Jingle Bell Rock by Tamie Dearen

Author:Tamie Dearen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tamie Dearen

19

DRAKE

Operation Act-Like-Nothing-Happened is going fine so far. Even now that the other two couples have gone on a hike, leaving Marki and I alone with only a sleeping baby for a chaperone, we’re both avoiding the elephant in the room. Though it’s more like a dinosaur. Maybe a T-Rex.

“You have to read each question out loud, and I’ll help you answer it,” I tell her.

Sitting on the opposite couch, Marki taps on the laptop keyboard. “Why do I need to read them to you?”

“Because I can’t come read over your shoulder when I’m stretched out here with Betsie asleep on my chest. That’s why.”

She looks up, and a weird expression crosses her face, making her eyes go misty. Only for a second, then she’s back to her normal self, her emotions shrouded. I’m only beginning to realize how much she hides her thoughts and feelings. It’s become a game, trying to provoke her enough to drop her mask so the real Marki comes out.

“I know that.” She coughs a few times, her gaze returning to the screen. “I know you can’t move. I’m asking why I can’t do this without your help.”

“This is an important part of the man lessons. If you don’t phrase your answers the right way, a guy might misinterpret what you’re saying.”

Plus, I saw those questions, and I want to hear the answers.

“Fine. The first question is ‘Have you ever been in love before or thought you were in love?’ That’s an easy one. The answer is no.”

“Really? You never thought you might be in love? Even for a little while?”

“Nope. Not even close.” She locks eyes with me. “What about you? How many times have you been in love?”

“Ha! Never.” I smile at the doubt in her eyes. “It’s true. I’ve been in like a few times, but I ended it as soon as she started talking about how many kids we would have. With some women, that happened after the first date.”

“I can see the value in having that discussion up front. No use dating if you’re not compatible, right? You might as well discuss those things from day one.”

Her chin lifts, exposing the soft-looking skin on her neck. My lips are begging to confirm it’s softness. Please! Can’t we have a short lesson?

I close my eyes to push the image out of my mind. “Tell me, then. How many kids do you want?”

“Two,” Marki says. “That’s the perfect number of kids. Or four. But definitely not three. If you have three kids, one always gets left out. That’s what happened to me.”

“That confirms it; we’re incompatible.” I announce it loudly, hoping to drown out the voice of my begging lips. “We’re complete opposites. I’ve always wanted three kids since there were three of us growing up.”

Another incompatibility is a good thing. It will remind me we have no future if we have another kissing lesson. Considering how the last lesson went, I need all the help I can get.

Does she actually need practice in that area? No.

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