Dana, sweetie, I hear Tonya, are you going to get dressed?

Huh? Uh, yeah. Give me a couple of minutes.

Sweetie! Youve had more than a couple of minutes. You should have gotten dresses while I was in the shower. Now, hurry up, Im starving.

Okay, okay, I retort. Ill be ready in five minutes.

Well, Im going downstairs to make a phone call, she says. Come down when youre ready, okay?

I turn towards the closet. I think Ill wear

Dana!

What, I respond, almost angry.

I asked you a question.

Whatwhat was your question, I ask. Why is she being so annoying?

I said Come down when youre ready, okay.

Okay, I answerjust to get her off my back.

What have I gotten myself into? I never realized how amazingly horrid that woman is. Shes high strung and controllingand she thinks I like dressing like her. God, why didnt I notice it all before? Because Alice hadnt kissed you before, thats why. Alice is just putting doubts in your head. Youre engaged to Tonyanothing will change that. I care for AliceI mean I love herlike a friendbut Im not IN love with her. Thats it Dana! Youre not IN love with Aliceand you didnt start seeing Tonyas faults until she kissed you last night. This is all one huge misunderstanding. Alice didnt mean to kiss me. She just doesnt like Tonya. Well, thats too bad, because shell have to learn to live with it. Im marrying Tonya and thats final! I cant let her pull me all these different directions. I cant deal with itIm about to go on tour and my game will suffer if Im thinking about this all the time. Alice is right; we DO need to talk about this in person. How could I think that we could solve this over the phone? Ill just wait for her to call me, she sounded like something was going on. Maybe she wont be at The Planet. While my mind races with random thoughts, I continue getting dressed.

Finally ready, I grab sweater and head for the stairs.

No.Yeah.She doesnt suspect a thing.No, really. She believes everything I tell herI think shes coming, gotta go. Tonya says quickly and hangs up the phone.

Who was that, I ask.

Nobody important, just an old friend, she answers. Why do I feel like shes lying?…because those seeds of doubt are firmly planted. I have GOT to get rid of them.

Tonya and I leave myOUR apartment and head to The Planet.

Ill take a soy latte, Tonya says as we enter the caf.

Oh, okaydo you want to find a table? Here, will you hold my keys and cell while I wait in line?

Sure, she says as she takes them from me. I watch her walk to the back corner from my place at the end of the line. I slowly make my way up to the counter and order our drinks.

I approach Tonya at our table and set down her latte. Wheres my bagel? Did she ask me to get her a bagel?

Im sorry; I didnt know you wanted one.

Sweetie, I always get a bagelyou know that. Is she being condescending?

But you told me what you wanted to drink and didnt mention any food. By now, I growing a little agitated and begin to raise my voice.

DanaSweetiecalm down. I told you what I want to drink because I always get something different. But I always get a bagel.

How am I sup. I relent, never mind. Ill be right back.

Returning to the counter, I order Tonyas bagel. Alice never does this *****. When she wants something she tells meshe goes after it. She goes after it. Why do I get this nagging feeling that Alice was going after what she wanted last night. But no, we shook handswe said we would never sleep together. Neither one of us wants to be the kind of person that sleeps with their friendsbut what ifwhat if were more that just friends. Dammit, why havent you called yet Alice?

To Be Continued…