Page 37 of A Spot of Tea
Mackenzie shrugged. “It’s not really the same at all.”
“I’d be happy to take you up. We could—”
Eliza loudly cleared her throat. “Okay, everyone, we need to focus. We don’t have all night.”
“I have an idea,” Mackenzie said. “Why don’t we make this more interesting? Everyone put twenty dollars in. Whoever wins the game takes it all.”
Cora bit her lip. “I don’t know if I have twenty dollars.” She pulled out her purse – the sequins matched the pink of her shirt – and came out with a pair of bills clutched in her hand. “Got it! I’m in!”
Joey pulled a twenty out of his wallet and offered it up as Eliza went through the rules.
Her rule-reading lasted for about three minutes before Cora started loudly whispering to Mackenzie.
“Have you talked to Steve at all?” she asked.
Mackenzie shook her head. “No.”
“Who’s Steve?” Joey whispered.
Eliza shot him an annoyed look but kept reading. “The way you are scored at the end…oh wait, I think I skipped a part…”
“Steve is my ex-boyfriend. Sort of.” Mackenzie shifted her weight.
“They just broke up,” Cora said. Her voice was more just a hoarse-sounding voice at normal volume than a whisper.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Joey whispered back.
“Thanks,” Mackenzie said flatly, no longer trying to lower her voice. “Have you ever dated anyone? Or do you just fly around breaking hearts?”
He laughed mid-sip and threw himself into a coughing fit. “Sorry,” he said when he regained his composure. “I never said anything about breaking hearts.”
“I never took you for a romantic, Mack,” Cora said.
“I’m not. My heart is only used to pump oxygen to my brain, so I’ll remember to never loan you money.”
Joey started choking again as Cora threw her head back and laughed.
For the first time, Eliza stopped reading. “Mackenzie! You have to at least try to be nice.”
“No, it’s okay.” Cora held up her hand. “That was really funny. I love Mackenzie jokes. They’re so brutal.”
For the first time that night, Mackenzie smiled. “Thank you.”
A bell rang out and Eliza stood. “Please look over the rest of the instructions so when I get back, we can get started.”
“Sure,” Mackenzie said, picking up the booklet.
“I’m glad Steve hasn’t tried to talk to you,” Cora said. “He’s an idiot for what he did.”
Mackenzie made a noncommittal noise, keeping her eyes on the booklet.
Joey looked at Cora and mouthed, “What did he do?”
“Did you tell his fiancée that he’d been two-timing you both?” Cora asked loudly.
Oh.Joey had not seen that coming. Mackenzie didn’t seem like the type to get cheated on.
Not that therewasa type, but he was surprised the guy was still standing.
