Page 10 of One Night

"How was it?" He shoves a handful of peanuts in his mouth as he leans back in our fake leather recliner.

I smile. "Freaking awesome. Might've been the best night of my life."

"Shit, really? Did you have a threesome?"

Of course that's where his mind goes. Van's mind is always on sex, the kinkier the better.

"It wasn't a threesome. But there was this girl." I imagine her in my head. Golden blond hair. Bright blue eyes. And lips that were begging to be kissed.

"Yeah?" Van says. "So? What about her? Was she hot?"

"She was more than hot. She was alluring. Seductive. Like she had me under her spell. I saw her across the room and I was instantly drawn to her."

Van laughs. "Is this for one of your songs or are you for real right now?"

"Never mind," I say, wondering why I ever talk to Van about girls. With him, it's always about sex. He doesn't get romance, or fate, or instant connections.

"So did you fuck her?" he asks.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yeah. We went upstairs. Used Kevin's room."

Van bursts out laughing. "Kevin's gonna kick your ass. You know how much he hates it when people use his room." Van points his finger at me. "Just wait. Kev's gonna make you wash his sheets. I used his room once and he made me wash almost everything in there. He didn't trust that I limited myself to the bed." Van smiles. "And he was right. Jewel and I used every square inch of that room."

"I don't even want to know," I say, plopping down on our ratty plaid couch.

Van loves to share his sex stories, half of which I'm sure are made up.

"You hooking up with her later?" he asks. "Or was it just a one-time thing?"

"I wanted it to be more than one time but she took off. I woke up this morning and she was gone."

"And she didn't leave her number?"

"No. I don't even know her last name. I know almost nothing about her."

He shrugs. "Then I guess it was just for a night. No worries. We'll find you someone else tonight."

"I don't want someone else. I want Amber."

"Did you give her your number? Maybe she'll call you later."

"I didn't have a chance to give her my number. She took off while I was asleep. She didn't even leave a note."

"Man, you must've really sucked last night." He pops another handful of peanuts in his mouth. "I wouldn't be too worried about it. We all have our off nights."

"I didn't have performance issues, idiot. I was on last night. Firing on all cylinders. The sex was the best I've ever had, and based on her reaction to it, I think she'd say the same."

"Then why would she just leave like that? Without telling you goodbye or leaving her number?"

"Because she's not staying here. She's moving to New York today for a job."

"No shit?" He rubs his salt-covered fingers over his jeans. "So she just wanted to get some action before she goes?"

"I don't think either one of us planned on that happening. When I got to the party, she was standing on the side of the room, looking bored, not like she was on the hunt for a guy to have sex with."

"You sure about that? Maybe she was one of our band groupies."

"She didn't know about the band until I told her." I pause. "I just realized I didn't even tell her the name of it."

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