Haunting-Adeline

As Mark drones on about some bill he doesn't want to pass, a couple
and their kid walk past us, the li le girl talking animatedly. She looks to be
about five years old—cute girl with a ponytail, big doe eyes, and dimples.
I see the sly look on Mark’s face before he even registers what he’s
doing, and it takes physical restraint not to reach across the table, point his
bu er knife upright and slam his head down on it.
Instead, I make a split-second decision. The family is walking past Mark,
beyond his view. When his head swivels back to me, I lean to the side and
pretend to check out the li le girl. I look just to the right of her at a plate of
food—I’d rather slit my own throat than look at a child in a sexual manner
—but it looks authen c to Mark.
I let the predatory look linger on those chicken tenders for a few seconds
before I’m straightening and feigning innocence. But I feel Mark’s gaze
burning into me.
As much as it sickens me, I need him to think I have an interest in the
depraved things he does.
An hour passes while I con nue to pretend to show interest in underage
girls, looking right above their heads, at their food or whatever else that's
close enough to feed the illusion. Nothing too obvious, and I don’t do it
every me as not to be suspicious. Just subtle glances here and there.
During the hour, Mark con nues to grow more inebriated. At the
gentlemen’s club, I no ced that he sucks down whiskey like it’s life support.
I’m sensing alcoholism alongside his sadism.
And of course, that’s when the fucker decides to really look around and
catch no ce of a s ll-working Addie, tucked in her li le corner and typing
away like her life depends on it. I’ve kept an eye on her from my peripheral,
and whatever she’s wri ng, she’s invested.
“Now, that’s a beauty,” Mark says, staring straight at Addie. Her mouth is
wrapped around her straw as she finishes off a margarita. I watch her from
the corner of my eye, but I don’t slide my gaze over right away. I have two
seconds to make a decision. Act like I don’t know her or claim her.
Before I can open my mouth, Mark slides out his phone and snaps a
picture of her, his thumbs moving quickly as he goes to send it to someone.
Fucking ballsy to do that shit in front of me. I’m not sure if it was leering
at children together or the alcohol, but it was far bolder than I would’ve
expected.