Play the Players

Callie sat at the table sipping a glass of Chardonnay. Nathan was running a little late, but he had told her he would meet her at the restaurant. She sighed and adjusted the skin tight strapless black dress. " Happy Birthday to me," Callie thought to herself as she looked at her phone and saw he was almost twenty minutes late. The waitress looked at her with pity as she walked by the table one more time. " Sorry I'm late. Something came up at work. You look nice," Nathan apologized as he slid into the seat across from her. Callie tried to hide her irritation at his compliment. She had spent hours getting ready for tonight. Curling her long brown locks had taken at least an hour alone. Only for a half hearted you look nice. " It's fine babe. How was your day?," Callie found herself answering as the waitress came and offered Nathan a drink. She only half listened as he ordered a Hendricks and tonic extra lime. Just as he was about to answer the iPhone in his pocket vibrated. Callie was no longer able to hide her annoyance as he pulled the phone out. Nathan let out a sigh as the phone kept vibrating with the other person's persistent messages. Callie's annoyance quickly turned to concern as Nathan put his head in his hands. The man looked tormented. She reached her arm across the table and rubbed his soothingly. " Nate, What's wrong babe?," Callie soothed the concern lacing her voice. " I'm breaking up with you," Nate said his voice nearly above a whisper. " Excuse me. I don't think I heard you correctly," Callie questioned ripping her hand away from him. " I'm breaking up with you," he repeated this time a little louder as he looked around the restaurant to see if anyone was watching. Callie gritted her teeth to fight back tears. They had been together for almost four years.She thought he was going to propose. Worse than that he had to do it at her birthday dinner of all places. " Say something, " Nathan said as she just sat back in her chair with an emotionless expression on her face. He knew she wouldn't cause a seen. Callie hated attention. " Why?" Callie finally found herself asking after a few minutes of silence. The waitress came up to the table to take their order, but quickly left as neither acknowledged her presence. "Let's be honest Callie. I need someone more serious. More successful. Not to mention you have put on a little weight," Nate began to explain. As he proceeded with all the reasons it was her fault and her fault alone as to why he was leaving her, a single tear slid down her face. Callie looked at the man across from her. Yet the man across from her was not the man she fell in love with. Her Nate wasn't what you would call attractive. But, he was smart and funny. Most importantly he was supposed to be safe. Callie finally pushed out her chair and grabbed the small black clutch purse off the left side of her chair. Still fighting back tears,she walked out of the Mill House Restaurant with her head held high. However, the battle was lost as Callie fumbled with the keys to unlock her white Honda Civic. As the tears continued to poor, she slid herself into the driver's seat and started the vehicle. It seemed like Callie hit every red light from the restaurant to her apartment. Only serving to prolong the short trip from the restaurant to her two bedroom apartment.When she finally pulled into her designated parking spot, her face was puffy with swollen eyes. The eye liner and mascara she had perfectly applied now ran in streaks down her face. The couple that lived a few doors down held open the door for Callie as she stepped up to the front of the building. Their looks of sympathy made her want to start blubbering all over again. " Thank you," She muttered to the couple before scurrying down the hall to her apartment. As the door slammed behind her, Callie took a deep breath as she was finally alone. On top of the kitchen counter sat a bottle of expensive Cabernet. Nathan's favorite. Something Callie had picked up in order to celebrate what was suppose to be a perfect evening. As Callie riffled through one of the cabinets she couldn't find her bottle opener. The screwdriver sitting on the counter looked like a good way to improvise. It sliced into the cork of the wine bottle with ease and tore it from the bottle as it was ripped from the bottle. Ignoring the fact she didn't have a glass, she took a huge swig of the wine right out of the bottle. Something perfect Nathan would no doubt disapprove of. As Callie headed towards the bedroom, she kicked off her black strappy heels leaving them scattered in the hallway. Up the bottle went for another huge sip of wine. The black dress was slid off and lazily discarded in the doorway of the bedroom. Callie slid in the perfectly made bed only wearing the lacey black strapless bra and matching panties. Something else she had picked out special for this evening. Another reason to tip the bottle of wine back.