Ghost Boyfriend

tufts

I'm about to put the phone down after giving Mag a run-down about my mysterious caller and his request to see me when the doorbell rings. I groan, sauntering over to the door. As soon as I pull open the door and saw who it was, my chest constricts and I wish the Earth sucked me into it.

"Hey," Sunshades man removes his glasses, his blue eyes assuring me that he's real, standing in front of me, outside my door, his jaw tightened and his large arms sweaty. A confirmation he'd been running. He looks awkwardly at me.

I freeze. "H-hi!" I recover my words, glancing over my shoulder, searching for Mark but he's not returned!

Darn.

"So, about that date... Where do you think we should go?" he breathes out, rubbing at the skin between his brows.

"Um... I dunno," I say stiffly. "You choose."

This is so embarrassing. We both sound like stupid teenagers forced to get on with each other for no reason.

"I was thinking you'd say Tweets or the Horvoy. Which of them sounds best to you?"

I hesitated, thinking it through. I've been to these places and there's nothing euphoric about it. Plus this isn't my date. It's Mark's and he wants to go to Tufts. Maybe...

"How about Tufts?" I look away, feeling silly.

His brows are up. Gosh, he thinks I'm mad. "Tufts closed."

"If you'd be willing to make arrangements to get it... opened for the night," I stutter.

I can't believe a ghost forced me into this.

He seems thoughtful. "Sure, I can set up something for drinks there,"

Drinks? That's the quickest date ever! I want to shout. How can he be so cruel? I know he's not in the right state of mind and we're not in love but still... How old-fashioned and polite he must be to bash my hopes like this.

"Er... that's great," I try to recover my composure. We're both crazy so it's only fair if he's trying to wrap this quickly.

"Friday night. Eight o'clock," he turns to leave without sparing me a second glance.

"Bye!" I croak in an attempt to sound breezy. This sucks. He sucks. Mark sucks.

"Mark?" I glance around. "You won't believe it but Sunshades many just left! He came here in person!!"

He's gaping at me dully. "That's good."

"Is that all you can say? Where were you? He came in person and - " I break off as the puzzle fits. "Oh, my f**k! Your responsible aren't you? You toyed with his mind again!"

"That's the only way to speed things up! I can't wait for him to call so I thought 'Why not take charge and nudge him in the right direction. To us in person. He gave his secretary your card to throw away and had forgotten all about you!" he looks so furious, I feared his eyes might come off with how bulging they gleamed.

"Welcome to reality man. So what did you do next?"

"My head was about to combust as I tried communicating to him again. Terribly hard! First, he was in a meeting when I telepathically reminded him about you but he ignored my voice, refusing to act. He kept talking calmly, resisting me. Then I screamed at him that if he failed to reach you today, he'd have his eyes plucked out by a hen."

I bit back a laugh. Trust Mark to give a threat like that.

"I told him he'd die of asthma and would lose his legs. He was scared for a moment but still ignored me. So, I looked at the white square thing he was reading - "

"Paperwork," I interject.

"Whatever it's called," he says impatiently. "I told him I'd rip it and his company workers would throw him out of the building," Mark smiles in pleasure. "Here's the best part, he shouted at his dingy receptionist to find your card and I've never seen a girl so sulky. Such a dweeb. Anyways, when things became delayed, I had to make him jump into his car and lead him straight here. He kept saying 'This isn't right, I'm losing my mind. I'm not gay so why am I doing this? What's come over me?' So I yelled in his head 'Shut up! Peter's such a beauty and one of the best people you'll ever meet! He kisses wonderfully too!!' "

He sighs triumphantly. "So he arrived and all. I did well now, didn't I?"

I stare at him, mouth hanging open, speechless. He made a guy lose his mind to make him go on a date with me. He's blackmailed one of the most influential men in all of America. He's incited an awkward romance situation that might become something much more. He's the only guy I know who never gives up for anything. Ever.

And he was my boyfriend.

"Mark Jeppin," I pause for emphasis. "That was fantastic!"

One of the few things that get me mad is that I'm never prepared when the worst things happen to me. Neither am I prepared for the best things.

So, following this discovery, I made up a rule.

'Whether good or bad, whatever screws or goes, just tag along with it. Try not to feel too annoyed or shocked when you see your ex walk in with his new divine love. Not to feel bashed when Mom or even Dad winds up wearing Hot dog costumes on a perfectly normal day'

Now, I know I said I'm over Reece. I know I promised not to stalk or even wonder if he's doing okay. It's never my business but now, I don't know if I'm destined to be miserable or cursed to witness his new romance with Tina.

