And I wholeheartedly agree. I needed that. I needed him. Sex with him is like an out-of-body experience.
He pulls me close. “Oh, I’m all sweaty,” I say, not wanting to gross him out.
“Stop it!” he says, so I snuggle up to his side.
I hear his breathing level out. I didn’t think he’d be the cuddling-after-sex type, but it’s a pleasant surprise. My eyes feel heavy, so I close them and breathe in the scent of sex and his cologne. It’s a seductive smell. I yawn and soon after fall asleep.
Light floods the room.I groan as I stretch, my muscles sore in the best way. My mouth is dry and my head feels a little foggy, but the memories of last night come rushing back. I blink a few times, my gaze landing on the superhuman lying next to me.
Holy shit, that happened. I slept with someone else.
Shame flickers through my mind at first but is quickly pushed away by the thought of my ex having an affair with mybest friend. He cheated on me, and I didn’t technically cheat on him. We were clearly broken up.
I slowly sit up and glance at the fine specimen next to me. The sheets are low on his hips, revealing his eight-pack and that delicious V. I bite my lip to stifle a giddy laugh. How is this man even real?
I slide out of bed and my feet hit the cool floor. I scan the room for my clothes. My wedding dress lies in a heap on the floor, mocking me. I glare at it, the sight of it reigniting the sting of betrayal. There’s no way I’m putting that thing back on. My eyes dart to Theo’s clothes on the floor. I hesitate for a moment before grabbing his hoodie and jeans.
The hoodie is soft, and when I pull it over my head, the fabric swallows me, enveloping me in warmth. The jeans are a tighter fit, but I manage to shimmy into them. I can’t do up the top button, but the hoodie covers it, so no one will see. I glance at myself in the mirror. It’s better than walking around in a wedding dress.
I giggle, feeling a little bad. I’m going to leave him in a shirt and underwear, but at least he has friends to call to get him some pants. I have no one. With shoes in one hand and the dress in the other, I put my bag over my shoulder.
I glance at him again, and my mouth waters. In the light he’s clearly younger than me... but I wonder how much younger. To know that hottie wanted me excites me. There are men out there who still find me attractive. It gives me hope I won’t be alone forever. This man gave me confidence and made me feel worthy on the worst day of my life. I’m sure he’ll forget me, but I’ll never forget his kindness... and that body... that dick. Jesus...
I gently close the door behind me and make the walk of shame down the stairs and through the establishment. I duck my head so I don’t make eye contact with anyone. I’m sure I look like a disaster.
Once outside, the sunlight makes me squint. It’s bright, but I sigh contentedly when I feel the warmth of the sun. I need to figure out what the hell I’m going to do next. But first, coffee.
At a nearby café, I order a large coffee and a toasted sandwich to go, ignoring the curious stares from the other patrons. Then I go to a nearby store and grab a bottle of water and, on impulse, a pair of scissors. The cashier gives me a strange look, but I don’t bother explaining.
With my breakfast in hand, I take an Uber to the beach. The cool breeze carries the salty scent of the ocean, and the moment I step onto the sand, I feel a small sense of peace. I find a quiet spot and sit down, letting the waves rolling onto the shore soothe my frayed nerves.
As I lay the wedding dress out in front of me, I feel a stir of mixed emotions, both anger and sadness. Tyler and Kayla, the two people who were supposed to love and care for me, betrayed me in the worst way. They deserve each other.
I grab the scissors and start cutting into the dress. The fabric resists at first, but I keep hacking at it, the sound of the blades slicing through the material is oddly satisfying. Each cut feels cathartic, like I’m shedding the weight of their betrayal.
The dress is in shreds now, a pile of ruined fabric on the sand. I sit back, my chest rising and falling as I catch my breath. As the anger fades, I think of last night.
I break out in goosebumps all over again. The ghost of Theo’s touch still lingers on my skin, and I can still hear his deep, husky voice. That man made my body sing. I was starved of good sex for too long. He made me laugh, made me smile, made me feel like a treasured goddess. I’ve never felt like that before. Maybe Theo showed me exactly what a solid relationship is supposed to be like. Even if it was just for one night, he gave me a glimpse of what I could have. What I deserve.
I’ll probably never see him again. It was only one night, but I have a feeling I’m going to miss him.
THREE
I HOPE SHE LEAVES SCARS
Rage
I wake up alone;it takes my mind a moment to replay last night. Then, remembering her, I smile from ear to ear. Rose is such a pretty name. Just like her. I sit up and scan the room. Her dress is gone, and her shoes too...She’s left. I frown and deflate but curse myself. I don’t know why it bugs me so much. I was a distraction—a quick fuck to take her mind off her problems, nothing else.
When I saw her walk in, I was drawn to her. She looked like an angel in that dress, and so beautiful. I felt jealous of her husband, which intrigued me. Even the way she walked, the natural sway of her hips... she was sexy without even trying. Her tits looked amazing in that dress.
I’d never been so infatuated with someone I’d never met. When her husband didn’t turn up, I was cautious, but I was a dick and hoping he wouldn’t, so I went to her. I still remember the adrenaline pumping through me. The place was busy, but all I could do was focus on her.
When I sat down and took a closer look at her, it was like a sledgehammer to the face. Her beautiful eyes—green but ringed with blue—were haunted by pain, and her sadness twisted my gut. After finding out her ex cheated on her, I wanted to knock him the fuck out.
I hate cheaters with a passion. My dad cheated on my mom and left us to create another family. My fists clench at my side. I’ll never forgive him. I understand the pain cheaters cause and the destruction cheating leaves in its wake. Some men just can’t help themselves. They’re insecure, and let’s face it, they should be because the women they’re with are too good for them. The funny thing is they always downgrade and go for someone who’s half the person they’re cheating on.
But for Rose to find out on her wedding day? What a piece of shit. I still think she’s better off finding out before having kids because I had a front-row seat for that, and it really fucked me up, left me thinking I wasn’t good enough. My mom always tried her best for me and my brother, but the pain my father caused... no amount of love from my mother could get rid of that knife in my back.
