One Night Stand

by Corina Eichholz

“Well, she works here on Thursdays and Sundays, you’ve never come on those nights,” I continued to explain.

  “Don’t lie to me, Axel. I know all about you and what you do and how you treat women,” she said, angry now. What the fuck? “At least I was honest from the beginning of our relationship but you just lied to me and played me for a fool,” she continued loudly. I was in shock and not following.

  “Leah, I was never playing you. And Ruby, the girl from yesterday, really is just a friend,” I told her honestly but it was clear she didn’t believe a word from my mouth.

  She shook her head. “Axel, I was warned about you and heard enough while you were away. I know we were never official and we never spoke about being exclusive. I was stupid enough to think it was a given,” she said, confusing the hell out of me but making me thankful she’d been exclusive to me as well. “But to learn you’ve been sleeping with God knows how many women, one of whom is a good friend of mine, at the same time as me!” She cried, “That’s not okay with me, if you had at least been upfront about it with me, but you hid it and played me for a fool.” I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about or who.

  “I wasn’t seeing anyone else, only you!” I promised but she just shook her head in disbelief. “It’s fine Axel; I know the truth now and I’ve moved on. I met a guy who actually really likes me and just me. Hunter’s a good guy and I’m going to give this a shot. You can continue doing what you do. I made a mistake coming here tonight,” she finished and turned on her heels, leaving me out in the cold still reeling from all her words.

  What was she talking about? What friend? She was dating this Hunter guy now? I was stunned and I didn’t know what to do or how to react to all this. I turned to go after her, knowing I had to do something and I’d figure it out as soon as I saw her. But when I found Leah, she was heading towards the parking lot with Hunter. I was too late.

  “DO YOU WANT TO TALK about it?” Hunter asked finally, breaking the awkward silence as he drove me home in his car. Jenny and Anne had decided to stay at Duke’s but I had needed to leave after the encounter with Axel. My stomach was in a jumble of knots.

  “Not really,” I answered, feeling awful. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” I started, not knowing how to continue.

  “You were fucking Axel,” Hunter said harshly, shocking me. I hadn’t expected Hunter to use such crude language and it caught me off-guard. I felt my throat constrict and nodded at a loss for words.

  “Is it over?” he asked, his voice a little less harsh now.

  “Yes,” I answered, my voice small.

  “Okay good,” he said and took my hand in his, holding it tight. “I don’t care about your past, I just care about you and me and our future together,” he said sweetly. “I really like you,” he continued in a quieter voice.

  “I like you too,” I told him.

  “Well then, that’s all that matters to me.” He smiled, pulling up to my building. “This is your stop.”

  “Would you like to come up?” I asked, feeling bold.

  “I’d like to but not tonight. Not when you’ve had an upsetting night and a few too many drinks. Another time,” he said, surprising me again tonight.

  “Okay,” I answered, shocked and feeling slightly embarrassed.

  “Have a good night,” he said, not making any movement to kiss me or get out and walk me to the door. Axel would have done both and the fact that Hunter didn’t made me disappointed.

  “Night,” I replied and hopped out of his car and walked up to my apartment. I went to bed feeling knots in my stomach because Axel had lied to my face. Plus, I was still in love with him and not Hunter, even after everything and it all still hurt so much.

  Three weeks had gone by since I’d seen Axel. I deleted all my social media accounts so I wouldn’t have to see his posts, but still his beautiful face was etched into my memory and the pictures I had drawn of him. I’d taken to drawing his enchanting eyes once again, never doing them the justice they deserved.

  Hunter and I had decided to make it official. It seemed funny to think that he was my first official boyfriend since Chris, who felt like a lifetime ago! I wasn’t the same person I was when I was dating Chris, I felt like I’d grown so much since then. After everything with Axel, it was nice to be official. It made me hopeful that this ache in my chest with the loss of Axel would one day be a distant memory as well, that maybe I actually would be able to move on. I’d moved on from Chris after all and I’d been with Chris a lot longer than I’d been with Axel. I’d been trying desperately to move on from Axel. I’d gone as far as agreeing to be Hunter’s girlfriend in hopes that if I faked being over Axel long enough that I’d actually get over him.

