Stacey

 

Waking up, I crack my eyes open and am assaulted by the light. I groan and grab my head, immediately regretting the amount of alcohol I consumed last night. I never drink like that and the way I’m feeling right now, I’ll never do it again. My head is pounding, my stomach is turning, and I’m sweating. I feel like shit.

 

I sit up slowly and notice I am just wearing a t-shirt. The thing is, it’s not my t-shirt. It’s huge on me and smells like cologne. Realization hits me, and I cover my mouth with my hand. “Oh my God,” I whisper to myself. My head really starts pounding, and I decide I need to take something before I even think about anything else.

 

I climb out of bed and open the door from my small bedroom. I step into the living room and scream out when I see Ryan standing in the kitchen, shirtless. My head is punishing me and starts throbbing as I say, “What the hell are you doing here?” As if I didn’t already know.

 

“Well, look who finally woke up,” he says walking over to me and handing me three ibuprofen and a bottle of water. “Take this and after you shower we can go grab some breakfast to soak up the rest of the alcohol I’m sure is still swimming in your body.”

 

What the fuck? Who the hell does he think he is? He’s just going to dismiss what happened last night and take me out to breakfast. What for, a thank you for the lay? I know last night I thought a one-night stand with my brother’s best friend would be a good idea, but that was before it actually happened. I quickly swallow down the pills and wrap my arms around myself. “What the hell happened last night? Well, I mean obviously I know what happened, but why would you even want to have sex with a woman that drunk?”

 

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nothing happened last night.”

 

“You expect me to believe that? I’m wearing your t-shirt and I wake up with you are here, but nothing happened? You know what, I don’t even want to hear the details of it.” How stupid does he think I am?

 

“Hey, I said nothing happened,” he says crossing his arms over his muscular chest in a defensive way.

 

“Right, I’m sure that’s why you’re still here,” I say before turning to walk to the bathroom.

 

He grabs my arm and spins me around to look at him. He looks pissed, but I don’t give a shit. He’s the one standing in my trailer shirtless, with his incredible upper body on display. It’s so obvious what happened, and he refuses to admit it. He moves his face a little closer to mine and says, “Nothing happened. That’s not the kind of guy I am.”

 

I laugh and pull my arm out of his hold. “Actually, that is exactly the kind of guy you are. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to shower. When I get out, I’d like for you to be long gone.”

 

“You want me to tell you what happened last night?” he growls, looking at me with daggers in his eyes.

 

“Ryan, look I already told you I don’t want details. Please get out of my trailer,” I say walking into the bathroom and closing the door.

 

I don’t know who the hell he thinks he is. What kind of guy sleeps with a woman who is clearly too drunk to make that kind of decision, not to mention, Mike’s best friend. Then act like nothing happened the next day while standing in my kitchen shirtless. You don’t need to be a fucking genius to figure it out. You do, however, need to be a complete asshole to lie about it.

 

**

 

Later in the day, after a long visit with my mom. Who said my dad and Mike won’t be back for another two weeks from a hunting trip they went on, I decide to take a trip into town to get some groceries. There is no food at my place. I have no idea how long I’m going to stay, but I need food. When I get to the small store, I  get a shopping cart then make my way through the aisles grabbing a few things I need— completely bypassing the aisle of alcohol.

 

I can’t stop thinking about Ryan, and not because of his sexy body that was right there in my face earlier.  Because he was even more of an asshole than I thought. When Gail told me to stay away from him, I should have listened. I figured he was Ryan.  And maybe, just a guy who likes to sleep around, and I guess part of that is right. I just didn’t think he was the kind of guy to lie about it the next day. What’s the point of that?

 

I don’t know what it is about the men that come crashing into my life, but all of them suck. None of them are like Ryan, but the complete opposite, boring and predictable. I knew I needed a change, but Ryan Drake is not the change I need. 

 

Thinking about how pissed I am with everything, I’m not paying much attention to what I’m doing and I accidently hit another shopping cart. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry. I’m not paying any attention. Are you alright?” A good looking guy smiles at me, and for the first time since I woke up, I feel a smile pulling at my lips.

 

“I’m fine,” he says, checking me out, and I’ll admit it feels pretty good to have his attention. “It’s my fault, I have my cart just sitting here. I just can’t figure out what kind of cheese is best for this wine I just picked up.”

 

I lean over and hand him a mild cheddar. “Here, you can’t go wrong with this.”

 

He takes it from me and drops it in the cart. “Thank you so much. I’m sure my wife will be happy with this.”

 

Are you fucking kidding me? I just smile and say, “I’m sure she will. I’m sorry again.” I walk away and roll my eyes. I think right now it’s best to just do my own thing. I’m obviously not good at picking men, some are married and some are complete lying assholes.