by Darla Lark
“I didn’t. I was completely attracted to Tyler when I met him. Give me a break, party girl. There’s nothing wrong with wanting or having a nice, normal, quiet life. Personally, I actually liked being the good girl. I won’t become a whore. But opposites attract, even with friendship. With that said, I won’t hook you up with my lawyer.”
“So, you think I’m a whore?” She tipped the bottle and drained its contents.
“I didn’t say that. I said I won’t become one. Since you brought it up… You, Gabrielle, sleep with any and every man you come in contact with.” She held her hand out with a shrug. “In essence, I guess that does make you a whore.”
“Hey! I resent that.”
“You resemble that, too.”
“Whatever!” Gabrielle glared at Cheyenne. “What a friend. I can’t believe you actually called me a whore.”
“I’m sure I won’t be the last. Besides, would you have me lie to your face about what I think? Have I ever?” Gabrielle shook her head and Cheyenne grinned. “So why start now?” Cheyenne stuck her tongue out at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle lifted the empty bottle into the air. “Let’s have another beer.”
~
“You know something? Men are idiots!” Cheyenne slammed the empty beer bottle on the table which finished the first pack. “They throw something good away. I’ve taken care of that man for FIVE years! Why? Why did he have to cheat?” Her frustration grew. “Why her? What makes her so special? Why not me? Five long ass years! Why not start a family with me? Where did I go wrong?” Cheyenne leapt from the chair and walked over to the kitchen counter and pounded her fist on it. “I hate him for what he did! I do!” She grabbed another beer.
Gabrielle ambled over and embraced her. “You did nothing wrong. Like you said, men are idiots. They don’t appreciate what they have. I guarantee that he will want to come back to you when he realizes she won’t do everything for him that you did. Just promise me that you won’t take him back.”
“I don’t know what I would do if he asked to come back to me.” The tears flowed and she let them fall on Gaby’s shoulder. Part of me still loves him and part of me hates him. It’s just that he….” She wiped the tears away and grabbed an empty beer bottle and threw it at the kitchen wall a few feet away. It shattered and fell to the floor with shards bouncing across the floor to her bare feet. “I don’t understand, Gaby. I gave him everything. Why me? Why ME?”
“Chey! Are you all right?”
Cheyenne waved her away. “No. I’m not okay.”
“How about your feet?”
She looked down and shrugged. “I’m not bleeding.”
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t hurt. Anywho, Tyler is an idiot who doesn’t deserve you. You are better than that. He’s just a waste of your emotions.”
Cheyenne’s tears again streamed down her nose and cheeks. “What am I going to do? I’m so used to taking care of Tyler and doing everything for him. After five years of marriage, I’m on my own. Look at this place.” She motioned with her hand. “It’s a mess. My life in a bunch of boxes. How did my life turn to so little in such a short time?”
“Chey, if you look around, you have more than you think. You are draining your energy by wasting all the anger, hurt, and hatred on Tyler. He’s not worth it. Now is the time to prove to yourself that you can make it on your own. Raina and I know you can do it, but now you have to prove it to yourself. You are an amazing person who deserves so much more and you will get there. It won’t be easy, but you have me and Raina to help get you through. The best revenge is to show Tyler you can move on and make it without him. Show him you are stronger than him.”
“It’s so hard.” Cheyenne wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Men suck.”
“Yes. I must say I have to agree.”
“Commitment phobe.” Chey gave Gaby a sly smile.
“Whatever. I’m not afraid of commitment.” Gabrielle attempted to ignore the comment.
“Sure you’re not.”
Chapter 6
Between Raina and Gabrielle, one is lucky to find a chance to talk to Cheyenne. Raina has her positive points and Gabrielle is wildly sexy, but just not my type. Cheyenne has that aura of beauty and is a classic. Her ex had a good thing, but his moving on now allows me to make my move. After watching her from afar for some time, I can now breathe a sigh of relief. Never have I known anyone whose name makes my heart skip a beat. She will be mine. I will prove to her that I love her.
Now I have to decide who my biggest competition is of the two. Who will I have to deal with first? Decisions, decisions. Oh my beauty queen. You have put me in quite the predicament. It won’t be easy for me to decide whom to separate at first, but I’ll do it. Cheyenne you will be mine. I love you too much to let you go.
Chapter 7
Cheyenne gazed about the room. It had taken two weeks of diligent work with Gaby and Raina but now it looked like home. Finally, I can get back to work on that fifth novel.
There was a knock on the door. “Who could that be at this hour?” She looked at the clock on the stove. “Six thirty in the morning? Really?” She stood slowly and tied her robe and wondered who it could be. Anyone who knew her knew not to bother her in the morning since it was her work time. She leaned toward the door, took a deep breath and looked through the peephole. There was a man she did not recognize. With a shake of the head and a groan, Cheyenne shouted through the door. “Hello? Can I help you?”
“Uh. No. Well yeah.” He hung his head and rubbed his temples before looking into the hole on the other side of the door. He cleared his throat. “Um… I just want to introduce myself since we’re neighbors.”
“At six thirty in the morning?” She allowed her head to rest against the door as she slowly shook it.
“I saw your lights were on.”
