My Destiny by Adrianne Byrd

once-over, pleased that the maid service had once again done a splendid job and placed fresh flowers throughout the apartment—women love flowers.
    Snatching up his keys, he headed out the door and was surprised when he came face-to-face with his old nemesis, Jefferson Altman.
    A wide, even smile cracked Jefferson’s usually stoic features as his brown eyes turned coal black in an instant.
    Jefferson tilted his head in a light greeting. “Stafford.”
    “Altman,” Miles mimicked, hating how the man had always insisted on calling him by his last name as though they were in the military.
    Since their college days they’d managed to stay out of each other’s way until Altman started dating Miles’s next-door neighbor. Truth be told, he didn’t know which person he pitied more. Then again, maybe Destiny and Jefferson were an ideal couple.
    Miles locked his apartment door and headed toward the elevator bay without further comment. When he walked away, his thoughts traveled to his neighbor. For the past five years, they’d managed, and exceptionally well, to avoid each other—except in the mornings. She was usually headed out to work about the same time he was leaving for his morning jog.
    The elevator arrived at the same time Jefferson announced himself through Ms. Brockman’s door.
    Miles frowned and searched his memory for the last time he’d seen Destiny. He couldn’t remember seeing her all week. How odd.
    He stepped into the elevator, and then watched as Altman entered the apartment. For the first time, Miles noticed the flowers Altman carried.
    Miles shrugged. Maybe Destiny had caught a bug or something. Anyway, it was none of his business.
    * * *
    Lu Jin returned to Destiny’s bedroom and declared in an excited whisper. “It’s Jefferson.”
    Destiny buried her face within the pillows again and screamed. Jefferson Altman— boring Jefferson Altman was the last person she wanted to see. “Tell him I’m sick.”
    “What?” Lu Jin removed the pillows. “Destiny, get up. You’re acting ridiculous. If you hate your life so much then get up and do something to change it.”
    Destiny stared at her. In one sentence Lu Jin had the solution to her problems; so simple in its concept, and yet difficult in its application.
    “Well?” Lu Jin settled her hands on her hips. “Are you going to get up or am I going to send him back here to this pigsty?”
    It wouldn’t do any good to call Lu Jin’s bluff. Her friend always said what she meant and meant what she said, so Destiny threw back the covers and pulled herself out of bed.
    “That’s my girl. Now, I’ll go tell him you’re coming,” Lu Jin gushed, and then rushed out of the room.
    Despite the overpowering urge to dive back into bed, Destiny shuffled her way to the adjoining bathroom to make herself presentable. However, when she stood in front of the mirror, she didn’t feel like prettying herself up and pretending that everything was okay—far from it. She just wanted to be left alone where she could start on another quart of ice cream.
    She looked down with a certain detachment at the simple diamond ring glittering on her finger. She had no right to accept a ring from a man she didn’t love. He was, however, a man she cared for—but that wasn’t enough anymore.
    Destiny went to her living room still dressed in her frumpy pajamas and with her hair pointing in every direction. There was a horrified gasp from Lu Jin and Destiny watched as Jefferson’s expression fell.
    Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. “Hey,” she said with a ghost of a smile.
    Jefferson and Lu Jin exchanged looks before Lu Jin bailed out.
    “Well, I think I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
    Destiny thought to stop her, but knew it was because she wanted emotional support for what she was about to do.
    “I’ll call you later,” Lu Jin said, waving from the door, and then slipped out.
    Destiny felt as if she had been cast in a commercial; if a pin dropped, she was