2 Ch 2: Staring into the abyss?

"Earth to Maya," Dylan announced, plonking himself on her desk and waving a hand in front of her face. "Oh sorry," she blushed. "I was just…"

"Staring into the abyss?" Dylan offered. Dylan was a reporter for the paper, and though he was quite handsome, they were strictly friends because he was engaged to someone else. "Yeah, I guess you could call it that…" she replied.

"What's up?" He asked with genuine concern. "Nothing," she lied, but Dylan arched his eyebrows and bowed his head, and she knew he wasn't about to drop the subject.

"Okay, okay… I was just thinking about my life to this point and how much everything can change in the blink of an eye." "You miss your husband don't you?" "I'm not sure what I feel," she said honestly. "I miss spending my life with someone and having someone to call on or sleep next to and all the rest of it. But I know he is gone, and it's silly to hold on to someone that is never coming back."

"You break my heart lady," Dylan teased affectionately, gripping his hand to his chest and making Maya laugh out loud. "But in all seriousness, Maya, it's okay to miss him. It's natural. You would be a part robot if you didn't."

"Yeah I guess," she replied thoughtfully. "Why don't you date a few guys, and just have fun for a while?" Dylan suggested coolly.

"Oh I couldn't do that," Maya shook her head. "Besides, the girls…" "The girls would understand," Dylan insisted. "They are very intelligent and besides, I'm sure they want to see their mom happy again."

"Maybe one day I will," Maya smiled. "But not just yet. One day when I have something better going for me instead of just being a working-class gal." "There is no day like today," Dylan said. "But as you wish."

"Thanks, Dylan," Maya replied. "Oh I'm not letting you off that easy," Dylan smiled mischievously. "You are coming out with me on Friday night. So get your girls to your sister and I'll pick you up at your place at eight."

"Dylan, I cant…" "You can, and you will and I am not taking no for an answer." "But what about Victoria?" "She doesn't drink," Dylan laughed. "She is always a designated driver, but she never seems to mind.

She has told me that once we get married that will stop though, so I'm taking full advantage of it." "Won't she assume there is something between us?"

"No, because a friend of mine is joining us too. Don't worry I'm not trying to set you up or anything, I know you aren't ready. But I figured you could at least meet each other." Maya narrowed her eyes at him but he pretended to ignore her, and when she finally gave in.

"Fine, I'll go." She knew it probably wasn't a good idea, but Dylan wasn't going to take no for an answer. What could one night out on the town hurt anyway? Friday had finally come, and she was a ball of nerves by the time she left work.

She hadn't asked Dylan anything about his mystery friend because she didn't want to appear interested, but she was. She wanted to know his name, what he did for a living, his age, and everything else there was to know about him.