I need to lighten the moment, so I say "Hard to chase someone down when you can’t shout out their name huh?"
He gives me a small smile. "Can I ask for your name? Maybe your number?"
I want to say yes, but the reasonable part of my brain knows better. This guy is much older than me. Plus he's very attractive and charming. He probably is with a new girl every week. Not to mention I don't even know where things stand with Brian.
Instead of answering, I go up on my tiptoes and give him a small kiss on his lips. When I pull away, I whisper "Thanks for a great birthday."
His eyes look disappointed, but he just gives me a small nod letting me know he respects my decision even if he doesn't want to.
I turn away and walk out of the bar. I release a big breath when I get outside and I know it's going to be hard to forget about my mysterious birthday man, but now it's time to get back to reality.
Chapter 1
6 Weeks Later
???
"So how's living together going?" Ally says through the phone as I am folding laundry in my bedroom.
"Fine. It's not like we made a huge commitment to each other or anything. My lease was just up, and he offered to let me stay with him to save money so I can pay for my final classes in cash instead of taking out a loan."
I am folding my shirts when I see Brian's underwear in with my clothes. At least I am doing my part around the place since he is letting me live here basically rent free. I’m washing his underwear, doing the dishes, cleaning the toilet. Ugh, are all college boys this slobby?
I lay the phone on the bed and put it on speaker so I have both of my hands to fold the laundry. "Besides I am paying all the utilities, so he is getting some benefit out of it too."
Ally laughs "Ha! You’re right. I am sure you being in his bed every night wasn't the main motivation at all." I laugh back at her joke, but honestly, Brian and I haven't been that intimate since my birthday. The most we’ve done since my birthday is kiss each other hello or goodbye.
When I got home the night of my birthday, Brian was sitting in my living room with a worried look on his face. I walked in the house and screamed when I saw him sitting on the couch in the dark. I wasn't expecting him to be there.
"Brian!” I grab at my chest trying to calm myself down. “What are you doing here?"
He stands from the couch and walks over toward me.
"Where have you been? I have been trying to call you all night."
I glance at my phone, which I just turned back on, and see his missed calls.
"Sorry, I didn't have my phone on."
"That's it? You didn't have your phone on? I have been so worried about you!”
"You've been worried about me?” I scoff. “Oh I’m sorry! I kind of thought completely ignoring your girlfriend on her birthday while most likely spending time with your ex girlfriend means you don't need to worry anymore."
Brian shakes his head and wipes a hand down his face. "I'm sorry."
I just stare at him for a second. I wasn't expecting just a flat out apology. Usually there are always excuses that follow when we make up from a fight.
"I know I shouldn't have left last night and I meant to call you this morning, but work was super busy and I was trying to get everything done so we could go out tonight."
Guilt washes over me suddenly about kissing Dean. I thought me and Brian had broken up, but I should have talked to Brian before I was intimate with another man, but then a thought hits me.
"We were supposed to go out at 7. I waited until 7:30 and you still hadn't called or texted me the whole day. I thought you weren't showing."
He looks down at the ground. "I know. I'm sorry. I was dumb. I was just running late and I was still upset. I should have called." He pauses a moment and then looks up into my eyes "Are we okay?"
Are we okay? I am still a little drunk and I don't know if I am making the right decision, but I don't think missing a birthday is worth throwing away a whole relationship over, so I just nod my head and say "Yeah, we're okay."
I am snapped out of my memory as I hear a loud clunking sound coming from the kitche