Chapter 3

I inhale as I roll over, extending my arms to stretch out my sore muscles. The faint smell of sex masked by men's cologne fills my nose, a scent I'm very unfamiliar with. I rub my eyes on the back of my hands to wake myself up, as I pull them away, I notice dark streaks of make up across my skin. 

Since when do I go to sleep with make up on? 

Sunlight creeps into the room through a dark gray curtain, illuminating the dark room. I take in my surroundings and realize I am not in my own bed. I look around the small space, it's bare other than a few shelves and pictures hung on the walls. 

Where am I? 

I glance down and see my bare body covered in a white sheet. I sit up and pull it closer against me, as if it offers some form of protection. What did I do last night? I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to filter through the hazy memories of my evening. A shallow snore comes from the mattress beside me. I look over my left shoulder and notice a man there, fast asleep. The memories come flooding back in an instant and I press my hand over my mouth to stifle my gasp. 

The stranger. I'm in his room, in his bed... 

My eyes trail down his body which is exposed from the waist up. He's positioned on his back, one muscular arm hooked beneath the pillow under his head, his other arm draped casually across his abdomen. For a brief moment, I consider reaching over to touch him but I shake the thought away as I ease myself out of the bed. I wrap my arms around myself and glance back at the stranger once more. Should I wake him? Should I stay to talk to him? Should I ask his name? I shake my head and decide against it, unsure of what a sober interaction would be like between the two of us. 

I exit the room and close the door softly behind me, careful as not to wake him. I tiptoe down the hall as I collect my clothes from the floor. I fold up the stranger's clothes and place them in front of his bedroom door. 

Underwear...where the fuck is my underwear? 

Unable to locate them, I put on my pants and shirt, wanting to get out of the apartment as soon as I could. I collect my phone and purse, and hook my fingers onto the straps of my shoes. I glance around the small apartment once more, creeping past the kitchen to the front door. As I turn to leave, I notice a notepad and pen hanging on the refrigerator. I drag my lip between my teeth and reach for the pen, twisting it around in my fingers for a moment. I had a great night, maybe he did too. I hesitate but quickly scribble something down.

618-675-9012 -K

Who knows if he'll even bother to text, but it's worth a shot. Especially after the night we just shared—a shiver runs through my body as I think about our evening together. I hastily make my way out of the apartment, finding my way out of the building and out to the street. I hold my hand up to my forehead, shielding my eyes from the sun. The blaring horn of a taxi speeding by causes me to jump. I make my way past a small café with its doors and windows wide open to enjoy the morning air. The lingering scent of breakfast makes me nauseas and I hurry past it, trying to escape the clatter of dishes and sounds of eager customers. 

I never realized how loud Chicago was in the morning. I call for an Uber and wait patiently on the sidewalk. People who are beginning their day walk past me, some of them giving me a second glance before continuing on their way. I can't imagine how absurd I must l look to them. My make up is smeared across my eyes, my curled hair a tangled mess, and I'm stumbling past them barefoot on the city sidewalk. 

My first walk of shame. 

I check my messages. Three missed calls, eighteen texts. All from Kate. The most recent message is a screenshot of my location and a frantic sounding text. 

Kate: Where the hell are you? You're not back at your apartment. I swear to god Kristine, if you are dead... 

I run my fingers through my hair and lightly laugh, thinking of how to reply. Kate can be a bit dramatic and overly protective, but I appreciate her concern. Finally I respond: 

 Kris: I'm fine, and definitely not dead. Heading home now. 

**** 

I arrive home and let my purse and shoes clatter to the floor, unable and unwilling to carry them even further into the apartment. My bare feet slap across the tile as I make my way past the kitchen and directly to the bathroom in the back hallway. 

My body is sore, my head hurts, and I am in desperate need of a shower. I slide open the shower curtain and the sharp sound of the hooks against the metal bar make my ears ring and head pound. I press my hands to my forehead and rub my eyes before reaching down to turn on the hot water. I strip naked and step into the shower, welcoming the warmth as it runs down my body. I close my eyes and begin rinsing my hair, turning toward the shower-head I let the water slide down my face, washing away the remnants of my makeup.

