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- Herausgeber: Conquest Publishing
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
When a grief-stricken hockey player meets an introverted graduate student, nothing can go wrong...
Bethany Morgan only wants one thing: an internship to fulfill her graduation requirements. This time it is going to be different until she looks at the guy she is interviewing with. All she can think about is the failed one-night stand they had together and how he didn't remember her.
Dan Rossi is coming off the best year of his career, and the worst of his life. When a mysterious blonde walks into the foundation office he sets up in his girlfriend's memory, his whole life changes. He hasn't felt this way in a long time and doesn't know if he is ready to live his life again.
Will Dan be able to move forward and embrace the feelings he has for the mysterious girl in the office? Is Bethany going to be able to mix business with pleasure?
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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The Viper Series: Book One
Becky Kapjon
AConquest Publishing Original
Conquest Publishing
https://conquest-publishing.com
Copyright © 2024 Becky Kapjon
Cover Design: Abigail Baia
Edited by: Abigail Baia & Brittany McMunn
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Print ISBN: 978-1-962739-06-1
EBook ISBN: 978-1-962739-07-8
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.
To my family, my husband, my daughters Brittany and Bryanna, and my mom.
Without your constant support and dedication, I wouldn’t be able to live this dream.
Contents
The aroma of greasy cheeseburgers and French fries hit Bethany in the face, making her mouth water. She looks across the room, searching for her friend, and squinting to see through the crowd at Toby’s bar. She is late as usual. It always takes her forever to pick out outfits. Her final choice was an off-the-shoulder red blouse and mini skirt she’d had since her first semester. It screamed to be worn. Despite the delicateness of her appearance, her shoulder-length blonde hair curling in natural waves around her ear with her rosy skin showing off a natural glow, she is ready to blow off some steam.
She looks around the high-top tables, her breathing shallow. She counts to ten before dodging around people to get to the back. Bethany jumps to a tap on her shoulder, almost smacking her friend Stephanie with her purse.
Bethany’s scrunched brows and puckered lips fall limp when she recognizes her friend standing next to her.
“Who are you trying to scare with that look on your face? I’ve been calling your name since I walked through the door,” says Stephanie with her arm around Bethany’s shoulder.
Bethany shrugged Stephanie’s arm off her shoulders. “You have no idea what I have been through the past two weeks. I think I flunked my first-semester test. Marketing, of course. Plus, I bombed the last two interviews for the internships I need to graduate.”
Stephanie looks up and spots the third prong of their trio, Tiffany, sitting at a high top near the back waving her arms.
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think. If I know you, I bet you studied for the test and aced it. You always think you fail them until you get them back,” Stephanie shrugs. “As far as an internship, you will get the one that is right for you. I don’t understand why your douchebag brother doesn’t help you out.”
“If I don’t get an internship, I am not going to be able to graduate. He is helping me enough with the free rent for the apartment.”
Stephanie points to Bethany, “That place is a dump. He should give it to you for free.”
Bethany and Stephanie arrive at the back table and find Tiffany has already ordered a pitcher of beer, which is exactly what Bethany needs.
She jumps up onto the chair next to Stephanie when Tiffany asks, “How’s the working woman?” She raises her beer in a salute. “The first round is on me.”
“Since I’m the one working full time, the greasy burgers are on me,” says Stephanie. The sounds of the room bounce off the paneled, metal walls of the dive bar. “It’s too early for it to be this crowded. Why is the music so loud tonight?”
“I didn’t notice the music, Grandma. You don’t get out enough since you graduated and have a job,” Tiffany said while rolling her eyes. “Anyway, it’s always crowded when the Vipers are in town,” she laughs. “How’s the job been going, Steph?”
Bethany takes a swig of her beer. It had been a while since they hung out. They hadn’t seen much of each other since Stephanie graduated last year, started working full-time as a physical therapist for one of the renowned therapeutic groups in the state, and moved in with Jeffrey.
“It’s going great! I love it,” gushes Stephanie.
“Did you hear about your interviews?” Tiffany asks, looking at Bethany.
“That’s why I’m late. They sent their responses before I left. I didn’t get them,” Bethany murmured, looking into her lap and then back at her friend. “I don’t know if I am ever going to get an internship.”
