“They’re great,” he lied. He hoped he sounded convincing.
Ever since the after-work drink, he carried around the tiniest bit of guilt. And concern, too. He was concerned that he’d shared too much with this wily woman, and now she sat waiting, poised like a lioness, ready to pounce on him as soon as he showed her the slightest vulnerability.
“So Cadence has let it all go?” Drew asked.
He cringed. He didn’t like the sound of his girlfriend’s name in her mouth. It lacked the rhythm and song. It was flat, almost offensive, and he regretted sharing her with Drew.
“In time,” he said truthfully.
Drew perked up. “So things aren’t really better, are they?”
“We’re working on it,” Mark said.
“It’s the age thing,” Drew replied thoughtfully. “I think that’s what’s really going on here.”
She said the same thing the evening they had drinks. Was she trying to convince him of it? He already recognized the obstacles he and Cadence faced with the age difference, but how else could he expect Cadence to react to his news? She was closed up. He accepted that because he understood her need to work through her emotions alone. What he couldn’t understand, however, was her lashing out at Avery.
“You listening?” Drew asked.
“Uh, yeah,” he replied. “I know the age thing is a little road bump.”
Drew shook her head. “We’re not talking about road bumps here, Mark. We’re talking about huge differences in the way you both think and react to things. I mean, I’m sure if she were older, she wouldn’t be giving you so much grief over it. It’s not like you killed someone. You had a wife, and she should respect that.”
Mark tensed. Didn’t he, though? Didn’t he kill her? He put the baby in her, after all.
“She respects it,” he mumbled.
“Doesn’t sound like it to me. Not from what you explained the other night.”
He knew it was time to end the conversation.
“I just wish she would ease up on you a little. I mean, you’re a great guy, and it must have been awful having to relive that day when you explained to Cadence what happened. I can’t believe she walked away from you.” Drew walked over to the front desk where Mark sat and leaned against the side. “She should have held you instead,” she whispered.
Mark cleared his throat.
“I appreciate your help, Drew. I do. But things are fine between us. And I think Cadence’s reaction was justified. I didn’t exactly say the nicest things to her.”
“You were upset. She was drudging up all those bad memories.”
Mark scratched the back of his neck. “Still. I should have been kinder.”
Drew sat on the corner of his desk. It felt like Ms. Gibbons all over again, and he expected Cadence to burst through the door at any moment. He almost wished she would.
“I just moved,” Drew said. “It’s a little apartment right around the corner from here.”
Mark nodded.
“I’m having a housewarming party this Friday night. I wish you’d come. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. I have some really fun friends.”
Yes. It was Ms. Gibbons all over again. Time to leave.
“That’s our movie night,” Mark said. “But thanks for the invite.”
“Are you really gonna be watching a movie with her?”
He didn’t like the way she said “her.” It was accusatory, and it immediately put him on the defensive.
“I watch movies with Cadence every Friday night,” he said. “So yes.”
“What if she’s not home?” Drew asked.
“Drew?” Mark said carefully. “Stop.”
“Stop what?”
“You’re not being helpful now.”
“I’m sorry,” Drew whispered. “I just . . . I just thought it’d be nice if you stopped by.”
“No.”
He watched her reaction to his word. He didn’t intend to embarrass her, but she was relentless. And she was pretty. And she knew it. So he had to be forceful with her.
Drew sighed. “I think your girlfriend is really lucky. Hope she realizes it one day.”
Mark stood up and packed his bag. He didn’t know how to respond, so he didn’t.
“Why do guys always go for younger girls?” she asked abruptly.
Mark shrugged. “My wife was older than me.”
Drew thought for a moment. “And that didn’t work out so . . .”
He ignored the callous tone in her voice.
“I didn’t fall in love with Cadence because she’s young, though she makes me feel young.”
“Then what was it?”
“It was just her. I connected with her.”
“How can you connect with someone ten years younger than you?”
“I don’t know. But it works.”
Drew shook her head. “Is it because women my age put pressure on you guys to get married and have kids? So you wanna date younger?”
“I can’t speak for other guys, but for me, settling down has nothing to do with it.”
She bit her lower lip.
“I plan to marry Cadence.”
“And have kids with her?”
Mark stiffened. No. He had no such plans. He wasn’t losing another wife.
Drew noticed. “Did I say something wrong?” And then her face lit up with realization. “Oh my God, I’m such a bitch,” she breathed.
Mark shook his head.
“I’m so sorry,” she went on.