One Night Stand

by Corina Eichholz

  I’d had one magical night with Axel. Amazing love making, followed by dinner and hot steamy sex and a morning that started off with sleepy, lazy sex and then greedy shower sex before he dropped me off back at my apartment. Axel walked me to my door carrying my backpack for me like a true gentleman. He always treated me like a princess, something that I’d never had from anyone but my father.

  “Maybe tomorrow, I can pick you up and take you out for dinner?” He smiled at me. “Wings?” he chuckled, just like he said he would. I felt my throat constrict. It was everything I wanted to hear but it was tainted with the knowledge that it was all a lie.

  “I actually have plans,” I told him. With Hunter my blind date, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that part though.

  “Oh.” His face fell in disappointment. “Well, how about another time this week? I’ll text you and we’ll figure it out,” he said, putting his bright smile back on again. I couldn’t answer him, so instead I went on my toes and pulled his face down and kissed him with all the love I felt for him, all the things I had wanted for us that would never happen and all the passion that we had shared. The kiss lasted over five minutes, as he kissed me back with almost as much ferocity, getting lost in it. When we finally broke apart, he smiled goofily at me and I wished I could share the same lovestruck expression but I wouldn’t, I knew this was the end and there could be no more. It had all been my closure and although there could never be enough when it came to Axel, it was just enough to satisfy me and good enough of a memory to relive.

  “Goodbye Axel,” I said slowly and closed my door on him and that chapter of my life.

  AXEL HAD MESSAGED ME A few times, his usual sweet things and then a few questions on when he could see me again. I ignored them all and instead focused on my blind date. I got ready, trying harder than usual to look good, wanting to hide any traces that I was in love with another man. When eight o’clock came, I walked to the local bar where Hunter and I had decided to meet for drinks. I wore a cute red dress with black ballet flats and while waiting I kept replaying the magical night before in my head.

  “Leah,” a masculine voice said and I looked over my shoulder to me a pair of deep brown eyes that snapped me out of my daydreams. His voice wasn’t as deep and manly as Axel’s but it had an airy quality to it. His eyes were warm and, although they didn’t make my heart and pulse beat like Axel’s had, they were still nice to look at.

  “Hunter?” I smiled, hopeful. He nodded and put his hand out to shake, a very formal thing to do but I took it gingerly. His warm hand released mine and there was no jolt of electricity like the force of power I felt from Axel’s touch and for once I was relieved, he wouldn’t have the power to hurt me. Unlike with Axel, where I had instantly felt a surge of electricity, the moment I looked into his eyes.

  “It’s so nice to finally get to meet you.” Hunter smiled taking a seat beside me. “I’ve been wanting to get to know you for so long,” he continued and I smiled not knowing what to say. I’d only known he existed for less than a week. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked, his hands fidgeting nervously.

  “That’d be great.” I nodded. We made small talk that Hunter seemed to be thoroughly enjoying. By the end of the night and a few more rounds of drinks, I was surprised to find I was actually having a good time. Although I felt no sexual chemistry between us, I actually liked Hunter and found he’d be a cool friend to have. He seemed pretty knowledgeable and was really funny. Jenny had been right, he was an all-around nice guy. I let Hunter walk me back to my building.

  “Well this is me,” I said, nodding to my building.

  He took my hand in his. “I had a great time with you tonight Leah,” he told me, his brown locks bouncing in the breeze.

  “Me too,” I agreed, surprised by the fact.

  “I’m going to kiss you now,” he warned, I stood frozen and watched as he lowered his face to mine and lightly pressed his lips to mine in a small peck. He smiled brightly at me and I waved as I entered my building. The kiss hadn’t been anything special and it held no feelings but it wasn’t unpleasant in any way. Hunter had clearly thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe I needed someone like Hunter, instead of like the guys from my past. Someone who was more into me than I was into them. That way they couldn’t ever have the power to hurt me.