“Well, tonight is a night to relax and not think about interviews,” says Tiffany.
A waitress appears and asks, “I see the other two ladies have arrived. Do you need anything else while I am here?”
Bethany and Stephanie look over the menu and then back to the waitress. They order their usual cheeseburgers and fries along with another round of Fireball shots.
“It might be my lucky night,” Bethany says, holding up her phone, and pointing to the text she just received. “My advisor wants to set up another interview for me with this charity in the city. It could be the internship for me!” she says, looking at both women with a big grin on her face. “I have a good feeling about this one.”
“I totally agree. We need to let loose. Any new guys in your life?” asks Stephanie.
“None, for me. I can’t remember the last time I had a guy in my life” Bethany stops mid-sentence, her heart racing at the man who walks through the door. Tiffany and Stephanie crane their necks to see what all the commotion is about as three tall guys walk into Toby’s. Every woman in the bar turns their head and whispers, pointing in their direction.
The guy in the middle has short brown hair and stands six feet tall with broad shoulders. When he turns their way, Bethany’s eyes are glued to the scruff on his chin, knowing the feel of it against her skin. She watches him strut to the bar and smirk at the bartender who gives him a handshake.
“What is your problem?” asks Stephanie, looking across the table at her friend who slides down in her seat.
“Nothing.”
Heat rises in Bethany’s cheeks, hoping they aren’t bright red.
“What’s the matter, Beth? Notice something you like?” asks Tiffany, smiling at her friend across the table.
“Don’t those guys hang out here all the time? I thought I saw them in the back booth the last time we were here,” says Stephanie, shrugging her shoulders. “Remember, they usually have girls hanging all over them with short shorts and tee shirts with boobs hanging out.”
“Is that them? I didn’t remember,” says Bethany, biting her bottom lip and continuing to watch the guys at the bar.
The waitress comes back with the shots and beers, the girls turn and thank her as she walks away. It had been a long time since someone caught her eye or made her heart race.
“To three successful women!” yells Tiffany, raising her shot in the air and bringing Bethany out of her thoughts.
Bethany didn’t feel successful.
“Damn right,” yells Stephanie.
Bethany looks over her shoulder and catches the man’s gaze from the front door where he watches her with a smirk. She thinks he winks at her before turning back toward his friends. He is flanked on each side by two burly men. A tall, broad-shouldered man with long brown hair, and on his right while a tall guy with short blonde hair stands to his left. She watches the curl of his biceps as he raises the beer bottle to his lips, wishing he was pressing those lips against her.
Bethany returns to her friend's conversation, taking a swig of her beer and tries to look interested.
Dan leans over the bar to get the bartender’s attention.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asks.
“Send that table a round of drinks on me,” says Dan, pointing toward the table where Bethany sits.
Dan picks up his beer and follows his friends to their table.
Ben slaps him on the back and asks, “Are you going to buy us a round too?”
Teddy looks to see what Dan is looking at.
“Oh Benny, who has gotten our Danny’s interest tonight?” asks Teddy, looking in the direction of the table where Dan looked earlier.
“They are kind of young for my taste,” says Ben, laughing at Dan’s reaction.
Before making it to the table, Dan takes a detour and walks past where Bethany and her friends sit. He wants to get a better look at the blonde who caught his eye, hoping she is worth the round of drinks. He smiles, nodding in her direction. As he walks past she turns in her seat for him to see rosy checks hiding behind soft, blonde curls.
“What was that about?” asks Ben when Dan sits down.
“Nothing,” says Dan, frowning.
Teddy raises his beer, “To Dan getting laid.”
“Here! Here!” says Ben as he and Teddy erupt with laughter, taking a swig.
“Ha! Ha! You guys think you are so funny. Give a guy a break.”
Dan drinks his beer, his eyes still on Bethany.
“Girls, you made it easy on me,” the waitress says while passing out the greasy food to each of them. “I have another round of beers and shots on the gentleman at the table over there.” She points to the table where Dan sits with his friends. He tilts his head at the girls in acknowledgment.
Bethany looks at the waitress, “The guy with the dark hair sitting in the back booth sent the drinks over to us?” she squeaks, looking in his direction and waving her hand before putting it at her side quickly.
