Modern Girl's Guide to One-Night Stands

by DRAYER, GINA

  “Just like you, I need to focus. This gallery show is important to me. It’s the first major show I’ve ever done.”

  “I know you need to focus, but you’ve been killing yourself. Honey, when was the last time you went out? Had a date with a guy? Seen another person socially besides me?”

  The last time? Julia remembered that crazy, spur of the moment one-night stand she’d had months ago. She wondered where Simon, her sexy stranger, was now. There were times she regretted slipping out of the room before he woke up, but it was better for both of them. She wasn’t that woman he met at the bar. Julia didn’t even know who that woman was. That woman was bold and daring. No, she couldn’t face Simon the next day and let him see the real her. The quiet girl everyone overlooked. The woman who let her fiancé dictate her life.

  “Julia?” Megan snapped her fingers. “My God, you’ve lost the ability to socialize. This has officially turned into an intervention. You are coming,” she said with finality. “We always throw a big party over Fourth of July. My brother always brings a couple of his hot friends up for a weekend or two. We need to get you back on the horse, if you know what I mean.”

  Julia was about to protest again when the waitress approached the table. After placing their orders, she tried to end the conversation by giving Megan a little hope. “You might be right. I’ll see if I can shift some things around and maybe come up for a week."

  “Great. We’ll leave in two weeks. Isn’t your last class Friday? That should give you some time to get things ready.” Megan drummed her fingers on the table, staring off into space. “I’ll call and see if the guys want to join us over the long weekend to celebrate the start of summer. We could take the sailboat out. It will be nice to have help preparing for the Fourth of July party. I should be done with my work by the first week of August, so we’ll have a couple weeks to do nothing before we have to come back for the fall semester. This is going to be great.”

  “I said I’d try to work in a week, not the whole summer. I really want to focus on my photography. The gallery only agreed to have a show if I had some new pieces.”

  “Then spend the summer at the lake. The views from the house are spectacular. Didn’t you say you wanted to do some nature shots? You can spend your day shooting while I write, and it will be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of. This new series is giving me fits."

  And Megan was off. She spent the rest of the lunch talking about her writing. By the time they were finished eating, Julia knew more about Megan’s fictional character than she ever wanted to know, but at least she’d stopped pressuring her to come.

  As they said their goodbyes, Megan grabbed her in a big hug. “Please, come to the lake with me. It will be fun.”

  “I said I’ll try, and I will. I’ve got a class tonight. We’re doing a special seminar on night photography, so I’m going to have to miss out on our usual Friday night drinks for the next two weeks.”

  “If you must,” Megan said and frowned. “I guess I’ll have to settle for a three-way with my good friends Captain Morgan and Jack.”

  “Just be sure to use protection,” Julia said and left some money on the table. She gave Megan a hug goodbye and grabbed her backpack. She would have loved to spend the summer enjoying the lake with Megan, but she couldn’t. While she’d been with Luke, Julia had let go of her dream of being a photographer. Sure, she taught photography at a small liberal arts college, but it wasn’t the same. So if she wanted to follow her dreams, Julia needed to focus on her art photography, or no one would take her seriously.

  Before she headed back to set up for her final class, Julia decided to do something nice for herself. She caught a cab to the Cypress Boutique downtown. The trendy designer boutique was one of her favorite places to shop. It was pricey, and since Julia now had to be conscious of her spending, she hadn’t been there in months. Back when they were still a couple, Luke preferred she dress in designer clothes to show off his status. It wasn’t that he dictated what she wore. It was just, after several years of being together, Julia found it easier to buy what he liked and not have to endure his subtle jabs at her attire.

  God, Luke really was an asshole. Why had it taken her so long to notice?

  A soft electronic chime sounded as she entered the store, and Julia was greeted by a slim, well-dressed woman before she was even past the security readers.

  “Good afternoon. Is there something I can help you find? Our summer collection is out and we have some stunning peasant dresses from designer Paul Lupo.”

  She loved Lupo’s bold colors and simple lines. She was here to splurge, just not that much.

  “I need to pick up another bottle of Serenity lotion. Do you still keep it in the back?”

  “Yes. Right this way.” The saleswoman showed her to the back of the store, visibly disappointed because Julia wasn’t the big commission she was hoping for. "Just let me know if you need me to start a dressing room for you.”

  The insanely expensive Serenity lotion was one indulgence she still allowed herself. There was something about the fresh, simple smell of vanilla with just the hint of sandalwood that made her feel sexy. At eighty dollars a bottle, Julia used it sparingly. She’d managed to keep her last bottle around for two months, but yesterday she scraped out the last bit.

  Julia glanced longingly at the display of bright summer dresses and sighed. She was determined to live off her teaching salary alone and keep the trust fund she had from her father’s estate untouched, and designer dresses weren’t in her budget. But a pricey bottle of lotion was a splurge she could live with. Checking over the display of Serenity bath products, she noticed some new items, and she spent a few moments testing samples and checking new scents. But as usual, Julia decided to stick with her favorite. She went to the register, but before the salesgirl could help her, another woman came out of the dressing room and snared the poor girl.

