Mark let himself in through the unlocked door.
"Not even gonna knock?"
"Sorry. Just wanted to come over. Angela went to the Chiropodist, and told me to go spend some time with Finn while she's out. That it might 'make a man of you' she said."
"Don't worry about what she said."
He walked over and looked down at me, "What's eating you?"
"What isn't eating me these days."
"I texted you to see if I could come over, but you didn't answer."
He sat on the couch and I put my head in his lap. "Sorry, I left my phone in the kitchen. Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I am feeling much better. It ended with a pounding headache, and an unbelievable amount of frustration from Angela, but I am alright."
"I can't begin to imagine what 'roid rage is like." I laughed. He laughed too, but in a way that showed he didn't get the joke. "Never mind."
"I am supposed to be at Em's, but Finn isn't even home. So she sent me over here," he was stroking my hair.
"Of course she did," I mumbled.
"I can go back over there, if you don't want me here," he moved to get up. I jumped up and threw myself around his waist.
"No!" I composed myself as he flopped back down, "No. Don't leave."
My arms were around his middle, my chin on his chest; I looked up at his face earnestly. His eyes locked with mine and a pink tinge crept across his cheeks.
"Don't look at me like that," I could feel his heavy heart pounding away like a jackhammer. I continued looking at him like that.
I gave him a squeeze, "Are you having a heart attack?"
"No, of course not!"
"I'm just kidding." I closed my eyes and laughed. The moment my eyelids shut, he leaned down and kissed me. I sat up in surprise, but I didn't let go.
"Thank you for sitting up," he kissed my cheek, "That was killing my neck."
I planted a kiss just to the side of his adam's apple. "All better?"
"I think I need one more, right here," he tapped a spot just under his ear. I obliged. "And, here."
"Now, you're just being greedy!" I giggled.
"I can't help it."
Half in his lap, I looked him over. His almond-colored hair was parted and styled in a chic way, a lot like one of my favorite Korean star's. The outfit was simple but smart, a light black sweater with a white undershirt, and gray jeans that were fitted in all the right places. His style had improved considerably since getting Finn's old clothes. I'd even suspect they bought a lot of new stuff to give him, passing it off as 'old.'
"What're you staring at?"
"You," I touched the collar of his sweater, "and I really love this sweater."
He sat up, almost throwing me to the floor. Arms over his head, he took it off and handed it to me, "Would you like to try it on?"
I quickly gave in to the temptation of such a cozy sweater, pulling it on over my grey tank top. The leggings I had on were also black, this sweater was so perfect I had to stop myself from squealing.
I pulled my hand into one of the spacious sleeves. The fabric was still warm from him wearing it. It smelled faintly of a combination of an indistinguishable masculine scent and laundry.
I sat in his lap and sank further into the sweater. "I like it so much," I said, the lower half of my face covered by the collar.
"Well, if you want," he kissed the side of my head, "I will bring it to you later, and you can keep it."
"Yeah, but if I have it too long it won't smell like you anymore," I blurted. When I realized what I said, I clapped sweater clad hands to my mouth. He pulled me closer to him.
"Then I'll take it back every now and then and re-smellify it."
"That sounds so gross," I giggled, "but please do."
"I am going to tell Angela. There's no ideal moment for it, so when it happens is when it happens."
"God, when you say it that way it sounds like you're telling your wife you're leaving her."
"It's more like telling someone who wants to have sex with me that I see her as family, not a girlfriend."
"I'm sorry she treats you like that. She's always been a chaser. Her last husband really liked it, apparently. But not all men are like that, I just don't know that she's noticed."
"Oh, so men are supposed to do all the chasing?"
"I hardly think so. It's less like a coyote chasing a rabbit, and much more like a game of tag on the playground. You both take turns being 'it.' You chase each other, because it's no fun going after someone who isn't interested."
I eased my head onto his shoulder and enjoyed the subsequent silence. A few minutes later Em let herself in.
"Nobody knocks anymore, huh?" I scowled at her from my perch on Mark's shoulder.
She smiled wide, "Fun's over, kids, her car just passed my house. Give the boy back his clothes, and let's go for a stroll."
We started down the length of our street, Em taking my arm. Shockingly, she didn't ask any questions. She strolled along merrily, telling me about some of the bridal boutiques she was setting appointments at, insisting that I be present. I gladly accepted the honor of being on the panel of dress judges.
Mark walked along quietly. His sweater was a bit stretched out from my playing with the sleeves.
"Can you believe tomorrow is one of the last decent days for a picnic? It's the second to last movie night at the park. We're so close to fall already," Em changed the subject.
"I don't see how you're surprised, week after next is the first of September."
"I'm always shocked at how rapidly time seems to go by."
"When you work from home, time crawls. You should try it sometime." We laughed. A few more yards and we would reach Angela's yard.
"Has it been keeping you really busy?"
"Busy enough, but I'm not frantic trying to finish everything, which is nice."
Em nodded, "I'm glad to hear that you're not too busy, because Finn is leaving to Hong Kong in two weeks. He'll be gone until the twentieth, and I'd love some company! You too, Henry. And Angela, why the hell not. It'll be lonely and my other friends like to make themselves scarce as hens teeth."
"Oh we could have a sleepover like when we were teenagers! That would be really fun."
"Yes, but now we're old enough to drink!" she winked at me and rapped on Angela's door.
"Ah! How was your man-time today sweetie? Was it just what you needed, time away from all these girls?" Angela spied me, arm looped with Em's. "Never mind that, I guess, as these girls have still found you!"
She looked slightly annoyed as her 'Henry' crossed into the house. He stood behind Angela, and blew me a kiss. I smiled and looked down at my shoes.
"Finn wasn't home for too long, Angela. His brother just arrived into town, and he had to go wait for him at the airport. They should be back soon."
"Oh, I wonder if that brother is half as gorgeous as he is! You might be able to help this one, yet!" Angela indicated me.
"I don't really think she's going to need my help. She's doing just fine on her own. We're going to continue our walk for a little bit, we'll see you tomorrow!" Em and I made straight for the sidewalk, intending to go further down the street before coming back.
She waited until Angela's door was shut before speaking, "I'm sorry she's like that to you. I know you're the only single one in our little group at the moment, but that doesn't mean you should have to hurry to change it."
"I wouldn't be in a hurry to change that, regardless of Mark liking me."
"Mark, who's Mark?"
"Henry hates his name, we've unofficially changed it to Mark."
"Why Mark?"
"Jeez, Em, if we say it enough times he will miraculously appear. It's already happened once today!"
"That wasn't a miracle, that was me. I sent him to your house the moment Finn left."
"He really did go pick up his brother at the airport? Wow, I thought you were lying."
"My only lie was implying he still remained at my house. And even then I didn't verbalize it so it doesn't count."
"You're so silly, Em."
"What is his plan for telling Angela? I mean, it's just leveling with her, that he never felt the same in the first place; that he felt forced into the situation with no choice; that he hates his name and wants to be called something else; that he likes the 'girl next door,' so to speak, that is actually his age..."
"Pump the brakes, Em. I know how much he has on his mind. I have a lot on mine, too."
"About him?"
"Indirectly, yes. I was doing some light Yoogle deep-diving on that lab, and there is a suspicious lack of negative press."
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