"For your boyfriend?"  She ask without looking up.

"No."  When I say this, she looks up.

"For Ashley Davies?"  She smiles.

"Possibly, why?"  I say as I hand her the money.

"No reason.  She came in earlier and bought one too.  She wouldn’t tell me who it was for though."  She says, and I walk out.

Damn.  I know Ashley wouldn’t be buying that for me.  Not the way I treated her or the way she treated me.  Maybe she’s moved on.  No way she’s moved on.  I check my phone to see that she hasn’t called today.  Damn.  Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Ashley is in the mall.  I have got to  get out of here.  I get out without seeing her.  I pull up at home, and I put the gifts in the closet.  I get ready for my date.  At seven on the dot, the door bell rings.  I answer to see Carmen standing there with one rose.  It’s red.  Ashley knows I hate red roses.  I smile, and I take it.  We are in the car on the way to the restuartant, but the conversation must have gotten left at my house.

"So, sorry about not recognizing you earlier."  She finally says.

"No, I’m totally glad you didn’t.  It helps not being known as Ashley Davies girlfriend ever now and again."  I say.

We eat dinner forcing coversation.  We just don’t have anything in common.  Actually, we have everything in common, but I like people that are different from me.  Like Ashley.  Yeah, someone that has a quick temper when I’m the calm one.  Someone who doesn’t take time to think things over when I do.  Yeah, that sounds like Ashley to me.

Carmen and I arrive at my door.

"I had a good time."  She smiles.

"Me too."  Yeah, right.

She leans in to kiss me, and I move to the side and give her the cheek.

"You aren’t over her, are you?"  She ask.

I don’t reply.  I just open the door and walk inside.  I guess not.  I think to myself.  I walk into my house as I pull out my phone.  I realize that it is only ten o’clock.  I put my pajamas on, and I turn on the TV.  After a minute, I go grab a glass of wine.  That’s what I need right now.  I guess that date was alright.  Normally, I guess I’d consider her for a second date, but I don’t think I can.  It sucks not to be able to be close to someone because of someone else.  As if on cue, her video comes on MTV. I sing along to the song.  I almost feel like I hear someone else singing it too, but I think it is my imagination.  You know, that is until the doorbell rings.