Part Two.

Sunday morning was bright and cheery. The weather was fair, and everything seemed in place. At around ten thirty, Erika got ready for her brunch with David. She planned to make him attracted to her, just as much as he had been when they were together. She stood in front of the bathroom sink and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her complexion was flawless, her features defined. She combed through her auburn hair, which reached her back, just a few inches above her waist.

“I’m going to make him want me,” she said to herself. “Only till I need him. Then I’ll let him go. Just like I did two years ago.” She finished combing through her hair and stepped back into her bedroom to put on her clothes, a faded denim mini-skirt and a peach camisole. They fit snugly on her body, showing off her desirable curves, and she knew it. She put on her heels, which added three inches to five foot four frame, and headed out the door.

There wasn’t a crowd at the Little Italy restaurant that day. Erika had planned to meet David at eleven thirty, and when she’d checked her watch it was eleven twenty-five. She stepped though the doors of the restaurant and looked for him. She spotted him sitting in the far back corner of the restaurant. She grinned and smoothed down her hair.

“David,” Erika said as she got closer to the table. He looked up and stood up to greet her.

“Erika,” he said, holding his hand out. She took it and shook it. “It’s been so long. Sit down.” She pulled out a chair and sat, making sure her caught sight of her hips as she did.

“It has, hasn’t it?” For the first time since she‘d known him, David was actually looking at her face before any other part of her body.

“How have you been?” he asked.

“I’ve been great.” She decided to get his empathy. “But I just recently got out of a bad relationship. But besides that, I’m great!”

“Oh, I’m sorry about that. I’m glad you’re feeling all right.” She nodded.

“Thank you. But enough about me. How about you? Do you have a woman in your life?” He grinned.

“Yes, I do.” Erika’s heart sunk. He does? “In fact, I’m engaged.” Engaged?

“Oh wow,” Erika said with a fake enthusiasm. “You are?” He nodded, a smile on his tan face. “Well, congratulations!” But she was thinking, damn! David, she knew, was a lot of things. But a cheater wasn’t one of them.

“Yeah.” There was a silence between until the waiter came to take their orders.

“So when’s the wedding?” Erika asked as the waiter left. She didn’t know why she asked him that question.

“In a couple of months,” David answered. “We’re planning it ourselves.” She place her elbows on the table and propped her chin upon the back of her hands.

“That’s great,” she said. “I’m happy for you.” Slowly, she extended her leg under the table to touch his.

“Erika.” She looked at him with a charming look in her eyes.

“Yes?” He pulled his leg back, and did the same with his chair. He had a confused look on his face, as if he was in some sort of trouble.

“Where is our food?” David suddenly said. “It’s sure taking a long time.” Erika looked around.

“I don’t know,” she said. She reached across the table and held his palms in hers. She gazed directly into his ice blue eyes. “I’ve missed you,” she said. “The day I left two years ago was the biggest regret of my life.” He pulled his hands back.

“Erika-” he tried to speak.

“No,” she interrupted. Let me finish.” She took a breath and put on her most desolate face. “I just want you to know, before you get married and have kids, that I miss you, and I still have feelings for you, and that I’m sorry for leaving.”

“Erika, please stop.” He seemed distraught. “I’m engaged. And I love Suzanne to death. Please don’t do this.” She summoned up tears to her eyes. Three years of acting lessons when she was a teenager had certainly paid off.

“I’m not trying to do anything, David.” She lifted a manicured finger to wipe away a tear. “I’m just trying to tell you how I feel so my feelings don’t get the best of me later on.”

“You didn’t speak to me in two years. And you pick now to tell me how you feel?” His voice was full of anger. “You have no idea how miserable I was after you broke up with me, Erika. But Suzanne made those feelings go away, and I fell in love with her. And we’re getting married.” He crossed his arms to his chest, and directed his gaze toward the front door. Erika sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Maybe I should just go home now.” She stood. “Just tell them to add the food to Erika Hayes’ bill.” She turned around and started walking toward the front door, swaying her hips. She began to count. Four, three, two, one.