| “I’m sorry, Michal,” Lyndsey said. “I had no idea she would do that.” Michal shook her head. Lyndsey turned to Mark and held up a hand, stopping him a few yards away. “She couldn’t go an hour without talking about it, could she?” Michal fumed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t believe she did that. She ruined everything.” “Not everything,” Mark said. Michal turned to face him. “Can we leave, please?” she asked, her eyes pleading with him. He forced a smile. “Sure. I’ll go get your stuff.” He turned and was gone. “You want me to come?” Lyndsey asked. Michal shook her head. “Thanks, but I need to be alone right now,” she said. Mark appeared seconds later, carrying Michal’s coat and purse. Lyndsey walked to him. “Take care of her, okay?” He nodded to her, then walked to Michal and put his arm around her waist, leading her to the car. He opened the door for her, then got in and drove away. He glanced over from time to time. Michal spun the engagement ring on her finger the whole way home, tears sliding down her face. “Are you okay?” he asked outside her door. She shook her head. “I’m sorry.” She looked up at him. “It’s not your fault,” she said, taking his hand and pulling him inside with her. He sat on her bed while she was in the bathroom, changing and washing her face. She appeared in the doorway and climbed into bed next to him. “Do you want me to stay?” he asked, brushing a stray hair out of her eyes. She smiled at him, nodding slightly. “Okay.” He turned out the light and lay down next to her. She curled up next to him, her head resting on his arm. “I knew something was going to happen,” she said quietly, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry. I thought…” he trailed off. “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “I expected something like this. Just not that.” She sniffed and he kissed her forehead. A few seconds later, there was a knock at the door, followed by light spilling into the room. “Michal?” Lyndsey whispered. “Are they here?” she asked. “Yeah,” she responded. “You don’t have to come out if you don’t want to. I’ll just tell them you’re asleep.” “No,” Michal said as she stood. “I’ve got a few things to say.” She walked past Lyndsey and down the hall. Lyndsey flipped on the light and sat on the bed next to Mark. “This really sucks,” she said. Mark nodded silently. After a shouting match and a slamming door, Michal returned to her room, her face stained with tears. “Everything straightened out?” Lyndsey asked, standing. Michal nodded and took a deep breath. “As best it will be,” she said. *** Michal woke with a start to the phone’s annoying ring. She smiled at Mark, still asleep, and untangled herself from his grasp to answer the phone. “Hello?” she whispered. “Michal? I just wanted to apologize for last night.” Mark opened his eyes and looked up at her questioningly. She shook her head at him. “It’s okay, mom,” she said. Mark flopped back onto the pillow and covered his face with his hand. “Everyone’s entitled to random acts of stupidity.” Her mother sighed. “Look, Michal, as much as you dislike this situation, I love Mike and nothing’s going to change that.” “Until he dumps you for another chick,” she retorted. Her fingers intertwined with Mark’s. His hand tightened on her stomach and she looked down at him. He shook his head. She shrugged. “Michal, we’ve had this discussion.” Michal groaned. “Yeah, yeah. Why were you calling so early again?” She looked at the clock. It was seven in the morning. She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Michal, I really am. I thought the time was right, so I…” “Decided to ruin my birthday?” Michal interrupted. “Michal,” Mark said, his tone firm. She shushed him. “Michal…” her mother said. “Did Mark sleep over there last night?” “Yes, mom, he did.” Her mother sighed. “Why?” “I wanted to get laid, mom.” Mark groaned and buried his face in the pillow to hide his laughter. “Michal, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” “None of your damn business, mom. It’s my life.” Michal said. “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady.” Michal sighed. “Yes, ma’am. What do you want?” “I want you to forgive me.” “Done. Can I go back to sleep now?” “I don’t believe you.” “That’s your problem, mom, not mine,” she said, getting agitated. “Your call.” Her mother sighed. “Look, why don’t you and I get together for lunch?” “Fine. When and where?” “I’ll come over there about noon, and we’ll decide then.” “Fine.” “I’ll see you later, sweetie.” “Bye.” Michal slammed the phone down and flopped back onto the bed. “What’s up?” Mark asked, propping himself up on his elbow so he could look at Michal. “Eh,” she said, rolling her eyes and shrugging. “I’m having lunch with her at noon. You might want to drop in on the Scotts. If she sees you here, she’ll draw blood,” she said with a smile before planting a kiss on the end of his nose. He laughed. “You’re too much. Did she believe it?” “Believe what?” He looked at her, his eyebrow raised. “Oh, that.” She shrugged. “I don’t know, and, frankly, I don’t care.” “Michal…” “She’ll interrogate me and find out that, yes, I am in fact still a virgin.” He laughed, and smothered her with a pillow. She fought him, laughing, finally tumbling out of bed. “Well,” she sighed, standing, “so much for going back to sleep. How ‘bout breakfast?” “You sure you’re all right?” Mark asked, eyeing her as she took a sip of orange juice. She looked over at him and nodded. He raised his eyebrow. “I swear. I’m over it. I’m used to her doing this all the time,” she said, setting her glass down and standing to clear the table. He followed her into the kitchen and watched her dump the dishes in the sink. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she leaned her head against him, looking up at him. “You know, you look different upside-down.” He laughed and picked her up. “Where are you taking me?” she asked between giggles. “Nowhere,” he said, struggling to hang onto her and open the front door. “Liar,” she said, smacking his butt over his shoulder. He set her down under a tree and lay down, his head in her lap. She toyed with his hair, looking down at him. “You have a horrible case of bed-head,” she said, a smile lighting up her face. He smiled back and rolled his eyes, the laughter finally surfacing. “I didn’t sleep all that well,” he said. Her smile fell. “I know,” she said, squinting in the sun. “How?” “You were tossing and turning all night.” He smiled. “You kicked me, too,” she said, chuckling. “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. I’m sure I’ve kicked you thousands of times,” she responded, leaning back on her hands. The phone rang and he jumped up to answer it. He walked out the door seconds later, phone in hand. “It’s your dad,” he said. She sighed and took the phone from him. Mark sat down in the grass behind her and rubbed her back. |