  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Hunter was extremely thoughtful and very cute but there was no spark, no passion, and no chemistry for me. Whereas with Axel, everything was electric, the passion burned so bright sometimes I felt like it would consume me. I feared I’d never have that with someone again. Give it time, I continued to tell myself. Hunter was honestly a good guy and he still hadn’t made any sexual advances beyond a quick make-out session, which I found both sweet and extremely frustrating. It had been almost a month since I’d last been with Axel, that amazing night and I needed to get some action, I was going crazy. I needed my last sexual encounter not to be a memory of Axel. I’d tried to seduce Hunter and he had politely said he wanted to wait and make it special, that he didn’t want to date me just for the sex and that I was worth waiting for. I’d never heard something so sweet and couldn’t bear to bring myself to tell him, to just take me and I didn’t care about waiting. I didn’t want him to think I was a complete slut after knowing I’d been one of Axel’s many girls.

  “Can I come over tonight and make you dinner?” Hunter asked, as we sat in the library studying together. Since everything with Axel and dating Hunter, my grades had never been better. Hunter was very studious, so often we just hung out and studied together for our dates.

  “That’s really sweet but I’m actually going home for dinner tonight.” I smiled apologetically.

  “Oh,” he said, his smile vanishing. “Can I come?” he asked, making me choke. That was not something that was going to happen.

  “Meet my parents?” I choked out, mind boggled.

  “Yeah, I should probably meet them soon,” he said like I was being the crazy one.

  “I don’t think tonight’s the best night,” I said simply. I was getting very uncomfortable.

  “Why not?” he asked, sounding upset now.

  “I’m not ready for that yet, we’ve only been officially dating for like two weeks. I think it’s a bit too soon for the whole ‘meet the family’ thing,” I told him honestly, feeling awkward. He looked taken aback by that and I suddenly felt guilty.

  “Oh, okay then,” he said and moved his chair a little farther away, clearly upset with me. The tension in the air grew thick and I was about to apologize when Hunter scraped his chair back across the floor abruptly.

  “I’m done with my paper. Have a good night with your parents, I’ll see you Monday,” he said, gathering up his books and papers. He kissed me lightly on the head, leaving me like that. It was both different than with Chris, where he wanted nothing to do with my family, and Axel where he let me have my space and time without getting frustrated. I was irritated that Hunter was being so pushy.

  “Have a good weekend,” I replied but Hunter was already walking away. My stomach knotted up feeling anxious, I didn’t think I was being out of line. I just thought it was too soon. I didn’t want to involve my family and introduce them to a boyfriend unless it was serious and I thought the relationship would last. I didn’t see that with Hunter, yet. I hoped he’d get over it and our first argument would blow over by Monday.

  “Leah Hon, how’s school going?” Mom asked during our family dinner.

  “Really good, I think I’ll make the Dean’s list this semester,” I told them happily. I was secretly a bit of a nerd and
loved being a good student, I was proud of my grades.

  “That’s great, dear.” Dad smiled, proud as usual.

  “And how’s this Hunter boy?” Mom asked, a few days ago I’d casually mentioned I’d been dating him and she hadn’t let up since then. She was just hoping she’d get a son-in-law soon.

  “He’s fine,” I told her, not wanting to get into it.

  “When will you bring him over?” she continued.

  “It’s only been like two weeks!” I explained, repeating myself for the second time today.

  “You don’t want to scare him off,” Jackie chuckled. Mom’s face fell, clearly hurt.

  “No, it’s not that.” I told them.

  “Then what is it?” Mom asked, now concerned.

  “It just hasn’t been long, why bring him over if it’s still so new,” I explained.

  “Well, what does it matter how long you’ve been together. When you know, you know,” Mom said dreamily to Dad, as they shared a moment.

  “Well it’s nothing serious yet, if that changes, you’ll get to meet him,” I grunted, tired of the conversation. The table grew quiet around me.

  “Do you have any friends who need their makeup done for Valentine’s Day?” Jackie asked, saving us from the awkward silence and changing the subject, thankfully.

  “I don’t know, I can ask around,” I told her.

  “It’s only a week away,” she stated, surprising me. I hadn’t realized it was so close. Time was just flying by. “Try to get back to me soon; I want to get myself booked up. I need the cash,” she explained.