“Yup, that is the one,” she says, wiping her hands on her side. “Do you need anything else?”
They look at each other and shrug their shoulders.
Stephanie looks to the waitress, “We’ll take it. Could you tell him we said thank you.”
“Will do.”
Bethany looks over her shoulder at the table where Dan sits, locking eyes, watching him take a drink from his beer. He raises his bottle in her direction. The heat rises to her cheeks, and she quickly turns back to look at Stephanie.
“Well girls, are we getting drunk tonight?” asks Stephanie to a chorus of laughter.
“Do you really think we should accept these drinks that easily?” asks Bethany. “We don’t even know that guy?”
“OMG, that is lucky number thirteen. I can’t believe this,” says Tiffany, shaking with excitement. “I seriously doubt you’re going to get roofied from that one.”
“Can you please speak English? I have no idea what you are talking about,” said Bethany giving Tiffany a side-eye.
“I think the two of you should eat and not worry about it because it’s coming from the cute bartender,” says Stephanie, trying to wink at the bartender but instead looking like she is cross-eyed.
“The dude you have been giving the flirty eyes to all night is lucky number thirteen from The Vipers. His picture is on my wall. He used to be on The Vipers until the accident,” says Tiffany.
Bethany tunes out the rest of the conversation after comments about flirty eyes and Vipers. All she heard was blah blah blah. She looks in his direction again, frowning when she sees some girls hanging around their table. Bethany turns back to the conversation at her table, taking a big bite of frustration out of her cheeseburger.
Wiping away the grease as it oozes from the sides, Bethany turns toward Stephanie, “How are things going with Jeffrey? I was surprised he let you out with us on a Friday night.”
“It hasn’t been that good. I needed some time with the girls. Our relationship is getting kind of stale,” Stephanie shrugs. “I just don’t think he’s the one for me anymore.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that,” says Bethany putting a comforting hand on her friend’s arm.
“We are glad you are here with us,” says Tiffany.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but something is off.” She puts her elbow on the table, placing her shoulder-length brown hair around her ear. Stephanie slumps a bit in her chair and tries to look at her lap before looking back at her friends. She puts her hands in front of her face, trying not to tear up, thinking about the latest fight and all the times he worked late. “We argue over the stupidest stuff and it's almost like he’s looking for something to fight about. Anyway, we aren’t here to talk about my sucky love life.” She puts her burger down and takes a deep breath to change the conversation. “Are you both happy to be almost finished with college and ready for the real world?”
“I’ll be happy if I can get an internship. That is the last piece of the puzzle I have left before graduation.” Bethany takes a sip of beer, then continues, “I can’t believe I left it until the last semester.”
Tiffany puts up her hand, “Let’s just have some fun and not talk about the internship.” Her phone beeps. She picks it up, reads, and her thumbs move a mile a minute sending a reply. She drops her phone back down on the table.
“What’s that about?” asks Bethany, motioning toward Tiffany’s phone.
“Don’t worry about it. We’re going to have fun. “You never reacted to my story about lucky number thirteen,” says Tiffany, changing the subject.
“Are you talking about the cute guy in the corner booth?” asks Bethany, playing with the curl around her ear, looking over her shoulder, and trying to get a sly glimpse of him. Girls are hanging around the booth, but not hanging on him. He waves at her smiling then looks back at his friends. She coyly waves back, turning around with wide eyes at her friends.
“He walked by our table and winked at you. He’s flirting,” says Stephanie, nudging Bethany.
“The dude you are waving at over in the booth over in there. Were you even listening to me before? I gave you all the info on him, and you weren’t even listening to me.” Tiffany throws her hands up in the air in exasperation. “He is undressing you with his eyes. I bet if you walk past their table for some reason, he will be staring hard at you,” says Tiffany.
“That’s all gossip you get off the hockey blogs. I’m not going to believe all of it,” says Bethany. “Even so, he bought the table a round, big deal.”
They look at him sitting at the table one last time before thinking of a way to get his attention. Bethany unconsciously slides her hands down the front of her red blouse to make sure there are no wrinkles.
“How do you think I look?” she asks breathily.
“You look perfect.”
