ONE
JESS
Twenty more minutes of this bullshit until freedom. I swear I’m going to do a William Wallace impression as I flee this conference room.
I watched for the dancing dots to appear. After two minutes of continually staring at the unchanging screen, my bottom lip ached from my top teeth biting into it.
So, here I was, hoping that the rumors people said about conventions being prime hook-up spots were true.
Hopefully, I’d be able to find an attractive colleague and spend my evenings at the local bar scene indulging in some sexy wind-up flirtation and maybe a few nights between the sheets having lovely hotel sex, then saying goodbye with no strings attached.
What better antidote to another relationship opportunity going down in a blaze of glory?
Unfortunately, it was Friday already, and no hookups for me. Not even banter over lunch between sessions. How was this even possible? Married women hooked up left and right around me, and some of the single women hooked up multiple times. Apparently, I was the exception.
The speaker wrapped up his final thoughts, and I hightailed it into the elevator and headed to my room, where Abigail waited.
Bursting through the door, I threw my bag onto the bed. “Honey, I’m home!” I called out, heading straight for the minibar.
Abigail stepped out of the bathroom wearing a patchwork dress, blue tights with patterned stitches on them, black booties, and a long, red-haired wig in her hands.
Nearly choking on my drink, I asked, “Abigail?”
“I need a favor. It’s a big one. But I can’t do this alone, and I don’t know how else to fix this.”
Instantly, my heart clenched. She wasn’t exhausted. My vibrant, gregarious, spirited friend was grieving. Considerably younger than me, right now she looked every year of it.
Setting down my drink, I went to her, grabbed her hands, and squeezed them tightly. “We’re ride or die, girl, you know that. I’ve gotta admit, though. The costume has me a little confused. What involves dressing up as Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas?”
Abigail broke away from me and crossed to the foot of the bed, pacing as verbal vomit spewed from her mouth.
“I thought I could walk away; I really did. He saved me from Mr. Mouth, and his smile was so gorgeous. And the sex? Oh my god! I’ve never been to a club like that before in my life.
So freeing! So hot! Then he flew off, so I blocked him on my phone.
Now I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I’m such a mess. ”
“Whoa, Abigail! Slow down.” I crossed to her again, this time putting an arm around her shoulders and sitting her on the edge of the bed.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about, and you’re getting all wound up, about to hyperventilate.
Slower this time. Tell me what the hell you’re talking about. ”
She inhaled deeply, then shakily exhaled. “Sorry. You remember late last fall, at the end of the baseball season? I went to a Brewers-Cubs series in Chicago.”
“Right.”
“Well… I met a guy. At the Saturday game, some dirtbag sitting behind me started harassing me. The guy he was with—oh my god, you should have seen him! Gorgeous dark hair, a well-manicured beard that looked so soft, and oh, was it ever! I couldn’t stop touching it.
And his eyes! This deep brown that was so soulful.
I can’t even describe how damn built he was.
His muscles had muscles. Like he was a bodybuilder, but not the overdone kind, you know? ”
“Sounds beautiful,” I agreed. “So, what happened?”
“Turns out my guy was playing bodyguard to some rock star. Ugh.” She shuddered. “Why are celebrities often so creepy?”
“Abigail! What happened?” Lord, this girl was a mess.
“Right.” She shook herself. “So, my guy, his name is Christopher. Well, he tried to get the tool to stop hitting on me, and when the guy didn’t listen, Christopher put him in a headlock and walked him out of the game.
I figured that was the end, but later I ran into him at a bar.
We talked; he asked me to dinner, and then he took me to a club.
” She fidgeted and tore her gaze from mine. “A BDSM club,” she whispered.
I blinked. It took a moment to find my voice? Sweet Abigail at a kink club? “Wow. Um… I don’t know what to say. I’ve heard mixed things about places like that.”
She gave a bit of a hysterical laugh. “The place was wild. Most of the guests were in cosplay costumes, and… well… while we were there, we… we fooled around. I’ve never…
” A deep red blush crept up her face. “Anyway, afterwards, he took me to a hotel where we spent the rest of the night.” She clutched my hands, a light in her eyes I’d never seen before.
“He definitely rocked my world. Ruined me for normal sex. Unfortunately, in the early morning, he was called away to an emergency. He promised to call, but…” She placed her head in her hands. “I blocked his number.”
What the heck? The guy made that good of an impression, and she ghosted him? Isn’t that what the guy did while the woman sat around, waiting for the call that never came? “Why would you do that? If he didn’t call, he didn’t call, but if he did, you would have known he was serious.”
“I was protecting myself,” she wailed. “I honestly didn’t believe he would call.
It was a one-night stand. They never call, right?
It’s just what you say to make the whole thing less awkward.
My head was so messed up, it was telling me that when he didn’t call, I wouldn’t tempt myself to do the stalker-thing and call him, leaving crazy messages.
I figured I’d forget about him and move on. ”
This poor girl. Only one serious boyfriend that I knew of, so limited experience. “This is why you’ve been so sad lately, isn’t it? You really liked him, and now you’re wondering if he ever tried to call.”
Abigail nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks.
“Just unblock the number. Review your call history and see if he actually called. If he did, call him back. Apologize and tell him why you blocked him. The worst that happens is he picks up and says he’s no longer interested.
Or he ignores the call. If he didn’t call, you know.
Neither of those is worse than what’s going on now. ”
“I can’t unblock it. I got a new phone.” She whispered the last part. “I told you, I fucked up. I have to go back to the club. It’s a long shot, but I need to try.”
I looked at Abigail, tears in her eyes, pleading with me to help her. Sighing, I capitulated. “I’m guessing this is where the costume comes in.”