2. Denise
Chapter two
Denise
A re you fucking kidding me right now?! I snatch the sheets up to cover my bare chest and surreptitiously pinch my thigh. Ouch! OK, so I'm not dreaming. This is actually happening. I'm in a bedroom with my best friend's archenemy and we clearly fucked, if the dull throb between my legs is any indication. Maybe I shouldn't have had those last… ten shots. Excuse the fuck out of me for celebrating my girl's happily ever after!
Cory's standing in front of me like a statue, which is fitting, since I probably look like Medusa with my braids a tangled mess. That's one downside—one of many —of getting blackout drunk: you never remember to wear your bonnet. I keep one in my purse ever since I ruined my edges on some adjunct professor's scratchy cotton sheets, but from the state of this room and the soreness in my lady bits, I was too preoccupied to stop and put it on.
But Cory? Cory?! Damnit, why do the most triflin' men always have the best dick?
I finger comb my hair, pull the sheet tighter around my naked(!) body, and level the statue in front of me with my most scathing glare.
"Cory?" I ask, though I don't know why I'm asking. I know this is the fatphobic douchebag that said Maya wasn't fit to be on Adam's arm. Maya pointed him out at the rehearsal dinner two days ago, and the girls and I all agreed to avoid him. You don't have to tell me twice , I'd said, which is normally true. I don't fuck with men who make a woman feel less than because of something as transient as her body. I guess when my brain is swimming in tequila shots and champagne, I'm not as enlightened…or loyal to my friends…
He winces, like the sound of my voice shattered any hopes that this was all a terrible dream. No such luck, pal. When I continue to stare at him, waiting for a response, he jerks a nod.
"Shit! So, you're definitely Cory, this is definitely happening, and, from the way I'm not dressed, we definitely slept together. Am I summing up the situation correctly?"
He nods again.
"God damnit! I told Maya open bars are dangerous! Champagne leads to shots, one shot leads to six, and then I wind up in bed with the asshole brother!"
"Hey!" he protests, but I barely hear him. I'm too busy yanking away the sheets to find my panties and bra so I can get the fuck out of here.
"If it makes you feel any better," he mumbles, "I don't remember anything."
How is that supposed to make me feel better? Every woman on the goddamn planet wants to be memorable. I will not be naked for this conversation. Where the fuck are my underwear?
"If neither of us remembers," he continues, "it's like it didn't happen."
"Yeah, right," I scoff. I find my bra under my pillow—correction: Cory's pillow—and turn my back to shove my arms through the straps. Once the ladies are strapped in, I wrap the sheet around myself like a sarong and go in search of the rest of my clothes.
"Do you really think Maya's going to see it that way?" I ask. " Hell no. When she finds out I slept with the dick who tried to talk her husband out of marrying her, she's probably going to somehow go back in time and kick me out of the bridal party. And maybe have Adam kick your ass."
Cory's eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. I do my best not to notice how sharp it is. Or how sexy his shoulder-length hair looks still rumpled from sleep. Or that I can clearly see the half-chub he's sporting through the thin material of his sweatpants.
"He could try."
I roll my eyes and almost cheer when I find my bridesmaid dress under the bed and slip it on.
"Not saying I agree with your characterization of events," he starts, and I have to stop myself from slugging him, "but what if she doesn't find out? What if you don't tell Maya, I don't tell Adam, and we treat this whole thing like the drunken mistake it was?"
I stop and think, one heel on and the other still missing. Could I keep this from Maya? He does have a point: if neither of us remember it, what would we even tell them? But how do we know they didn't see us together last night?
"There's one flaw in your master plan, bucko. What if they saw us leave together?"
It's Cory's turn to snort. He bends down to hand me my other heel from under his desk.
"It was their wedding day. With all the friends and family and free-flowing booze last night, do you really think they noticed two guests sneaking out to hook up?"
"Not likely," I mutter begrudgingly. He grins triumphantly, and I want to wipe that smile right off his face. "But not impossible, " I add out of spite.
He rolls his eyes, though I notice him sneak a glance as I shimmy the dress over my hips.
"I don't see you coming up with any brilliant ideas, Denise."
"I'm thinking," I grumble. I'm fully dressed except for my missing panties, but I'm still feeling a little exposed.
"What if," I start slowly, hoping the plan materializes as I'm talking, "we…wait and see."
Cory claps sarcastically, and I feel anger bubbling up inside my chest.
"Bravo! Are you a member of MENSA?"
I flip him the bird and lunge for the heap of sheets at the foot of the bed.
"Aha!" I shout victoriously, pulling my thong from the pile and stepping into it.
"If Maya thought I slept with you, she would be blowing up my phone." I check my phone before waving it tauntingly in his face. "No calls or texts. See?"
Cory smirks.
"You're acting like you won something, but I was the one who suggested not telling them in the first place."
"Yeah, and if they had seen us, Einstein, that wouldn't have worked."
Irritation flashes in his eyes.
"I let the first few shots slide, but I'll be damned if I let you keep insulting me while you're standing in my apartment."
Fully dressed now, I shrug and start towards the door.
"Fine by me."
Cory follows me down the hallway into the living room. We were clearly in here, too. One of the end table lamps is on its side, the contents of my purse are spilled out onto the floor, and there's a condom wrapper on the coffee table. Jesus, how many times did we fuck? Leave it to me to have what looks like Olympic-level sex with one of the worst humans I know.
"So…that's it, then?" he asks, and I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Yes…Is this your first one-night stand or something?" I know it's not. Adam may have changed his ways for Maya, but all five of the Park brothers give off serious heartbreaker vibes. Marriage-minded women need not apply.
Cory shoves his hands in his pockets.
"Hardly, but they're usually not still here in the morning, so I'm in unfamiliar territory."
I bite my lip to stifle a laugh.
"Well, that's one thing we have in common." I bend to shove everything back in my purse and feel his eyes on my ass. Eat your heart out, buddy. "I'll be out of your hair in a minute."
"You sure you don't want to check the kitchen, too?" he asks from over my shoulder. I turn to see him looking uncomfortable. "It looks like we…got around last night. I'd hate for you to leave something behind."
I move to do a quick once over.
"Good idea."
The counter is clear and there aren't even any dishes in the sink. It looks untouched.
"The kitchen was spared, thank God."
I sling my purse over my shoulder and walk towards the front door. I've got a hot date with Advil and a bacon egg and cheese for this monster hangover.
Cory unlocks and opens the door for me, then leans forward and awkwardly pats me on the back. Wow. This is exactly why I always make my getaway when the guy's asleep.
"It's been real," I say with a grin. "See you around."
I leave before he can draw this out any further, and sigh in relief when I exit the building to find we're near Columbus Circle. Thank God I don't have to schlep home all the way from Brooklyn or something. 125th Street is just a few train stops away.
Food and a hot shower should be enough to put last night in my rearview. With any luck, it'll wash away last night's mistakes, too.