  “None of those will do,” the woman said, shoving a mound of rejected dresses at the clerk. “I liked the red skirt, but find me another top. The print you picked is horrid."

  From the sounds of it, this was going to take a while. Julia hoped the woman would let her check out before sending the salesclerk all over the store. But it wasn’t likely. Julia was well acquainted with her type. She was straight out of central casting: rich and privileged; expecting the world to cater to her every desire.

  She turned around and tried to catch a glimpse of the woman, and was shocked to see Luke sitting in one of the dressing room chairs texting while a tall blond was pointing to the racks of peasant dresses.

  It had been just a matter of time before she’d run into Luke, but she hadn’t been prepared to see him with another woman. She set the bottle on the counter and turned to make a speedy exit when the other salesclerk stepped in front of her.

  “Is this all you need today?”

  Luke looked up from his phone and their eyes met. Well, fuck. So much for escaping unnoticed. She turned back to the clerk and fished out her credit card.

  “That’s all. Thanks.” Julia ducked her head low and counted the seconds as the clerk wrapped the glass bottle and placed it in a bag.

  “$93.17,” she announced.

  Julia waved the card in her direction, willing the woman to move faster. If she could just get her package and go, that would be great.

  The clerk swiped the card. Then swiped it again. “Claudette, the reader isn’t picking up the cards again. What am I supposed to do?”

  The woman helping Luke’s busty blond excused herself and came over to the register. They quietly conferred over the equipment while Julia stood there holding her breath. Maybe he didn’t want to speak with her. He didn’t call once after their breakup. Maybe the sight of her made him just as uncomfortable.

  “Julia?”

  So much for that theory. Julia took several deep breaths, plastered a big smile on her face, and turned around. “Luke.”

  “I thought that was you. You’re looking well. I was hoping
to hear from you soon. We haven’t spoken in ages.”

  Five and a half months to be exact, not that she was counting. “No, we haven’t,” she said coolly.

  “You look well,” he said as he looked her over head to toe. “You remember Kitty McCormick. She’s Bridget’s sister.” He introduced the blond.

  Yes, Julia remembered the woman. Kitty was one of “The Pack,” as Megan deemed them. They were a group of society women who controlled the social calendar of Chicago. One of the women from that small clique was involved with every political gala, social gathering, and fundraising event within seventy miles of Chicago.

  She turned and plastered a smile on her face. “Julia Hopkins, nice to see you again.” She’d introduced herself purely out of years of forced edict from her grandmother. It would have been a pleasure to ignore the woman and just leave the store.

  “Hmm. Hopkins. That sounds familiar. Are you from the east coast?”

  Kitty knew exactly who Julia was. It was just her underhanded way to point out that she wasn’t part of their social class anymore.

  Family names were the way society women classified each other. With just a last name and location she’d be able to categorize Julia in one of three boxes: a peer, a better, or someone not worth her time. Julia was done playing those games, and she didn’t bite.

  “No,” was all Julia said, and turned back to Luke, dismissing Kitty outright. “To be honest, I’m surprised to see you in Chicago. How was your move to London?”

  Luke chuckled, as though they’d just shared a private joke. “Well, like most things in business, it was a bit more complicated that we initially thought. There were some issues with the winning bid for the new hub. The company didn't have all the permits for what we needed, so we’re back to bidding out the contracts. I’m going to be at the Chicago office for a little while longer.”

  Luke spent the next few minutes detailing the problems he’d been having, as if she cared. Julia smiled and nodded, all the while eying the women working the register.

  “Poor Lu and his business problems,” Kitty said and looped her arm through Luke’s.

  He cringed, before returning his features to normal. Julia wondered if his reaction was due to her physical contact or the use of a pet name. Having known him for years, Julia would bet it was the name.

  “When I heard he was back in town, I thought it was just my luck,” Kitty went on, even though no one was paying her any attention. “I asked him to escort me to the Widows and Orphans fundraiser this Memorial weekend. Since he’s unattached now.”

  Her not-so-subtle jab hurt. Julia didn’t know how Luke had spun their broken engagement. She didn’t read the society page or have any contact with people who ran in that circle, outside of Megan. But even though she was a senator's daughter, Megan could care less about that world. It was one of the many reasons Julia loved her.

  “I apologize for the inconvenience,” the clerk said after she finally reset the computer and handed Julia her card back.

  She almost hugged the woman for her interruption. “It wasn’t a problem,” Julia assured her. She shoved the card back in her purse and grabbed her purchase. "It was nice talking with you Luke. Kitty.” She turned and left the shop, but much to her horror, Luke followed her out the door.

  “Julia, wait.” He reached out and grabbed her arm before she could hail a cab. “You are coming to the fundraiser, right?" he asked.

  “No,” Julia said with a laugh. Outside of the fact she didn’t have an invitation, that was his world not hers, and she had no desire to go back there. "I can’t make it.”

  He must have guessed she wasn’t on the invitation list, because he pulled out his wallet. “I have an extra. Please come. I know how much you loved these type of events.” He shoved the ticket in her direction. “I’d love to see you there.”

