Current Day

A bright light—lightning, maybe—flashes around me but draws little concern. I roll on my back. Full consciousness has yet to grab hold and push me into the start of the day. I’m not ready to lose the feeling of Jocelyn’s body heat next to me. A floral scent assaults my senses, temporarily confusing me, but I succumb to the dream of her snuggled beside me and drift back to sleep.

Another flash of bright white stirs me back to the living, but it’s the shift in the mattress and press of a warm body—skin on skin—against my chest that grabs my attention. My eyelids spring open to find my fingers tangled in a weave of blonde locks.

What. The. Fuck.

I withdraw my hand and shove the topless body off. She yelps and slides onto the floor, but I don’t give a fuck. Not right now.

“How the fuck did you get in here?” My feet hit my bedroom floor, and a brief jolt of gratitude races through my veins at the sight of my jersey briefs still covering my cock. But then my heart ticks a beat faster when the intruder pulls herself off the floor and recognition sets in. It’s her, the blonde mystery woman.

She pulls her shirt on and snatches a purse off the bedside table. “Don’t worry, I got what I came after.”

“What does that mean?”

Her eyes shift toward the bedroom door, and in a beat, she bolts toward it. I plunge forward but come to a halt when AJ races in and blocks the pathway.

“What’s with the shouting?” He looks at her and tosses his head back slightly. “Why are you in here?”

He takes in my appearance and then turns back to the blonde, eyes widening at her just-been-fucked-hair. I’d bet my last dollar that hairstyle came from him, not me.

“Did you two?” He waves his finger between us.

“I’m out of here.” She clutches her purse against her chest and pushes past him, knocking AJ against the doorframe. He stands there bewildered.

I raise my hands to my head and squeeze my hair. “Fuck! What just happened? I should have the bitch arrested.”

That seems to knock him out of his stupor. “You want me to chase her down?”

I hesitate. He’s in his underwear, the same as me. But then the flashes, along with the feel of her body against me, run through my mind. “I got what I came for.” It clicks. Thoughts of Jocelyn and how this will impact her jolts me forward. I nab a pair sweats off the floor and stagger as I try stepping into them.

“I bet she took pictures. We need to delete them from her phone.”

“Jesus.”

We scramble toward the elevator, and it feels like déjà vu all over again as I wait for the door to slide open.

“Shit, hurry up.” I turn to face AJ who’s still wearing his briefs. “You could’ve gotten dressed.”

“I’m good.”

“I assume you brought her home, right?”

“Man, I’m sorry. When she came on to me, I didn’t know she was crazy. She was just hot.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You know me. I’m not too choosy when it comes to women.”

“Maybe you should start.” The elevator dings and before we know it, we’re out on the dark, desolate street with no blonde in sight. My bare feet pound the concrete as we split directions. A few cars pass by and a couple exit the corner bar. Other than them, no one’s in sight.

I pace the sidewalk, staring at every corner and shadow where she could be hiding, but I know it’s pointless. She’s gone.

“Ah, man. I’m so sorry,” AJ says as he meets me back in front of the apartment building.

“Let’s get inside before you get arrested for indecent exposure. What time is it, anyway?”

“A little past two when I went to your room.”

I groan.

“We can still call the cops.”

“We probably should because I think she’s the one who roofied your drink.” I hit the elevator button.

“Fuck. Do you know her?”

“No. Not really. She’s been showing up randomly. Did you get her full name?” I go ahead and ask, knowing full well what the answer will be.

“Nope. She went by Kat.”

“Figures.”

“If she spiked my drink, then we should call the police.”

“Maybe, but what would they charge her with? You invited her here. We have no proof whether you were roofied or not. Let alone who did it. What am I going to say? She cuddled me against my will?”

“She did though.”

“Yeah, but I’m more worried about what Jocelyn’s going to say to this.”

“You going to tell her?”

“Of course, I’m going to tell her. I don’t want any secrets between us. But I have to wait until after tonight’s game.” With the birthday party she’s baking for, I can’t risk upsetting her. But an uneasiness stirs in my stomach as I wonder how I’ll break the news to her.

“How do you think she’ll take it?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’m sorry,” he says again. “I’ll screen the women before taking any more home.”

“It’s not your fault, but yeah, do that.” We reach our apartment, and I feel around for my keys. “Ah, shit.”

“Relax, I’ve got us covered.” AJ dangles a key ring from his finger.

“Do I want to know where you pulled that from?”

He laughs, but once we’re inside, I head straight to the shower. The faster this floral scent leaves, the better. Fuck my life.