Page 13 (1/2)

"No," Mark said quietly, "I understand"

"The second anniversary was different froie shook her head and -away motion "The second one…it et to think about hiuilty"

"What would he say about that?"

Hesitating, Maggie smiled into her whiskey sour And for astab of jealousy over the ie "Eddie would tell uilty," she said "He would try to ain before answering "He was an opti Even cancer"

"I’m a pessiie’s srin "I like pessi life jackets for the boat" She closed her eyes "Oh I’ a buzz already"

"That’s okay I’ll et back to the ferry"

Her hand had crept across the table She let the backs of her half-curled fingers touch his, a tentative gesture that Mark didn’t kno to interpret "I talked to my dad this weekend," she said "He’s never been the kind of parent who told me what to do; in fact, I probably could have done with a littleup But he told o on a date with someone A date They don’t even call it that anyuess What do you say to Shelby when you want to spend the weekend with her?"

"I ask if I can spend the weekend with her" Mark turned his hand upward, opening his pal to take your dad’s advice?"

She nodded reluctantly "But I’ve always hated the whole process," she said feelingly, staring into her drink "Meeting new people, the aardness, the despair of being stuck with so when you knoithin the first five minutes that he’s a dud I wish it was like Chatroulette, and you could ‘next’ soht away The worst part is when you both run out of things to talk about" Without realizing it, Maggie had started to play with his hand, absently investigating the crooks of his fingers He felt the pleasure of her touch all along his ar nerve pathways

"I can’t picture you running out of things to talk about," Mark said

"Oh, it happens Especially when the person I’ood conversation always involves a certain a I like to bond over rievances"

"What’s your top petty grievance?"

"Calling custo to talk to a person"

"I hate it aiters try toit down Because they hardly ever get everything right And even if they do, it causes ets to the table"

"I hate it when people shout into their cell phones"

"I hate the phrase ‘No pun intended’ It’s pointless"

"I say that sogie grinned Then, see with his hand, she flushed and pulled back "Is Shelby nice?"

"Yes But I tolerate it" Mark reached for his whiskey and finished it with an efficient s "My theory aboutpeople," he said, "is that it’s better not to ood first impression Because it’s all downhill fro to live up to that first impression, which was just an illusion"

"Yes, but if you don’t et the chance to uy with a paycheck," he said "I always get a second chance"

Maggie laughed

The waitress brought their food and collected their elasses "Another round?" she asked