at first sight!”
She then texted me, the same message as
before: “I may be new, but I won’t go easy on
you.”
I replied simply: “Suit yourself.”
How had I responded last time?
Eighteen–year–old Jenna, full of pride: “Mark
is mine. You’ll never steal him!”
Chapter 2
Lily was making her presence known. The
atmosphere in the classroom was thick with
tension, everyone’s eyes darting between the
three of us.
I didn’t care. I started paying attention in
class, taking notes, and even got a private
tutor to catch up on all the schoolwork I’d
missed.
The whispers about me being obsessed with
Mark faded as everyone assumed I was
playing hard to get.
I’d bolt for the library after class, avoiding
Mark if I saw him in the halls.
He finally confronted me, grabbing my arm,
his face hurt. “What did I do wrong? Why are
you avoiding me?”
Teenage Mark, confused and frustrated, was
just like the Mark I knew from our marriage.
–
They both had the same soul one that
didn’t love me, but pretended to.
I pulled my arm free.
My silence clearly bothered him.
He sighed. “Are you upset about what Lily
said? You’re not a kid anymore, don’t push
me away because of her.”
“Mark!”
Lily came running up, slightly out of breath,
her eyes fixed on him. “Mark, you’re at the
library? Why didn’t you tell me? Did you try my cookies? They’re your favorite, cranberry.” Her words tumbled out, overflowing with
unconcealed affection.
Г
Mark frowned, glancing at her with icy
indifference. “No. I threw them away.”
Her face fell, but she quickly brightened.
“That’s okay! I must have made them look
bad. I’ll try harder next time!”
Her eyes sparkled. Her whole world seemed
to revolve around him.
He paused, then looked away, his ears turning
pink.
Looking at her, I realized how similar we
were. Both passionate, both reckless in our
pursuits.
I lowered my gaze. “You two have fun. I’m
leaving.”
He started to follow.
But Lily clung to his arm, pouting. “Mark,
there’s this problem I don’t get. Can you help
me?”
7
The classroom seating chart was rearranged.
Lily seized the opportunity to request a seat
next to Mark. Mr. Henderson asked me if it
was okay, and I agreed.
Several girls told me I was stupid, letting Lily
steal my spot.
I doodled in my notebook, unbothered.
“Whatever. If someone can steal him, he
wasn’t mine to begin with.‘
Mark, sitting in front of me, heard. His pen
stopped. He was in a foul mood the rest of
the day.
After class, Lily, who’d been chattering at
Mark non–stop, approached him again with a
question.