Brandon Cross walks up to their table, whispers in her ear, and places his arm around her shoulder to look across the table at Tiffany. Bethany stiffens at his touch. She looks to see her friend pull her lips into a scowl. Her eyes are narrow, brows raised as she looks down at her. The scrapping of the chairs pulled her away from Brandon and closer to Stephanie, making room for the two chairs his friend Elliot brought over from another table.
“Hello, ladies. Are you ready for another shot and beer?” asks Elliot, flagging down the waitress.
He sits and scoots closer to Tiffany. Her sits stiff and rigid as she raises forward.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back,” says Bethany, politely getting up from her chair.
“Hey, wait for me. I’ll go with you,” Stephanie calls to Bethany.
Walking away from the table, Stephanie whispers, “Who are they and why are they sitting with us?”
“That is Brandon Cross. He thinks he is entitled to sit wherever he pleases. Tiffany is enamored with him. Elliott is his lucky.”
“Oh, I take it you aren’t a fan?” Stephanie looks at the dude in the corner booth watching Bethany. She bumps into her saying, “Remember the plan. The guy in the corner booth. Who cares about those other guys? For once have some fun.”
“Like that is going to happen with Brandon here,” says Bethany, looking in Elliott’s direction. “He has a way of manipulating the situation to his advantage.”
“Not everyone is out to get you. Not everyone is like your ex,” says Stephanie, walking toward the bathroom.
“Why did you bring him up?” asks Bethany. She stops walking and tilts her head to look at Stephanie. “You don’t even know what Brandon is like.”
“Because you need to get past it. You broke up. He cheated on you with his best friend’s sister. It happens. It was four years ago.” They walk into the bathroom. “You need to move on with your life. I think flirting with the hockey guy in the corner is a start,” says Stephanie closing the bathroom door.
In front of the mirror, Stephanie hands Bethany lip gloss, “I love you, now go and show him what you’ve got, girlfriend.” The two hug. As they break apart, Stephanie flashes her friend a sympathetic smile. “Here’s the plan. We’ll walk past his table on the way back, and you check him out. Let him know you are interested. I don’t care if he has every girl in the place hanging on him. I bet his eyes will only be on you.”
“You are so crazy,” says Bethany, opening the bathroom door.
Why not?
She walks toward Dan’s table, her hips swaying. She stops at the edge of his booth and looks at him, biting her lower lip with her eyes half-cast, and appraising what she sees. She’s glued to the floor, her stomach doing flips. Bethany dips her head and bats her eyes, thinking whether she should thank him for the drinks. She takes a deep breath, wanting to tell him thank you, when someone pushes her out of the way.
“Let’s just get back to the table and not worry about it,” says Stephanie. “Let’s try to enjoy our night out.” She nudges her friend’s shoulder, looking in the same direction. “Don’t let some sluts ruin your night. And if he goes for that type then he isn’t for you.” Stephanie puts her arm around Bethany as they walk back to the table with another round of drinks waiting. “Honey, we need to teach you how to flirt.”
Dan looks over at the table where Bethany sits and pushes the girls away from him. “I’m not interested,” he growls, watching Bethany sit next to Brandon Cross. It makes his blood boil. He wants her sitting next to him, not Brandon. He watched her walk from the bathroom to the table and he wanted her in his lap not some bimbo. He takes a sip of his beer and slams it down on the table, the smooth taste turning sour in his mouth.
“Got it bad?” says Ben, nudging his friend with a grin on his face.
“Are you going to give me a hard time too?” Dan asks, turning in the booth to glare at Ben.
“Nah, I’m happy you’re looking for someone. You know me, always the relationship guy. Not like that one” he points a thumb toward Teddy.
“There is nothing wrong with fucking and chucking.” Teddy sits back, letting some random girl sit on his lap. “They don’t need to know your number or info.”
“Looks like Danny has competition,” he laughs, looking at the guys who are sitting in the chairs, their arms draped around the girl’s shoulders.
Dan wrinkles his brow and watches Bethany. She looks uncomfortable with Brandon touching her. She glances over her shoulder, feeling Dan’s glacial stare in her direction, and quickly turns. He smiles, imagining her wrapped around him.
“Are you listening to me?” asks Teddy, tapping his beer bottle against the table.
“I only sent over a round of drinks. It meant nothing,” says Dan, looking at the guys and then at the blonde who stared him down a few minutes before.
