I attempted to hold my frustration back. The one time I really wanted to bitch about my mother, Zoey wouldn’t hear it. Zoey complained constantly about her parents. Her mother was always on her back to find someone and settle down. Zoey, on the other hand, wanted to live life on the edge. Her rare autoimmune disease had led her to live her life each day like it was her last. In a way, I envied her for that. I think almost dying last year had really thrown her for a loop.
I stopped and looked at Zoey. Before I could say anything, she opened her mouth.
“Listen, I’m not trying to be a bitch, Maddie,” She said. “I’m really not. But that party was two days ago. So your mother humiliated you and made you leave the party in tears. So you broke down in an elevator and cried. Who gives a shit? Next time, tell the bat off!”
I was about to respond when the announcer came on. Zoey put her finger up to my mouth and said, “Shh, hush up.”
I closed my eyes and prayed for strength. If she weren’t my friend, and sick, I’d have knocked the hell out of her.
“That’s my plane boarding! Gotta go! Have fun in London while I’m in Jamaica!” She quickly kissed me on the cheek and skipped off toward her plane. I watched her as she walked away. She had on tight jeans and a blouse that you could practically see through. Her body was to die for, not soft like mine. I could stand to drop about ten pounds, but Monica said it made me look sexy with the added curves.
I was about to turn around when Zoey yelled, “Maddie! No fish and chips. Your ass is already getting bigger.”
My mouth dropped open as she laughed and waved to me before disappearing into the crowd.
“Bitch,” I whispered before turning to head for my gate. I just wanted to get this stupid trip out of the way and get back home.
THE GUY SITTING next to me at the bar had been eying me for a while when he asked, “What do you do for a living sweetheart?”
I smiled and replied, “I’m an import manager.”
“Nice. What brings you to London?”
I laughed. “Chocolate.”
He took a sip of his beer and said, “Chocolate huh? I’m pretty sure you have chocolate in the States.”
I took a sip of my wine and nodded. “Our supplier asked me to come with them to London. We were trend shopping. I’m helping them with their packaging before visiting the factory we ship from.”
He looked at me like I’d just spoken in another language.
He was from the States, too, and the wedding ring on his finger wasn’t lost on me. He turned to me and said, “Listen, babe, do you want to come up to my room or what? This small talk is getting old.”
What?
I glanced at his ring before looking him in the eye. I smiled as I drank the last of my wine. Grabbing my purse, I slipped off the barstool and faced him.
“Why don’t you think about this for a bit?” I said. “You have a wife back home, maybe a child or two, but I sure hope not. What do you think your wife is doing while you’re sitting here trying to pick up a lay? I bet she’s taking care of your house, the bills, the kid, the dog…all that shit a wife does. If you’re not happy, leave her. Don’t fuck around behind her back you asshole.”
I turned and headed for the elevator.
I am so over men, I thought. They are nothing but pricks. No one will ever hold a candle to Cale. None of them.
Once in the elevator, I said a quick thanks to God that tonight was my last night in London. Three days in this town and I was ready to get back home. I hit the button for the tenth floor and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes.
“Wait! Hold the elevator.”
I know that voice. I was instantly taken back to two years ago, to a beach with the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen.
I opened my eyes just as the doors closed. I quickly reached for the button to open them again, but the elevator began moving up.
“No! No, no, no, no!” I yelled as I hit the button for the ground floor. The elevator continued to whisk me up to my floor. The doors opened and I hit the ground floor button again causing them to close as the elevator begin its descent to the ground floor.
“Hurry, you damn thing,” I shouted. The doors opened and I ran out of the elevator. I looked around frantically. Where is he? I know it was him. It was Cale. I know it!
I quickly walked over to the reception desk. The young lady working there looked up and smiled. “May I help you with something?”
“Do you have a Cale…?” Oh. My. God. I don’t know his last name. “Um, do you have anyone with the first name of Cale staying here?” I asked as anticipation sped through my veins. The front desk clerk looked at me like I was insane.
