Let me set the scene: It was Saturday night in Greenwich, Connecticut. The room was romantic with its dim light and relaxed atmosphere, and I was sitting across from my ex-husband. Awkward, I know. We had a habit of running into each other on occasion-- I guess that happens when your ex works for your family's company -- and on the last occasion we met he invited me to dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant. So there I was, in my skin tight red dress, and there he was, looking pretty good himself. Too good. He held up nicely, I had to admit as I gazed from across the table, a smile of satisfaction on my face. There was a lot of gazing and smiling, you know, to make up for the lack of conversation at the table.

"So your hair…"

"Yeah, It's still blonde. I like it. It's different --- good different, I hope. I mean.."

"Your parents?"

"Crazy and dysfunctional."

"Of course. Shane, too?"

"Slightly normal actually, but I'd like to give Marissa credit for that."

"She's great, isn't she?"

"She really is."

And as you can see, when we did start conversing we had yet to regain our natural flow, witty banter and snippy remarks. Understandable though. I mean, after all, we had been divorced for four years. Regardless of how distant we were, even as we sat at the table waiting for our food to arrive, I couldn't help but realize how happy I was. There I was, with a second chance. A chance to make things right. We had ended our relationship – friendship and marriage – on a sour note with a fake pregnancy and bitter divorce proceedings, but I had changed from who I was before. I was no longer a spoiled little princess, daddy's little girl, and I wanted to make it clear to him that I really had grown up.

Countless minutes had passed without major conversation taking place. We thanked our waiter when he brought our food, and joked with smiles on our faces as he inquired about our evening at the restaurant. Aside from that the table had been light on talking. Silence always bothered me. It reminded me of dinner with the family when we realized how cold and heartless our family could be. We would sit down at the table, glare at each other, and pass the mashed potatoes with sneers on our faces. I never wanted any experience to resemble that. Obviously it didn't do much good with my family.

"Thanks for inviting me to dinner. I mean, I'm glad we have a chance to sit down and talk," I began, lifting my glass of water to my lips. "I miss you – your companionship, the times we've had together. I'm glad you haven't held a grudge all these years."

Hunter glanced up from his plate; he was busy pushing a clump of cottage cheese and vegetables across his plate. I'm sure he wasn't watching me as I spoke. Nothing personal intended, I know. It was one of his habits that made my heart burst into flames. I knew inside that he cared, but to look me in the eye would be to expose his own vulnerability. And we couldn't have that, could we? He was ice cold sometimes, but I always had a way of melting that shield away. Maybe this would take a little bit of time but as far as I was concerned, I had all the time in the world to make things right in my life.

"Well, I guess you know what I've been up to lately. I wrestle almost every day of my life. Same old stuff. Besides, you've seen me, because I know I've seen you. What about you? I don't see you around that often," Hunter said, his words dragging though they became more relaxed as he grew more comfortable with our dinner setting.

"Sadly enough, I don't have much to brag about. I mean, you, youhave your victories and titles. Me? I'm almost 30 and I haven't wandered too far from home after all this time," the humorous tone in my voice was punctuated with a heavy sigh. Taking another sip of my water, I couldn't help but think about how pathetic I probably sounded, but I finished my story anyway. "I'm living here in Greenwich with my best friend from high school -- you remember Lindsey, right? – and I have a job with a magazine, which seems to be promising. They only want me because I have a 'socialite's view on the world', but I want to be more than some witty rich girl. I'm going to get myself established as a writer and I'm going to move in to my own place."

I was out of breath from rambling, nothing new, and when I would simply return to my food out of fear of saying something ridiculous, a soft noise startled me. Was that laughter I heard? I'm sure I leaned across the table to get a better listen, but the silliness was worth it as it allowed me to hear the confirmation myself. My God, was his laughter infectious, despite its softness. One second I was trying my hardest to hear his chuckle and the next my nose was scrunched in that horrible way it does as I followed suit and chuckled myself. It was a foul circle of follow the leader. He laughed, I laughed, he laughed harder, and I laughed harder. People probably thought we were choking to death on our food.

That night we finished our dinner with smiles on our faces and a cab ride home was unnecessary as I found an escort in my ex-husband. Hunter drove me home, and despite wiping my slate clean from any princess references, I couldn't help but feel like I was starring in my very own fairytale as he walked me to the front door.

"Tonight was good. Very good," I murmured, my voice so low I could hear myself purr. Not like I didn't have a reason to purr though. Hunter was stepping closer, I didn't mind, and before I knew it my arms were around his neck and his lips were locked with mind. Even as our lips parted we held each other for a few minutes just to relive that feeling. We had both been alone for far too long. Before I let go I took a deep inhale of the cologne on his neck before I settled onto my feet, and out of the corner of my eye I could see the blind ruffle and Lindsey's fingertips poking through as she watched with girlish glee.

"Where exactly does this leave us?" Hunter asked, his fingers gliding through his hair as he sighed heavily.

"Friends," I said simply, regretfully, even though I knew that was the answer that needed to be said.

"Friends," he repeated solemnly with the same dose of regret that I had taken.

"I'm not sure we're ready to be anything else. I think we need some time to adjust…get to know each other better. I need to work on things in my life before I can commit to some one else, but please, don't run away because of that. I want you in my life. I'm just not sure how I can have you in my life."

My blue eyes were pleading at that moment, and as pitiful as it must have been he accepted it. Taking my hands in his, he lowered his head and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead, and I knew I was his princess again. He turned away from, slowly letting my hands go as I sulked all the way down the driveway. With my arms folded, my eyes followed him until he disappeared into the darkness of his car, but even before he was enveloped by the night I could see that bastard's smirk. That smirk that said he always got what he wanted.

I couldn't argue this time.