“I love you completely. I always have, and I always will. And if friendship is all that you can offer, then I will gladly take it.” They turned onto the asphalt and headed toward the cow pasture that would lead them to the forest trails. “But if you’d like to enumerate more things you love about me as we go, that would perhaps be soothing to my ego.”
That night, Keelie got to work a little early and made a beeline for the bar trivia setup. The usual guy, Jerry, was in his late sixties and looked like a member of the Grateful Dead, but the new guy, Eli, was in his early twenties and distractingly hot, with blond surfer hair and sweet brown eyes.
“Jerry said you could help me play a quick video at halftime?” she asked, feeling her cheeks flush. Arcadia Falls was not a big town, and she’d known pretty much everybody around since the day she was born. Any new guy, especially if he was straight and not tied down, was news.
“Of course. Celebrating an anniversary, Jerry said. Want to do a quick run-through to check?”
“Oh, no need,” she said too quickly. “It’s just a basic MP4. All you need to do is click on it and press play.”
He grinned. “That’s sweet of you, to put it together for them.”
She bit her lip. It really wasn’t, but if she lost a chance with this guy for telling the truth and avenging Cash, then it was worth it. “Well, believe me: they deserve it,” she said before hurrying on to the next step of her plan.
Everything was going off without a hitch. Gary was back to his mostly normal if British-accented self, Cash was in a good mood behind the bar, and all the elements of Keelie’s scheme were in place. Folks began filling the tables and booths a little before five, and relief swept through Keelie’s heart when she saw Mark and Sam walk in, along with their friends Carter and Trip and Emmy. Keelie had asked the hostess to seat them at a booth right in front of the trivia projector screen. They were all in good moods, but Keelie could sense an undercurrent of confusion, which made total sense. Supposedly, Mark had invited everyone else…but now Mark swore he hadn’t done it.
Trivia started up, and Keelie was busy but distracted as she waited for the halftime mark, when the trivia guy took a break and put short videos on the screen while folks ate and drank. Finally, finally it was time, and she went to the bar to stand with Cash.
“What’s up?” Cash asked her. “Got an order for me?”
“Nope.” Keelie was practically shaking with nerves. “Just watch the screen.”
“And tonight we’ve got something special,” Eli said into the microphone. He had a nice voice, Keelie thought. Not Gary nice, but nice. “Mark and Samantha Ranger, this one’s for you. Happy anniversary!”
“What the—?” Cash started.
Keelie covered her sister’s hand with her own. “Just watch.”
The video started, and it was just a loop of the ten photos Keelie had taken at the restaurant earlier today. Mark and the young blond girl laughing, her feeding him fries, him kissing her hand, both of them leaned over to kiss in front of the entire restaurant, the cashiers, and God. There was no music, but one very recognizable voice spoke as the pics cycled past.
“Hey, man. It’s Mark. Look, I need your help. I’m seeing this girl—real young, such a hot piece. Natural blonde. She has no idea I’m married. Obviously Sam has no clue. She’d kill me. And I know I cheated on Cassia King, too, back in high school, but that doesn’t make me a serial cheater. A man has needs, you know? That’s one of the great things about running a lawn-care service. I can flirt with the wives and check out the underage daughters. Anyway, here’s what I need you to do.”
The voicemail cut out.
That voice—it was clearly Mark Ranger. There was no doubt.
Whispers started up, but the slideshow wasn’t done, and neither was the audio.
“Hey, it’s Sam,” Sam’s voice said. “I’m worried Mark might be up to something. He’s smiling at his phone way too much. He doesn’t smile at me like that anymore, you know? He did at first, back in high school, when we were sleeping together behind Cassia’s back. It was so fun, having our secret, getting one over on my perfect best friend. And everybody knew, but they covered for us because my brother told them to. Anyway, once we were married, things kinda fizzled, and we both let ourselves go, and now I’m totally insecure. So…”
The audio cut off and the final frame flashed, showing Mark kissing the blond woman.How old is this girl? Looks underage, doesn’t she?the text along the bottom read.
The screen went dark.
The entire room roared with voices, and every single eye turned to Mark and Sam.
“That wasn’t me! I didn’t say that!” Mark hollered.
“Then who the hell else was it?” someone shouted.
“Are the pictures fake, too?” someone else added.
“Mark, is it true?” Sam asked, standing.
“Of course not, baby! I would never hurt you!”
But Sam had apparently heard and seen enough, as she stomped out of the restaurant with every single eye following her.
“Screw y’all! That wasn’t me. I never said any of that!” Mark shouted, throwing down his napkin. He pointed at the screen. “And she told me she’s turning twenty in September! I swear!”
