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No signature, no greeting. Cold, transactional. Like a note for his secretary or something. I put it down on the bed, puzzled. After our night together, why the sudden shutoff? He seemed so open, and we connected so well. The things he shared and that we talked about… I just don't know what to think. I guess I misread everything. How is that possible?
I sigh. I’m reading too much into it. Yes, we had a nice night, but that was all we agreed to. One night. It happened, I just need to get over it and get out of here as fast as possible. I get out of bed and look around for all of my clothes and put them on. It doesn't hit me until after I'm dressed.
I’m about to do my first-ever “walk of shame” after a one-night-stand. And it hurts more than it should. I can't believe I got myself into a situation like this. I suppose I should have prepared myself for this kind of thing. I was silly to think it was going to end any other way.
I take a deep breath and walk out of the room. I go downstairs to the living room. The driver is standing patiently by the front door waiting for me, reading a newspaper. He glances up when he sees me. "Good morning, ma’am. Are you ready for me to take you home?” he asks pleasantly.
Sad that I’m getting a friendlier morning greeting from Dom’s driver than from Dom himself, but I swallow my pride and hurt and shake my head. “Actually, can you take me here?” I ask, passing him a business card from the store with the address on it, “I need to pick up my car.”
He takes the card and looks down at it. "Of course, ma’am, that’s no problem at all, " he says cheerfully, opening the front door for me.
Once I’m settled in the backseat, I lean back on the leather seats with my purse resting in my lap. It's a quiet ride. The driver seems to know the way already, fortunately, and he seems to sense my mood and avoids any small talk.
I manage to keep it together during the whole ride. I look out the window at the city scenery rolling past. Soon we’re pulling into the lot of the strip mall.
Fortunately today, my shop is closed. I never thought I’d be so happy about my day off, as much as I love what I do, but today it’s actually a welcome relief. At least I don't have to worry about being late to work this morning on top of everything else that is going on.
And despite my roiling emotions, I try to remind myself that whatever happened last night, I saved the shop, and that was what I set out to do.
The driver parks, but leaves the engine running while he gets out and opens my door for me. "Thank you," I tell him, my voice wavering.
I’m about at the end of my emotional rope. "You're welcome, ma’am,” he replies with a polite smile as I get out of his car and walk around my own to the driver’s side.
"Have a nice day,” he tells me.
“You, too,” I say absently, then rummage in my purse for my keys.
He gets in the town car and drives off, and I unlock my car and get in. I close the door quietly. I put my purse in the passenger seat and look around. There are a few scattered cars in the parking lot, but no one is around. I'm alone. I grip the steering wheel and finally break, bursting into tears. I can't control my emotions anymore.
I can't believe I got my hopes up like that. It was supposed to be one night, no strings attached, but somehow I had gotten my feelings hurt. It was foolish to let that happen. Now look, I'm an emotional wreck because of it.
I don't know how long I sit there. Eventually my sobs turn to quiet hiccups. My eyes burn from all the tears. Eventually I’m able to stop crying, and finally I turn on the ignition and drive home. Even though I'm not crying anymore, it didn't change the turmoil raging in my chest.
I can't believe I let my guard down like that. I assumed it would be ok because of the way he was opening up to me. I mean, I met him at an auction, I should have expected him to do this type of thing. But last night just seemed like…more.
When I get home, I walk inside and make my way to the bathroom. I turn the water on and leave it to heat up while I go into my bedroom to put my purse and shoes down. I strip off my dress and find myself staring at it for a long moment before I put it into the hamper.