I drag my fingers along my chest and neck. Tracing my skin where the stranger had touched my body last night. I bite my lip at the thought of our encounter. The way he had touched me, how he had wanted me as desperately as my body wanted him, then awakening mine after so long. I moan quietly, remembering how it felt as he buried himself inside of me. The questions from earlier gnaw at the back of my mind. Should I have spoken to him? Gotten to know him? Bothered to learn his name? 

With a loud bang my bathroom door slams open, causing me to jump. I lose my balance and slip back against the wall. 

"What the f—" 

Kate stumbles into the bathroom and tears the shower curtain aside. "Tell. Me. Everything!" she squeals. 

I regain my balance and push away from the wall. "Jesus Kate, can't a girl shower in peace?" I place my hands over my breasts and turn around. 

Kate scrunches up her nose. "No need to be so modest." She closes the lid of the toilet and sits down. I whip the shower curtain back into place and resume washing my hair. 

"Tell me about your night.," I say, not quite ready to share the details of mine. 

"Hot guy. Hot sex. Hangover in the morning. Same old, same old. Now talk." 

I scrub the soap into my hair and sigh. "Well I don't know what to say. Hot guy, hot sex I guess." 

"Ha!" Kate snorts. "No, that's not just hot guy, hot sex, Kristine! That was your first hook up. Your lame ass was about ready to settle for the same dick forever—physically and metaphorically—and now you've experienced your first one night stand." 

I peak out of the shower curtain, giving Kate an unamused look. "Seriously, Kate?" I tilt my head to the side and narrow my eyes. 

She raises her eyebrows and shrugs innocently. "Well... It's true," she says smugly. 

"Even if it is true, I don't think it's anything to celebrate, it was one night. Felt great, definitely, but it's y not something that's going to happen again." 

Though I kind of wish it would... 

"Alright, fine," Kate says dramatically. "At least tell me his name." 

"I- I don't actually know." I tell her. "We didn't seem to get around to that, we were a little too preoccupied with other things. He didn't ask for mine anyways." I shrug, though Kate can't see from the other side of the shower curtain, 

"I mean, I don't blame you." Kate laughs. "I've had my fair share of nameless encounters." She's quiet for a moment. "How are you feeling about last night though, Kris?" 

I sigh. "I don't regret it at all. I was nervous of course, but damn it was amazing. I suppose I should thank you for forcing me off the couch." 

Kate throws aside the curtain once more and twists her face into a look of satisfaction. "You're very welcome." She sneers as she slides the curtain back into place. "You hungry? What do you have to eat?" Kate exits the bathroom as quickly as she had entered it. 

I finish my shower in peace, rinsing off what was left of the smell of booze and sex. I step out of the tub and wrap my hair up in a towel, sliding comfortably into my robe. I exit the bathroom to find Kate raiding my refrigerator. 

I roll my eyes. "You have your own apartment, you know? With your own food." I say as I fill a glass of water and take a long gulp. 

"Yeah, but you have better food. " She takes out a carton of eggs, bacon, and a pan. She begins cooking, quickly making herself at home in my kitchen. I ease myself down onto the cushioned stool on the other side of the kitchen island, my back to the living room. Kate snatches pots and pans from the cabinets, knowing exactly where they're located and drops them down onto the stove. 

I rub my eyes and yawn. "I'm changing the locks one of these days." 

"You would never," Kate smirks. 

**** 

Kate and I spend the majority of our Sunday lounging in the apartment. We scroll through N*****x and talk about our plans for the upcoming week. Both of us admit that we aren't looking forward to returning to work in the morning. Kate is scheduled for a twelve-hour shift at the hospital, and I have endless piles of case notes waiting for me in the office. It gives me a headache, to even think about. Distracting myself from thoughts of the demanding work ahead of me, my mind flashes back to the events of last night. I had felt so alive, confident, and eager, desperate almost, to feel his touch. I continue to think about his fingers gliding between my legs, his teeth dragging across my neck, the way my tongue felt against his lips–

Kate checks her watch and groans, snapping me out of my trance. "It's nearly five. I should head home." She stands up from the couch and stretches. "See you soon?" 

"Absolutely." 

