Mark My Words Read online

  Mark My Words

  A Love on Edge novel

  Addison Kline

  Mark My Words

  Addison Kline

  Mark My Words

  Copyright © 2015, Addison Kline - All rights reserved.

  Mark My Words is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or places is strictly and entirely coincidental.

  This is a self-published work. All rights belong to the author Addison Kline. Please note that no parts of this book may be copied, used, or redistributed in any manner without written consent from the author.

  Cover images obtained from Fotolia.com

  Prologue

  It is often said that when you meet the person you are intended to marry, that you just know. As a child, Sloane Markowitz needed to know more. She asked her grandmother if she knew about such a phenomenon. Young Sloane, at just age eight asked her eighty-one year old grandmother Mildred Markowitz what she knew about the topic of love at first sight, and how to know which man to marry.

  “How do I know if he’s the one?” asked Sloane as a young girl.

  “Oh, you’ll know!” insisted her grandmother.

  As if a light switch flicks on in your head the very moment Mr. Right walks into your life, and shines a path in his direction. As if. Maybe this is how it works for some girls, but this was definitely not the case for Sloane Markowitz. Fiercely independent, bold, charming and quick witted, Sloane was the kind of girl who could attract a man’s attention on cue. All she had to do was flash a sweet smile or cast a shy glance beneath her chic raven bob. While she had earned a lot of attention from boys and men through the years, only one could keep up with her energetic spirit, tireless enthusiasm for adventure, and sometimes hard-to-handle attitude. His name is Luke Casile.

  Luke had often asked himself what he was getting himself into with Sloane. It was not love at first sight, nor a mutual attraction at first. He found her to be annoying and chatty, and he was too quiet for her liking. Then one day, three years after they had first met, something changed. No, everything changed. Sloane Markowitz had met her match.

  ***

  “What class do you have next?” Sloane asked Holly as she grabbed her hot coffee off the counter inside the College Hill Coffee Shop.

  “Another engineering course.”

  “I don’t know how you can stand that crap.”

  “I’m smart. It’s actually pretty interesting.”

  Sloane rolled her eyes as they exited the double doors of the coffee shop. Sloane held her coffee in her right hand and her black wallet in the other. Just as she was preparing to turn the corner, something blurred right past her and knocked her fresh, steaming coffee right out of her grasp. The hot coffee scalded her hands. A teenager, no more than eighteen or nineteen, whizzed by Sloane on his skateboard damn near knocking her over and taking her wallet with him.

  Furious, Sloane screamed at him.

  “Creep! Give me back my wallet!”

  “No respect, I’m telling you,” said Holly as she grabbed napkins out of her purse to help Sloane.

  The man looked back with a snarky look and nearly ran through a stop sign until something stopped him dead in his tracks. Brant had just climbed out of his pick-up truck with a friend of his and started to berate the skateboarder for his rude behavior.

  “Hey, look its Brant,” said Holly pointing to her boyfriend.

  “Oh, who’s that with him?” asked Sloane referring to Luke.

  Sloane swore she knew him from somewhere, but she couldn’t place him.

  “That’s Luke… I think you have classes with him, right? He used to have long hair.”

  “Oh, yeah. That guy! He looks way… different.”

  The skateboarder spit at Brant’s feet, earning his temper, but before he could act Luke had grabbed hold of the guy’s shirt and starting to yell at him.

  “Ignorant punk! Go apologize to her and give her back her wallet! Show some respect!” Luke yelled at the man.

  The thief stared at Luke with an attitude, and spit at his feet too.

  “And what if I don’t?”

  “I’ll hand you your ass. Now go!”

  The thief slowly turned around and started walking towards Sloane. Luke and Brant followed behind him with annoyed looks on their faces.

  “Go on… Apologize,” Luke nudged.

  “I’m sorry I stole this from you,” the thief said begrudgingly.

  Sloane snatched her wallet back from the guy and gave him a nasty glare.

  “Stay classy, shit head!” Luke yelled as the thief skulked off with his skateboard in his hand.

  “Don’t let us catch you around here bothering the girls again,” Brant called after him.

  “Whatever, dudes,” the assailant said as he disappeared around the opposite side of the building.

  Sloane smirked at the look on Luke’s face. He had gotten brazen since she last saw him. His boring Abercrombie and Fitch clothing were traded in for a pair of baggy jeans, a fitted tee and a vintage leather jacket. His straggly long hair had been cut off, and he now sported a sexy, unkempt do that was gelled in place.

  “Thank you for looking out for me,” Sloane said, all signs of her usual sarcasm removed from her voice.

  “No problem,” Luke said with a shrug.

  “Hey, Brant. What’s going on?” Holly asked.

  “Hey, beautiful. We were actually looking for you two, before that joker showed up.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, we were thinking of going to Rogue tonight. Would you two lovely ladies care to join us?”

  “I’d love to… Sloane?”

  Sloane smirked at Brant who clearly had tricks up his sleeve. Normally she’d protest, but this time he had actually brought her someone she wouldn’t mind getting to know on a more personal basis.

  “Seven o’clock. I’ll be there.”

