Undying Love

  His lips curled into a dimpled, satisfied smile.

  I stared at his beautiful face, realizing that I still knew so little about this man who had robbed me of my virginity and made me explode with ecstasy, already several times.

  “What do you do?” I asked, finding the courage to interrogate him.

  “I’m a businessman.”

  “So, you were on a business trip to Philadelphia today?”

  “No, my company is based there. I commute back and forth everyday.”

  That was a big distance to travel twice a day, but obviously his employer made the trip worthwhile.

  “And what do you do?” he asked, his voice flirtatious.

  “I work for—”

  Before I could finish my sentence, Trainman leaped up from his seat.

  My eyes followed him as his long legs strode to the front of the restaurant. And then my heart leapt into my throat.

  The gorgeous redhead! And she was in Trainman’s arms.

  My emotions skipped over jealousy and sprinted straight to rage. How could he do this to me? And so shamelessly right in front of me?

  Without putting on my other Jimmy, I jumped up from the table and hobbled over to them. If people were staring at me, I was oblivious. The redhead regarded me suspiciously. As if I were in a league below her and didn’t belong here.

  His face, however, brightened. “Saarah.”

  “Don’t ‘Saarah’ me.” In a single smooth move, I yanked off my other Jimmy and flung it at him. “You can keep your damn shoes,” I shouted. As I stormed out the front door, I was pretty sure I would not be returning to The Palm any time soon. Make that ever.

  With tears pouring down my face, I headed west on 45th Street. I had not brought my messenger bag with my wallet, so I was going to have to walk home barefoot. Fortunately, the night was still warm.

  Tears kept coming. Past Third. Past Lexington. Past Park. Happy, laughing young couples, taking advantage of the fine weather, passed me by, but they were just a blur.

  I wanted to get him out of my mind. Erase him forever. But I couldn’t. The inner throbbing just would not go away. I hated him. I hated her. But hated myself most of all. How could I be so stupid to fall for this callous man? To give him my body, pure and unadulterated? To trust him? My mother had always told me to wait for someone who really loved you. She made the mistake of not—and had to raise me as a single parent. I should have listened to her words of wisdom. And right now, there was nothing more that I wanted than to talk to my mother. To tell her everything. To hear her consoling words. And feel her loving embrace.

  When I got home, I was going to take a scissors to his little black dress and tear it to shreds. I was going to go back to who I really was. Sarah plain and tall.