Page 50 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“Okay, wait, but what happened with the audition?”

“Oh, yeah, right, I totally forgot. Nothing happened. Right before I got called in, I found out that Garrett, my high school boyfriend?—”

“High school boyfriend,” Nadia chorused with me.

When I moved to Firefly Island, I’d told Nadia all about Garrett. She’d known that I thought I was going to marry him and have his babies. She knew that he’d broken my heart.

“Yes, him. He is engaged to Jenny, my childhood best friend, and she’s pregnant.”

“What the actual fuck?! Didn’t he break up because he didn’t want to settle down, and he didn’t want to have kids?”

“Yes, and not only that, I saw a picture of them together a year before we broke up.”

“What an asshole.”

“That was my take on it, too.”

“So you think you blew the interview because of that?”

“I didn’t even go into the interview.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Actually, once I met Big at the bar last night, I hadn’t given Garrett or Jenny another thought. Even the drive home today, they hadn’t crossed my mind until now.

As if reading my dirty mind, Nadia said, “Well, on the bright side, your trip wasn’t a total waste; you had a hot one-night stand with Big. Are you going to see him again? What happened this morning?”

“No, I’m not. And nothing happened. I snuck out before he woke up.”

“What?! Why?!”

“Because it was just… I don’t know.”

When I woke up in his arms, it felt…good. Too good. It was so good that I actually felt myself getting teary-eyed. If I felt that way after one night with the man, what would happen if I saw him again? What if we dated for a month or even two?

There was something different between us. Something I couldn't explain and something that scared me. What I felt was too intense, too raw, too intimate for two strangers.

I heard a bell ring in the background of the phone call.

“Shit, I have to go. I have a faculty meeting. Girl’s night soon?”

“Yes, girl’s night soon.” I disconnected the call.

As I drove across the causeway onto the island, I wondered what Big thought when he woke up in bed alone. Was he relieved not to have to face the awkward morning after? Was he disappointed that I was gone? Was he indifferent?

That might be the worst of all. If he barely even noticed my absence, that would hurt. But since I would never actually know, there was no point in pondering scenarios.

I’d been tempted to leave a note with my number. I told myself that the reason I didn’t was because I’d have to come clean about giving him a fake name, but if I were being honest, the truth was my fear of rejection. I didn’t want to play the gameof waiting for him to call. I didn’t want every day that passed to be another one in which hedidn’treach out to me.

Oh well, we had one perfect night together. One night that would never be tainted by him not calling, or not texting back, or cheating on me, or falling out of love with me, or any other relationship pitfall. It will forever be preserved as the best, hottest night of my life.

When I got to the estate and stepped out of the car, I felt sore in places I’d never been sore before. And when I walked up the steps, I wondered how long the physical reminders of my perfect night would remain. Even though they were a little uncomfortable, I hoped they’d last for a while.

I knocked on the door, and Fred opened it, wearing his signature cardigan, tie, and slacks, but today he also had on a flat cap. “Hey, Fred.”

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