She was completely unpredictable.

For a Time Runner like me, this was important. 

I considered how to broach the subject, and finally blurted out I was leaving. She stared out the window of the cafe. The thick August wind trickled across the parking lot, tickling the dark green leaves along the row of lonely trees. Her piercing blues eyes against her black hair had always mesmerized me.

She smiled. “So, do you love me, or not?”

“Yes, of course. But I can’t—”

“Just answer the question.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re leaving anyway.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh. Really. So you’re sorry?” She picked up my steak knife and thrust it into my shoulder. “Oh! I’m sorry!” She shouted with a sneer.

I pulled the steak knife out slowly and rewound to time index point five one nine. Note to self: Order the salad.

“Listen,” I began as she sat down with a beaming smile.

“It’s good to see you,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d talk to me today. After last night.”

“I’m not mad. But there’s something I have to tell you.”

“Damn it,” she said, looking down. She ran a finger through her thick, raven hair. A strand of her wavy curls wafted back from a sliver of the hot wind from the window. 

It made her look sexy, but also sad. “There’s someone else,” she said. “I knew it. You’re married, right?” Her thin lips curled up in anger. She started to hyperventilate.

“No, I’m not married,” I said. “Listen, I love you. I want you to—”
“Great. The sweetness, before the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Let me guess, you’ve got business out of town. You’re leaving. This can’t go on. I’ll just hurt you. You love me but you’re not in love, what the hell are you doing, playing with your phone?”

“It’s not a phone.”

“You know what, fuck you. I don’t need this.” She grabbed her purse, took three steps towards the door, then walked back and picked up the ice water on the table. “This is for the hell you’re going to,” she said, splashing my face.

Note to self: Third time with the ice water. Push glass back near window. I rewound to time index point five one seven.

I caught her sexy smile walking through the front door. I got up from the table, and met her near the hostess station.

“You know,” I said, “I just saw a rat in the kitchen. Let’s try somewhere else.”

She scrunched up her nose and nodded. When we got out the door, she lit up a cigarette. She leaned against the hood of her Jaguar. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about anyway,” she said.

“All right.”

“I mean, we’ve been having fun, right? Great sex, breakfast in bed. I love going out to the clubs, dancing.” She took a long drag.

“Go on.”

“But it’s time. Time to well, move on, I guess is what I’m trying to say. Fuck! I am so lousy at this relationship crap. Look, just before this gets too serious, or I get too serious, or whatever. I just think this is a good point to hit the brakes for a while.”

“I see.”

“I like you, I do. You’re not really my type, but you’re a great guy. You seem distant, I guess. Maybe that’s me. You get this, right? You’re not going to go postal on me or anything?” She leaned in, and held my hand. The blue in her eyes reminded me of the morning the Sistine Chapel was completed. When the doors opened, the sky inside matched the sky outside. There were clouds and sunbeams in her touch of my hand.

“No. I think you’re right. I think it’s for the best.”

“Good. Whew!” she said, letting go. “That is such a relief. Did you still want to grab lunch?”

“No, I should be getting back to work anyhow.”

“All right. I’ll call you sometime.”

“Sure,” I said.

When her Jaguar was out of sight, I jumped forward to time index eleven-seventeen. The computer screen blinked, asking if I wanted to save the previous entry.

It was best this way, I thought, hitting the enter key.

My favorite yet.