Xeni shook her head and smiled at Mason’s over-the-top behavior. She didn’t hate it one bit. He pulled his seat closer to her so their legs were touching under the table, then lifted his glass.
“A toast if you will.”
“I’m always down for a toast.”
“To my wife—”
“You like saying that, don’t you?”
“I only get to say it for twenty-six and a half more days. I’m running it into the ground.”
“Fair enough. To me,” Xeni said, raising her glass.
“To you and the strength and the vulnerability you’ve showed me the last few days. Just met and you’re already making me want to be a better man.”
“Okay, you’re gonna make me cry again.”
“No! Don’t cry. Just drink.” Mason rushed to clink their glasses together, then tossed back the champagne. Xeni took a smaller sip, appreciating his enthusiasm.
“So, tell me more about you?” he asked as he handed her the shrimp fried rice.
“Let’s see. I’m cute and an amazing dresser, but you already know that. What else do you want to know?”
“What do you do with your free time when you’re not involved in an elaborate marriage plot?”
“I mean, I’m always involved in an elaborate marriage plot. You’re my fourth husband this month.”
“That must be exhausting.”
“No, I don’t know. I hang out with my friends. I spend time with my folks. See my cousins when I can. I’m kinda boring. I watch a lot of T.V.. I’m quite the crafter, actually.”
“Are you now?”
“I am. A little crochet, a little bit of cross-stitch, some knitting when I have the patience for it. One summer, my mom made me and my friends pick an activity so we wouldn’t just be roaming the streets of L.A. and I picked this crafting camp down at our church. I really got into it. Here.” Xeni pulled up her phone and showed Mason the picture of the blanket she’d made for baby Rowan. “I made this for my friend Sloan’s baby.”
Mason took her phone so he could examine the picture more closely. “That’s excellent work.”
“Thank you. Yeah, I just kinda craft and chill. I wish there was more to tell you, but that’s it.”
“You have any good T.V. recommendations? I’ve been stuck in a bit of a documentary rut.”
“Oh, uh… I mean, I mostly watch reality shows. It’s easy to zone out and tune back in when the drama kicks up.”
“Okay,” Mason chuckled. ‘What are you watching?”
“Waiting patiently for a new season of the Great British Baking Show.”
“You and Liz both. She is obsessed with that show and the French version.”
“The French version is amazing. Let’s see. My friends and I get together every Monday to watch a different reality dating show. Have you seenA Match Made in Paradise?”
“Only a few episodes, but I know it’s very popular back home.”
“We’re watching the Australian version now while we wait for the American version ofPrince Charmingto come back.”
“So you have a whole system?”
Xeni picked up her phone and pulled up a picture of her with Joanna, Shae, Keira, Meegan, Sarah, Erica and Sloan piled on Keira’s sectional. Keira’s husband, Daniel, had taken the photo and immediately escaped to a quieter part of the house.
