Haunting-Adeline

Mark’s phone rings, cu ng off any further ques ons Addie was gearing
up to ask. Mark glances at his phone and silences it, but from the way his
face has turned serious, I know something is calling him away.
“That was my associate. I go a head out for some business,” he starts,
swallowing down the rest of his drink and standing. “But listen, I’m hos ng
a charity event at my house next weekend. It would be my absolute honor
if you both could a end.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Addie says, the discomfort renewed. Last thing she
wants is to pretend to be my girlfriend any longer than she has to.
Wonder what she’s going to do when we’re married, and her belly is
swollen with my child.
Quite the predicament she’ll be in there.
“Please, I would be insulted if you didn’t show. Zack here has been a
wonderful friend, and I would be heartbroken not to see you two there.”
No ng the trepida on in her eyes, he tacks on, “If you’d like, we can talk
further about your great-grandmother’s case. With my father being so
close to your family, I was around John and Gigi quite a bit growing up. In
fact, Sera and I played together all the me. I’m sure there’s some poten al
informa on ra ling around in my head.”
Fucker.
He’s manipula ng her, and that’s a big no-no. No one manipulates my
girl but me.
“I have a few business mee ngs that weekend,” I cut in, keeping my face
controlled but growing a tad angry by the reluctant interest in Addie’s eyes.
She wants that informa on and Mark damn well knows it.
Mark places a hand over his chest. “Not possible to reschedule?”
“I’ll get back to you tomorrow,” I promise. He acquiesces, sa sfied with
that answer. Dickhead is confident I’ll say yes, and I’m not even sure if he’s
wrong anymore now that he’s fucking hooked Addie.
He slaps a hundred-dollar bill to cover the tab, says his goodbyes, and
heads off. With his presence gone, it feels like the air opens up again and I
can breathe. He sure has a way of sucking everything good out of the world
when he’s around.
I look to Addie, and she’s already staring at me. She doesn’t say
anything, wai ng for me to explain myself.