“Okay.” Cheyenne unlocked the door and hesitantly opened it. “If I let you in, you promise not to kill me?”
He laughed uneasily. “I promise. Although,” he held up a bag, “I did pick up some breakfast.”
“Breakfast? Really?” Her stomach growled. Despite her instincts telling her that by allowing him to enter her place it was welcoming trouble, she invited him in. I wish I would have eaten earlier. “All right then. Come on in, BUT remember that if you try anything. I will beat you like a cat does a bird it’s trying to kill.”
“Harsh, but I promise I won’t do anything.” He spun around for Cheyenne to see what he had on him.
Cheyenne nodded approvingly. “Okay. I’m satisfied.”
She opened the door and he walked in, flashing a smile. “Thanks.”
“The kitchen is to the left.” She followed the stranger to the kitchen still surprised she had let him into the apartment. “Who exactly are you?”
He smacked his forehead. “Oh yeah! Sorry.” He smiled at her and offered his hand. “I’m Daniel Schindler. I live next door. Apartment F.”
“I’m Cheyenne Harrington.” She offered her hand and he took it. He lingered a little too long for her taste, she jerked her hand away.
“I wanted to come over sooner, but saw you had people visiting you a lot.”
Cheyenne softly snickered. “My sister and best friend were helping me get settled in. It has been a busy month for me.” If you only knew. “I was moving in, finalizing my divorce, and starting over.”
“Yeah. I remember how difficult and busy it is when moving from one place to another. You ready to eat?”
“Sure. Would you like some coffee? Orange juice? Something else?”
“Some O.J., please.”
Cheyenne felt nervous. She had never invited anyone into her home she didn’t know. Why am I doing this? The words screamed in her mind as she grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator and pulled a glass out. His hazel eyes are beautiful, but there’s something behind them that I can’t put my finger on. This is exactly the kind of man Gaby would like. What’s amiss about him, though? Daniel is attractive, which is som
ething I can’t deny. Those muscles, that smile… She inhaled deeply and ridded herself of the thoughts before she turned to face him with the hope he wouldn’t notice her blushing.
Daniel was a good-looking blonde with curly hair and his smile was nice and bright like in the teeth whitening commercials. He was tall and thin, but not too thin. The tight, white undershirt showed off his muscles and his jeans displayed what Gaby would call ghetto booty in a nice, tight package. Gaby would be all over him in a New York minute.
She handed him the orange juice. “What do you do for a living, Daniel?”
“I can’t tell you or else I’ll have to kill you.”
“First of all, that’s so cliché. Couldn’t you come up with something more original? Secondly, if you say something like that again, I will be forced to throw you out.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s fine. I can dig.”
“What? Your own grave?”
“Very funny. I like it. A woman who isn’t afraid to fire back.” The kitchen suddenly fell silent and they both began to squirm in the awkward silence. “Which sandwich would you like?” Daniel asked. “Sausage or bacon?”
“I’m a vegetarian.”
“What?”
“I don’t eat meat.” Cheyenne tried not to smile.
“What kind of woman are you?”
“I’m just kidding. Anyone who knows me knows better.” She paused to take a sip of her now cold cup of coffee, grimaced, and pushed it away. “Why did you come over anyway? Really.”
“Like I said, I wanted to be a good neighbor.”
Cheyenne cocked a questioning eyebrow. “At this time in the morning?” It made her nervous when he simply shrugged and smiled. Why did she let him in? What was wrong with him? What was wrong with her? “Okay then. Let’s eat.” She reached over and took the bacon sandwich.
“What makes you get up this early?” Daniel tried to start a different conversation.
“Quiet time. Time for me and my writing. It’s about the only time I get to do much of anything.” She turned to watch him as he answered, hoping for some insight. “You?”
“I usually workout. Jogging. In fact, I think you’re the only person I’ve met or have ever known that has actually gotten up as early as I do.”
Nothing, not even a flinch. “Just an FYI: Don’t come knocking at my door this early in the morning again, whether or not you see my lights on.”
“No problem.” Daniel shrugged.
~
Her stomach growled and Cheyenne glanced at the clock. Noon, time for pizza. She glanced at her completed work: two pages. More work, less thinking about Daniel. A knock on the door caught her attention. She got up and answered. It was Raina. “We need to talk,” she said and pulled her sister into the apartment.
“About what?”
“I’ll explain over pizza.”
Raina stared at her in shock as Cheyenne revealed the morning’s activities. “Why in the world would you let a total stranger in your place like that? Especially at that hour? Girl, I love you, but that was pretty dang stupid of you. You’re smarter than that.”
“I know. He made me feel a little uneasy. Yet I still let him in. What was I thinking and what did he really want?”
“I don’t know, Chey, but you are old enough to know better.”
“Yeah.” Cheyenne gave her sister a sheepish grin. “Did I mention he isn’t bad looking?”
“Sexy?”
“Oh yeah.”
Raina looked at Cheyenne and pointed her finger. “I’ll let you off the hook this time, but don’t let this happen again.” When Cheyenne nodded in agreement, Raina went on. “Is he coming over this evening?”
