I look down at myself and I don’t have a stitch of clothing on. I scoot to the edge of the bed, my head still in my hands. What did I do?
I lift my head and look around the room. There’s an empty bottle of Blaze Cinnamon Whiskey. I used ½ cup for the cake I made for Trevor, and Josh and I drank it last night in celebration. We must have emptied the bottle.
I start to get up, but my legs are shaky, and I wince as I get out of bed. I put one hand on the wall and wait for the room to stop spinning. With my eyes clenched tight, it all starts to come back to me. The shot after shot of whiskey. The truths and dares, the out of this world sex. I look back toward him, and I can’t help but stare at his naked manhood. Even flacid, he’s impressive. I remember climbing up into his lap and riding him like there was no tomorrow. My face heats. I have to get out of here. What was I thinking?
I start grabbing my clothes and putting them on quickly. When I’m finally dressed, I race around the room looking for my purse and keys. I take one last look at Josh, trying to commit him to memory before I bolt out of the bedroom and go downstairs. Finally, I find my purse in the entryway on the floor, and I open it to start digging for my keys. The folded papers fall out, and I notice them at the same time I notice the ring on my finger. This time, I can’t hold it in. “Oh my God!”
I drop my purse and sit down right there on the floor. I’m staring open-mouthed at the huge rock on my finger, and I turn it side to side. It’s huge. There’s no way it’s real, I tell myself, but at the same time I get a sick feeling in my stomach because I know it’s real. I unfold the papers from my purse and cover my mouth with both hands. It’s either that or scream. In front of me is a marriage certificate for Josh and me. I lean down and try to tuck my head between my legs and take deep breaths before I pass out. I’m married. I’m married to Josh Chambers, star running back for the Jasper Eagles, and as far as I know, biggest playboy of the year.
I lean back with my head on the wall and stare up at the ceiling. It’s all playing out. We celebrated his contract. We drank way too much. Oh my, and we had sex. I came on to him. I lift my head and let it fall back again. What was I thinking? And then after we had sex, he told me he didn’t want to let me go. He had a driver pick us up and take us to a drive-thru wedding chapel. We thought that was so funny, but surely it wasn’t the real deal. I pick up the papers again and run my fingers over the raised seal. It’s been signed and stamped. It feels real enough.
What do I do? Do I stay? Do I leave? What if it was all a drunk mistake? If I stick around it’s just going to be humiliating. I stumble to my feet and shove the papers into my purse. I take a deep breath and pray I’m making the right decision. I open the front door and don’t look back.
Josh
I stretch and immediately feel the pull in my thighs. I reach blindly beside me, wanting to pull Violet into my arms for a replay of last night. When I feel the cool sheets beside me, I jerk fully awake. The sun is bright in the room, and I don’t even have to look around. I can feel that she’s gone. I can feel it in every sore muscle of my body.
My phone rings, and I don’t know why, but I think it’s her until I recognize the ring tone for my agent. “What?” I bark into the phone.
“It’s eleven o’clock. You’re supposed to be on a plane right now. You have a game tonight.”
“Fuck!” I jump out of bed and start out of the bedroom, darting room to room, looking for Violet. There’s no way she just left. Maybe she went for breakfast or coffee. Maybe she’s downstairs.
When I get to the first floor, I’ve hung up on Nick and am yelling for Violet through the house. The house is so quiet it’s almost eerie. When I get to the front door, I yank it open, not even caring that I’m bare-ass naked, and stalk down the walkway to the driveway. I stare at the empty spot where her car was once parked. “Fuck!” I scream at the top of my lungs.