" So you guys broke up?" Cheyenne asks as she sips her morning coffee.

"No we didn't breakup, we are just on a break" Kim says joining her friend at the dining table. She pulls out a chair and lets out a heavy sigh. " We still love each other, but he is just busy growing his company and I'm busy trying to survive".

" That's too bad though. I love you and Jaime together. If you ever want to talk, I'm here for you. Your sole company in moany town." she says rubbing her friend's shoulder.

Kim laughs slightly " I know. But it sucks cause you're always having lunch with Michael. What's the deal with you two, you gonna do the nasty or what?"

Cheyenne wrinkles her nose at her friend's comment even though the thought has crossed her mind. The thing is she has considered a possible relationship with Michael but there's so much she doesn't know about him, so much she wants to know. Like where does his mind go, when he stares off in the distance when they are on a date. Not date. Hanging out.

" We are not there. And we won't be there. He has a girlfriend remember?" Cheyenne gets up to place her empty mug in the kitchen sink.

"Yea but he hangs out with you everyday. Does he talk about her?"

"No." Cheyenne says recalling their numerous lunchtime and coffee room conversations.

"Does he ever mention her?"

Sigh. "No."

Kim gets up to face Cheyenne on the opposite side of their marble counter top.

"Sounds to me like he's keeping his girlfriend out of the conversation on purpose. And is taking you along the ride. Look at you, it's like you're ready to drop your panties or something".

"Ugh. Am not!" She turns on the kitchen pipe and sprays her friend in the face.

"You bitch!" Kim screams.Cheyenne laughs. "Whatever! I gotta go shower for work!" She doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

" You sleep with one eye open tonight Cheyenne Forbes!".

Though she laughed it off, Cheyenne could not help but think that Kim was right. Why doesn't he talk about his girlfriend? Why not even mention her? Why am I so attracted to a guy with a girlfriend? If he does have a girlfriend. Well he didn't deny it when I said it the first time. I wanna know what's up. With all these questions in mind she was sure about the lunchtime conversation they would be having today.

....

" Look I don't know, what happened. One minute she was there I was kissing her and then she turns into Chrissy like some sort of shape-shifter" Mikey says sitting on his squeaky couch with his cup of peppermint tea in hand.

" Who turned into Chrissy?" Jonathan croaks over the phone.

" Cheyenne! Weren't you listening? Then my father appears and all of a sudden I am back at home with him and my mother as a little boy, eating dinner."

" Look Mikey, I know I said I'm available at any time to talk about things but it's 6:30 in the morning.  I still have 2 hours of sleep left left in me at least ."

"Don't you have work?"

" Remember 1 year anniversary this week? We took a short vacation to be together."

"Oh yes. Right."

"And the anniversary party on Friday night? You better be there."

"Yea, I'm going to be there. If she isn't."

"Dude. You know I don't control that".

"I know." Mikey still cannot believe the events of the previous day. They broke  up? Why? And why did she tell me? What's her motive?  What's my motive in wanting to know all of this?

"Look, I'll come by today. We can have lunch. Raquel and I's flight isn't until late afternoon.But... for now. Goodbye Mikey."

"Wait no-" Shoot. Johny hung up before Mikey could tell him that he and Cheyenne will be having lunch, or she'll want to. As he sets down his phone  on the table, it buzzes.

Chrissy: Can we talk? Please.

This marks the 5th message since yesterday in addition to the 8 missed calls last night. Though he wants to talk to her and  find out what is going on; what will he say?  The truth is Mikey is afraid and confused. She brought out the best and worst in him in the past year, yet a part of him still wants her. He is still connected to her somehow, and is unsure of whether or not he wants to sever those ties. Then there's Cheyenne, the woman that is able to capture his mind if even for a moment so that all his worries fade away. The woman he cannot afford to wrap up in his never ending nightmare, because he fears he might break her too.

As Mikey finishes his cup of tea and sets it on the table he checks the time.  It's 6:45. Got to get ready or I will be late. I really should buy a car. There's a knock at the door. 

"Michael open up it is your mother". No not today. I do not need this. He walks over to the kitchen If I ignore her, she will go away. 

" Michael, I know you are in there." Go away. Go away.

"Michael please. I need to talk to you and explain sweetie". Sweetie? Really?

He continues to ignore her pleas and starts towards the hall to his room. Then an all too familiar ringtone starts to play on the coffee table. Shoot No! If she hears she'll know I am here.  Mikey hurries to shut it off before she knocks again sprinting and diving to the table. 