  I tried not to compare everything about Hunter to Axel and found it hard. As silly as it was, I really missed Axel and I was finding it harder to move on, especially from the night before. That had been stupid on my part. I should have known it wouldn’t work. Axel had worshipped my body all night long and made me feel special, like I was enough, but Ashley’s words were still ringing loud in my ears and I knew it was a hopeless fantasy. Axel didn’t love me; I was just one of his many booty calls.

  Another message from Axel chirped from my phone at the exact moment I was thinking about him and I ignored it like I’d done the others. Move on, clean slate. Get to know Hunter, I told myself. Stop comparing him to Axel and give him a chance. Hunter really was cute and it was clear how into me he was, which in itself was pretty adorable. I’ll give him an honest chance and maybe he’ll turn out to be exactly what I need, I thought hopefully.

  It had been a week since I’d last seen, much less spoken to, Axel and also week that I’d been seeing Hunter. It was all still very innocent with Hunter, he had only kissed me twice since our date and all the times it had been very fast and platonic, merely a peck here or there. I’d been enjoying hanging out with Hunter and getting my mind off Axel.

  “Leah, we have to go out again!” Jenny exclaimed as we sat at a table with Anne and Hunter.

  “Yes, it’s been too long!” Anne added, vocal as always.

  “We really should!” I agreed. Jenny bounced up and down in her chair excited and released a little squeal of joy.

  “Duke’s!” Anne decided giddily. I felt the smile leave my face and both girls looked at me with realization. Only Hunter remained oblivious.

  “Am I invited or is it a girls’ night only?” he asked politely.

  “Of course you are!” Jenny said fast. I often wondered if she liked him more than she let on. Hunter looked to me still for my approval, which I found very sweet and thoughtful.

  “Of course.” I smiled through clenched teeth, trying to be encouraging, although I wanted to scream no.

  “Awesome, I love Duke’s.” Hunter nodded. Great, seeing Axel again sounded like a horrible idea but now I was stuck, unless I confessed and told Hunter all about my questionable life choices as of late, which I had no intention of ever doing. I glared at both Anne and Jenny when Hunter wasn’t looking, angry at the situation they had thrown me into.

  “How about we go get some grub now?” Anne asked. “I’m starved,” she announced, rubbing her stomach. We all decided food sounded good and it was a plan.

  “I’ll drive!” Hunter offered graciously. We hopped into his silver Benz and he drove us into town to a popular pizza joint. It was pretty crowded but there were still a few tables free. The young waitress sat us and we ordered a large all dressed pizza for us to split right away. I thought about Axel and how if it was me and him, the waitress would have ogled him and flirted shamelessly but with Hunter, she didn’t even give him a second glance, it was nice.

  I gazed around the room, eyeing the decor and people watching, one of my favorite pastimes, when my eyes came across a head of soft looking dirty blond hair. I froze, there was Axel, looking beautiful as always, with a tiny blonde with big curly hair, sharing a pizza. Any doubts I’d had about whether we may have been more and whether he felt it too vanished. This was the hardcore proof I needed before my eyes.

  As if feeling my eyes on his back, Axel looked over his shoulder and his eyes locked on mine instantaneously. I wondered if I looked as shocked as he did to see me, while with his guest. He looked at me and to the pretty blonde and then back to me, guilt sketched across his face. I looked away and tried to focus on whatever it was Hunter was trying to say to me. Axel and
his friend finished and got up, leaving. Not even a minute later my cell started vibrating. I quickly read the message.

  Hey, I was just catching up with a friend but would you like to get together now or tonight?

  I felt my blood boil, did he actually think that I’d want to see him after witnessing him with his other side piece. It didn’t take him long to find someone else to warm his bed and take out. How had I been so stupid, thinking I was something special? I couldn’t believe I hadn’t learned anything after what happened between Chris and I.

  “You okay Leah?” Hunter asked, putting his hand on my arm caringly, I nodded slowly.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, putting my phone away. Screw you, Axel. Seeing him with the blonde had cemented all my convictions that we’d never work. I had a nice guy on my arm and I was going to make this work and Axel would see he wasn’t the only one seeing other people tomorrow.

