<b>Chapter</b><b>307</b>
Christineshookherhead<b>,</b>clearlynotbuyingintomyreasoning.“Plus,you’redivorcednow.Doyouthinkafewwordsfromyou<b>will</b><b>make</b>himbackoff?Settingadeadlineisbetter.”
<b>At</b>thatmoment,Ihad<b>to</b>admitshehad<b>a</b>point.WhenIlearnedMarkhadharboredfeelings<b>for</b>thesamegirl<b>for</b>twentyyears,Ithoughtshemustbelucky.Butrealizingthatgirlwasmeleftmefeelingmore indebtedthanfortunate.
Istruggledto<b>find</b>the properresponse.
Inthesilencethatfollowed,Christineleanedacrossthe table,yfullyflickingmyearring.“Jane,whynotgiveitashot<b>with</b>Mark?It’sraretofindaguythatdevoted thesedays.”
‘sighed,“It’sbecausehe’ssucha catchthatImustbecareful.”
Ididn’twant<b>to</b>toywithsomeone’sheart.Truedevotiondeservedtruedevotion inreturn.IfIcouldn’t offerMarkthat,itwas<b>only</b><b>fair</b><b>to</b>lethimmoveonandfindsomeonewhocould.
Unabletopersuademe,Christinedroppedthesubject.“Anyway,howaboutwe hitourusual spot<b>for</b>dinnertonight?”
By“ourusual<b>spot</b>,”shemeant theupscaleprivateclubweoftenfrequented.
Ibalkedatthesuggestion.“Isn’tthatabitpricey<b>?</b><b>”</b>
Christinesaid,“Don’tworry.It’sonme<b>.</b><b>”</b>
Icouldn’tbelievemyears.“What<b>,</b>didmoneyjustfallintoyoup?<b>”</b>
“Itdid.<b>”</b>Christinestoodup,herbrightsmilecontrastingherredlipstick.“Steven’sbreak–upfee.Ididn’task forit,buthedumpedit allintomyclubount,andIcan’tget<b>it</b>refunded.Mightaswelltreateveryodinner.”
“Okaythen.”Icouldn’thelpbutsmile.“Thanks,Ms.Jackson,forshowingusagoodtime.”
Thinkingaboutthedinner,Iclockedoutatfive.Christineand<b>I</b>eachdroveourcars,tryingtosnagseatsjustintime<b>.</b>Still<b>,</b>wegot caught<b>in</b>theeveningrush andarrivedattheclubtofindMarkwaiting.
“Take iteasy.”<b>Mark</b>sawme hurryingandcameovertooffer asupportinghand,hisvoicegentle withconcern.<b>“</b><b>It</b>rained,and theground’sslippery.Don’ttwistankle.”
<b>your</b>
Iofferedasmallsmile inreturn.“Wecalledthisdinnerandmadeyouwait.Sorryaboutthat.”
Hewavedoffmyapology.“Whysoformalwithme<b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Notatall.”ughed<b>,</b>shakingmyhead.
Everthewhirlwind,Christineconfirmedourprivateroomwiththehostandledthewayinside.
“Goahead.I needtousetherestroom.”Passingbytherestrooms,<b>I</b>veeredoff.
Aftertaking<b>care</b>ofbusiness,Iwalkedpastapartiallyopendoorwheughterand teasingvoicesspilledout.“Ha!You’resuch acharacter.Whowouldsend999rosesforagrandopening?What<b>are</b>youdoing,professingyourloveorproposing?”
Mystepshaltedabruptly.ThatsoundedeerilysimrtotheincidentwithYorksendingtheflowerarrangementthatmorning.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
<b>999</b>roses.Itcouldn’tbe acoincidence thatsomeoneelsedidthesamethingtoday,right?
Anothervoiceinterrupted,“Nooffense,man,butifyou’reboldenoughtodosomethingthatobvious<b>,</b>youshouldbebraveenough<b>not</b><b>to</b>lethertakethe<b>fall</b><b>!</b><b>”</b>
“Bro<b>,</b>sinceyou’reso tantlysupportingher,<b>why</b>notjusyitallout?<b>Isn’t</b>artionshipaboutmovingforwardtogether<b>?</b>It’snotlikewe’re‘birdsofafeatherthatpartwayswhendisasterstrikes.‘Besides,it’snotlikewe’reat thatpoint<b>yet</b>.Ifyou’reworriedabouthergettinginto troubleagain<b>,</b>sendherabroad.Ifshe’sunwillingtodothat<b>,</b>maybeit’stimetocallitquits.”
“Shutup.”Asharpretortcutthroughthebanter,itscoldnesssilencingtheroom.Thevoice<b>sounded</b>eerilyfamiliar.
Withoutthinking,Ireached<b>for</b>thedoorhandleandpushedthedooropen.
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