As Ayla walked Moose, her thoughts returned to her first visit with the spellcaster. She had never believed in magic or spells but after the truth serum had worked, she didn’t question spells or magic. Two nights before she had left Dan, she had added the truth serum into his glass of tea. Within minutes of him drinking it, he had told her everything she wanted to know and more. Dan had told her that while he loved her, she wasn’t enough for him. He liked the attention that he got from other women. One woman wasn’t enough for him, he liked having options. He had admitted to taking them on trips, buying them flowers and out to dinner, he didn’t do any of that for her. He had sweet nicknames for each of them while she was always Ayla or babe.

Dan had gone on to tell her that he had thought of asking her to marry him but he didn’t want to settle down to one person, that marriage to him felt like prison. Ayla had sat and listened to him admit that the eight years that they had been together, he was only faithful to her for three months. Tears streamed down her face as she realized that the whole time they were together was a lie. Dan didn’t love her; he couldn’t love her if he found comfort in other women’s arms.

The sound of Moose barking brought her back to her senses, they were standing at a corner about a block from the dog park, when had they walked the six blocks to get here? Ayla let Moose run and play for about an hour before making their way back home. Just as Ayla started the coffee pot, a knock sounded at her door. As she attempted to quiet Moose down who was barking nonstop at the door, another knock sounded. Ayla sighed and opened the door to the biggest bouquet of pink and yellow roses she had ever seen. She decided to accept them as the delivery guy seemed to be in a hurry. Ayla closed the door as tears made their way down her cheeks. The note attached was written in Dan’s handwriting, “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady. Coffee tomorrow?” At the bottom was Dan’s phone number, not that she needed it, she had it memorized. Eight years they had been together and he had never ever bought her flowers, had flowers sent to her or called her beautiful.

She sat the flowers on her table, picked up her phone and dialed his number from memory. As she waited for him to answer, all of the memories of her calling him and him not answering her or sending her straight to voice mail came rushing back.

“Hello?”

The sound of his voice brought back their first phone conversation, making Ayla gasp.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

“Um, hi, sorry, I wasn’t expecting you to answer.” Ayla’s voice cracking as she spoke.

“Who is this?” Dan asked.

“Oh sorry, I wanted to thank you for the flowers, coffee and bagel.” Ayla replied, not thinking of telling Dan her name. What were the chances that she was the only one he had sent flowers to?

“Well, you are very welcome, mystery lady. So, are we on for coffee tomorrow?”

“Ayla, my name is Ayla and does 11:00 work for you?” Ayla asked, hoping that he would be busy and not be able to make the eleven o’clock date.

“11:00 is perfect. Does Fooley’s work for you?”

“Fooley’s is fine, see you then.” Ayla hung up the phone, shaking her head. Why had she agreed to meet him for coffee? This was not a good idea. She was supposed to be keeping her distance from him, not going on dates with him. Shaking her head, she walked into the bathroom and started running the water for a long hot soak, the hotter, the better.

Ayla didn’t sleep that night and when her alarm went off at seven, she was already freshly showered, dressed, and working on her hair. She was having serious doubts about meeting Dan for coffee, it wasn’t a good idea. Ayla had to make him see that, she had to make him see that she wasn’t the woman for him. She wanted more than anything to be his person, his one and only, his true love. Ayla already knew that she wasn’t and never would be his one and only or his true love, he had admitted that all those months ago.

Ayla arrived early, sitting in her usual booth, in the back corner, watching the door, waiting for Dan to walk in. This time was different, this time he would be sitting across from her at the same table, talking to her. Ten minutes later, Dan walked in and looked around. He was sure that he would beat Ayla to Fooley’s but when he noticed her sitting in her usual spot, he grinned and made his way to her. Dan removed his jacket before sliding into the booth and looking at Ayla. Ayla looked up and gave him a smile that made his heart stop.

“Hi, I thought I was going to be the early one.” Dan smiled while looking directly at her with those eyes that she could never get tired of looking into. Ayla smiled at him and when she finally spoke, it was just above a whisper.

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to show up. I try to always be early whenever there is a set time.”

“Why wouldn’t I show? I was the one who asked you out for coffee, after all.”

“This is true. Thank you again for the coffee, bagel and the beautiful flowers. They were very much appreciated but totally not necessary.”

Dan smiled and waited for the waitress to take their drink order before speaking. “Why the change of heart about meeting me for coffee?”

“Well, I wanted to thank you for the gifts and to tell you in person that while I find you charming, I do not date, ever.” Ayla answered while mixing sugar and creamer into her coffee, sitting her spoon aside and taking a sip, sighing as the hot liquid hit her throat.

“Why don’t you date?”

Ayla took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before she started speaking.

“I met the most amazing man, I fell in love with him way too quickly, moved in with him and thought we would be together forever. I found out he was messing around on me with several other women. He shattered my heart, ripped it out and stomped on it. I left him, adopted Moose and decided that I was better off single. It’s safer and far less hurtful to stay single.”

Dan looked at her not believing that anyone would ever cheat on someone like her. She was everything he had ever wanted in a woman. Ayla was smart, beautiful, kind and funny. She had the most amazing green/brown hazel eyes, dark brown hair that just brushed her shoulders and the kind of smile that could melt and iceberg.

“He was crazy for cheating on you. You are everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. If you were mine, I would shower you with gifts and flowers, give you all of my attention and I would never glance at another woman.” Dan answered.

Ayla’s heart thumped against her rib cage, her mouth went dry and tears threatened to form. Ayla wished she could believe him but she knew that he was the reason for her heartbreak. The spell she had cast over him made sure that all of the memories that involved her, vanished. It was as if the eight years that they had spent together had never happened. She sipped her coffee and listened as Dan told her about his job, his friends and his dog, Beast. She knew all of this except for Beast. Ayla smiled and nodded at the right times and when she finished her coffee, she started to reach for her purse to pay.

“Um, I feel like I have done all the talking and I know almost nothing about you. Are you leaving already?” Dan asked, noticing that she was reaching for her purse. Dan laid his hand upon hers and Ayla went stiff.

“I was the one who asked you out so your coffee is on me.” Dan laid the money on the bill and stood to help Ayla into her jacket. Dan grabbed his jacket and walked with her to the door and then outside.

“Thank you for the coffee. I enjoyed talking with you but I will not be dating anyone, anytime soon. There is nothing that can be done or said that will change my mind.”

“Can we at least be friends?” Dan asked, determined to stay in Ayla’s life.

“I don’t really do friends. I’m sorry but it is just easier and much safer this way.” Ayla replied, turning and walking away. She never glanced over her shoulder because if she had she would have seen the bewildered look on Dan’s face.