I know it was him. I’d know that voice anywhere.
She smiled politely and began typing. “I, um…let me see if I can…uh…” I looked at her with pleading eyes before she smiled and looked back down at the computer screen. “Hmm, I’m so sorry. There is not anyone with the first name of Cale staying at this hotel.”
My whole body sank with disappointment. I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Miss Powers? Are you okay?”
I opened my eyes and smiled, nodding. “Yes, I’m just…stuck in the past. Thank you for checking.”
She gave me a confused look before smiling the way people do when they feel sorry for you. Or think you’re a lunatic.
I headed back to the elevator. I needed to snap out of it. Why the hell would he be in England? I was never going to find him. Two years ago, I walked away from him, and now I had to live with that regret for the rest of my life.
I walked into the elevator and took in a deep breath. I could almost smell him.
“Jesus, Maddie. You seriously need to move on.” I said to myself. I pulled out my phone and sent Monica and Zoey a text.
Me: Hey, girls. Coming home tomorrow. I need to get wasted and find a guy. Anyone up for a night out tomorrow?
Zoey: Hell yeah I am! I know just the place to go!
Monica: I’m down for a little bit of fun. Does this mean you’re finally letting him go?
Zoey: Oh, the mystery man, Cale! Jesus Maddie. You need to get screwed and forget about him.
Me: Monica…yes and Zoey…I know. Tomorrow night is the night.
I PULLED THE covers over my head and sighed. “Oh mother eff-er. I’m never drinking again,” I whispered. Last night’s events hit me like a brick wall.
After getting back from London last night, I met with Monica and Zoey at a club. Zoey made me a bet that I wouldn’t ask a guy to dance. And not just dance, but dirty dance with him. I also had to make out with him before the night was over. Before I knew it, I was in the corner of the club with some guy feeling me up. I must have needed it, though. The feel of his erection grinding against me caused me to have a full-blown orgasm as he pushed against me and squeezed my breasts. When he whispered in my ear that he wanted to fuck me against the wall, I knew it had gone too far. I pushed him away, apologized for my behavior, and made my way back to Zoey and Monica who were sitting at the bar laughing.
My phone rang and I jumped. I reached for it and somehow managed to speak, even though my mouth felt like it was packed with cotton.
“Hello?”
“Why, good morning! Do you remember your orgasm last night?”
I rolled my eyes and let out a moan. “God, Zoey. Are you ever going to learn that if you dare me I’m gonna do it? It was a mistake, and I feel like a whore.”
She laughed. “Please. When was the last time you had an orgasm?”
I slowly sat up and leaned against my headboard as I tried to remember my last orgasm.
“Umm…”
“Yeah. See, if it takes you that long to think of the last time, you for sure needed it. Besides, he was hot and I’m kind of pissed that you got off as easily as you did.”
“Change of subject. I did my part, now you have to up hold your end of the bargain.”
I slowly dragged my ass out of bed and dragged my feet along the floor a
s I made my way to my bathroom.
“What was it again?” Zoey asked with a chortle.
“I believe I said you had to find a guy and date him for a month straight. No one else. Just him.”
“That’s right. Has my mother been talking to you? She has been on my ass lately.”
I smiled as I hit the speakerphone button on my phone and set it down on the sink. I turned on the water and splashed my face. “No, I haven’t been talking to your mother. She’s right though, Zoey. This lifestyle of yours is dangerous. You need to find someone.”
I heard her sigh. “I’m fine! I can’t even remember the last time I was sick.”
I turned off the water and headed to the kitchen.
Coffee. I need coffee.
“What are you doing right now?” I asked.
“I’m about to walk into Starbucks. Why?”
I smiled as an idea came to my head. “Are you outside of it? You haven’t gone in yet, have you?”
“Nope, but I’m about to.”
I giggled. “Okay, I’m calling in my bet now. Walk into the Starbucks. Go up to the first cute guy you see, take out your phone and tell him your friend has dared you to ask a stranger to dance.”
Silence.