He watches her take another shot of tequila.
“You keep telling yourself that,” says Teddy. “We aren’t blind. We see the way you look at her.”
“Didn’t you hear her friend when they walked by say she has the hots for you,” Ben says, imitating Stephanie’s voice.
“The hots? Who says that anymore?” asks Teddy, laughing at Ben.
“Shut up, asshole. You know what I mean. She is interested in you,” says Ben.
“She stood right there and said nothing,” Dan says, wrinkling his nose.
He raises the empty bottle toward the waitress, asking for another one.
“It’s not like you said anything to her when she stood right here. She was only there for a second before everyone came over for autographs,” says Teddy.
He watches the girls flirt with the guys at the table, remembering what Bethany said as she walked past.
“Hey, doesn’t that look like Junior over there?” asks Dan.
Brandon Cross, the son of the Viper’s owner Victor Cross, tips his head in their direction with a smirk on his face. He pulls Bethany closer to him and looks over to get a glare from Dan.
“Oh, fuck. There goes my plans for the night,” says Teddy.
He whispers in the girl’s ear. She frowns and gets up.
“That is Junior sitting at your girl’s table looking all smug,” Ben laughs, sitting back in his chair. “We better call it a night or else we’ll find ourselves in a meeting for being out past curfew.”
“I’m glad I don’t have those rules anymore,” says Dan, settling into the booth. “I don’t have to worry about someone tattling to Daddy if I am out too late.” He points his beer bottle in Brandon’s direction, watching him and his friends at Bethany’s table, and taking a deep breath. “I think I am going to stay for a bit.”
He waves to his friends, promising to text them about a meeting for the charity.
They wave back mumbling, “Lucky you,” patting him on the back, trying to walk out of Toby’s without anyone noticing.
Dan sits back in the booth watching Bethany squirm at the table while Brandon continues putting his arm around her. Each time the young guy’s arm reaches her shoulder, she moves it away. Dan bites his lip in her direction, wanting to tell the guy she’s not interested. He gets up without thinking before he is at the table.
He turns toward Bethany with a smile, “Are you alright?”
“Back off you washed-up drunk,” says Brandon.
Dan turns his body and stiffly tilts his head,” Listen here you spoiled, insensitive prick, I am not talking to you. I am talking to the lady you have been harassing all night long.”
He turns his attention back to Bethany.
“I’m fine.” She looks up at him with a half-smile and brushes her hand against his hand.
“You heard her. She is fine. Keep it moving.”
“Listen here, somehow your parents didn’t teach you any manners. Anyone with eyes could see she is uncomfortable with you, so leave her alone. I don’t want to have to tell you again.” He turns back to Bethany with a smile and tries to reassure her everything is alright. “Do you want another round?”
“Only if you will stay and have part of that round with us,” Bethany replies, looking down at her skirt and then back up at Dan.
He signals to the waitress for another round.
A bit tipsy, Bethany walks with Stephanie to the dance floor, hoping Brandon and his friend will leave her alone. Normally, she wouldn’t be out on a crowded dance floor. She was always too afraid she would bump into someone or give off the wrong impression, but not tonight. She is having fun tonight. On Friday nights they open the dance floor, and a local DJ plays music after eleven. She looks around Toby’s to the back empty booth and her heart drops with disappointment. He must have left. She hoped Dan would follow her to the dance floor.
Bethany turns, meeting Dan’s chocolate-brown, hungry eyes. Her heart races looking at the heat in his eyes. She turns around with eyes wide, watching him stalk his prey. Her body awakens in ways she hadn’t let it in years. Her stomach feels as if it had a stampede of wild animals running through it. All for a man who might only last for one night. Her breath stops with the feeling of him next to her.
Her body moves to the beat, letting it take over. Her hips sway as she backs up against his hard body. It had been a long time since she felt a man’s body next to hers. His breath on her neck gives her chills as she continues to grind against his midsection. She inhales the scent of his cologne; her eyes close as she thinks of the musky, woodsy scent engulfing her.
“I’ve watched you all night and I know you were looking at me too,” he growls in her ear.
She turns around in his arms, moving to the music with a need to look into his eyes. His arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer. She can smell the alcohol on his breath. She looks into his dark brown eyes wanting to see more than just longing.