“I don’t know.” Cheyenne bit her lower lip and tugged at the sleeve of her robe. “I’m not sure I want him to, either. On one hand, he’s attractive. On the other, I get this feeling about him.”
“Don’t know what to tell you sis. He might be an eccentric man. But, at the same time, follow your instincts. They usually don’t lead you in the wrong direction.”
“They did with Tyler.” Cheyenne gave Raina a sly look.
“Not really in a sense. You two were so much in love and happy at one time. When that happens, one tends to lose all their inhibitions. However, Tyler did love you and I have a feeling he still does.”
“Please don’t do that.”
“Do what?” Raina asked innocently.
“Start that ‘Tyler still loves you’ crap.” She leaned with intent toward Raina and lowered her voice. “Tyler and I are over.”
“Are you really?”
Cheyenne understood what Raina was trying to say. Perhaps things weren’t really done with her and Tyler until she truly let go. Her heart was still Tyler’s. Sort of. She missed the way he smiled, the way he had once looked at her, the way he walked. She even had a picture of them on her mantle, which she and Raina had argued over, but she refused to take it down and put it away because she wasn’t ready to. How could she be having all these feelings? Is this normal for me to be running this gamut of emotions? Why can’t I get over him? So many questions, yet the only thing she knew was that she was still in love with Tyler. She wasn’t about to admit it to her sister, though.
“Hello? You still there?” Raina asked, reaching across the table and snapping her fingers in front of Cheyenne’s face, bringing her back to reality.
“Sorry. I zoned out. I’m over Ty. We’re through. I swear to it. By the way, Gaby is trying to get me to introduce her to Mr. O’Neill.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That I would not. I added that she chews men up and spits them out like a wood chipper.”
“Good one. What did she say to that?” Raina covered her lips to hide the smile.
“Let’s just say that she wasn’t happy with me. It was pretty funny.”
Cheyenne’s cell phone rang. “I hope it’s someone I want to talk to.” She walked into the living room to get her cell phone.
“Hey Chey. How are you holding up?”
She froze and took a deep breath to collect her thoughts and steady her nerves. Why was he calling her?
“Chey? You okay?” Raina looked at her with concern.
She placed her hand over the receiver and whispered, “Guess who’s on the phone.” Raina shrugged with confusion.
“Chey?” the voice from the phone called out from the other end. “What do you want, Tyler?”
“To find out how you’ve been.”
“Still in the process of getting on my feet, but good otherwise. Got my apartment, a great career, and wonderful family and friends. Couldn’t ask for more. You?”
“I’m okay. Um, well, Elizabeth gave birth to our baby boy, Jackson.”
“Jackson, huh? Wasn’t that supposed to be our son’s name if we had one?”
“I thought you should know.”
“What did you expect? A big congratulations? Well, Ty, it’ll never come from me and if you think she won’t cheat on you, you’re sadly mistaken. You know that saying. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Well, it isn’t. One day, you’re going to wake up and realize that I was the best that ever happened to you and I think you know it or you wouldn’t be calling me.”
“I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Ty’s words were slow and soft.
“If you were, you would’ve never done it in the first place. You’re a heartless asshole. Goodbye Tyler.” She hung the phone up and caught her breath. She looked up and saw Raina standing in the doorway of the kitchen and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “He called to tell me that Elizabeth gave birth to their son. What’s worse is that they named him Jackson. The one name he and I picked out together. It’s like he wants to rub it in my face.” Cheyenne collapsed onto the couch and cried hysterically. “How could he do this to me? All I want to do is put him behind me and move on with my life.”
Raina walked over and joined her on the couch. “I knew you still loved him. It won’t be over un
til you not only say it’s over, but feel it too and you know it in your head and heart that it is. The wounds are still fresh, but like all things, it’ll get better with time. I promise.”
Cheyenne lay her head on her sister’s shoulder and cried. How he could be so cruel? It’s no wonder we got a divorce. She wondered what she ever saw in him. How could he do what he had done to her without a second thought? Why now?
She pulled away from Raina and sat up. Cheyenne wiped her face with the back of her hand and sniffled. “You’re right. I’m not over him.”
“I know, sis. I know. And it’s going to take time, but you will be okay. You just have to believe it.”
Cheyenne gazed at her sister. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Raina bent Cheyenne’s head down to kiss her on the forehead.
~
Cheyenne kissed her sister good-bye at the door then closed it. It was fun visiting but I really need to get some writing done. She glanced at the clock. Raina was here for over an hour? Where did the time go? She moved to the computer and stared at the solitary paragraph on the screen. Geez is that all you can do? Not even one freakin’ full page? Sunlight streaming in the window caught her eye. It was a hot day. The temperature was in the very high nineties, which was unusual for Toledo, Ohio. Time for a walk, fresh air and some thinking.
She grabbed her keys and began to walk out the door, but realized she forgot one thing: she was still wearing her night gown. She turned, walked back in, tossed her keys back on the counter, and went to her bedroom. A few minutes later she was wearing her jean short shorts, a white bra top cami, and white flip flops. Yeah, definitely better. She nodded her head in agreement as she strutted past the full-length mirror. Now she could take her walk. She grabbed her keys and walked out the door.