Page 63 of Masked in Deception
I had such a great time the other night and…I’ve really missed you.
Margot:
Yeah…
Let's just start with Phantom and go from there.
Jack:
I’ve already got the tickets. :)
Chapter forty-nine
It’s been years since I’ve seenThe Phantom of the Opera, and at this point, I’ve likely seen it in person over twenty-five times, not counting recordings. But I’m not sure when I’vesobbedat the ending like this. Maybe never. God, am I getting old and sentimental like my mom? I need to get it together. Then again, the entire evening has been more pleasant than I had hoped for. Despite the fact that I was hoping to sit on one side of Marco and Mark with Jack on the other, we sat next to each other, which was…fine. It was nice to feel his warm hand on mine when I wept during “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” and the handkerchief he handed me saved me from snotting all over my dress. I hadn’t prepared myself to hear that piece live for the first time since Daddy died, and having Jack there, knowing how special our relationship was, was…nice.
As I finish wiping my eyes and we stand to make our exit, Jack’s hand finds my elbow, the pressure causing me to look up. His concern is plain on his face, and I’m glad we’ve called atruce, but nothing hasreallychanged. I’m not his business. My reasons for crying are my own.
“Are you okay, Princess?”
I sniffle and pull my elbow from his grasp as we follow Mark and Marco to the coat check. “I’m fine, just tired and overly emotional. I haven’t seen the show in so long that it affected me more than usual.”
“Well, Jack, we have to thank you for these amazing tickets. I’m not sure how I’ve managed to go thirty-five years without seeing this show, but I don’t think I’ll make it even one more before seeing it again.” Marco has red-rimmed eyes of his own, and I’m glad I could be a part of popping hisPhantomcherry.
“It was my pleasure. I was hoping the three of you would be up for an early dinner and drinks? I know how much Margot craves comfort food after a good cry, and there’s a soul food restaurant not too far from here,” Jack says. As delicious as a good piece of fried chicken sounds right now, I have some work to do before I meet with my masked man tonight.
“No, I don’t think I have time today, actually.” I pull out my phone to call my driver. “But it was lovely, Jack. It brought back so many nice memories.”
Before I can press call, Marco snatches my phone out of my hand and locks it.
“What the hell, Marco?” I hiss, displeased that my phone is in anyone’s hand, even locked.The tabs open in the browser right now…
“Sorry, cara,” he purrs, and I see Jack’s fists clench. Glad I’m not the only one who respects people’s privacy. “I happen to think food sounds lovely, or at least a drink. Come on, don’t you want to tell me all about how this staging differs from the original? Tell me how wrong I am that I think Raoul really was perfect for Cathleen?”
Snatching my phone back, I roll my eyes as Jack snickers. It’s annoying how predictable I am, and also endearing how well Marco knows me.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. You know perfectly well her name is Christine. And as Jack can attest to, the happiest solution to the ending by far would be a sordid threesome.” I sigh as Marco smirks, having successfully baited me. I swear I’m not that easy to rile up, but if you talk shit aboutPhantom, I’m coming for you, no questions asked.
Marco glances behind me at Jack, then gives me a wink. “You and Jack have firsthand experience with sordid threesomes, then?”
I choke on my own spit, and Jack very unhelpfully smacks me on the back before I bat his hands away as he laughs.
“Sorry, sorry, I promise I’ve trained him better than this,” Mark says, giving Marco an eye that tells me he’s in trouble when he gets home. “But he’s deflecting attention away from himself because he cried in public, and he hates being vulnerable.”
“It’s true, I hate being vulnerable,” Marco says softly. “But in the spirit of vulnerability, I really would like to have at least one drink with my friends and discuss the overarching themes of my new favorite musical.”
“It’s the only musical you’ve ever se…ow!” Mark rubs his arm where Marco has pinched him.
“Please, Marge.”
“You swore you were never going to fucking call me Marge again, you ass!” I hiss.
“I made that promise under duress! You had me at knifepoint!”
“Well,” Jack says, “we’ve just so happened to arrive at one of my favorite cocktail bars near the theater. Since we’re already here, why don’t we order at least one drink and a few tapas?”
I look up and furrow my brow, confused at how I didn’t notice Jack shepherding us five blocks like a fucking border collie. Was I that distracted by sparring with Marco? My focus hasn’t been great lately, although it hasn’t affected my work yet. I’ve been fixated on my masked man, though, to an obsessive degree that’s a little concerning. I’ve been excited all week to see what he’s got planned for me tonight.
“Two fingers of your oldest scotch for me, please, and she’ll have a gin mule,” Jack orders as Marco and Mark say their drinks of choice.
