including key lime pie. I roll my eyes at his scowl, and he tries to hide a genuine smirk. He claims to hate all that I do for him, but I know it’s a lie. To himself even more than to me.
After we eat, something shifts. I feel Mark get tense beside me, even though the conversation doesn’t change. For the next half hour or more, he watches the expanse of the restaurant, beyond our private area in the back. It seems like he’s spotted someone or is looking for someone.
As my family continues drinking, they begin dancing, as always. I did insist on a different band this time. I also manage to pry Mark’s eyes away from the crowd to my own. We’re the only ones at the table, which is unlike him, he’s never not out working the room.
“Mark?”
“Let’s dance.” He says, pulling me up by the hand but not quite looking at me. We move from the back corner table to the open space my family has turned into a dance floor. From here, Mark has an even better view into the main dining area.
“Mark?”
“Yes?” He smiles, still not looking down at me.
“Are you alright?”
This snaps his attention. “What? Yes. Never better.”
I try not to frown. “Because the wall is done?”
“Fuck, yes. Your Uncle was going to drive me insane,” he mutters through his teeth. His eyes go back to their search over my shoulder.
“So, if your deal with him is done then…?” He doesn’t acknowledge me as he gives my father a fake smile as they start dancing near us. “Mark.”
“Hm?”
“So if the arrangement is over, then are we? Over?”
Finally, he looks down at me, “Yes. That’s right. Listen, I’m calling Ric around. Go to the car and wait for me, ok?”
“What?” I croak out.
That’s it?
Yes, that’s right.
I really thought he’d changed his mind. Apparently, I was really, deeply hoping he had. My eyes sting and my limbs start to tremble.
He stops our dance. “Go to the car and get in and wait for me, Eleanna. Go.” He releases me, walking off like he didn’t just say it was over and then tell me to go home. I watch his back, frozen. He makes some joke to my aunts as he passes about needing the little boys’ room. I keep watching him as I grab my purse and my phone.
“Eleanna? Leaving already?” Mamá calls to me.
“Yes, I’m not feeling well.”
“Uh huh, I’m sure your husband is not feeling so well either.” She jokes, not hiding the innuendo. I try to laugh and then she tells me to wait. She hugs me tight and whispers in Spanish that she’s proud of me and that I’m a queen, before going back to Papá’s waiting arms. Everyone is ecstatic. Her praise over me, over a farse, a lie, almost kills me.
I start to head to the car, but I glance in the direction of the men’s room as I go. Mark still hasn’t come out. Like I’m being pulled to him, I turn and head towards the hallway. I saw him duck in here, why hasn’t he reappeared yet? When I get to the hall, I see a back exit door that’s slightly open. I wouldn’t think anything of that except I can hear him.