Knock knock knock

" Michael I heard the phone. It was me calling open up. I just want to talk." He stays silent.

"I know you have to work. I will stay out here until you have to leave."

Bowing his head he shouts. " Michael is no longer living at this residence. Please leave as you are disturbing the peace." My peace.

"Michael honey? Open up please."

Mikey bows his head in defeat and gets up to open the lock, but leaving the latch on so the door only opens a few inches.

"Really? This is no way to treat your mother Michael" He rolls his eyes.

"I have no mother Caroline"

"Now that is dramatic. And hurtful! Your father would not want you treating me this way".

Mikey snorts . "You have some nerve talking about my father."

" I did not come to argue"

"What is it then?"

"I just came to invite you to dinner tonight. Just us. No one else."

"I'm busy" He tries to shut the door but she blocks it with her foot.

"Please Michael. You are my only son and I cannot stand the fact that you are upset, now please. Dinner? Tonight? Just consider it." He looks at her straight in her eyes. Her lipstick covered lip starts to quiver as if she is holding her tears in but her eyes remain stern.

"Fine. I will consider it. I am late for work".

She removes her foot and restores her smile as if nothing happened. " I'll call you at 6." And as if all was right in her world she sashays down the hall to the elevator.

....

Mikey arrives a half an hour late thanks to his mother making him miss the early bus. He walks into the office and happens upon a meeting in progress.

"Michael, so glad you could join us" says one of the mentors. He is not sure as to who exactly greeted him as he becomes stunned by Cheyenne. She is sitting at her desk with her chair turned toward glass that gives them view of the office outside. This gives him full view of her elegance. She is a dressed in a fiery red pencil dress and those black heels. Her legs are crossed at the knees giving him a small glimpse of her thigh. His eyes travel up to her chest, the dress is slightly low cut but not too revealing. Then her dark brown full lips. Then their eyes meet and she smirks. Shoot! Caught again!

"I uhh sorry.. For.. umm being late" Mikey stumbles over his words. He hurries to his desk. The meeting continues. They basically brief them about their progress so far at the company, reinforcing the fact that they are in competition and that they should not get comfortable. In fact, each time they said it, all eyes were on Mikey and Cheyenne. That's weird Mikey thought. It did not feel like a competition among them. If anything they were all becoming friends. They all helped each other out somehow. It did however remind him that no matter what happened, in a few months, only one of them would win. And right now Mikey didn't feel like a winner. 

The morning was filled with site visits and drawing approvals. He had hardly gotten the time to speak to Cheyenne about not having lunch. He tried calling but she didn't pick up. He resorts to texts.

Hey I can't have lunch today. Will explain later.

 At 12 he heads down to the main lobby to meet Jonathan who says he is a few minutes away. Hopefully she sees the message. On his way out he spots her coming in.

"Hey, were you leaving without me?" she asks.

"No. I mean yes. But no" He says hurriedly, knowing Jonathan will be there any minute. He is not sure he wants them to meet as yet.

"What?" she asks confused.

"I tried calling and I texted you. I am having lunch with a friend of mine today. I hope you don't mind".

"I forgot my phone at my desk this morning. I was really hoping we could talk today. I kinda have alot-"

"Mikey my man!" What was usually a warm and happy welcome, made Mikey cringe this time around. He wasn't ready for his two world's to collide as yet. He turns to see his best friend walking up to them.

"Hey Johny"

"Who is this lovely lady?" He asks directing his attention to Cheyenne. 

"Hi! I'm Cheyenne. Michael or should I say Mikey and I work together." She teases.

"Please don't." he says pointedly at Cheyenne, however he can't help a smile.

Sigh. "So this is the Cheyenne? From the bar and now office". He stares at his friend.

"Oh and you are the friend who bet money for him to pick me up? Right?" 

"It was just a mild encouragement." Jonathan retorts

"Okay... well I'm sorry Cheyenne but he and I have lunch so can we talk later, or not later-" He says remembering his mother's visit this morning. 

"Non-sense Mikey. We can all have lunch together" Jonathan says throwing his hands in the air "It will give me a chance to get to know Ms. Cheyenne. That is if she doesn't mind?" he says looking at her and then Mikey with a sly smile on his face.

They both look at Mikey with hopeful eyes. He bows his head the second time today in defeat. Sigh "Where to?"

"That's my man. I was thinking Roscoe's Yard". He turns toward the door.