Read Online Savage Lane by Jason Starr - Free Book Online Page B

Jill—looked at each other.
    Then Karen said, “Sure, of course.”
    “Awesome,” Mark said, sitting in the seat to Karen’s right. “So how was tennis?”
    “Jill won again,” Karen said.
    “Well, I got lucky on a couple of shots in that last game,” Jill said.
    “No, it wasn’t luck,” Karen said. “I’m secure enough to admit my inferiority to you on the tennis court.”
    Mark laughed, even though what Karen said wasn’t particularly funny. He couldn’t help it; he always felt so upbeat and happy when he was around her. Then Jill announced that she had to get home. Karen tried to get her to stay, but Mark knew that she was just being fake-sincere, that she actually wanted Jill to leave. It was possible, even probable, that Karen had told Jill what a great friend Mark was—maybe even that she wished she could have more someday—and now Jill was probably just doing her a favor to give her and Mark some alone time.
    When Jill was gone Karen shifted over to her seat so that she was facing Mark, which was perfect. He imagined they were alone, in a little secluded café somewhere, maybe in Italy, on the Amalfi Coast.
    “We’re finally alone,” Mark said, smiling.
    They talked for a few minutes, just random small talk, but with Karen it never mattered what they were talking about; it was just the talking that was so incredible. Then he noticed that she was distracted anyway, her eyes widening in a concerned way.
    “See, I told you,” she said.
    Mark had no idea what she was talking about until he turned and saw Deb near the entrance to the clubhouse. She was just standing there, glaring, but Mark knew that look. She was thinking, How dare you, how dare you . Mark could also tell that she’d been drinking again.
    Turning back to Karen, Mark said, “Sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with her lately.”
    “She’s looking at me like she was last night,” Karen said. “Like she wants to kill me.”
    “She’s just drunk. You were right, she has a problem. A serious problem.”
    “She’s coming over here.”
    Mark turned, and saw Deb marching toward them. He also saw that Stu and Richie and now Doug were at the bar. Shit, this was all he needed, Deb causing a scene, saying the things she’d said last night, putting him in an embarrassing awkward position with Karen.
    Deciding he had to do something to ward off a disaster, he got up and tried to intercept her, saying, “Okay, come on, let’s go outside,” but Deb was too enraged, and pushed by Mark, not even making eye contact with him.
    Then Deb shouted at Karen, “You fucking whore! You fucking slut!”
    Everyone in the room looked over. He’d been having this wonderful time with Karen and now, in an instant, it had all gone to hell.
    Karen seemed shocked too, and mortified. She seemed to be struggling to come up with some kind of response.
    But Deb beat her to it, saying, “You just stay away from my goddamn husband. He’s mine, you understand that? Mine .”
    “Calm down, Deb,” Karen said.
    “Don’t tell me to be calm, bitch!” Deb shouted. “I’ll be however the hell I want to be!”
    Then Mark grabbed Deb by the arm and pulled her away and whispered harshly, “What are you doing? What’s wrong with you?”
    Deb yanked her arm free and said, “Friends, my ass! You’re fucking her, aren’t you? Why don’t you just admit it already? Why do we need secrets anymore?”
    Deb’s breath reeked of alcohol. Mark grabbed her again, trying to pull her farther from the table.
    “You have to leave, right now,” he said. “You’re embarrassing both of us.”
    “I’m embarrassing you ? How about how you’re embarrassing me by fucking this slut?”
    “You talking about me?” Karen was standing near Mark and Deb.
    Deb broke free from Mark and said to Karen, “Somebody should tattoo a letter on your forehead!”
    “Bitch,” Karen said.
    “Whore,” Deb said.
    “Cunt,” Karen said.
    Deb pushed her, nearly knocking her down, and