That same day, Tommy got a reply. He opened it, and read the message.

Dear Tommy,

I had no idea that you too were in a fight! Can you believe it? Talk about coincidence! I wish I could see you. I was thinking of resetting our date too! I'm thinking Tuesday? Would that be nice? I'm really looking forward to seeing you.

Regards,

Olivia

Kimberly thought she had Tommy in her clutches. But she was wrong. Dead wrong. Tommy was playing along well. He only had to beat her at her own game. Either she had to make her move, ahead of Tommy, or Tommy would make the first move. And he was determined as hell. He wanted the truth out from Kim. Straight from the horse's mouth. He wanted a confession—from her. Why did she lie to him? Why did she change her name? He was dying to know. He waited it out, until Tuesday. The moment of truth finally arrived.

Tuesday

Kim's hotel room

7:30pm



Kimberly Hart had on a pink dress, and she sat in front of the vanity, combing her hair, getting ready for her date. She looked, and she noticed a piece of folded paper—pink, green, and white in color—lying on the drawer. She picked it up, opened it, and read the words.

Beds of Hyacinth and Roses

Where young Adonis oft reposes

Waxing well of his deep wound

"In slumber soft, and on the ground, sits th' Assyrian Queen. John Milton's Comus."

"Tommy!" Kim turned in surprise.

"Aren't you running rather late for our date, Kim? I thought I was supposed to be the one who was late."

"H—how did you—?"

"Get in here? Your door was open. Don't you ever close it?" Kimberly paled, like she had just seen a ghost. Her plan was to tell Tommy the truth tonight, but her fears got the best of her.

"I... I," she stammered, and managed a nervous smile.

"Enough chitchat! I want the truth, Kim! Out with it!" Tommy closed the door behind him, "Why did you lie to me, Kim?"

"It wasn't my intention to lie to you, Tommy!" Kimberly shot back at him.

"Oh, yeah? Wasn't it your intention? Really, now, Kim! You wanted me back so bad that you had to lie! Why couldn't you just tell me?!"



"Alright, I'll admit it! It was all part of my plan! I wanted to get you to fall in love with me all over again, so I introduced myself as Olivia Johnson! I am Olivia, Tommy! And in all your e-mails, you said you were falling for me—all over again!"

"After you let me go?! After all these years?! When you sent me that letter, my world came closing in, Kim!"

"That letter, was in part, your fault!"

"Hah! My fault? My fault? How in blazes did that become my fault! Tell me, Kim! Tell me! You said in one of your e-mails that you fell in love with the other guy!"

"For God's sake, Tommy! He was just a rebound! I didn't love him! I loved you! He was a rebound!"

"A rebound? What's that supposed to mean? We never broke up, prior to the letter!"

"We may never have broken up, but you cheated on me with that b—, Katherine!"

"Is that one of your lies, Kim!? Huh? Is it!? I never cheated on you with Katherine! Never!"

"Oh, yeah? What about the first Christmas when I came back from Florida, just to celebrate with you guys—just to be with you?! Don't you remember Tommy? Don't you remember everything you did? I was there, Tommy! For God's sake, I was there!"

"You were never—" Tommy suddenly stopped dead.

"You remember now?"



"I'm not buying that, Kim! I'm not!" With that, he stormed out of the hotel. Kimberly was left crying, on the bed.