Copycat

She was surprised, and not pleased, when she opened it to see him standing there in his khaki shorts, linen shirt and Oakley sunglasses.

It took her two days – and a fictitious weekend away with her friends, which she told him she wanted to cancel but couldn’t – to get rid of him. It was awkward, and uncomfortable, and they only had sex once, in silence.

She thought he would get the message, but the next week he called and informed her he was thinking of coming back. She asked him not to; he insisted.

You’re my girl, he said. I want to see you.

She wanted to say I’m not anybody’s girl, but instead she told him she was enjoying time alone and planned to go on doing so.

For how long? he said, a note of desperation in his voice.

I dunno. All summer, maybe.

He was silent. No, he said, finally. No way.

Matt, she said. It’s up to me.

No, he said. You’re my girl. You are.

So this time she said it: I’m nobody’s girl, and I don’t want you to come to my house.

He started to plead, but she hung up.

Two days later she was coming back from the beach with Jean. They pulled into her street and there was a red BMW convertible in her driveway. Leaning on the hood, his back to them, was Matt.

She told Jean to keep driving. When she got home in the evening he was gone. Her mom gave her a wry smile.

Be careful, she said. These young men can get carried away.

He didn’t show up again. He didn’t even call, and back in college, he avoided her. It was about a month later that Toni suggested they go out for a coffee.

I think you need to talk to Matt, she said.

No thanks, Sarah replied. I’ve been enjoying not talking to him.

Well, you might have to. Toni paused. He’s been saying – well, he’s been telling people the reason you guys broke up is because you’re crazy. He’s saying you stalked him during the summer and you cried if he tried to do anything without you. He’s also spreading a rumor you’re a nymphomaniac, although he’s claiming it could be because he’s so good in bed.

So Sarah did talk to him. She explained that whatever respect she’d had for him was gone forever. And she asked him to tell everyone that his explanation for their break-up was lies.