It wasn’t too late, though, I thought cheerfully. We could talk tonight after the rest of the partygoers had left. No big deal.
Right?
Then why did I have a fluttery, strange sensation in the pit of my stomach? I pulled into a weirdly empty parking lot in front of his condo. This didn’t look like his place usually did before a party. I quickly checked my phone to see if he’d returned my text, but he hadn’t.
I shrugged. Maybe there were a bunch of people over and they’d carpooled or something. I needed to get out of my head and learn to just enjoy myself.
I took a couple of deep, grounding breaths. I was never a huge fan of parties, but I really didn’t love the ones at Tim’s place. He was friends with a bunch of beautiful people, they seemed to change each time I was over, and they all acted as if they’d known him forever. I also felt like I was being judged from the moment I walked in until the moment they left. I hoped it wasn’t because they didn’t think I was pretty enough to hang outwith the rest of them. Because how shitty was that? I wanted to pretend I was above caring about something so shallow.
But let’s be real, I wasn’t. Who was?
When I got to Tim’s place, I was surprised not to hear loud music or talking inside. I started to knock, but then I remembered him telling me to quit doing that the last few times I’d come over. He said I should just walk in like everyone else did. “If some guy I met twenty minutes ago feels comfortable walking in without knocking, you sure as hell should.”
I grinned at the memory and turned the knob. It opened right up. I peeked in as I pushed the door open. It was… quiet. No one appeared to be here. I started to call out for Tim, but then I wondered if he was sick or something. Maybe he’d tried to cancel, but it had been one of the approximately one million texts he’d sent me while my phone was off.
I looked at my phone and started to go through the texts, when I heard some noises from the back of his condo. It wasn’t really loud, so it didn’t seem like a bunch of people were back there. But who was? Just Tim and a few others? Maybe they were playing a drinking game?
Who knew? I opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of white wine out, and poured myself a glass. I took a few sips while I stood awkwardly waiting for the people to come out of the back of the condo. What was even back there besides his bedroom and a bathroom?
Maybe an office? I tried to remember but wasn’t having much luck. The times I’d been in his bedroom, I hadn’t exactly been interested in his floorplan. Finally, I tossed back the rest of the glass of wine for courage and poured myself another. It wouldn’t be weird to bust in on whatever they were all doing. I was invited.
Tim said I had a standing invitation. And now… I mean, weren’t we together? That gave me even more reason to feel like I belonged here.
Trying to feign confidence, I walked back to where I’d heard the noises. I heard some laughter and some groaning, so I felt better. I opened the door without knocking like he’d told me to do and…
My mouth fell open, but no sound came out. I was staring at a tan woman with large breasts ride Tim as his big hands gripped her around her hips and he thrust up inside her. His muscles were bathed in a light sheen of sweat, which made them no less beautiful than they always were.
“Ah, fuck, girl. That’s right. Take this dick,” he groaned as she screamed out his name and came.
I blinked in horror as I stood there, frozen.
He bit his lip and started lifting her up and down his cock until he was yelling out, too.
Then the woman collapsed on him, and he rubbed her back for a second before angling her off him.
How long had I been standing here? An hour? A month? Five minutes? I had no idea. But I felt powerless to move, to get myself out of here. What was wrong with me?
“Can we snuggle?” the girl asked in a breathy tone.
“Ah… I don’t think so. It’s too hot. In fact, you should probably go. I’ve got people that could come by anytime.”
“Why can’t I spend the night? That skinny girl you were with got to stay with you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah, well, Nat’s special.” The girl made an offended noise as he turned to set his feet on the floor.
And made eye contact with me. He smiled at first, the idiot, and then he must have seen the look on my face. His smile fell, and his face drained of color as I took a step back.
He stood up, reaching for me. He must’ve sensed I was about to run. “Nat…”
I dropped my glass of wine. It shattered on the hardwood floor, causing the blonde woman he’d been fucking to look over at me. “Oh, that’s your ‘special’ friend, huh? Yeah, Tim, I can tell how special she is if you had your cock inside me ten seconds ago.”
I looked at her. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” I hated that my voice cracked as I said it. I turned and ran from the room, hurried down the hallway, and sprinted out his front door.
***
The hurt was so strong, so bad, I couldn’t even cry as I walked away. Hell, I could barely breathe. Why did he do this? How could he sleep with me and then hop right into bed with another woman? How could he?
I closed my eyes tight and leaned against my car. I’d trusted him with everything. My body, my heart, my soul. And he’d shattered it. Obliterated it. Even though I’d been his best friend our entire lives, he’d treated me just like any other hookup. I’d been just another stupid girl who fell for his perfect face and gorgeous body.
