Checkmate

3

"Shut the front door!" Sephora stared at me with wide eyes, "For real?"

"Yes. Why would I make this up?"

I left her immobile in the kitchen.

As I set up the table, she came to stand before me, staring at me intensively as if trying to block me from cheating my answer, "How did you find out? Did he see you? Did you see him? Why is he here?"

"Slow down with the questions. He came by my office today."

"Why?"

"To make a long story short, he needs my help on a case. His boss got himself in some serious trouble."

"And you're taking that case?"

"I haven't made up my mind about it really. Everyone is insisting that I watch the tape of the trial before making a decision so that's what I'll do."

"Okay, but that aside. Did he ask about Sam?"

"Lower your voice, would you?" I whispered to her as she handed me the bowl of potatoes.

Glancing towards the stairs, I nodded, speaking in a hushed tone, "Yes, he did. He wants to come to dinner on Friday."

"And what did you say?"

"What do you mean what did I say? I said yes. I can't keep him away from his son. He's different now."

"Different huh?"

"Yes. You know how he was. Now it's like a completely different person. Sure he's still a jerk but he obviously got his shit together. He's put on some serious muscle mass, I'll tell you that."

"Mhmm, lemme see."

She pulled out her phone and began to type.

"What are you doing?"

"Just conducting a quick search."

I rolled my eyes at her and finished setting up the table.

A few seconds went by before I heard her gasp.

"Well shit," she mumbled, surprise and interest glimmering in her eyes, " If I didn't know what he did to you I would for sure try me a piece of this fine ass."

"Told you."

She scrolled down, seemingly mesmerized by the various pictures of him. From vacation shots where he sat shirtless on a boat, a wide grin on his face, to business-appropriate pictures, wearing different suits that each accentuated his muscular frame.

"Wait, hold up. What does that mean for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he's back. He did change drastically and now he wants a relationship with Sam. Are you-"

"Nuh-uh, not happening."

She let out a deep breath and placed her hand on her chest, "Thank God. I didn't want to have to smack you upside the head to remind you of how many times he fucked you over."

"I do remember, and I'm over him. We tried time and time again, and it never worked. I'm over the idea of an "us" ever happening."

"Do you really mean that?"

I turned to her. The playfulness was gone from her face as she watched me with curious eyes, her lips together.

"We had our time, and e had his chances. The history that we share is too chaotic to simply overlook. Doesn't matter how many years went by."