Breaking All My Rules by Trice Hickman

eyes followed the direction of Ashley’s death stare, the reason for her friend’s shift in mood became glaringly clear.
    â€œAre you gonna be able to handle this?” Ashley asked.
    Erica sat ramrod straight against the back of her chair as she stared into the eyes of her ex-fiancé. Claude was walking into the restaurant, arm in arm with a woman who was grinning from ear to ear.
    Even though they traveled in some of the same circles, this was only the second time that Erica had seen Claude since their breakup. A few weeks after their split she’d spied him walking down the aisles at a CVS store. He hadn’t seen her, though, and she was glad, because she didn’t know how a conversation with him might go. The last time they’d spoken, which was by phone, caustic words had been leveled from both their ends. Erica later found out that he’d told people he had no idea why she’d called off their engagement, leading them to believe he’d been wronged by her in some way.
    Seeing Claude tonight, it was clear to her that he’d rebounded from his supposed hurt, not missing a beat. As she sat across from Ashley, drinking water in a candlelit restaurant, a part of her wished she was sipping champagne with a handsome man whom she could flaunt at her side.
    Erica leaned forward in her chair as she watched the maître d’ seat Claude and his date at a table just a stone’s throw away.
    â€œShe’s not even cute,” Ashley smirked, sucking her teeth in exasperation.
    â€œYou don’t think?” Erica asked, knowing that Ashley was right.
    For months Erica had been preparing herself for the day that she would run into Claude, and in particular, when she’d run into him with another woman on his arm. She had fully expected any woman he was dating to be attractive, successful, stylish, and sophisticated. She knew those were the primary reasons he’d dated her. As she’d learned over time, Claude was all about the outside, instead of what really mattered on the inside.
    But as she discreetly inspected her ex and his date, she had to retract her judgment. On a scale of physical beauty from one to ten, Erica estimated that the woman peaked around the five mark, and that was being gracious. She was middle-of-the-road average at best. Not unattractive, but definitely not a woman who made men’s heads turn.
    â€œSee, why do they go from sugar to shit, caviar to hot dogs?” Ashley said.
    Erica shrugged. “Maybe she’s good to him.”
    â€œYeah, good and ugly.”
    â€œStop being mean. She might be a little plain, but she’s not ugly.”
    â€œSee, that’s why I’m glad you’re my best friend. You’re so nice about every damn thing. Erica, you know that heffa ain’t cute!”
    Erica shook her head. “You need to stop.”
    â€œI know the kind of superficial, first-class asshole Claude is. But I’ll give it to him. Even back in college, I never knew him to date a woman who wasn’t a knockout. So since his date over there isn’t beautiful, like you, I’m willing to bet you all the money in my wallet that she’s filthy rich and well connected. Trust me, there’s something in it for him,” Ashley said with authority.
    â€œWell, you do have a point. Claude was always concerned about status.”
    â€œLike I said, a superficial asshole.”
    Erica sat back in her chair as their server brought their food to the table. She tried not to look over in the direction of Claude and his date, but the more she tried to ignore them, the more her eyes strained to examine the couple.
    From what she could see, they were very affectionate with each other, which surprised her. When she and Claude had dated, public displays of affection had been limited to him opening her door and pulling out her chair. He’d been averse to hand-holding and, God forbid, kissing or hugging too closely out in