Chapter 47
Kurt
I groan, stretching in the bed. My hand brushes against soft hair and I jump up, looking over at the figure sound asleep next to me. The naked figure at that. Unable to see her face, I scan the room, looking for clues to who she is. I can’t remember much of last night. After Juliana left, everything went to shit. I couldn’t help myself, all I wanted to do was forget Juliana and how upset I had made her.
I lean my head back on the headboard and groan, remembering how upset Juliana was and how I just left her when she was vulnerable. Part of me still hoped the figure in my bed was Juliana but I just don’t think after what happened that we would end up in bed together. Anyway, I wouldn’t want our first time together to be something I couldn’t remember.
“Good morning, baby,” a familiar voice says, startling me and taking me away from the thoughts in my head. I look at the girl who looks up at me with triumph in her eyes. Crap, why is Ashley in my bed? Why does she look so happy? I think to myself. My face must look horrified, this makes Ashley chuckle. “Don’t worry baby, you told me you and that other girl,” she practically snarls, “aren’t together anymore.” She grins happily and sort of evilly and I get up out of the bed quickly.
“You need to leave,” I tell her and quickly put on my boxers then I begin to gather her clothing. She just laughs and rolls over stretching, making the sheets fall away from her body, exposing herself. “Ashley, now,” I say and busy myself by putting on more clothing. Once I finish, I gather all of her clothes and set them on the bed for her. “I’ll leave the room while you get dressed,” I tell her and then before she can protest, I leave the room, escaping to the living room and shutting the door behind me before I freak out in front of her.
Once alone in the living room, I spin around. I look around at the room, now void of anything that had belonged to Juliana. What the hell happened last night? I rake my hand over my head, an old habit I still haven’t shaken. I hear Ashley grumbling as she gets dressed and I look around for any more of her things so she doesn’t have to stay any longer. I go into the kitchen and notice something on the floor. I bend down to pick it up and look at the little Eiffel Tower keychain. “How did this get in here?” I ask out loud, standing up.
“What is it?” I look up startled and see a dressed Ashley standing above me. I hold the keychain out for her.
“Here you dropped this.” She squints at it and then crinkles her nose.
“That’s not mine,” she says then the edges of her mouth turn up in a little smile before she turns and prances away. I look at it more closely and notice that one of the legs on it is twisted, not fully broken off though. I pocket the item and push aside the emotions that begin to arise when I realize who it must belong to, Juliana. I make my way back into the living room and see Ashley sitting on the couch putting her shoes on. I sigh.
Walking over to her, I hand her purse to her and the jacket she brought. She looks a little put out but I can’t have her in my apartment any longer. I feel so guilty. I know Juliana left and I know it was never real but I still can’t help but feel guilty.
Ashley leans in and gives me a long kiss on the lips, catching me off guard. I push her away gently and give her a stern look. “I’m sorry for whatever happened last night. It was a mistake. And I really need you to leave.” I tell her firmly and an emotion of rejection flashes across her face before she plasters a fake smile on it.
She keeps the fake smile on for a few seconds then she sighs and rolls her eyes. “Nothing actually happened.” She chuckles. “But Juliana thinks something did.” She opens the door with that last sentence and then waves happily. “Bye! Good luck with everything!” Then she laughs and slams the door behind her.
“Wait, what the hell,” I say to no one in particular. “Nothing happened? Juliana was here? Crap.” I look around the room again panicking and take the Eiffel Tower out of my pocket, rubbing it between my fingers as if a Genie will pop out and grant my wish. I toss it onto the couch and then let my legs give out, allowing me to collapse on the couch as well. “What can I do?” I need to do something.
What can I do? I messed up. I didn’t listen to Juliana and then I went to Ashley to try to forget about her. If Juliana was here to talk about it and she saw Ashley and I together, she probably felt betrayed.
I shouldn’t have walked away during our argument, I just saw the wedding dress and freaked out. I like her and I was enjoying spending time with her. I felt like our relationship was becoming real but then I saw the wedding dress and everything hit me. We were lying to everybody we loved, and they were so happy for us which made me feel even more guilty.
I argue in my head, taking on both sides of the debate about whether to go after Juliana or not, then I get my lazy ass off the couch and grab my keys. Rushing to the door, I grab a light jacket and then shut the door behind me.