Dan whispers, “You’re beautiful.”
He wraps his fingers in her hair, wanting to know if she tastes like the beer she was drinking. He releases her from his grip, moving his hands up and down her sides. To his surprise, Bethany moves around in his arms, rubbing against his erection as a feral growl of need escapes from his lips. Strong fingers whisper against her skin as he moves her hair to the side, exposing her neck, and places a kiss. Butterflies ignite in her stomach. She sighs as his lips touch her skin. She turns, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her fingers run languidly through the curls at the nape of his neck as her lower body lines up perfectly with his. Now it’s not the music causing her body to sway.
With his mouth next to her ear, he whispers, “Do you want to leave?”
“I do, but I don’t know you,” says Bethany in his ear as he walks her from the dance floor. “You didn’t give me your name.”
If she didn’t know who he was then why should he tell her?
“I’m sure I told you,” says Dan, still trying to get her to come walk with him.
“I would have remembered if you told me. I don’t think I told you my name either.”
He kisses her, tasting the beer from earlier.
“If you want me to forget, I will forget all about you,” she whispers.
She already knew she wasn’t going to forget him. When they pull back from their kiss, she looks into his eyes, biting her lower lip.
“I’m Bethany.”
“Dan,” he says, pulling her close, wrapping his arm around her in both a protective and territorial way.
“Let me tell my friends I am leaving.”
Dan interlaces their hands together and walks with her to where her friends are left sitting at the table.
“Steph, this is Dan,” says Bethany, tilting her head. “We’re leaving. I’ll call you tomorrow. Can you make sure Tiff gets home?”
“Don’t worry I’ll make sure she gets home alright. Go have fun!” Stephanie looks at Dan “It's nice to meet you.”
“Nice meeting you.”
He places his arms around Bethany, pulling her close and fumbling with his phone. He opens his Uber app to arrange for a car.
Bethany wakes up to the sunlight streaming through the window above the large, king-size bed. She rolls over to the woodsy, musky smell from the night before which brings back vague memories of dancing at Toby’s. She blushes, thinking about grinding against the hot guy.
The bed is warm next to her, and she pieces together how she got into the Uber with Dan to where she lies now. She picks up the navy blue comforter and looks under it, putting it down before picking it up again. Laying back, she realizes she’s only in her black, push-up bra and matching panties. Panic-stricken, she looks around the room at the dark wood dresser and chest of drawers. A blush creeps up her cheeks trying to think of how she ended up in bed with a man she hardly knew. She shouldn’t have drank that last shot of Fireball while waiting for the Uber. Tequila is always her downfall.
She lunges from the bed and rushes around the room for her clothes. She can’t find her skirt or blouse anywhere. All she wants to do is put her clothes on and leave with the last bit of dignity she has, thankful she will never see the man again.
The padding of bare feet on the hardwood flooring outside the bedroom door stops Bethany in her tracks. She dashes toward the bed, nearly falling over shoes left lying about. She places her arm over her face, lying on her back. Peeking over her arm stands a shirtless Dan. Her mouth waters at his muscular chest and baggy basketball shorts. Drool forms on her arm. She bets he even has that V-thing from the guys in her dreams. She was never a fan of basketball shorts, but after seeing the way he wears them, they are her favorite now.
He sits next to her on the bed, placing two aspirins and a glass of water on the nightstand. “Good morning. The bathroom is across from the bed if you need it or if you didn’t find it already,” says Dan, getting up and leaving her alone in the massive bedroom.
She sits up, covering herself with the comforter, and looks for her purse. It sits on a chair next to the bathroom door. Bethany takes a quick dash, grabbing her purse on the way. Her phone has five missed calls with voicemails and twenty-five text messages. Her friends probably think she was kidnapped last night. She sent a text to Stephanie.
Bethany:I’m fine. I need to find my clothes and I am on my way home. This was one hell of a night.
Stephanie:I’m calling you now.
Her phone blares the song “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran throughout the luxurious bathroom. She picks up the call and looks at the bathroom for the first time.
“Hello,” Bethany croaks into the other end of the phone.
“Where are you?” yells Stephanie. “What do you mean you need to find your clothes? What the hell happened last night?”
