Heartbreaker

Lisa frowned as she felt her cup of coffee start to grow warm. She had been sitting in the restaurant past ten minutes waiting for her boyfriend, Rick, to arrive. She had made the appointment last night, telling him there was something important she needed to speak to him about. Rick was optimistic—he had proposed days ago and figured Lisa was going to give him an answer. Lisa sipped her coffee and wished he would hurry over.

Rick waltzed into the restaurant minutes later. There were few people inside. Lisa waved at him, exuding a weak smile as Rick approached her table. She got up and they hugged before sitting down across from each other. Rick adjusted the scarf around his neck. It was cold outside, and he was grateful for the temporary warmth. He apologised for his lateness, saying he had encountered some traffic getting there. Lisa waved a dismissive hand, saying it was okay; she drank her coffee till it finished. There was a pensiveness about her that Rick thought nothing of until she mentioned her reason for wanting to see him.

“I can’t do it, Rick,” Lisa said with sudden frankness.

“What can’t you do, babe?” Rick was puzzled. He reached for her, but Lisa didn’t offer him her hand.

“I can’t marry you.” She reached into her coat’s pocket and retrieved the black velvet box he had presented to her days ago that bore the engagement ring he showed her. “It’s why I asked you to come here. I want to give this back to you.”

Rick looked at the box after Lisa dropped it in front of him. He looked at her in abject amazement, lost for words.

“Lisa, what do you mean by this?”

“It means what I said it means, Rick. I cannot marry you; I don’t want to.”

“Wait . . . hold on a minute . . . what is it about? Is it something I said?”

“It’s nothing you said, Rick.”

“Did I do something bad? Did I hurt your feelings? Come on, Lisa, talk to me, please.” He glanced around to ensure nobody was overhearing them before continuing. “If it’s more time you want, I won’t mind giving it to you.”

“It’s got nothing to do with time, Rick,” Lisa said exasperatedly. “Look, I’m just not that into you anymore, okay,” she sighed and pushed a lock of blonde hair back into place behind her ear; that helped her to calm down somewhat. “I’m in love with someone else.”

“Oh, I should have known. I should have known you’d be two-timing me this entire time.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” she said. “I hooked up with him two months ago at my best friend Diana’s birthday party. It wasn’t something I thought would happen the way it did, but we kept in touch, and one thing led to another, and we’ve been seeing each other since. I was going to tell you eventually.”

“Oh yeah? How eventually were you going to tell me, Lisa? After I’d gone and bought you a ring? After I’d told my parents that I’ve met the right woman for me . . . then you decide to pull this back-stabbing action on me?”

Rick looked up and made eye contact with the man who had snatched his woman from him.

Rick’s features grew crimson the longer he talked. He was struggling to work himself into getting upset. Lisa stayed cool instead. She knew he was likely to create a scene, hence why she opted for his location than inviting him over to her place. Rick, for his part, felt he was losing control and attempted to rein in his emotions while fighting the urge to lash out at his girlfriend. He took a moment to check his breathing before continuing.

“Who is he? Tell me he’s not someone I know already.”

Lisa shook her head. “You don’t know him, but he does know you. I’ve told him about you; he knows we’re having this discussion right now.”

“Is he here?” Rick looked in every direction in the restaurant. “I don’t see him, or am I missing something?”

“He’s out in the car waiting,” she said.

“Call him then. Tell him to come over and join us; it’s the least you can do.”

Lisa took out her phone and sent a text message. Rick ran his hand over his face and then over his head, feeling agitated like a steam engine about to burst. He looked at the engagement box and didn’t know what to do about it. This day was turning into what he couldn’t possibly have imagined—a nightmare.

He was lost in his thoughts when someone came and joined them. Lisa adjusted herself for the black man that came and sat beside her. Rick looked up and made eye contact with the man who had snatched his woman from him.

“What’s up, man,” the man addressed him.

Lisa introduced them. “Dwayne, this is Rick; Rick, this is Dwayne.”

“Hi,” Rick muttered. “So, you’re the guy that’s taken my woman from me.”

“Nobody took anybody from anyone, Rick,” Lisa interrupted. “I made my choice. Dwayne has been a lot good to me than you possibly can. If you can’t handle that then I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not here to cause a scene, so please, don’t even go there.”

“What do you want me to do, Lisa? I’m supposed to just sit here and take everything you’ve told me with a level head? Do you know how I’m feeling right now?”

“That’s it,” Lisa spat with vitriol. “Everything is always about you. It’s always about how Rick’s feeling; when’s the last time you wondered how I was feeling? Have you ever bothered asking me that? Always, you drone on about how good or how bad your day’s gone, but you’ve never once bothered about mine.” She stopped to take stock for a moment before adding, “And sex with you has always been lousy. I’m sorry to break it to you this way, but it’s true. I’ve never had an orgasm since you and I began dating. Dwayne is everything I could want from a man you aren’t.”

That last statement stung Rick’s core like a shotgun blast. His mouth came unglued but no words poured out. He looked at Dwayne, but his face was expressionless; he might as well not be seated there with them.

“I’m about done here,” Lisa stood up, then looked to her lover and said, “I’ll be in the car waiting.”

Dwayne made room for her to come out of the booth. They shared a kiss, and then Lisa left the restaurant. Rick and Dwayne looked at each other, sizing each other up. Rick bore at him with insolence while Dwayne kept his indifferent expression about himself.

“How long have you been fucking my girl?” Rick asked.

“I don't think that’s any of your damn business,” Dwayne replied. “You’d be better off asking her that.”

“She said you have her have been seeing each other for two months now. You had no idea she was with someone?”

Dwayne shrugged. “Lisa never mentioned that part; ain't like I cared about finding out. You wouldn’t if you were me.”

“And you’ve been fucking her steady?”

“That the part you’re focused on learning about, then yeah. Lisa’s been giving it up, and I’ve been taking, and it’s been good. Cute ring you bought her, though.” Dwayne rose from the booth. “Be seeing you around, white boy.”

“Fuck you.”

“No thanks,” Dwayne smiled. “Lisa would do.”

He turned and left the restaurant. Rick watched him stroll into the parking lot and return to the car where Lisa was waiting for him. Dwayne got into the car, and Rick watched them drive off. He felt disgusted with himself that he hadn’t made a move to strike Dwayne when he made that crack about the ring he had purchased. Rick picked up the box and put it in his pocket before leaving. Hopefully, he would move on and try his best not to reflect on the pain he felt today.

If only it were that simple.