The college girl in me smiles at his cockiness while the woman in me gives him the stink eye. If he thinks a couple of smug comments will get me to do what he wants, then he’s right, I have changed.

“Fine,” I say with an air of certainty. “Since you’re so desperate for people to think we’re dating, I’ll do it. Come over and introduce yourself when I wave. And if you sabotage any of the blocks while I’m away, I’ll know and I’ll put a curse on you.”

Not waiting for a response, I get up and head in Mark’s direction. He’s sitting at a small table on the other side of the patio, facing me. The floor squeaks with every step I take, the worn-down boards begging me to turn and run.

Not going to happen.

I’m halfway there when he looks up and sees me, recognition and surprise washing over him. I arrive at his table a second later as he gets up out of his seat.

“Hi, Mark. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Wow. Kara, hey.” He offers me a warm smile as we then embark on one of the most awkward hugs of all time. Our arms can’t figure out where to go and we end up looking like two nervous octopuses in a slap fight.

“How are you?” I ask as we step apart.

“I’m good. We were just stopping by for a quick drink after work.”

Oh, were we?

Mark looks down and across the table and I figure I should take this chance to see who he’s with, considering this person is now my arch-nemesis. My eyes follow his and find his dental assistant, Julie.

Dressed in navy slacks and a white sleeveless blouse, she looks pretty even after a full day of work. Her brown hair is pulled back in a delicate bun that I could never pull off and she doesn’t have much makeup on, but with her clear skin and light green eyes, she doesn’t really need it.

A pox on her.

Julie smiles and holds her hand up in greeting. Her cheeks turn red as we make eye contact and she almost seems ready to bolt. Mark gives her a sweet, reassuring smile and it doesn’t take long for me to realize that this isn’t just a work drink.

“Ah,” I say softly, turning to Mark. “You guys are a couple now?”

He scratches behind his ear. “Yeah. It’s very recent, though.”

I nod my head, trying not to listen to the voice in my head that’s telling me there’s no way this was recent. It must have been going on for months. Longer even. They work together. It would be beyond easy for them to slip away and I would never know. They probably had something going on all along.