victoria

 

 

The next morning, Victoria woke up with a throbbing headache. She was just about to get off the couch when Bradley emerged from his room. Even in her hung-over state, she couldn’t help but admire the way his sweatpants hung off him so perfectly.

“Hey, sunshine. Are you up? If you want to sleep more, go ahead.”

She sat up and rubbed her head. “No thanks, I’m ok. Just a little hung-over, but some water and an aspirin can fix that.” She smiled, even though it was the last thing she’d normally feel like doing. She winced as the pounding in her head got stronger.

“Your call,” he said on his way to the kitchen. He came back moments later with a glass of water, which he set down on the coffee table, and sat down beside her. He switched on the TV and turned to her, his eyes scanning her face. “You’re really beautiful, you know that?”

She blushed. She imagined that she looked like a hot mess, it being first thing in the morning and all, but she decided to dial down the sarcasm.

“Thanks. You’re hot stuff, yourself,” she said, before taking a sip of water. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” She got up, grabbed her purse, and headed towards the bathroom, cursing herself for staying the night.

She wasn’t particularly vain, but she still didn’t want a hot date to see her with her morning face and hair so soon after meeting, unless there was a very good reason for it. In this case, there wasn’t. She cursed herself again, this time for stopping him the previous night.

She thought of all the things he could have done to her, and kicked herself mentally. It’s not every night you get a perfectly good opportunity to have wild sex with a hot stranger, and she had messed up and chickened out. It wasn’t like her at all, she realized.

In the bathroom, she fixed herself up the best that she could using her limited means. She had a comb and some basic makeup, but no toothbrush. She figured he might try to kiss her and didn’t want to risk having bad breath. She spotted some mouthwash and breathed a sigh of relief. It was better than nothing.

After a few minutes, she felt more like herself again, and went back out to join him.

“Hey, I know you’re not feeling so hot, but I’m hungry. Wanna go grab breakfast?”

This was interesting. He was trying to extend their date, it seemed.

“Umm, yeah sure, maybe it would help with this headache.” She was starting to feel better already. This could turn out to be an interesting day. Maybe they could end up at her place, and…

Just then, her phone rang. She wondered who it could be this early on a Saturday. Her heart dropped when she saw Ashley’s name on her screen. It couldn’t be good news, if she was calling this early.

“Sorry, I have to take this,” she said to Bradley, before moving away to the kitchen for privacy. She quickly answered.

“Hey hon, what’s wrong?”

All she could hear at first were Ashley’s sobs. She sounded like she was having trouble getting her words out.

“Rob broke up with me,” she said, in between sobs.

Victoria knew right away that breakfast with Bradley was going to have to wait for another day.

“Ok, sweetie. Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon. You’re at home, right?”

“Yeah, thanks.” She sniffled through the phone.

“Ok, see you soon. Bye.” She sighed and went back to the living room. She grabbed her purse again and looked at Bradley apologetically.

“I’m really sorry, but something important just came up. Can we reschedule?”

“Yeah, sure. Is everything ok?” He seemed genuinely concerned, which was a pleasant surprise. But she didn’t want to get into Ashley’s personal problems with him just yet.

“Yeah, just a friend having some problems and she really needs me right now. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Ok, I’ll see you soon though. We’ll pick up where we left off.” His face seemed serious but there was a hint of playfulness about it too.

“Do you need a ride to her place?”

“That’s so nice of you to offer, but no thanks.” She wanted his company, but felt she needed to start focusing on Ashley right away.

He walked her to the door and when she turned to him to say bye, he grabbed her firmly around the waist and brought her to him, pressing their bodies together tightly. She turned her face up slightly towards his, and his lips met hers in a kiss so deep and passionate that it set off sparks deep within her. What a send-off he was giving her, she thought. If his aim was to make sure that she came back for seconds and possibly thirds, it worked like a charm.

 

****

 

She caught a cab relatively quickly once she was out on the street, and gave the driver directions to Ashley’s place. It would have been great to drop by home to shower and relax a bit, but Ashley needed her, and if there’s one thing Victoria hated, it was an unreliable friend.

Bradley seemed like such a contradiction. He was cocky and arrogant, but could be considerate and thoughtful as well. She couldn’t even remember the reason she didn’t sleep with him the night before. What was wrong with me? It would have been a night to remember, at least. Then she remembered. She had thought she was too drunk. She laughed to herself, causing the driver to give her a curious look in his mirror.

“Sorry.”