“Wait a minute. I need to piece it together,” says Bethany, looking at the bathroom bigger than her apartment's living area.
There was a soaker tub with a shower big enough for at least three people. A vanity, a toilet closet, and a linen closet all within the bathroom.
“You need to check out this bathroom. I could honestly live in here and don’t think he would ever notice.”
“Bethany, what the fuck is going on?”
Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. “Bethany, there is breakfast in the kitchen. It is downstairs and to the left. Um, I put a shirt at the end of the bed,” says Dan, muffled through the door.
“Ok,” says Bethany. “I guess there is breakfast.”
“Get out of there as soon as possible. People don’t eat breakfast. They fuck and leave. You need to leave.”
“I don’t think I fucked,” says Bethany.
“Get out of there.”
Bethany pulls the phone away from her ear.
“Okay, Mom.”
“Remember, you don’t know this guy. He could be crazy.”
“I can hear your friend on the phone,” says Dan. “I’m not crazy. I’m just being nice.”
“You’re overreacting. He’s being nice,” says Bethany.
“That’s what a crazy person would say,” whispers Stephanie.
“Good point. I’m on my way home,” Bethany whispers back.
She hangs up and looks in the mirror at her hair that resembles a rat’s nest. She pokes her fingers through it a little to tame it, but it doesn’t help.
She walks out of the bathroom to the overwhelming smell of his cologne. She watches Dan lay on the bed and take up almost the entire king-sized mattress. Her mouth goes dry looking at his muscular, corded legs sticking outside of his athletic shorts. There’s a gravitational pull toward him. He looks at her standing there in nothing but a bra and panties and his erection grows.
“We had a very eventful night last night,” says Dan, sitting up in bed. He notices the confused look on Bethany’s face. “I didn’t mean sexually. I meant in general." Dan’s eyes widen in amazement. You don’t remember, do you? I knew you had a lot to drink, but I didn’t think you had that much to drink.”
“We aren’t all heavyweights,” says Bethany, her hands on her hips.
Dan smiles, trying not to laugh. He attempts to look tough with her standing halfway between the doorway and the bed.
“I tend to know when to stop before I puke all over the person’s lap I’m sitting in,” he says without any emotion.
Her face turns beet red as her mouth opens and closes, trying to think of what to say next. He laughs at how cute she looks when she is flustered. She stomps over to the bed and climbs on top of him. He should have known by looking at her it’s the blondes who are always the crazy ones.
“Why are you laughing at me?” she asks with a breathy voice.
“I’m not laughing at you.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit about how you are laughing with me. I’m not laughing.”
“I’m laughing at the situation,” he says, lifting her off his mid-section and placing her next to him on the bed.
“Are we going to fuck or what? I’m in the middle of a dry spell and you were supposed to be my one,” she says, biting her lip.
He blinks his eyes twice, opening them to see the same girl from last night. She tries to press her breasts together to show off some cleavage.
“Are you still drunk from last night?” He gets up off the bed before she can straddle him again. “Like I said, breakfast is in the kitchen downstairs.”
“Oh, I get it! Now that you’re sober you don’t think I am pretty enough. That’s fine,” she yells sitting up behind him.
“OK, now who’s the crazy one? I’m offering you breakfast when any other dude would have kicked your drunk ass to the curb after you puked on him. It has nothing to do with whether you are pretty or not. I just don’t do these things anymore. I shouldn’t have brought you home to begin with.”
He slams the bedroom door and stomps down the stairs to the kitchen, placing his hands on the island, and tries to take a deep breath to quiet his body. He waits a minute before picking up his phone and firing off a text to his sister, Ellie.
Dan:Hey sis, pick up a pair of yoga pants, a T-shirt, and a bra and panties, and run them by the house for me?
He drums his fingers on the island waiting for a response.
Ellie:Since when did you start cross-dressing?
Dan:I’m serious.
Ellie: You mean it’s for one of your bimbos? Why don’t you do what normal people do and let her take the walk of shame?
Dan:Just get the stuff and bring it.
Dan:Thank you, Eleanor!
He walks back up the stairs to hear muffled cries on the other side of the door. He places his hands over his face then runs his hands through his hair. He didn’t think he was harsh. It felt good to touch her and kiss her in the Uber. He was sure the Uber driver saw more than he wanted to see on the fifteen-minute ride, but he didn’t want to have sex with her.