I smile and escort her to the door. I lock it behind her and return to the couch. I lay down and stretch out my arms and legs before setting into the cushions. I grab my book off of the end table beside the couch and open up to where I'd left off with my most recent choice of smut. I've found myself reading it more often than I'd like to admit. But how else is a girl supposed to survive a sexual draught as long as I had? I've just started to doze off with my book still open and settled on my chest when the sound of the vibration of my phone against the wooden coffee table wakes me. I reach over to grab it and unlock the screen, assuming it's a message from Kate. The notification shows a text from an unknown number. 

UNKNOWN: K is all I'm going to get for a name, huh? 

My stomach flips and my heart skips a beat. A winking emoji follows the message. 

The stranger. 

I stare at the text, feeling both surprised and amused that he had bothered to contact me. My thumbs hover over the screen and the cursor blinks at me, waiting for my response. 

K: Wasn't sure if you wanted to know or not. Figured I'd at least leave a little something behind. 

I hit send and turn off the screen, placing my phone back onto the table. I rest my chin on my hands and stare at it, anxiously awaiting a reply. My legs bounce beneath me. I can't tell if the feeling settling in my stomach is nervousness or excitement about what he may say next. He must've had a reason to text me, right? He easily could have torn the sheet from the refrigerator and thrown my number away without a second thought. And yet he didn't. 

My phone vibrates and I snatch it back into my hands. A picture is attached to the new message. 

UNKNOWN: You left more than just a little something behind. 

The image shows my bra and underwear on the floor of his bedroom. 

Shit. That's where I left them. 

K: Oh my god... That's embarrassing. 

God, I sound like an idiot. 

UNKNOWN: Guess I'll just have to see you again to return them. 

I don't think I'd mind seeing you again... 

I smile and feel a soft flutter in my stomach. I sit there in silence staring at the screen. What the hell am I supposed to say next.? I haven't interacted with a man in a long time, let alone had the chance to flirt with one. My ex had been my only serious relationship, and we had started off as friends, so it was different. We began dating in high school at the young age of sixteen, we stayed together through college, and into our twenties. He is the only man I've ever been with intimately and, until a year ago, I believed we would be spending our lives together. The possibility of dating again had never crossed my mind. Yet, here I am. 

My phone vibrates. 

UNKNOWN: Since I only get the first letter of your name, it would be fair for you to have mine. E. 

E. Elijah? Eric? Emmett? 

K: Well it's nice to meet you, E. 

 I follow up the message with a winking emoji. I force myself up from the couch and enter the kitchen. I pace back and forth, flipping my phone around in my hands for a few seconds before setting it face down on the countertop. Food, I need food. I dig a pot out from one of the cabinets 

I set my phone face down on the counter and begin preparing some dinner for myself to keep my mind busy between messages. 

E. 

We may not know each other's names, but our first initials are a good start. I'm not sure if I want him to know my name anyways. At most, this is just a brief fling, right? A new text arrives and I immediately grab my phone. 

UNKNOWN: I had a great time last night. 

K: I did too. Thank you again for rescuing me at the club... And for everything that happened afterward. 

I dump some pasta into a pot on the stove and lift myself up onto the counter top, waiting for the water to boil. I add "E" to my phone contacts. 

Let's see how long this lasts until he ghosts me. Wouldn't be surprised if he did... Who the hell would be interested in me? 

E: Glad I was there to help, in more than one way. What are you doing right now? He inquires. 

K: Making myself dinner. You? 

My thumbs glide across the phone screen. 

E: Preparing things for work in the morning... And thinking about you. 

Oh? 

K: Yeah? What are you thinking about? I smirk as I send my reply. 

E: How your body felt against mine... how you sounded when I touched you. I haven't stopped thinking about it. 

I bite my lip, the muscles between my thighs tightening. 

K: I haven't either... you were amazing. 

I feel the blood rush to my cheeks. Blushing like a schoolgirl with her first crush. 

E: What are you wearing? 

I roll my eyes at such a typical "male" question, but type out another response. 

K: Been in only a robe and underwear all day. Best way to lounge around on a Sunday in my opinion. 

E: Now that's too many clothes, I'd have to untie that robe. Slide my hands around your body while you're trying to cook dinner. 

I nibble at my thumb nail, second guessing my message before finally sending it. 

K: Hmm, I don't think I'd stop you. That tie is loose already. However, distracting me while I cook? That's not fair. 

E: I don't always play fair. Once that robe has fallen to the floor, I'd lift you up onto the kitchen counter and hold your thighs. 

