It was a cool mid-morning September, birds chirping around the garden, butterflies flutter from one flower to the next, and the sun still in slumber beneath the cotton clouds but Tony couldn't identify with the pleasant surroundings as he stared hopelessly on the newly delivered present for Angela that sat amicably in the corner of the backyard as though it had been there since time in memoriam.

Will the sender fit into Angela's life as perfectly as this present did in their home? He touched his purplish pink spiky hair, wondering if some unfortunate creature fell on his head and had its body sliced in two.

He winced in pain hoping the hot mint tea he was enjoying would relieve the stomach ache he contracted from his dinner with Kathleen. He smirked in delight at his hilarity the previous night. For a moment he wondered if he was doing the right thing but the doubt he felt only lasted for a second as Angela's beautiful smile invaded his thoughts.

"Tony!" He heard his name called as he found Ernie walking into the backyard carrying his regular water delivery. Tony didn't stand up from one of the black steel chairs in the patio but signalled for Ernie to proceed inside the kitchen to put the mineral water at the dispenser.

"Thanks for that deliciously expensive chocolate you gave me for Denise. She loved it. And you know, she agreed to go out with me again!" exclaimed Ernie as he walked out the back door and sat beside Tony.

"I'm glad those chocolates did you a favour. Here's another box. I was waiting for you to come so I can give it to you," replied Tony while trying to feel if the mint tea did the trick.

Ernie's grin vanished noticing Tony's discomfort. "What happened to you? Last night you were all but excited about your break-up plan with Kathleen. Didn't it work?"

"It went great but unfortunately it caused me severe indigestion. I think the lobster and those oysters didn't agree with me..."

"Why did you order them? You didn't like the company you might as well like the food," pointed out Ernie.

"It was the most expensive thing on the menu. I wanted her to really hate me enough to break up with me... But she didn't," said Tony, finally looking into Ernie's earnest expression. Only then did he realize how much he wanted to be free of Kathleen.

"You can't expect her to break up with you overnight. It might take a month or so..."

"By then it may already be too late," snapped Tony, more fiercely than he intended. He was about to apologize when Ernie noticed the Jacuzzi at the corner of the yard.

"Woa! What a babe! Did Angela buy this? Why do you say a month is too late?" he asked walking toward the gigantic rectangular tub. He touched the maple-colored wood of the elevated spa tub and whistled. "Must have cost a fortune..."

"You think we can both load this in your delivery truck?" asked Tony.

Ernie looked at his friend incredulously. "Are you crazy? Angela will look for that."

"She doesn't know about it yet. It's a gift from Peter," he stated, handing the card to Ernie.

"You read her personal mail!" exclaimed Ernie aghast.

"Don't look so shock. I signed for it and therefore I saw the card that went with it. Besides, you're the most rumour mongering water delivery man in the area. I haven't done anything you haven't," Tony sighed in exasperation. He began shifting his weight and pacing as though deep in thought.

"This Peter guy...he must be loaded."

"You think I don't know that?" glared Tony.

He faced Ernie with a desperate look in his eyes. "This is the reason I don't have much time. I need Kathleen to break up with me NOW. Peter spends so much time with Angela, being an advertising mogul himself, and now this," Tony gestured at the expensive tub, "his congratulatory gift to Angela for winning at the Ad Awards. Who wouldn't say he has more than friendship in his mind?"

Ernie groped for words. "Mmm...ma..maybe he's not as charming and good-looking as you are..."

Tony stared at Ernie and sighed, "And those Swiss chocolates I've been giving you for Denise...they're Angela's, gifts from Andy. They're Angela's favourite brand. And whenever those chocolates are delivered I hide them and change them to white chocolates or chocolates with raisins-Angela hates those. That way Andy won't find a way into Angela's heart. And when Andy asks if she got the chocolate she'll confirm she got them.." Tony laughed a little, "but of course they are no longer the chocolates she loves."

Ernie suddenly lost his sympathy for his friend. "Tony, you're sick. You shove Angela aside, while you date some hot chick, expecting her to wait for you to notice her, and now that all these men want Angela, you want her too. That's so selfish man..."

Tony gave Ernie a dagger look. "Look here you..."

"Tony! Are you out there? Who's with you? I've been honking the Jag for 5 minutes..." Angela's voice broke the pair. Not sooner than Tony dropped his glare that Angela stepped into the backyard in her white skinny Banana Republic denims, buckled ankle strap washed strappy cork wedge and a DKNY black and gray striped, three quarter sleeved wool-silk sweater that emphasized her tall but curvaceous frame.

"Tony... where are you? Oh hi Ernie! I didn't know you were here. I just came back from the mall. No one's home yet for lunch Tony? Hey, what's this Jacuzzi doing in our yard?"

Tony was making faces at Ernie. He gave Ernie a look that says, "watch me".

"That's our dilemma, Angela...You see, Peter sent this to you as a present..."

Angela shrieked in delight and sat at the edge of the pool. "This is exquisite That's so sweet of Peter..."

"Ah, ah,.. we have to return it, Angela," said Tony, taking Angela on the elbow and leading her away from tub.

"Why? It's beautiful..."

Tony gave her an impish grin. "Ah, ah," he shook his head, waving a naughty finger at Angela.

"If you accept an expensive gift like this, it's like accepting whatever liberties that Peter might want to extend to your person..."

"What? Peter's not like that. We're friends and I'm keeping this Jacuzzi."

"Since when are men and women JUST FRIENDS?" asked Tony, trying to conceal his annoyance with Angela not wanting to return the pool.

The nerve of Tony, thought Angela. Her patience wore thin that she forgot Ernie was around.

She smirked, folding her arms in front of her as she retorted. "Since when? I'll tell you when-Since US. Since you had a girlfriend because you say WE are JUST FRIENDS. So you see, men and women can be JUST FRIENDS indeed!"

With that Angela stormed out of the backyard and into the house, banging the back door behind her, leaving Ernie gaping at them and Tony silently cursing in Italian.