The Next Morning

(Violet)

A new first for me. Waking with a strange woman in my bed. I stood in the doorway holding two coffee mugs, still trying to figure out what the hell happened last night. I had been perfectly content relaxing on my couch with a glass of wine. But then I got sucked into the hurricane that went by the name of Mason.

When I went back to the bathroom, the woman - who I later found out was named Stephanie - sat up and reached for me. She was like a big, heavy baby. Flopping all over the place as I wrestled her up. Mason just stood there like a dick, watching the entire thing unfold. He even made some smart ass remarks about how sexy it looked with a drunk chick all over me. And then he dared me to kiss the woman’s neck.

The second she realized where she was and who Mason was, things got crazy. And nasty. I tried to get her into Mason’s bed, but she refused. Mason said if she got in the bed, things were going to happen. He smiled when he said it, just trying to fuck with me, but then Stephanie took it seriously and wanted out.

So I was left with a choice… put Stephanie in Mason’s bed and have Mason sleep at my place or just take Stephanie back to my place. I went with the second option because I did not want Mason in my apartment ever again. His little slick move grabbing me and trying to kiss me did not go over well. Yeah, maybe between my legs… but everywhere else, not a chance. I could find a way to take care of myself or go find a real boyfriend. I wasn’t going to have some fuck buddy next door neighbor thing. Not to mention that I hadn’t even…

Stephanie stirred in the bed.

In my bed.

For a second I thought about taking a picture and teasing Mason with it. He had already texted me three times this morning wanting to know if his date was still there. I hated that he called Stephanie his date. I hated that she was in my apartment, in my bed. Part of me even hated her for being so stupid as to get throw up drunk and end up in an apartment with a guy like Mason.

Anyway, back to last night for a second…

I all but carried Stephanie to my apartment. We made a quick stop to the bathroom, but nothing happened. Which was good. Then I got her into my bed and she was out cold. I stayed with her for a little bit, making sure she was okay. It seemed she got all the sickness out in Mason’s bathroom.

And that’s where she slept.

When she opened her eyes, she looked right at me as I stood with the cups of coffee. She pushed herself up in the bed and looked around.

“Where am… wait a second… is there a guy here?”

“No,” I said. “Just you and me.”

“Was there a guy here?”

“No. I…”

“Does that mean you and me…”

It took my virgin mind a few seconds to see the picture that Stephanie’s mind had painted.

I gasped. “No. No, we didn’t… you’re in my apartment. You were next door with Mason. Then you got sick.”

She shut her eyes. “I’m going to be sick.”

“You need coffee.” I walked to the bed and offered her a mug. “It’s black. Take a few sips and then come out and fix it how you like.”

Stephanie emerged from the bedroom five minutes later and looked as rough as you’d expect.

“I can make some eggs or a bagel for you,” I offered.

“This is fine,” Stephanie said. She walked to the counter and sat on a barstool. “I feel like shit.”

“You look it.”

She laughed. “Thanks. I didn’t get your name.”

“Violet.”

“Right. Thank you for helping me last night. Things just got way out of hand.”

“The more I live here and the more I know Mason, that seems to be his style.”

“I broke up with my boyfriend after I read some text messages. Yeah, sue me for going through his phone. So I decided to go out and get my own. I drank way too much vodka too fast. Next thing I knew there were hands everywhere on me. I felt like I was getting touched by ten guys. Then I threw my arms around Mason and he got me out of the club. We were fooling around in his truck for a little bit and then we went to his place.”

My heart raced and I felt the twisting fire of jealousy. I couldn’t stop picturing Stephanie sitting on top of Mason, riding him, right in his truck.

Why does it matter?

“I all of a sudden got real clear headed. Realized where I was and what was going to happen. Then I got sick.”

“Well, I hope you feel better today.”

“Thank you, Violet. For everything you did. You sort of saved me. Like big time.”

“No…”

“You did. I need to talk to my boyfriend. Ex. Whatever he is.”

“But you did stuff with Mason.”