K: Lucky for you, I'm already on the counter. 

E: A shame I'm not there... I've always wanted to have my way with a beautiful woman on a kitchen counter. 

An interesting fantasy.... 

K: Good, that will give you something to think about tonight. 

E: Have you ever done that before? 

Ha!  

Never. My ex was as "vanilla" as they came. He was uninterested in trying something new, though I had my curiosities and ideas to explore. But he was always expecting me to do the work, doing exactly what he liked and gave nothing in return. 

K: Nope. It's on my list though. 

E: Your list? 

K: Just a few things I've always wanted to try... 

E: I wonder if I would be able to help check some of those items off. 

Hooking up with a stranger? Check. 

K: Oh, I'm sure you could. 

E: I'd lean you back on that countertop and tease you, touching you where you're most sensitive... 

Oh god, yes please. 

I close my eyes and imagine his hands on my body, trailing my fingers from my knee up my thigh. A loud sizzle snaps my attention away from my phone. The smell of pasta against the open flame wafts through the room as it boils over the side of the pot and onto the burner. The boiled water spits from the pot, splashing water onto the tiled floor. 

"Shit!" I hop off the counter and turn it off, moving the pot to the other side of the stove. The handle breaks as I lift it and the pot clatters on the floor, spilling hot water and soggy pasta everywhere. 

"Dammit!" I drop my phone onto my kitchen table, grab towels and begin cleaning up the mess. I scoop up the pasta and throw it into the sink, leaving the towels on the floor to soak up the water. I wait for the pot to cool down before throwing it into the trash. 

Takeout food it is. 

**** 

I thank the delivery driver and retreat to my apartment. I open the bag of food and sit down on my couch. Frustrated and hungry, I dig into my meal. My phone vibrates on the cushion beside me. 

E: I'm sorry, did I overstep before? 

I realize that after dealing with my dinner disaster I never responded to his last message. 

Idiot, you completely left him hanging. 

K: I am so sorry! I got distracted with dinner. You didn't over step at all. 

E responds immediately. 

E: I just wanted to make sure I didn't make you uncomfortable... I wouldn't want to be "that guy." 

I laugh, appreciating his concern. 

K: You didn't and you aren't lol. I do like the idea of being taken on the kitchen counter though... 

E: Good. It's something I've wanted to try too. I'll add it to my list. 

A rush of excitement floods through my body. The idea of trying new things with someone who I didn't have an attachment to sounded intriguing. Kate was always encouraging me to open myself up to new experiences. After the events of last night, maybe that time is now. 

K: I always thought it would be interesting to have sex somewhere other than the bedroom. Unfortunately, I've never had the chance to give it a try. 

E: Hmm, well what else is on that list of yours? 

I sigh and bite the inside of my cheek. If I'm going to have this conversation I'm going to need something to drink, something to reignite the courage I'd had last night. I pour myself a glass of wine. Taking a quick gulp, I text back. 

K: It's short so far, many ideas to consider. 

Maybe that will open the door for him to make some suggestions. 

E: Shower sex? 

K: That's definitely on the list. 

E: How have you never done that? 

K: That's a story for another time. 

E: Well, I think it would be a great experience for you. Warm water running down our wet bodies, rubbing soap all over each other while you're pressed against the wall of the shower... 

Damn. Maybe I check that one off next. 

I take another long sip of wine. 

K: I'd rub the soap down your stomach, gliding down and taking you into my hand. Slowly moving up and down. 

I smile and bite the nail of my index finger while waiting for a response. My phone vibrates. I finish the glass of wine in one final swig before unlocking the screen. 

E: I'm getting hard at the thought of that. 

Oh damn. This is going to be fun. 

E: I'd run my hand along your wet body cupping your breast and teasing your nipple with my thumb. 

I instinctively move my hand up to my chest, sliding my fingers along the collar of my robe. 

K: I'm sure that would feel as amazing as it sounds. 

I pack up the remaining food from my dinner and place it in the refrigerator. I take another gulp of wine straight from the bottle before entering my bedroom. I drop my robe and crawl into bed half naked before turning off the lights. I reach into the top drawer of my nightstand, the drawer that is reserved only for specific "personal items," and settle in for what appears to be the start of a very entertaining evening.