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This morning, I woke up to an empty bed and the startling realization that I was disappointed to be alone. A quick look around the room confirmed the mystery girl had gone, taking all her belongings and sassy attitude with her and not leaving a note or anything behind.
I had quite a number of fun nights with women back in college, and I’ve gotten fairly familiar with the concept of accidentally leaving something behind. A bag. A brush. A hat. Something small and unimportant that requires a return trip to collect it, a chance to check in that doesn’t involve waiting around on a phone call.
Girls used to do that all the time.
And yet this morning, the one time I actually wanted a girl—woman—to leave something behind so I could look forward to seeing her again, I was left disappointed.
Although, I guess it was for the best, right?
Rusty was there for me during one of the hardest times of my life—a true friend…family, if I’m honest. While I can’t change the past, I can absolutely control myself in the future.
Even considering anything else with Abby would be flying in the face of the friendship I claim is so important. So I come to a decision that I know is ultimately right, even if it feels like someone is popping all my balloons.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I move quickly up to the second floor and down the hallway, passing the room on the left where we put my suitcases earlier and Rusty’s room on the right, coming to a stop in front of the closed door at the end that can only belong to one person.
I breathe in deep, let it out slow, and then knock.
Only a few seconds pass before it opens wide, and Abby’s standing in front of me in a pair of leggings and a loose tank top, one hand braced on the doorjamb and the other holding the door.
God, she’s gorgeous.
She stares at me for a second before rising on her tiptoes and looking over my shoulder.
“Where’s my brother?”
“He went to the store.”
She nods, crossing her arms, her eyes assessing me. “I didn’t know you were Rusty’s friend, in case you were wondering.”
“Yeah, I could…tell. Earlier.”
What I want to ask is why she looked almost disgusted when she fled the room, but I keep that to myself. I don’t want to know if finding out I’m her brother’s friend changed last night for her, because it certainly doesn’t change it for me—even though it probably should.
“So…you’re staying here?” she asks, her eyes narrowing. “In the guestroom?”
I nod. “Yeah. Until after the new year.”
“Why didn’t you stay here last night?”
I nod, knowing this all might have been avoided if I’d just come straight here like I was supposed to.
“I originally booked a hotel, but Rusty practically demanded I stay with you guys. The resort wouldn’t refund one of the nights, so I figured…why not? With the flight and the time change, I planned on grabbing a beer at the bar and then heading back to sleep.”
And then I saw you.
There’s a lull, where we just look at each other, and as much as I know I should be telling her nothing else can happen between us, something completely different comes out of my mouth.
“Why didn’t you leave your number?”
It wasn’t what I planned on asking, that’s for sure, but it’s the only thing on my mind at the moment. I can’t imagine having a night like we did and then just…leaving.
Abby blushes, the apples of her cheeks tinging pink, and then that color moves through her face and down her neck.
I watch as she shifts on her feet a little, her eyes flitting all over the place—to my eyes, my arms, my feet, my mouth, my waist. It’s like she doesn’t know where to look.
“Last night was…” she starts, but her voice trails off.
“It was amazing,” I say, unable to keep the thought to myself.