  “Okay, I will,” I promised. I was proud of her for putting herself out there and sticking to this. It was something she was great at.

  Ashley came over after dinner and no surprise, she and Jackie were going out.

  “How’s it hanging, Lee?” Ash asked, coming into my room to sit on my childhood bed while Jackie finished getting ready in her room.

  “Pretty good,” I said, as I folded some of the laundry I’d brought over.

  “I heard you have a new boyfriend!” she exclaimed, always one for the dramatics.

  “Yeah, Hunter,” I answered trying to sound excited as well.

  “So, everything’s really over between you and Axel?” she questioned, throwing me for a loop.

  “Yes, that ship sailed a long time ago,” I told her, emphasizing the word long. Her expression changed to relief and joy.

  “That’s good to hear, a good girl like you shouldn’t get messed around with a guy like him.” I knew she was just trying to be nice but I didn’t like what she was saying and wasn’t enjoying the conversation.

  Although Axel had hurt me, I’d calmed down since then and realized I really should have spoken to him and been clear on what I thought of our agreement and that we be exclusive, from the beginning, this wasn’t all on him. I’d never done this so it had been a little unfair of me to blow up on him like that, especially at his work. I’d just been so shocked and hurt that I’d snapped. Even though we were never official, it was sad to admit but Axel had been my best and healthiest relationship. Everything was better when we were together and I didn’t want to spoil all the memories and good times we had. I decided to turn the conversation over to her.

  “Any man in your life?” I asked.

  “A few but I really only have my eyes set on one.” She winked. I wondered if she’d been with Axel again, like I had but I wouldn’t dare ask, fearing the response I might get. God, I hoped she wasn’t seeing him.

  “I’m ready, ‘ho’.” Jackie announced, coming into my room.

  “Let’s get this show on the road,” Ash said, bouncing off of my bed, ready to get her night started with Jackie. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that things weren’t over between Ashley and Axel and it made my stomach turn.

  THE SMALL ARGUMENT BETWEEN HUNTER and I had blown over by Monday and he acted like the conversation had never happened, to my luck.

  “So, I was thinking Saturday, there’s this huge event at the Lounge Bar for Valentine’s Day and we could go together,” Hunter told me. A bar for Valentine’s Day? It didn’t sound very romantic to me but hey, it would be better than last year with Chris. All we’d done was chill in his room and I’d watched as he played his video games. So much fun. NOT!

  “Sounds like fun,” I lied. What I really wanted was some intimacy, hopefully that would come after the drinks.

  “Great, everyone will be there, it’s going to be a blast,” he said excitedly.

  “Cool,” I muttered, not too enthusiastically.

  “You guys are going to the Lounge for Valentine’s Day?” Anne asked, sitting down with us.

  “Yeah.” Hunter grinned.

  “Awesome, Jenny and I will be there. Everyone will be there.” Anne smiled brightly.

  “See.” Hunter smirked. I merely nodded, at least I’d get to see my friend and have that to look forward to.

  “Oh, you me and Jenny should all get ready together!” Anne exclaimed. “And then Hunter can pick us up.”

  “I’m actually planning on drinking but I can meet you ladies there and we can split a ride back together,” Hunter offered.

  “Sounds like a date.” Anne grinned and Hunter winked at me. I nodded, lost in their enthusiasm.

  Both Jenny and Anne had been thrilled by the idea of having Jackie do their makeup, so Jackie was coming to Jenny’s apartment before she continued on to the rest of her clients for the night.

  “Lee, you are not going out like that,” Jackie tsked, as she took in my appearance. She’d beautifully applied makeup to both Jenny and Anne and they looked utterly amazing. They looked at me disapprovingly. Jenny had gone with gold and orange on her eyes and bright red lips, whereas Anne had gone with a dark smoky eye and shiny nude lips. They were both gorgeous. I looked at myself with my natural low-key makeup and soft pink lips and felt pretty comfortable.

  “What’s wrong with this?” I asked pointing at my face.

  “Everything!” Jackie exclaimed, “If you were just going to school, I’d say fine but you’re going out on Valentine’s Day, at least try to put a little effort in!” she chided. Jackie motioned for me to sit in the empty chair in front of her and I did as she asked. “I only have fifteen minutes and then I have to run to my next client, so this will have to be fast,” she warned, I merely nodded my head.

