“Before you say anything else, I need to say, I was wrong, I know I was wrong…And I apologize for hurting you…for hurting us.” Terry said to Janet.

Janet’s eyebrow raised as she was completely taken by surprise at Terry’s statement.

This is not how she thought this date was going to go down at The Kitchen restaurant. She had imagined a number of possible outcomes. Some ended with her telling him off. Some ending with her finding Penny and slapping her in the face, even though Penny was no where to be found.

But when she was honest with herself, Janet expected Terry to place all the blame on Penny’s trifling ass. It probably was her that was the initiator, Janet thought. But that was certainly no excuse. She was ready for Terry to come up with that excuse and she had a ready comeback including an exit strategy that included a drink in Terry’s face and a walking off that was reminiscent of Angela Bassett setting the fire in waiting to exhale.

But if he didn’t place blame, Janet thought he would try to seduce her. He always tried that. His strong and powerful arms around her made her melt. His good looks were just too much for her to turn down normally. But that was before he cheated on her. Even though she had to acknowledge that she missed the nights of pleasure, she was ready for that approach too.

But no, Terry came straight and took all the blame. Damn…she was not ready for that. Janet felt her breath going away and herself losing her resistance to him. She bit her bottom lip as she looked at him sitting there.

Then she regained her composure and put a hard look back on her face and crossed her arms.

“And I want to tell you Baby…”

“Well, I’m glad I found out who you were before we got married, and don’t you dare call me baby…” Janet snapped.

Terry put his hand up in resignation and said, “No, I’m sorry, you’re right, I don’t deserve to call you baby yet…”

Janet thought, “Yet…what the hell is he talking about yet for?” She rolled her neck and looked at Terry and said, “Yet?”

“I know you’re mad, and I can’t blame you, but I do know that I miss you Ba…Janet. And I also know that I am going to win you back.”

Janet snickered, “Win me back?…OK, Terry, I agreed to this dinner, but you need to know that I have moved on. I am dating someone now.” Janet lied.

“I hear you, but you need to know that I am going to do whatever it takes.”

“There is nothing you can do Terry, I loved you and you treated me like dirt. So guess what, it ain’t gonna happen.” Janet raised her hand to call over the waiter.

Steve lightly took her hand and slowly put it on the table, “OK, I hear you, but I am just telling you what is going to happen, I’m going to win you back and I am not going to stop until you become mine again.”

Terry partially smiled and continued, “I can’t live without you and our time apart has taught me that.”

Janet’s insides melted as she attempted to hide her conflicting emotions from Terry. “Well, I don’t think you should waste your time.” She then picked her hand back up and called the waiter over.

“And you are paying for this…” Janet said.

Terry smiled and leaned back in his chair and said, “Of course.”

************

As Janet drove back home she called Ashley on her cell. “He apologized…” Janet said.

“He apologized?”

“Yes, he apologized and guess what, it took everything within me to keep from going home with him tonight.”

“What are you talking about? You are thinking about going back with him?”

“Girl…of course not.”

“You do realize you are giving me conflicting emotions right now.”

“That man knows what he needs to say. I bet if you heard him you would be sending out wedding invitations yourself.” Janet said. “He said he was wrong and…” Janet continued.

“He didn’t just do something wrong, he was screwing your friend. I don’t know why you were even going out with him.”

“It wasn’t a date, and we were just…I just wanted him to have a chance to say what he needed to say…and girl, he said he was gonna win me back.”

“I hope you told him to forget it.”

“He was so convincing…”

“Janet?”

“Of course I told him to forget it. I even lied and told him about a man that I ain’t got.”

“What did he say?”

“He is going to do whatever it takes. I mean there were no games, no mess, he apologized and told me that he will win me back.”

“Sounds like you are already ready to take him back.”

“Well you ain’t been listening…”

“I have been listening better than you have Janet…I hope you know what you are doing.”

“Well, I know how I can quickly figure out how serious this guy is. I think it is time for us to fire up that card game at Michael and Laura’s apartment. Let’s see if he shows up for that.”

“Why don’t you just kick his sorry ass to the curb and move on?”

Janet sat there contemplating Ashley’s question and said, “I have to see…I just have to see…”