  “So, tomorrow night I’ll pick you up at nine?” Hunter asked, smiling into my eyes and grounding me once more.

  “You sure you want to drive?” I asked, shocked, Chris would never have offered.

  “Yeah, I don’t mind being the designated driver, then you and your girls can relax and have fun and I can stay by your side all night,” he admitted making my heart speed up ever-so-slightly, Hunter was too cute sometimes.

  “That’s really sweet.” I smiled. “Nine is great, thanks.” I was nervous for tomorrow night, for seeing Axel but the plans were set now. There was no getting out of it.

  Axel

  I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS going on with Leah. Before I had left for Germany, everything between us had been great, amazing even. And then when I got back, we had an incredible night together and after that, it was like none of it had ever happened. She was done. Maybe we hadn’t been on the same page, maybe she was over me. Maybe she’d just been using me to have sex all along. But we’d come so far, I could tell she felt things too. When I saw her at the pizza parlour with her two friends and some guy I’d never seen before, I was shocked. Leah was clearly fine and her phone was working. It confirmed what I was in denial about; that she had just been ignoring me and didn’t want to see me. It hurt so much to see her out and about with her friends enjoying herself, when I’d been going crazy trying to get a hold of her, worrying about her and missing her. She didn’t care about the havoc she’d been wreaking on my emotions, while she pushed me away. I left with Ruby and messaged Leah as we walked to my car.

  “Is that the girl you are all gaga over?” Ruby asked, one eyebrow hitched up in suspicion.

  “Yeah, the brunette,” I said, unhappy with the outcome of my lunch now.

  “She is pretty hot,” Ruby stated, grating on my nerves. Leah was insanely fucking hot and clearly not into me.

  “Did you see the look on her face when she saw us together?” Ruby cringed.

  “Look?” No, I’d been too busy focusing on the fact that she looked amazing and was out with her friends and a guy had his arm around her back. Who was that fucker? “What are you talking about?” I asked with more frustration than I’d intended.

  “Dude, she looked at me and then back at you like three times, like she was in shock. I think she thinks we’re a thing,” Ruby concluded.

  “Shit fucking balls,” I cursed, slamming my hands down on the steering wheel.

  “We have to get back to work now, before we’re late,” Ruby stated, ignoring my little tantrum.

  “Ugh,” I sighed and reversed my car out of the lot. All I’d planned to do was go out for a nice lunch with one of my friends and co-worker and it had completely blown up in my face.

  “Ruby, what do I do now?” I asked, feeling pretty helpless at the moment. She looked me over for a long time and then answered.

  “From everything you told me over lunch, I don’t think you should do anything more. You’re getting kind of clingy,” she told me bluntly.

  “So, I let her believe I’m seeing someone else and we’re over?” I nearly shouted at the stupidity of her thinking.

  “No, just wait for her to come to you.” Ruby shrugged like it was simple.

  “And what if she doesn’t?” I questioned, getting tired of her useless advice.

  “Axel, she will. I saw how she looked at you, she’s into you. Really into you and she’ll come to you,” she said, making my spiked blood pressure lower a little.

  “But if she doesn’t?” I asked, my voice hitching ever-so-slightly.

  “At least loosen up for a few days, you don’t want to be some crazy guy harassing her,” she warned, I took that to heart. No, I’d never been like this before and I didn’t want to come off like that.

  “Okay,” I agreed, defeated.

  “Loosen up, she’ll come around.” Ruby nudged my shoulder with her fist. I merely nodded, not feeling the most agreeable.

  Work passed by in a blur. I ignored the girls hitting on me and pushed away Ashley’s advances all night. People milled in all night and all of their faces seemed to just mesh together. All I could think about was Leah and what Ruby had said. Leah ignored my messages yet again and it was eating away at me. I had to be patient and try not to scare her away for good, I told myself. The next night started off much like the previous.

