Chapter 1

It had been two months since she had ended their engagement. It seemed as though the last time they were together was just yesterday but it wasn't. It had been weeks. She told her self that she needed to stop thinking about him. Move on. He was bad news and she knew it. It didn't matter how many times she tried to forget what happened, the words of their conversation always filled her head. "For what it's worth, I've loved you more than I ever loved anyone." David pronounced. "And I wish it could've turned out differently. I really do. You've given me some of the happiest moments of my life." She returned. "Good-bye, Erica. I'm going to miss you." "I know." She said before he walked away. She tried to make a clean break from him only his brother was living in her house. That meant that if David wanted to see or talk to his brother that this was a stop he might make. David tried to stop thinking about her. What they had but he couldn't. He didn't want to. He needed to know about her. If she talked about him, thought about him, missed him as much as he missed her. He needed to know so much so that he invited his baby brother to breakfast hoping he could get some information. "What's up big bro?" Leo said as he approached the table that David was occupying. "Hey Leo, you hungry?"David asked hoping he wouldn't give away the reason he really invited his brother to breakfast. "Not really. Erica's feeding me well." He teased. He knew exactly why David had asked him to breakfast. "And how is Erica doing?"He asked figuring that since Leo brought her up he wouldn't accuse him of setting this up. "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to ask?" Leo smiled, placing his order with the waiter. "Am I that transparent?" He asked. His brother knew him more than he thought. "She didn't ask about you if that's what you want to know. Bianca and Erica are going through a tough time with each other. Bianca doesn't want to listen to anything Erica has to say ever since she found out her father died. Other than that she seems to be okay." "Maybe I should go over there, see for myself." David half asked Leo half told himself. "I don't think that's a good idea bro." He said knowing he would most likely do it anyway. "You're giving me advice? That's a laugh." He mused getting up. "I know I'm no expert on love, but I don't think it's going to go the way you think man." He told David shoving a bite of food in his mouth. "This should cover breakfast." David told him, throwing a wad of cash on the table. Leo just shook his head as he watched his brother head to Erica's. He knew it wouldn't end well but he hoped he still had a place to live when he got there. There was a knock at the door. He had told her he would be by in a few minutes so she was expecting him. She opened the door, only it wasn't him. "David?" "Hello Erica. Can I come in?" David asked, one arm along the door frame. "Now isn't a good time David." She told him hoping he would take her words and listen for once but she knew he wouldn't. "Erica, I'm not here to talk about us. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about Travis. I heard that you and Bianca were having some problems." He told her with genuine concern. "Thank you David but this isn't really any of concern of yours."She told him, flustered by his intrusion. He thinks that he can just come here and play nice. Show his 'concern` and then walk right back into my life. I don't think so. "I know but I just want you to know that I'm here. For you and Bianca." He could sense she wanted him to leave, that she was uncomfortable. Then he noticed she was staring at something behind him. He turned around to see a slightly taller, handsome man he had never seen before. "Am I in the middle of something?" The man spoke. "Chris. Hello. David here was just leaving." Erica covered. She hadn't mentioned anything about David to the man. She hoped maybe she wouldn't have to but maybe now she did. Later. "Yes, I just came by to give my condolences to Ms. Kane. I should really be getting to the hospital. Goodbye Erica."He made up seeing as how Erica had done the same. He left realizing what he was in the middle of. Erica had moved on already. Only two weeks after they had last made love. Am I that forgettable or is it that she is trying her hardest to forget me? "Can I ask who that was?" Chris asked Erica knowing there was more between her and that man than she led him to believe. "Him? He's my doctor." "Does this doctor have a name?" "Oh yes. His name is David Hayward." "He looks familiar. Do I know him?" Chris asked knowing who David Hayward was but not wanting Erica to know that he did. "I don't think so. Maybe you've seen him around town once or twice." "Maybe." He added David made his way to his room at the Valley Inn. He was going to go to the bar downstairs but he figured his scotch was better anyway and it was also free. He unlocked the door, walked in the room throwing his coat on the chair and eventually made his way to the liquor cabinet. As he poured himself a drink he noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye. He shouted not recognizing the shadowy figure. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my room?"