unknowingly

 Cori wondered what Megan was like when she drank. She probably didn't get really drunk. Or so he imagined. He couldn't think of her that way. She was the calmest person who jumped into enthusiasm from time to time. He'd never met anyone like her. And she was all he could think about. Especially, at work.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Melvin came up to him all serious, then lightly slapped Cori's shoulder while he was watching the mixer with mounds of flour and oil.

Cori looked at him out of the corner of his eye. What was that supposed to mean?

"Do you know something, I don't?" He winced at Melvin who was basically silly at the moment.

"Oh, you know, about last night," Melvin was practically giddy. "What has gotten into you? I had no idea you were such a Casanova?"

Melvin danced about in a laugh. Cori rolled his eyes.

"I definitely don't want your medication," Cori thought Melvin was the one who lost it. "Behave yourself, will you?" He was just ridiculous, thought Cori.

The dough was finally at the stage he could leave it and he was out of here. Hopefully, Megan was being studious and ready for some real food. He wanted to cook for her. He left Melvin standing by the dough as if he'd have to take care of it until the next guy came on shift.

Melvin grinned as if he had his own plans after work.

When Cori got home, there wasn't even a light on. It took him by surprise. He didn't like this one little bit. Naturally, he took a pee first thing and washed his hands. He wondered what he could make tonight. Also, why wasn't Megan home?

Her door was shut. He knocked. No answer. It was a sad feeling as if there was a chill in the air. As if winter arrived before he knew it.

Cori pushed his dark hair back and thought he might need a sweater. But he'd have to go to his room to get it. He switched on the light. No one there. He sighed wondering why he was like this. What could possibly go wrong while being home alone?

Wack, right on the back of the head, a pillow smacked him from behind.

"Shit," he let slip. He turned. There she was as innocent as a kitten. No one would think Tess to be rude or evil. Her eyes were a pale blue and they could always see right through him. "Why is it you?"

"Because I can," her smile was a little alluring but oh so haunting. "You know you'll never be much of anything."

Cori didn't know what to say. He hated her words. But they were somehow always the truth. She knew everything about him.

"I bet you can't even get it up, can you?" Her laugh was taunting. As usual, he was the worst. He could never be a lover. It just wasn't in the cards. Of course, he never knew what cards she might be talking about, but evidently, she had some sort of hold over him.

"Shut up!" He finally told her. He wished she would go away. "You don't even like me. Why do you keep showing up!"

"Oh, I think you know the reason why," Tess quipped as she wound a lock of her long dark hair around her finger, looking at him ever so bewitching.

His mind went blank he wanted peace, not her forboding words, again. "I hate you!" He screamed. "I hate you very much!"

She pulled his hair then and they fought on the bed like dogs until he fell on the floor. The next thing he knew she was gone.

He opened the door. He heard someone in the bathroom. When the bathroom door opened, there was Megan.

"Where did she go?" He asked. "Did you see her?"

"No," Megan looked at him blankly. "Who are you talking about?"

Cori took a deep breath. "Tess," he said. "My ex."

Megan only smiled ever so bitter and folded her arms tightly around herself. "I knew it. I knew you had to have an ex."