  She shook her head and sighed. “Luke, I hated those events. I went because you asked me to attend, and I liked that the money went to charity. I don’t want your ticket.” She pushed his hand back and turned toward the road looking for a cab.

  “I know you’re still mad. But I think this separation was good for us. It’s given us both time to think about our relationship. Things just haven't been the same without you. Maybe if you come to the fundraiser, we could spend some time together. Reconnect.” He smiled, his deep dimples showing.

  She used to love those dimples, but now they only reminded her of just how charming he was—with all the women. “Luke, we’re not separated. I broke off the engagement. Did you even read the letter I left? How can you even think I’d take you back after what you did?”

  All the anger and hurt she’d dealt with these last few months came back in a flood. She should have torn him a new one, but instead, Julia took the coward’s way out. She took a deep breath as a taxi pulled to the curb, and made a decision.

  “I appreciate the offer, but when I said I couldn’t make it, I meant I was going to be out of town. I’m spending my summer break with a friend. I leave on Friday."

  “Oh,” he said and shoved the ticket back in his pocket. “Well, have a safe trip. Perhaps we can talk when you get back."

  “Goodbye, Luke.”

  Julia slipped into the back of the taxi and collapsed on the seat. The driver asked for her destination, but Julia ignored the question, silently watching Luke go back inside. She saw him through the plate-glass window, trying to soothe Kitty’s obvious anger. She’d been worried about running into him all this time. But after seeing him, Julia realized she was done with that life for good.

  She turned back to the driver and gave him the address to the school. After they’d pulled into traffic, Julia dialed Megan.

  “Talk dirty to me.”

  “Can’t you answer the phone like a normal person?”

  “I love it when you get all prissy on me,” Megan laughed. “What can I do for you? I’m hip-deep in grading, and then I need to start packing.”

  “That’s kind of why I called. You didn’t rent out that room at the lake, did you?”

  The last few months had been tough. Simon had always known that integrating the two companies wouldn’t be easy, but he never imagined the headaches they’d face. The Parker Agency’s entire process was completely different from theirs and trying to get the two teams to work together on mixed-media marketing packages was proving to be impossible.

  For all their success, Millennial Marketing was their own worst enemy. When they’d started the internet-based marketing firm, Peter and he had searched out dynamic, enthusiastic staff who were passionate about the potential for online marketing. And it was some of those same people he was having problems with now. He couldn’t get his staff to buy into the concept that print marketing was still valid. And the people from the Parker Agency were in revolt against their internet-focused marketing plans.

  Fuck. He felt like he was an elementary school teacher trying to prevent playground squabbles, not the CEO of one of the fastest-growing marketing firms in North America.

  Simon’s cell phone rang, pulling him out of his pity party, and when he picked up his tone was just as sour as his thoughts. “What?”

  The irritated voice of his younger sister, Megan, sounded through his earpiece. “Gosh, I miss you too, big brother.”

  “Sorry, Meg. I’m in the middle of something. What do you need?”

  “God, now you sound like Dad. ‘I’m in the middle of something,’” she said in a gruff, mocking voice. “Can’t I just call to chat with my favorite brother?”

  Simon sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Christ, he needed a haircut. He’d put it on his never-ending To Do list, but doubted it would happen anytime soon. These days he was lucky if he remembered to eat. “Sorry, sweetie. Of course you can call me. What's on your mind?”

  “Well since the Memorial Day holiday is coming up, I thought you and Peter might like to come out to the lake with me. I’m going to be staying there for most of the summer and thought we could give the ol
d house a proper opening.”

  “I’d love to, really, but with this merger, I can’t get away. Even with the holiday. But I promise to be there for the Fourth as always."

  “Simon. It’s just one weekend. I know your office is going to be closed. Please. You remember my friend who was staying with me? The one who dumped her awful fiancé? Well she’s going to be staying with me and I thought, maybe…”

  “Meg, I’m not going to drop everything so you can arrange a blind date.”

  “You owe me. Do I have to remind you about all the times I’d invite ‘friends’ over so you could get lucky when we were growing up? I really hated some of those girls, but I did it because you asked.”

  “This isn’t high school and we’re not teenagers anymore. If you want to fix up your friend that’s fine, but I’m not going to drive to Michigan so you can arrange a booty call. You need to grow up.”

  There was a long silence over the phone. Simon regretted his words almost immediately. She was right—he was sounding more and more like their father.

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to interrupt your busy life. Bye, Simon.”

  “Fuck, Meg…” But it was too late. She’d already hung up the phone. Simon was about to call her back when Peter walked into his office.

  “Hey, so Megan sent me an email this morning inviting us to the lake house for the weekend. We are going, right? I’ve missed the old place, and it would be nice to take a break. To be honest, if I don’t get out of this office I’m going to lose my shit.”

  Simon looked down at his phone and over to the stack of concept art and proofs on his desk. He could always work on them out at the lake. “Yeah, we’re going.”

  “Great. I’ll just wrap things up here and we should be all set for the weekend.”

  “Sounds good.” Simon picked up his phone and sent a quick text message to Megan.

  Simon: Be there early Saturday morning.

  It only took a few minutes for a reply. Megan: Best Brother EVER! XOXO