  ***

  Sloane strided into the restaurant at quarter after seven with a glint of excitement in her eye. The lights were dim and the candles on each table danced wildly in its sconce casting the room in a mysterious glow. Holly had met Brant by the bar already, and they were deep in conversation as his hand rested on her hip. She smiled at something that he had whispered in her ear. Holly’s cheek flushed rose from his secret.

  Sloane glanced around the room looking for Luke and when she couldn’t find him, she had a server escort her to a table for four that was reserved for them. She crossed her legs and smoothed down her red dress that fell just above her knees. She tapped her leg nervously, as her red stiletto pump threatened to fall off. Settling down, she placed her purse on the table and sipped on a glass of white Zinfandel that the waiter had brought her while she waited for her date to arrive.

  Only a few moments had passed when a gentleman approached her table.

  “Excuse me, miss…”

  Sloane looked up expecting it to be another server, but she was pleasantly surprised to see it was not. Luke stood before her, dressed quite smartly in a black suit with a blue dress shirt underneath. In his hand he held a single pink English rose.

  Sloane peered up at him surprised by his appearance. Her breath was shortened, he looked irresistible, and he smelled even better. With a charming smile on his face, Luke passed the rose to Sloane. She took it.

  “You’re late…” Sloane quipped saucily

  “So were you…” Luke said with a zing.

  “Touche.”

  “I’m glad you came.”’

  Sloane brought the flower to her nose and smelled its beautiful fragrance as a broad smile grew across her face. She placed the rose gently on the t
able as she took Luke’s hand.

  “Dance with me,” she crooned as she pulled Luke to the dance floor.

  Even with her high heels on, Luke towered over her. It didn’t matter, though, because they were on equal footing. Both were as much head over heels with the other. As Luke began to twirl Sloane around the dance floor, Holly and Brant gave each other a high five. Their plan had worked perfectly.

  ***

  They did this dance for years. Twirling around the usual titles couples give each other, and just allowing the natural flow of their love to envelope them. It needed no labels. Anyone who looked their way could tell they were in love. Luke had asked her a few other times to marry him, but the timing was not right. Sloane was figuring out her career, and Luke was still rising in the ranks at his job. It wasn’t until they had helped their friends Holly and Brant remarry that they realized that they couldn’t be without each other. On a blustery winter evening as Sloane and Luke were walking to their car in Center City Philadelphia from the skating rink, the stopped in LOVE park. Standing right in front of the famous LOVE sign, Luke bent down and pretended to tie his boot, but in reality he was bending down to propose. She immediately said yes, and the dance continues. The road to the wedding is winding and steep with road blocks and obstacles at just about every turn. Will Luke and Sloane make it to the altar? Not if a bitch named Amanda or Sloane’s traditional and overbearing father has anything to do with it.

  Chapter One

  Mark My Words

  “Mark my Words! This is Artie Markowitz telling you that you won’t find a more reliable car anywhere else! Come on down to Markowitz Chrysler and Dodge and let me get you in the driver’s seat of a brand new car!”

  The flat screen TV that hung on the wall in Holly and Brant’s living room blared as a man in a sharp black suit sold his best pitch to the residents of the Delaware Valley.

  “Sloane’s Dad is on TV again…” mentioned Brant as he smirked at the man on the television set.

  Artie Markowitz, or Arthur as Brant was required to call him, owned a car dealership on Island Avenue and he was best known for his over the top and highly flamboyant TV commercials that baited customers to “Mark My Words” and let Artie get them into a brand new car. He was highly successful and he did his job well, although, his commercials certainly left a lot to be desired.

  “My Dad still can’t watch these commercials without cracking up laughing,” quipped Holly as she smirked.

  Artie Markowitz and Marv McCresson were very old friends. Very, very old friends. Artie came to the United States when he was six years old, and they became fast friends. They went to the same grammar school together, the same high school and even managed to slip into the same dorm at St. Joseph’s University. They graduated with the class of 1961 and while Artie went on for his master’s degree at Duke, Marv paired up with Gloria and they traveled the world together, setting off for distant shores and embarking on a journey to make memories together. Artie and Marv eventually met up again in the late 70’s once Gloria and Marv discovered that they were expecting a little one. As luck would have it, Artie and his wife Philomena were expecting as well. Philomena and Gloria would deliver just two months apart. Their daughters were just as vivacious and bull-headed as their dear old Dads were, and Holly and Sloane became inseparable.

  “Are you almost ready to go?” asked Brant as he slouched on the couch. He had been waiting for Holly for the last half hour. His dress shirt and slacks were becoming rather uncomfortable. Brant always was more of a t-shirt and jeans type of guy.

  Brant had already sent the kids over to Holly’s Aunt Doris’ house across the street, and he now had to play the waiting game.

  “Almost…” yelled Holly from upstairs. She sounded stressed.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Fine! My stomach is just bothering me.”

  “It’s probably from the chicken last night. It tasted a little funny…”

  “You know Marv can’t cook… We should have offered to bring something.”

  “Next time… So, do you think tonight will be the night?”

  “I don’t know… I hope so. It’s been two months! She needs to tell them!”

  “You know Sloane… Her way or the highway.”

