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be like, she smiled. Only better.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
     
    Stephanie neared the end of her trip and prepared to head back home. She walked through the lobby on her way back from an early evening run on the beach when she heard a familiar voice.
     
    “Stephanie.”
     
    Hearing her name stopped her in her tracks. She cursed the sound of that voice. Ignore it and keep walking. But she couldn’t. She knew she wouldn’t get rid of him that fast. Turning toward the voice, she spotted him leaning against the wall under the grand staircase with his arms folded. He wore sunglasses, but she didn’t need to see his eyes to know how they looked blazing down on her.
     
    "What the hell are you doing here, Gary?" she asked him accusingly. She was angry with him not only because of what he had put her through, but also because his presence violated her healing process. This was her oasis, her therapy, how dare he enter her special world, the one she shared with Jason.
     
    He slowly walked to her. "You wouldn't return my calls, and I needed to talk to you. We have some business to discuss."
     
    "We have no business, Gary. Papers are signed. We’re waiting for the house to sell and then I plan to never see you again.”
     
    "That's the thing, Stephanie, an offer came in on the house that we need to discuss."
     
    "Just take the offer, whatever it is, I don't care. Goodbye, Gary." Stephanie started to walk away when he yelled back.
     
    "I don't want to sell the house, Stef. I want you back. I want things to be the way they were with us."
     
    The activity in the lobby came to a halt. All the hotel guests shifted their eyes to her. She moved to him quickly. "Are you nuts? Stop it!" The words hissed out between her teeth.
     
    Gary took off his sunglasses and looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "Please Stef, can we just go to your room and talk?"
     
    She almost felt sorry for him for just a moment. Glancing around the lobby, she caught a few lingering stares and took a deep breath. "Fine, come with me."
     
    He followed her into the elevator where she inserted her key to unlock the PH button.
     
    "You're in the penthouse?"
     
    “I'm the one who should be asking questions here. Where's Kristy?"
     
    "Kristy and I broke up. Stef, that was the biggest mistake of my life. I don't know what I was thinking."
     
    The doors opened to her suite bathed in light from the beautiful Miami sunset. Gary’s eyes rested on the large vase of roses.
     
    "Are you here with someone?"
     
    "My life is no longer your concern, Gary. Let's talk about the offer on the house."
     
    He looked at her sheepishly, "There is no offer. I just needed to talk to you, to work things out between us."
     
    He stood near the glass doors that led to the terrace, not far from where Jason was a few days before. As much as she hated him, she couldn’t ignore his good looks. Back in college, everyone thought they were the perfect couple. They were both long and lanky, his spiky blonde hair contrasted with her long dark tresses. They made a striking couple.
     
    It seemed natural for Stephanie to compare Gary with Jason. Admittedly, she didn't know Jason well, but well enough to see all of the comparisons between them. Physically, Jason was stronger, tougher and rugged. He had calluses on his hands from hard work. He was at least ten years older, and so much more worldly and experienced. Gary seemed like a selfish, sheltered, and self-centered little boy compared to Jason. However it was more than that.  In the short time she spent with Jason, she already understood the differences between the two men were as expansive as the Atlantic Ocean. Jason was a giver; Gary a taker. Jason was selfless, caring, and kind. Gary, on the other hand, was needy, selfish and sapped her of energy. Jason tried to make her life easier. Gary found ways to make it harder.
     
    “So you lied to me to get into my room?”
     
    “I lied to you so that I could have a chance