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After blocking Jack for good, I went straight to the convenience store, bought a case of beer, and headed over to Sarah’s place. We ordered the most expensive sushi we could find and ate until we couldn’t move.
Sarah looked at me, concerned. “So, what happened with Jack?”
I put on a brave face but couldn’t stop the tears from welling up. “Don’t even mention him. He’s dead to me.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “Well, good riddance. I’ll find you someone better. There’s always tomorrow.”
My eyes lit up. “Really?”
Sarah, always the reliable rich girl with connections, grinned. “Yep. I’ve got this friend from high school. He’s tall–like, six–foot–three–and ridiculously handsome. He’s been bugging me to introduce him to someone.”
She pulled out her phone to show me his picture. The guy had a clean–cut face, sharp features, and a smile like sunshine. Totally different from Jack.
“If you don’t like him, we’ll hit a bar tomorrow. There are plenty of guys out there.”
<
“If you don’t like him, we’ll hit a bar tomorrow. There are plenty of guys out there.”
“No, no, this one’s fine. Let’s set it up for tomorrow”
At that moment, I needed someone–anyone–to help heal my bruised heart.
Sarah gave me a comforting pat on the back. Back in college, she’d been our biggest fan. She even took all those lovey–dovey photos of me and Jack. After we broke up, she was the one who sat by me as I cried, cursing him until we’d torn him to metaphorical shreds.
Best friend ever? That’s Sarah Grim.
The next day, I dressed up in a simple but elegant white dress. I wanted to match this guy’s style, hoping for a fresh start.
I arrived at La Grande Boucherie half an hour early. When I walked in, I spotted him immediately. He looked even better in person.
Thank you, Jack, for being the jerk that pushed me into this.
The guy stood up as I approached, pulling out my chair for me. His voice was deep, smooth–like a cello. “Anna Carter, right? I’m Mark Dean.”
“Nice to meet you, Mark.”
We hit it off right away. We talked about everything from environmental issues to Shakespeare to Bill Gates.
Just as I thought I’d successfully pushed Jack out of my mind, Mark said, “You know, you remind me a lot of my ex.”
I nearly spit out my drink. “Excuse me?”
Mark, looking a little sheepish, apologized. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring her up. It’s just… you reminded me of her all of a sudden.”
I dabbed at my shirt with a napkin, trying to brush it off. “No worries. You wanna talk about it?”
What kind of first date was this? Listening to some guy talk about his ex?
Mark seemed relieved to have someone to confide in. He launched into the story eagerly. “She was my first love. We met while studying abroad, grocery shopping together, cooking in our little apartment… When we graduated, I proposed to her under the Eiffel Tower. I thought I’d found my forever.”
“But when we got back to the U.S., my parents wouldn’t accept her. I fought for her, but eventually, I gave up. I didn’t want to drag her through it anymore, so I broke it off. I still regret it to this day.”
I sighed, half–joking. “What, your family royalty or something?”
Mark shook his head. “No, nothing like that. My parents are just old–school, government workers. They didn’t like that she wasn’t from around here.”
I laughed. “Seriously? You were the one marrying her, not your parents.”
Mark nodded. “You’re right. But at the time, I couldn’t break free from their control. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t good enough for her.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I knew the feeling well–being at the mercy of other people’s control. I was still getting monthly “donations” from my parents just to make ends meet.
I was lost in thought when suddenly, my wrist was grabbed, and I found myself yanked out of my seat and into a firm embrace.
I smelled the familiar scent of woodsy cologne and looked up to see Jack.
He was dressed to the nines in a sleek business suit, with his left arm still in a cast. His right arm pulled me tightly against him.
Seriously? This guy just wouldn’t stay dead!
My wrist throbbed in his grip as I tried to wriggle free, but Jack just smirked, his voice a mix of annoyance and amusement. “You were Jaughing earlier, weren’t you? Why so quiet now that you’ve seen me?”
10:24 AM
<
His warm breath brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
Mark, seeing what was going on, stood up to intervene. “Who are you?”
Jack’s grip tightened on my shoulder. He flashed a polite smile, but his eyes were sharp as knives. “She’s my girlfriend. Who are you?”
Mark’s eyes went wide. “Wait, what’s happening here?”
I jumped in, frantic. “Ex–boyfriend! He’s my ex–boyfriend!”
Great. Tomorrow I’ll be trending as “crazy ex–girlfriend drama” on social media.
Jack’s smirk widened into a cold, knowing smile. He grabbed my hand and started dragging me out of the restaurant, his long legs moving
fast.
I pounded on his back, trying to get him to stop. “Jack, have you lost your mind? Let me go!”
“Let me go or I’ll call the cops! This is kidnapping!”
Jack, of course, didn’t even flinch. He simply held on tighter.
When we reached his car, he practically shoved me into the passenger seat.
I immediately reached for the door handle, but Jack blocked me with his long legs, giving me a warning glare. “Anna, if you try to leave, I’ll send your embarrassing photos to everyone.”