Normally, when realizing how drunk a woman is, he would have gotten out of the car and told the driver to take her home. He was never one to take advantage of a woman. But, last night, when he got out of the back seat and before he could tell the driver, Bethany was out of the car and draped all over his arm. It was when the car pulled away that she vomited all over her clothes and his favorite pair of shoes, so he felt the need to take care of her. He carried her inside and up the stairs to his bedroom to help her out of her clothes. He put them in a laundry bag for his cleaning lady.
He hears her sniffle again before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door.
“Hey, are you okay in there? Can I open the door,” he asks.
“It’s your bedroom. You can do whatever you want,” says a small voice from inside.
He opens the door to find her in his shirt with raccoon eyes and her hair standing on end. She tries to straighten her hair and the more she tries the worse it looks, but she looks beautiful. He smiles, putting his hands in his pockets, and walks across the room to his dresser before pulling out an old Vipers shirt. He drags it over his shoulders and lets it drop down his torso.
“There is coffee if you want some? I have cream and sugar.”
Dan walks out of the bedroom and back to the kitchen, hoping she follows. He pours a cup of coffee and smiles at the sound of her bare feet on the hardwood as she comes down the hallway.
Dan finishes pouring a second cup of coffee when the doorbell rings. He looks at his phone and sees Ellie on the front door video feed. He walks to the front door, hoping to take the bag of clothes from her so she will leave quickly. Opening the door, Dan tries to grab the bag out of Ellie’s hands, but she dodges him and walks inside the foyer.
“Here is your request. Are we still on for Tuesday night?”
“Ellie, not now. Give me the bag.”
“Let me know about Tuesday,” she says looking around the corner at Bethany who stands like a deer in headlights.
Ellie laughs as Dan closes the door behind her. He walks back into the kitchen to find Bethany standing with her arms crossed.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend?” she asks.
“First, I don’t have a girlfriend, that was my sister. Second, here are some clean clothes.” He gives the bag to Bethany only to have her knock it away.
“I don’t want clothes from your so-called sister. I want my clothes back.”
“They are covered in vomit. I am sending them to be laundered which is why I asked my sister to bring you more.”
She grabs the bag and looks at the T-shirt and yoga pants inside. Bethany grabs both articles of clothing out of the bag. “Where is the nearest room I can change?” she asks with her fists at her side, glaring at Dan.
He points around the corner to the guest bedroom with a bathroom attached. She stomps into the bathroom and puts on the shirt and pants. She pulls out her phone to set up an Uber. It should be there within five minutes.
“Thank you for the new clothes. Do you have a pen and paper?”
He digs around in a drawer in the kitchen and finds the pen and paper. He hands it over to her inhaling the vanilla and honey from her shampoo. She writes her phone number on the piece of paper and leaves it on the island in hopes he will call her instead of sending her a text about the clothes.
“Please text me when my clothes are clean, and I will give you the address to send them.”
She turns and walks out the front door. She stands on his steps waiting for the Uber, hoping she never sees him again. When he opens his phone, he puts her number in, and wonders if he will ever see her again. He opens the group chat with Ben and Teddy.
Dan: You are never going to believe how my night ended.
Teddy:You got laid!
Ben: You left with the cute blonde.
Dan: I left with the cute blonde and it was a trainwreck.
Teddy:How!?!
Dan: She puked in my lap. I wasn’t much better.
Ben: Dude, that’s not good. Why?
Dan: I don’t know. I’m always drunk.
Teddy: You’re never going to get laid.
Dan: I was going to make it up to her with breakfast and new clothes from Ellie.
Ben: Ellie was your mistake.
Teddy:She is your sister, but she’s a bitch.
Dan:She was a bitch this morning.
Teddy:When they made up resting bitchface, they had Ellie in mind.
Ben:That’s funny.
Dan: She thinks I should get out there and find the love of my life. Fuck her.
Ben: No Thank you. Not even with Teddy’s dick.
Teddy: Ha ha you think you’re so funny. Don’t rely on your sister, Danny.
Dan:Later
Ben:Ciao
Teddy:You know I’m right. Later.