The driver just huffed. She thought it was funny, because it would have been far from the first time that she slept with someone after one too many drinks. She definitely hadn’t been too drunk to consent, either. Why didn’t I just go for it? Argh. She was practically kicking herself. Maybe she was worried what he would think about her. But why? She was almost guaranteed not to see him again, anyways, so she didn’t understand why she had such angst over it.

She realized her body was tense and tried to relax. She would probably go out with him again, or at least see one of his shows and hang out with him afterwards, she reminded herself. She closed her eyes as she remembered the heat of his touch on the couch and the way he got her worked up. Her panties were getting damp just thinking about it.

“Ma’am, we’re here,” said the driver, interrupting her thoughts.

“Oh.” She blushed, as if he could read her mind. “Ok, thanks. Here you go, keep the change.” She paid him and got out in front of Ashley’s building.

She tried to turn her mind to Ashley as she whizzed by the concierge, her heels clicking on the expensive stone floor.

She took one last look in the floor to ceiling mirror in the elevator before getting off on Ashley’s floor. This was about Ashley, not about her, so she didn’t want it to look too obvious that she hadn’t been home yet.

When Ashley swung her door open and Victoria saw her, her heart sank. It was apparent that Ashley had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she looked like she hadn’t bothered to brush her hair yet. Victoria flung her arms around her.

“What’s wrong honey? What happened?”

Ashley couldn’t speak. It was obvious she was trying to keep it together, but Victoria wasn’t falling for that. “What did the bastard do to you?” She didn’t bother to try to hide her long-standing disdain for Ashley’s boyfriend.

“Come in,” Ashley said. “I’ll tell you. Coffee, or tea?”

“Coffee, but I’ll make it.”

She was getting worked up over Ashley. She just knew things weren’t going to go well between her and Rob, and she was getting angrier at him by the moment, without even knowing what was going on.

Ashley followed her to the kitchen and stood in the doorway as Victoria whizzed around the kitchen, making their coffees.

“Well, long story short, he wants to take a break,” she said, completely crestfallen and defeated.

“What?!” Victoria almost yelled, spinning around to give Ashley a shocked look. “He wants to take a break? Why?”

A lone tear rolled down Ashley’s cheek.

“He says,” she said before letting out a sob, “he says we’re going too fast and he has to concentrate on his work. He says he can’t commit to a full-time relationship right now.”

“Aww, honey. Are you serious?” Victoria said, before giving Ashley another hug and handing her a Kleenex from the kitchen counter. She led her to the couch in the living room and set their coffees down on the coffee table.

“Yeah, that’s what he said at least. But I’m not so sure. He kept getting text messages throughout dinner and then he disappeared to the bathroom for a long time. I saw him put his phone back in his pocket as he came back to the table.” She wiped her nose.

“Hmmm, so you think there’s someone else?” Victoria’s eyes narrowed at this news. It sounded like Rob was a first-class asshole, and that Victoria had been right to be so protective of her friend.

She knew he had a roving eye because when they were all out as a group, she had caught him checking out some other women. He wasn’t very good at being discreet. If he couldn’t even control his gaze around his girlfriend and her friends, then no wonder he had a problem controlling himself when his girlfriend wasn’t there.

“Yeah, I do think that. He was so cold and distant emotionally. But he still had the nerve to suggest that we should have some sort of friends with benefits arrangement.”

“What the hell? I hope you shot that down. Not that there’s anything wrong with having friends with benefits,” she said, remembering that she’d had a few, “but that only works when the two of you are actually friends and can respect each other. He’s already shown that he doesn’t respect you, and after all this, how can he expect you to respect him?”

“Yeah, I know. I told him off at the end of the night when he dropped me off. I didn’t want to get into it during dinner because I didn’t want to lose it in front of the whole restaurant.”

“Aww, sweetie, you should have just left him there. That sounds like torture, having to sit through dinner with that news.” She knew what she would have done in her place, but this was no time to make her feel even worse. Ashley was always a bit of a pushover and needed a lesson in assertiveness, but that could come another time.

“So, you told him to shove it, right? And that you won’t be seeing him?” She raised her eyebrows, hoping for an answer in the affirmative. She was pleased when she got it.

Ashley nodded.

“Yes, I told him there was no way I was going to be his friend with benefits, or anything else for that matter.” She swept a lock of hair out of her eyes and looked Victoria straight in the eyes. “He was shocked. I’m so happy I didn’t break and that I told him to get lost.”

