Page 1 of Dear One Night Stand
1
ANNIE
I couldn’t have known when this terrible day began that it would end with the best night of my life.
“Don’t bother with the excuses,” My best friend and roommate, Marnie, says to me when I knock on her bedroom door. “You’re going tonight, Annie.”
She’s applying her makeup at her vanity table in the corner of her room. She doesn't need to turn around, she can see me in the mirror, and I can see her disapproving scowl.
“You don’t know what I came in here to say.” I fidget with the hem of my shirt.
"Okay." She puts down her eyeliner and turns around in her seat. "Then why are you hovering in the doorway of my room when you should be getting dressed for the reunion?"
Our group of friends from college has plans to meet up in the city tonight. It’s been a few years since all of us got together at once since graduation.
“I’m just anxious to see everyone,” I say.
“Everyone or Baker?”
I glare at her. She knows we don’t say that name in this house. “He’s part of the group, isn’t he?”
She holds her hands up. “I’m sorry. But I don’t think you should miss out on catching up with everyone becauseHe Who Shall Not Be Named—”
“Thank you.”
“—dumped you after graduation.”
I straighten. “He didn’t dump me.”
“He voluntarily ended the relationship without your consent. What would you call it?”
“I’m not going.” I turn around and walk down the hall to my room.
“You’re going!” she calls after me. “I’m not about to let you miss out on catching up with our friends because you think you can’t handle seeing him. I’m not going to let him have the satisfaction in thinking you can’t face him because you aren’t over him.”
“I am over him.” I slump down on my bed. “I just wouldn’t mind it if he showed up tonight with a huge beer belly and no hair.”
Marnie crosses her arms and smiles. “That is the dream for all exes.”
We both laugh.
“You really aren’t going to let me stay home tonight, are you?” I ask.
“You have the rest of your life to stay home to watch romantic comedies and eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.” Marnie walks over to my closet and opens the door. “We are going to get you all dressed up, I'm going to do your makeup, and we are going to show Baker just what he missed out on.”
I let Marnie works her magic on me, and we are in a cab an hour later. The restaurant we are meeting the group at already looks pretty full by the time we arrive. We pay the driver and step out into the cold early spring evening. I hug my jacket close around me as we head towards the door.
Marnie gives our names to the hostess inside.
“Most of your party is already here,” she smiles at us. “If you’ll follow me, I will lead you to the private room.”
Uneasiness fills me the closer we walk through the restaurant. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Baker, and yet somehow, at this moment, it feels like no time has passed. I don’t have feelings for him, at least I don’t think so, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to spend the evening around him pretending the past didn’t happen.
I grab Marnie’s arm to stop her. “I need a drink.”
“Okay, we can order one at the table.”
I shake my head at her. "I need to gather myself before I see Baker face to face, and I think a bit of liquid courage might help me." I point over to the bar against the wall. "I'm going to get a drink, and I will meet you back there.”
