Page 10 of Ruined Promises

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstandstartles meas I stare at thedarkness in my bedroom. I managedto get changedout of my dress and into an oversized WCUT-shirt andgym shortsbefore I broke down crying.My shoes are scattered somewhere in my living room.At least I managed toget my phone on the charger.

I groan as I reach over and lift it to see who’s calling. Hadley’s name appears.Ugh,I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid her asking questions about myabrupt departure, especially when going out was my idea to begin with.But I had at least hoped that she had gone home with Josh, and maybe I would have more time before she confronted me about it.I set the phone back down as it continues to vibrate. Finally, it stops.Thank God.The phone vibrates again. I grab my phone and hit the Ignore button.

“Oh,hell no! I know you did not bitch button me,” my best friend shouts from theliving room after slamming my front door shut.Well, so much for her going home with the bouncer.

“Ugh, I need to get my own place,”Imutter to myself but loud enough for her to hear.

She laughs. “Yeah, right. We both know that’s not happening.”I hear the clicking of herbootsas she walks down the hallway to my bedroom.“Youwannatell me what this is all aboutbecause I don’t believe your bullshit of not feeling well.I saw your sexyfriend come back upstairs andknew something was…”

Hadley stops talking and stares at me as she takes in my appearance.While I did change my clothes, I hadn’t taken my makeup off yet, and by now, I cried enough tohave it running down my face.

“Lex, what happened? Did he hurt you?What’s going on? You’re scaring me.” She races over to my bedside and pulls me into her arms.Ibegin to cry again as my best friend goes into mother mode.“I’m going to fucking killthe bastard if he hurt you. Oh my God, Lex, he didn’t rape you,did he?”

I sniff and sit up, wiping the combo of snot and tears with my sleeve.

“Calm down.He didn’t rape me. It was nothing like that.”Quite the opposite, actually.

She stares at me intently. “Okay, then what am I missing here. Why are we here, then, youlookinglike that—” She runs herhand up and down at my appearance. “—and not back at the club with you all overMr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”

I shrugand pull back from her arms, settling against the headboard, and bring my kneesto my chest.

“Lexi, I need you to talk to me. I don’t understand what’s going on here. But he didn’t hurt you?”

“No,” I spit out louder than expected.My tone softens. “No, Ben didn’t hurt me.He was perfect.It was thebest sex of my life. Fuck, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to walk tomorrow.”

“Youhad sex with him,” my best friend shouts in surprise. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it myself. I don’t do things like that; the randomone-nightstandsareusually Hadley’s MO.

I wince at her volume.Oops.Ismile shyly. “Yes?”It comes out more as a question than an answer.

Hadley shoves my arm.“You skank. Look at you.” A giant smile on her face is quickly wiped away with a look of confusion.“Wait, again, why are you here, then, and not there, orin his bed naked with him.”

“I kind of freaked out.We had mind-blowing sex, like seriouslyan orgasm that ended all orgasms.”More than one.“He invited me up to his VIP sectionfor another drink, andI told him I just needed a minute to freshen up.”

She winks dramatically, and I laugh, but my laughter quickly fades. “But then I started to panic. I mean, I just met this guy. Remember what happened with the last guy I met and jumped right into things with.”

“Aww, honey. Not everyone is like Dominic.”She pulls me back into her arms for a deep hug.

“Well, it’s too late. We didn’t exchange numbers since I guess he hadn’t planned on the evening ending when it did, so now all I know is thathis name is Ben.”

“You could always run an ad in the magazine,” Hadley says somehow with a straight face, before breaking out into laughter.

“Yeah, I could see itnow.I could do a Dear Jane letter.”I join in on her laughter.

“You mean Dear Ben,” she interrupts, waggling her eyebrows.

“Yes, Dear Ben,ifyou are the same guy who I met at Eiffel Park and fucked me into next weekin the bathroom, can you please give me a call. I’m sorry for running out on you like Cinderella.”I’m thankful that my best friend came to my rescue. I already feel the weight has lifted slightly.

“Works for me.” Hadley shrugs, having trouble keeping a serious expression.

I grab a pillow from behind me, smacking Hadley in the face.

“No, it wasnothing.Just a one-night stand. Time to move on.”I sigh.

She gives me a soft smileand doesn’t push the subject anymore.Hadley lets out a large yawn.“I’m crashing here. I’m too tired to go to my room, plus your bed is more comfortable than mine.”

I throw my head back in laughter as I rise from the bed to head to the bathroom to wash the mess of makeup off my face. “We have the same bed.”

“And your point is?” I ignore her statement because, honestly, I’m grateful to have her here with me.“Oh, hey, Lex?” Hadley shouts from her place on my bed. I poke my head backout of the bathroom.“You better not ignore my calls again, bitch.” I can’t hide my laughter. “The only time you’re allowed to ignore me is whenyou’retaking a shit.”

“Onetime I dothat,and you never let me forget it.”

“You’re goddamn right.” Hadley’svoice trailsoffas she steps into my closet to grab a change of clothes.

Whenwe both return, she curls upin the spacenext to me, and we laughuntil we both fall asleep.

If this was nothing more than aone-nightstand, why is it that as I closemyeyes, I still feelhim,smellhim,and dream of him?

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