  I didn’t ask her any questions as she went to work and started pulling out a huge eyeshadow palette, bronzer, blush, and contours. I trusted her and knew she would do a good job and make me look gorgeous. I had no idea what to expect and sat silently as she worked her magic.

  “You’re so lucky you got long lashes, I’ve always been jealous,” she admitted, as she layered on some mascara. I had never thought she’d been jealous of any part of me and it came as a surprise to me. “I got Dad’s short, stubby, little lashes.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled, still a little shocked.

  “Okay Little One, you’re done.” She grinned and held up a mirror, for me to see her handiwork. “And perfect timing, I got to run,” she said, hastily packing up her things and getting up. I stared at my reflection in the mirror in disbelief, I didn’t even look like me, I looked like one of those magazine cover fashion models.

  “Oh my God Jackie, I look amazing!” I exclaimed in utter shock. “Thank you so much!” I continued, still feeling surreal.

  “Yeah, thank you,” Jenny and Anne said in unison.

  “Anytime girls. You have my business card.” She smiled as she left to get to the rest of her clients.

  “We all look amazing!” I gushed, l admiring us in the mirror. We also, all looked completely different from each other. Jenny and Anne had chosen their own makeup looks but Jackie had picked out mine herself. Jackie had used pinks for me and had given me a pink smoky eye, that was accentuated with a black winged eyeliner and thick black eyelashes, giving me a very sweet and romantic look. She also contoured my face even more, defining my features and used bron
zer to warm up my face and just a bit of blush to make me look rosy. My lips were like bubble gum, a soft pink and ultra-glossy. I’d never looked so good.

  I put on a light pink, sweetheart fit and flare strapless dress and a pair of dusty rose strappy heels. Then I added some pearl studs in my ears and soft beachy waves in my hair and I was ready. We were all feeling pretty good about ourselves and it was clear even in our walk, how much more confident we all were. We arrived at the bar and Hunter messaged me that he was already there waiting with his friends. Anne spotted them first and we’d beelined to their table, happy they got there early and secured a table for us. The place was already packed and people were still cramming in.

  “Wow,” Hunter said, his mouth slightly open as he took in my appearance. I blushed under his gaze, loving the way he was looking at me. “You look great,” he got out.

  “Thanks.” I smiled, feeling pretty great myself.

  “Let me get you a drink,” he said and walked to the bar without waiting for an answer. I liked that he knew me enough by now, to know exactly what I’d want to drink. He might never be Axel but there were things I did like about this relationship. Hunter brought me back a pitcher of red sangria and himself a pitcher of rum and coke.

  “I figured I’d get us a pitcher, so we can steer clear of that long line for a while,” he told me setting our drinks down.

  “Thanks! That was a good idea,” I agreed, looking at the long line that had formed for the bar area. The DJ was playing some pretty decent music and I was having a good time just talking with my girls and Hunter with his friends, when I heard an all-too-familiar loud laugh ring through the bar. I’d heard that laugh so many times, I could pick it out of a crowd anywhere. I looked for the source and then clear as daylight, I found her laughing at something the bartender was saying.

  Chelsea. I hadn’t seen her or heard from her in months. Not since I found out about her and Chris and had kicked her out of my apartment. She hadn’t seen me and was too busy holding up the line and the bartender. I took my time to study her then, her hair had grown slightly and ran just past her shoulders and was styled sleek and straight. She wore a form fitting bright yellow mini-dress, catching everyone’s attention. I didn’t see anyone else in line with her and wondered if she’d come alone. I studied her face and she looked good, although I couldn’t see what lay behind all the makeup. My stomach twisted looking at her and I felt slightly nauseous with all the feelings she brought back. Someone said something behind her and she scowled and took her drink, letting the line move forward. I watched as she walked by our table. As she walked by, our eyes met but she kept walking until she stopped and did a double-take, recognizing that it was me. Her eyes got big like saucers and her mouth opened into a giant O. I looked away, not wanting to give her any invitation to come over. After a few seconds I glanced back to see her walking away, out of eyesight to the other side of the bar.