  “Bro, turn that frown upside down,” Julian chided me, as we stood at the doors. “You need to get out and stop thinking about this chick that has got you so bent out of shape and twisted,” he continued. “Tomorrow Ronnie is having a poker game. Come, relax and have a good time like you used to. Before this girl turned your world upside down,” he said. Julian was right, before Leah everything was good, fun, and easy. I needed to go back to that. It was just so hard because although things were hard and sometimes stressful, everything was amazing when I was with her. The only real issue that we had was that we never solidified our relationship, I had agreed to that and now it was biting me in the ass. I knew I should have stood my ground when she made the proposition or have said something sooner. That was on me.

  “Yeah man, I’ll be there,” I agreed, needing to have some fun and distraction from the mess at hand.

  “Speaking of the little devil herself,” Julian said, his eyes widening and mouth opening. I turned to see what he was talking about and found my eyes widening and jaw-dropping as well. There Leah stood, in a pair of strappy heels and a sexy red mini dress. Her hair was down and loose in a cascade of soft curls and her lips were a bright ruby red to match her dress. She was stunning, a true sight to behold.

  “I get why she’s got you so worked up,” Julian stated, ogling her body. I elbowed him hard in the ribs, getting him to stop checking out my girl. “Not cool bro,” he groaned, rubbing his side.

  Leah was with her two friends Anne and Jenny, and the mysterious guy from the pizza parlour. The guy was taller than all the girls but still at least seven inches shorter than me. He looked younger too, like he was close to Leah’s age. I didn’t like him and the way he kept looking at Leah. Like he was in love with her, like they were a thing. She’s mine, I thought possessively. I wanted to yell in his face as they approached and he put his arm around her waist and whispered into her ear, I nearly lost it right there.

  “Chill out bro,” Julian whispered as they reached us. I continued to stare harshly at Leah and the guy anchored around her slim waist.

  “Hey Leah.” I smiled, trying to hide the hurt. “Ladies, nice to see you.” I nodded, purposely ignoring the guy. They all smiled politely but I could tell they all felt the awkward tension, everyone but clueless Handsy McGee. I waved them in, feeling so stuck and not knowing what to do. “I’ll catch up with you later Leah,” I said pointedly to the guy, as he looked me up and down, sizing me up. Yep buddy, don’t even think it. It won’t end well. The guy stood no chance next to me. Leah looked at me and then the guy, clearly uncomfortable by the whole situation and gave me a small nod and continued in. What did she expect from me? I had controlled myself. Did she think it was okay to ignore me and then bring a date to my place o
f work and rub it in my face? Did she think I’d be okay with that? Because I sure as hell wasn’t. I was jealous as all hell and pissed.

  The minutes went by agonizingly slow as I waited for the lines to let up and catch a break to go see Leah. I didn’t want Mr. Hands-A-Lot to be touching her all night, I needed to get to her and talk things out.

  “I’ll be back,” I told Julian as I headed in finally, to go find Leah. I found her bright red dress easily and walked up to her long sexy legs. The guy with them stiffened upon seeing me and put his arm around her shoulders. Leah looked up at that and saw me coming, her calm expression turned to pain and I hated it. What had gone so wrong between us?

  “Leah can we talk for a bit?” I asked, ignoring all the looks from her friends. The guy went to step forward and I was so close to knocking him the fuck out but Leah held him back and with a small sorry to the guy, she followed me outside to the cold refreshing air. We stood there staring at each other in silence for a few moments.

  “Are you on a date?” I barked out, out of nowhere, surprising the both of us. So much for keeping my cool. The blood rose to her cheeks, turning them pink but she looked angry now.

  “So, what if I am?” she asked challengingly. I was dumbfounded, I’d never seen this side of her and I didn’t like it. Leah had never been anything but kind and sweet, she was a gentle girl, not angry. “It’s not like I didn’t catch you on a date yesterday!” she shot back. I knew she had a fiery side in bed, it was clearly the same when she was angry too.

  “It wasn’t a date!” I defended. “She’s just a friend, she’s one of my co-workers here, and we were just having lunch before our shift started,” I tried to explain but she just rolled her eyes unbelieving.

  “Sure Axel. I’ve never seen her here before,” Leah continued, disbelieving.