“Good girl!” Victoria smiled, and for the first time that day, saw a small smile play on Ashley’s lips too. “Stick to your guns, honey. You can definitely do much better, anyways. I just know it.

“Thanks. I will.”

Victoria gave her another tight hug, trying to give her some strength.

“I’m going to hold you accountable, you know,” she said playfully. “And we have to have another girl’s night out next weekend, ok? You’re much better off single, you’ll see!”

She was sad that her friend was heartbroken, but glad that she had seemed to break free of Rob’s spell. The man was a physical treasure, for sure, but she knew his type, and wouldn’t want any of her friends near him.

She saw Ashley’s expression change as Ashley’s eyes became trained on something to the right of her face.

“Oh my god, Victoria, what is that?” She brushed aside a strand of Victoria’s hair and leaned in to take a closer look at her neck.

“What is what?” She asked, raising her hand to her neck.

“Is that a hickey I see?” She practically squealed.

At least her mood was improving. But what the hell was she talking about, Victoria wondered. She jumped up and went to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

Holy crap. She had a decent sized angry purple hickey on the side of her neck. It was so obvious! Now she would have to explain to Ashley. There was no way she could keep it from her now.

“Well,” she started. “Remember that guy Bradley from the club?”

Ashley nodded, wide eyed.

“Don’t tell me you went out with him!” Ashley was so excited. Victoria was happy that this was at least taking her mind off her problems.

“Yes, I did. And things got a little carried away,” she said, still examining her new badge of shame.

“Oh my god, I’m so jealous of you, you skank!” She was practically jumping up and down on the couch. Well, almost.

“Calm down. I didn’t sleep with him,” Victoria said, wanting to keep Ashley’s imagination from getting the better of her.

“You didn’t? Why not? Are you crazy?” Ashley looked shocked and puzzled.

“Well, do you assume I automatically fuck every guy I go out with?” She laughed.

“Well, yes, but especially this guy. He was so delicious looking. Why even bother going out with him if you’re not gonna get a piece of it?”

Now it was Victoria’s turn to look shocked.

“Excuse me, missy,” she said, swatting Ashley playfully on the shoulder. “I don’t sleep with every guy I go out with. And anyways, I wasn’t feeling too well back at his place. He did too good a job wining and dining me, shall we say.”

“Ah, so you were too drunk. What a shame.” She looked genuinely disappointed, which Victoria found hilarious.

“It’s ok, we’re probably going out again,” Victoria said.

“Oh really? Great! What’s he like?”

They headed back to the kitchen. Victoria’s coffee had gotten cold, and she needed a fresh one, as soon as possible.

“Well, he seemed like an asshole at first, but that’s not him at all; he has a sweet side to him. It’s hard to explain. And we did make out, and let’s just say I know what I have to look forward to.” She couldn’t help but smile as she remembered the way he rubbed her in all the right ways. “He’s also a medical student, so looks like he’s got a good head on his shoulders too.”

“Ah, that’s nice. See, you always meet the good ones. No fair!” Ashley said, only half-joking.

“Well, relax. It was only one date. And I was serious when I told you I’m not looking to meet anyone. He’s just going to be a fun diversion, that’s all. I’ve had my share of heartbreak too, remember?”

“But you’ve been single long enough. Why not give him a chance?”

“Ashley, no. I can’t afford to lose focus at my work. It’s crunch time, and I need to keep my billables up. You know what my hours are like. How can I even hope to maintain a relationship when I work eighty hours a week?”

Ashley wasn’t about to give up. “But it sounds like you guys had so much fun, and he really likes you. I remember the way he looked at you that night.”

“I don’t know, Ashley. I’ll go out with him again, that’s not a problem. But don’t get your hopes up for something serious, because that ship has sailed. Nathan ruined that for me, maybe forever.”

Ashley conceded defeat with a shrug. “I don’t know. I guess you can have fun for now and see where it goes.”

“I know you’re a hopeless romantic, Ashley, but things aren’t always so rosy. He’s definitely worth a good time, but I’m sure it won’t go any further than that.” She emphasized her point by setting her mug back down and heading back to the living room.

“Now, it’s time for you to take a shower and come out with me for brunch! I’m not going to leave you here all on your own today. Let’s drop by my place too, I need to freshen up and change.”

Ashley followed her and gave her a hug. “That’s why I love you, Victoria. You really are the best friend a girl could have.”

Victoria hugged her back even tighter.

“Thanks hon. Just remember, you don’t have to let anyone walk all over you in the name of love. It’s never worth it. Never, trust me on that.”