  “I think it’s pretty important that she tells her father that his only daughter is getting married.”

  “Well, yeah…”

  Brant rose off the couch as he heard the clicking sounds of Holly’s heels scurrying down the upstairs hallway. But instead of coming down the stairs, she rushed into the bathroom instead. The door slammed behind her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? We can cancel…”

  Suddenly, the door opened again and Holly’s exhausted voice replied, “No, I’m fine. Remind me to never eat my Dad’s cooking again!”

  Brant laughed at his wife but his smile faded when he saw her descend the staircase.

  “You look pale… Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Holly looked taken aback.

  “Should I put more make-up on?”

  Brant smirked. The last thing his wife needed was more make-up.

  “God, no. You’re gorgeous. I’m just worried that you’re getting sick.”

  “No, hun. I’m okay. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  “Alright, ladies first,” Brant said as he held the door open for his wife.

  Holly grabbed her white pea coat from the coat rack and slipped it on. Brant pulled on his black leather jacket and flipped a bright green Eagles cap on his head as he gave Holly a devilish smirk.

  “I can’t take you anywhere, can I?”

  “Hey at least I’m wearing a dress shirt and a tie,” Brant said as a broad grin escaped his mouth. “I could have worn jeans and a tee.”

  “Please tell me that you told Luke to wear something nice.”

  “Uh… should I have?”

  “Oh, my God. Artie is going to tear him apart.”

  “Luke’s a big boy. He can handle it.”

  Holly smirked as Brant led her out the door leaving the quiet of the Edgemont household behind them. It would later stand out in stark contrast against the fiery and intense atmosphere that swarmed in the Markowitz’ dining room.

  Chapter Two

  Dropping the Bomb

  "You’re what?!” bellowed Artie Markowitz over the massive dining room table that was overflowing with casseroles, a perfectly prepared brisket and a colorful assortment of vegetable dishes.

  Sloane had just broken the big news. She wanted to tell her father about the engagement before Luke came so that she could prepare him. Sloane sat perfectly unfazed at the other end of the dining room table as she looked at her father with a happy look on her face.

  “Oh, Daddy, isn’t it exciting?!” asked Sloane as her cheeks blushed red from excitement.

  Artie’s face had turned a threatening shade of red as he considered his daughter’s question.

  “Exciting?! I don’t even know the man you’re supposed to be marrying! I’d say no, I’m not excited at all!”

  “Oh, Daddy. Stop. You’ll love him.”

  “What on earth is goin’ on out here?!” asked Philomena loudly as her eyes wildly scanned the room.

  Philomena gave her husband a wayward look as she patted down her curly hair. She had just got back from the salon and her red hair was perfectly teased and hairsprayed to a hard crisp. As she talked, she waved her hands around which showed off her dark red acrylic nails and several massive diamond rings.

  “Did you hear what your daughter just said?!” asked Artie in a fit of rage. His face was still purple and his broad chest was heaving up and down.

  “Calm y’self down. I’ve known for several weeks that she is engaged. I, for one, am looking forward to meeting the young man t’night.”

  “You’ve known?!” yelled Artie boisterously. “And you haven’t told me?! I feel so betrayed!”

  “Oh, honestly, Arthur…” Philomena began, ready to put he
r husband in his place. She spoke in a Fran Drescher-like whine at all times. “You might have known if you were around here more often instead of at the dealership!”

  “Someone has to make money around here!”

  “I offered to get a job… Way back in 1964. But you said, ‘No wife of mine!’”

  “Can we get back to the issue at hand?” Artie protested, but Philomena continued.

  “You said ‘No wife of mine is going to work. I want her home with the children where she is safe.’”

  Artie rolled his eyes at his wife. There was no winning with her.

  “I don’t even know the boy’s name.”

  “He’s not a boy, Daddy. He’s a man… and a damn good one, too. He’s thirty-five years old. Just two years older than I am.”

  “He sounds like a very nice young man, Arthur!” protested Philomena, clearly on her daughter’s side.

  “He is!” insisted Sloane. “His name is Lucas Casile and he is a…” Sloane began to explain but was cut off.

  “Casile… That doesn’t sound Jewish to me…”

  “It’s not. It’s actually English.”

  “English?!”

  “His grandparents came from England.”

  Arthur rolled his eyes.

  “Just like us!” Sloane added, trying to get her father to see the big picture.

  “What religion is he?” Arthur asked sternly.

  “He was raised Catholic.”

  “Catholic?!” Arthur barked as if such a thing was unheard of.

  “Yes, Daddy. There is nothing wrong with that!”

  “No daughter of mine…”

  “Oh! Here he goes again!” complained Philomena. “No daughter of mine… No wife of mine… How about this! No husband of mine will ruin my dinner party! Now stop complaining, they will be here any minute now!”

  Suddenly the door bell rang.

  “Oh, they’re here!” shouted Philomena sounding more excited than her daughter presently was.

  Both Sloane and Philomena rushed to the door as their heels scraped against the hardwood floors. Artie shook his head as he opened a bottle of aspirin. Between his wife’s nagging and his daughter’s sudden engagement, he felt as if his head was about to explode. Little did he know, the fun was just beginning.