Chapter One. Part One.

“I think we should see other people.”

Erika expected as much. She just didn’t expect him to put it in those words. For weeks, she knew her boyfriend was planning to break up with her, so she didn’t even flinch when he finally said it.

“Okay,” she replied, keeping her eyes on his. She didn’t care. But she wanted to see if he did. She wanted to see if this was breaking his heart. It wasn’t. However, he seemed flabbergasted at her response to his request.

“That’s all?” he asked, clasping his hands slightly. Erika shrugged. There was nothing else to say. “You’re not even going to ask me why?” She thought about it for a brief second.

“Perhaps I should ask the other woman you’ve been seeing behind my back.” That was a test. His eyes widened as he quickly brought up his palm to his mouth.

“You know.” She suspected. And he confirmed it just now. She smiled, to hide her disappointment. She was dazed at that. She wasn’t enraged, nor glum. She was disappointed. And slightly taken aback at her reaction to that situation.

“Well, then,” Erika spoke, “I don’t think we have anything else to say to each other. Good-bye, Luke.” She calmly turned around and opened the door of her apartment. She held it open and looked at the man still standing, wildly blinking, in her home. She waited to see what he would do. He was, like a statue, frozen in place.

“Good-bye, Luke,” she repeated, this time with a seriousness in her voice. He moved forward, and when he realized that Erika was not going to close the door, and get on her knees to beg him to take her back, he walked out of the door. She closed it and sighed. Honestly, she was glad to be rid of him.

Now that she didn‘t have a significant other, Saturdays nights were going to be a bore for Erika. She laughed at the thought. She hadn’t been single since she was twelve. That was the problem, she concluded. She depended too much on a man to take care of her.

Her telephone rang, and she turned down the volume on her television. She looked at it for a moment, considering whether to pick it up or not. It rang a second time. Then a third. She reached over and pressed the speaker button.

“Hello?” she said, her gaze on the television.

“Erika,” the female voice said. “I heard about your breakup.” Erika crossed her legs Indian style on her black leather couch.

“Okay,” she said distractedly. “And…?” The voice on the other line laughed.

“You’re a heartbreaker, Erika. I’m proud of you.” She shook her head. I’m proud of you. What a reputation.

“Actually,” Erika spoke, still watching television, “he broke up with me. I’m not that much of a heartbreaker as you presume me to be, Isabel.” Isabel laughed.

“But are you heartbroken?” Erika turned her gaze to the telephone now, and smiled.

“Not at all,” she stated nonchalantly.

“Like I said. I’m proud of you.” Erika laughed as she turned off her television.

“I think I’ll rest now, Isabel. I’ll call you later on.” She hung up the telephone as she stood up to walk to her bedroom.

Once inside, she climbed into her queen size cedar bed and placed her back against the headboard. Why don’t I ever have fun when I’m alone? Erika thought. Her cell phone was on the nightstand beside her bed. She looked at it intently, with the urge to call one of her ex’s. She would lose her dignity if she did that. But it was better than staying at home on a Saturday night feeling the way she did right then.

She reached out and grabbed her cell phone. She browsed through her address book and found the name of a man she hadn’t talked to in almost 2 years. She smiled as she dialed his number.

She said, “Hi, David. It’s Erika.” He had a memory lapse for a second. “Erika Hayes?” He remembered. “Oh, I’ve been great. How have you been?” He was doing all right, he answered her. “Hey, how would you like to have Sunday brunch with me tomorrow?” He was hesitant. “Oh no, David. It’s not like that at all. I simply want to reconcile with my old friends.” More like get a man into her bed. And this man was the perfect target. “All right then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She smiled once more as she hung up.