They're supposed to be in London for f**k's sake!!

It's a few minutes before noon on Friday and I've been sitting at a corner for fifteen minutes, facing the door and surveying customers who came in closely with a large cap on just to blend into the background. This is my favourite restaurant in the whole world. Tweets.

Early this morning, I argued with Mark over coming here. First, he said I shouldn't go out at all. That I needed enough beauty sleep to get me up and booming for our date in the evening. When he was sure I wasn't going to relent, he'd vanished to go bug Sunshades man. Everywhere's peaceful without him around.

I try to picture how my future married life would be like. I can already see myself with my dashing husband and two kids, holding hands around the dinning table and saying to them. "If I hadn't enough patience to wait on your Dad, you two would never be here!"

Right now I'm high-key bored, waiting for whoever it is that would take me to the damn altar.

I take a swift glance at a smashing couple who'd just entered and my throat blocks. Dang! Dang!! Dang!!! It's Reece and Tina!! They're not in England. They're not shopping.

Okay, obvious control freak here. Don't picture them waking up after a real hot bang, both satisfied and refreshed. Maybe he took her on a picnic or the beach. I sip my Coke and pull my cap lower to avoid eye contact. Tina's looking all fabulous in a crisp yellow shirt and black Palazzo pants. She's got new blue streaks along with her freshly braided hair and her teeth sparkle like those used in toothpaste commercials.

Okay, enough about her. Reece.

I feel my chest thump faster as I look up at him fully. Same dark suit. Same silky hair and sunshine smile. His loafers well polished and those lips - That silver band...

Wait.

My eyes widen as I stare in horror at the intricate accessory I'd gifted him on his birthday ages ago. How can he still have it? I expected him to throw it away. Why's he wearing it and swirling Tina around, saying some lewd joke I can clearly hear but still not funny enough to make her throw her head back and laugh loudly.

"What a sweet couple," Mark says with a hint of amusement in his tone. I know too well to dwell upon his whims.

"Shoo. Be quiet, you hog."

A slim waiter is showing them to a table behind me and as they pass by, I hold my breath and bring my phone up against my ear as though I'm engrossed in a call. I hear them scoot their chair backwards and Reece say something like. "And then I told him, 'Hi, I'm bisexual... I'd like to buy you a drink and let's get sexual.'

I hear Tina giggle as I suppress the urge to swivel around and bash her head with the glass I'm grasping onto. How can Reece make such a cruel joke about our first meeting? Is he that wicked to his exes?

"They're a suitable pair. Get your act together and stop fantasizing about getting back together with a married man!"

"I'm not fantasizing and he's not married!" I fume at him in reproach. "And keep shut! No one asked you to be here! Go stalk Sunshades man or something. Scram!"

A waiter whisks past with a large bottle of Martini. Wonderful, they're celebrating. Planning a fruitful life with me sitting before them. Mark hovers an inch above the seat opposite, watching me disconsolately.

"Rule one; never drool over your ex."

"This is not drooling, I came here first! If there's anyone who deserves to leave, it's them." I hiss. "I told you I'm over him. He played me simply because he's a jerk. He never even texted me afterwards! What ideal guy does that?"

I risk a glance over my shoulder to see them making out as the waiter refills their glass. Mark's right. He looks so happy with her and I'm a fool, choosing to witness their romance. Mark shakes his head in pity and a bright idea hits my brainwaves. I lean forward eagerly. "I've got a plan."

"A plan?" he looks dubious. "About what?"

"Concerning how he felt after I left him that night. He must have been sad. Cried maybe. Get him to speak his feelings out loud. Ask him for me! Ask him! Control his head!"

"I have the worst headache!" he glares at me, rubbing his forehead calmly. "I've been bugging Sunshades man all day. I can barely think straight!"

"Do it for my sake. Please, I'm begging." I wave the waiter down. "Hi love, I'd like a new Coke if you don't mind. Thanks."

As he nods off, I gaze at Mark with pleading eyes. "Oh Mark, I just want to find out what I did wrong if I can make amends for the future. Please help me. I agreed to a date with Mr Sunshades for you. Let this serve as a payback,"

He hesitates a bit. "Okay, fine."