“Did stuff?” she smiled. “Are we in high school? Look, we made out like crazy. He touched me here and there. That was it. Whatever. I was drunk anyway. Plus, after the text messages I read, this sort of evens the score.”

Evens the score…

Another stark reminder why the world of dating was foreign to me. Plus, the lingering pain of heartache was still inside me.

Suddenly, the idea of Mason wasn’t all that crazy. No strings attached. Next door neighbor.

I shut my eyes and collected myself.

“I should probably go,” Stephanie said.

“Are you okay?” I asked. “I mean, do you know where your car is?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve got my keys and stuff. I’ll catch a ride.”

“I can give you a ride.”

“You’ve done more than enough,” she said. “I just want to get out of here. No offense to you. But I don’t want to see that guy ever again.”

“Mason?”

“I don’t want to hear his name. He’s filthy.”

“Filthy…”

“The shit he whispered in my ear. The way he tried to bite at me. Just tossing me around like I was a toy to him. And I could see it in his eyes…”

The more Stephanie spoke, the more I started to get turned on. That’s when I started to hate myself. I couldn’t let myself fall for any trap Mason set.

“I’m just…,” Stephanie continued. “Just mad at myself I guess.”

“It happens,” I said. “I had a breakup too that was rough.”

“Did you get puke drunk and end up in some man’s apartment? Only to wake up in a woman’s bed?”

I smiled. “No. I basically ran through bags of chocolate, boxes of tissues, and cursed at every chick flick I could find to watch.”

“Your way sounds better,” Stephanie said. “Probably comes with less of a headache.”

She rubbed her forehead.

I got her a couple ibuprofen that she downed them with the last of her coffee. With a few taps on the screen of her phone she ordered herself a ride. Then came some nice awkward silence. I didn’t want to hear anymore reasons why I should avoid and hate Mason.

Speaking of which, my phone vibrated over and over on the table.

I finally grabbed it, with my back to Stephanie.

It was Mason texting me.

Answer me, babe. She still there?

I swallowed hard.

Waiting for a ride

The three dots popped up.

Then a text.

I’ll come over and give her a ride

I shook my head. My thumbs typed fast.

You had your chance. She preferred the toilet. And she woke up in my bed

I sent it and felt good. Take that, Mason.

He replied back.

I can’t stop thinking about you and her in bed together. Should have let me come over. I could have guided you both along. There would have been such a mess you’d be doing more laundry. Speaking of which… missing anything?

My heart started to pound. My jaw dropped.

What did you take?

The reply wasn’t a text. It was a picture.

A pair of my panties dangling from his finger. He was shirtless in the picture, making it completely unfair to really be mad at him. It was like a lust filled anger. That’s what I felt for him.

How could someone be so bold? So invasive. And I was the one foolish enough to help him. To help Stephanie.

I want to see you in these… nothing but these…

I gritted my teeth. The anger splashed around inside me. I was desperate for the anger to overtake the slight enjoyment I was having. The only fun thing about a fantasy was that I controlled it. Mason was real. Too real. Scary real.

I wrote back, ending the little game.

You’ll never see me in that, Mason. Ever

“I think I should get going.”

I spun around and tucked my phone into my back pocket.

“Okay,” I said. “Uh… if there’s anything else…”

“You don’t have to do that,” Stephanie said. “I owe you a million apologies. I probably owe you a Friday you lost out on.”

“I wasn’t doing a thing. Trust me. My social life is non-existent.”

“You should get out more then. Enjoy life a little. And I’m really sorry that Mason is your neighbor. If that were me, I’d move. I’d rather live out of a box than live next to him.”

Stephanie opened the door and I lunged at her. “You talk about him like you knew him before last night.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” she said. “Before my maybe-ex boyfriend. He says the right things at the right time and only after he gets what he wants does he show his true colors. Be careful, Violet. Unless you don’t mind being destroyed.”

Stephanie slipped away and walked down the hallway.

I stood and watched her, letting her words sink in.

There was so much to process, yet all of it seemed unnecessary to do.

My thoughts were broken by a familiar voice.

“Damn, she does have a nice ass. Not as nice as yours though.”