CHAPTER 1

 

 

Zayvier had made up her mind. She was going to find a roommate. She understood her friends' concerns, but ultimately, this is her life, her finances and her business. She was not exactly struggling to make ends meet since her engagement fell apart four months ago, but her lifestyle was not exactly what she wanted it to be right now either.

 

Zayvier purchased this condo fourteen months ago, six months after she accepted Micky's proposal. The couple had decided to combine households while planning and paying for their wedding. The condo was 1400 square feet, featuring 2 bedrooms with on suite baths. The living, dining, kitchen area had an open floor plan and there was a small ½ bath for guests. The far wall was a window wall that opened onto a spacious patio. It was the perfect place to begin their life together. Zayvier had been convinced that she was the luckiest woman on earth. Micky took a very active role in the planning of their wedding. He not only offered his input, he made time to go wedding shopping with her. They visited florists, caterers, bakeries, as well as places that rented wedding fixtures. They looked at fabric for bridesmaids dresses. They picked out napkins and program designs. They took photos for the wedding invitations. They looked at different cites to hold the ceremony and reception. They discussed whether they would have a stringed quartet or a DJ and ultimately decided on both. Everything was falling into place and Zayvier could not have been happier. Then "it" happened.

Zayvier had come home from work early one Monday. She heard the shower running in the second bedroom and masculine moaning. Her breath caught in her throat. This could not be happening! She kicked off her shoes and headed in the direction of the sounds. Nothing in her history, imagination, or anything else, could have prepared her for the scene before her. Micky, her tall, dark, handsome, sexy Micky was kneeling in the shower and deep-throating his best man. Neither man even realized she was there until she ripped a chrome towel bar from the wall and began beating them. She swung wildly and blindly through her hurt, anger and rage. Micky tried to apologize. His punk ass even asked if they could work it out. HA! Zayvier had given him the boot that night. She changed her locks and phone numbers. The next morning, Zayvier called her office to let them know that she would be out the remainder of the week. She then went to her doctor and requested a full battery of STD tests. Her doctor promised to put a rush on her tests and told her to come back in on Thursday for the results.

Zayvier found herself wondering how she could have been blindsided. She kept racking her brain trying to find warning signs or clues. She was so ashamed. Some part of her wondered if it was her fault, something she had not done right, other than being born with a vagina instead of a penis. She spent the next two days cancelling her wedding and retrieving the refundable deposits that she could. She was not ready to face her friends.

Thursday morning, Zayvier left her doctor's office relieved. She was STD free. She walked to a nearby restaurant and had lunch alone. One by one, she called her bridesmaids and invited them to dinner the next day. She had reserved a private dining room at Delilah's. She was going to tell them the wedding was off and she only wanted to go through it once. She would call Micky from the office on Monday, and let him know to inform his groomsmen. Paying for her lunch and leaving the restaurant, Zayvier was filled with dread. Tomorrow was definitely going to be a long day.