Chapter 25
The bar wasn’t crowded, but it wasn’t empty either. A couple sat near the windows, whispering and leaning into each other. A group of women laughed at the far end, one of them already tipsy, knocking her elbow into a glass.
I took a stool near the corner and ordered something I couldn’t pronounce. I didn’t care what it tasted like. I just needed something strong.
The first sip burned. I barely winced.
I didn’t check my phone, didn’t care about the time. I stared ahead at the rows of bottles behind the counter, each one lined up like they had more direction than I did.
Why was I even this affected?
It wasn’t like I caught Karl doing anything to me. He wasn’t kissing the girl. He wasn’t even touching her, really. But he didn’t stop her either.
And that stung.
I took another sip. Then another.
I hated that I cared. I hated that I noticed every woman that looked twice at him, hated that the way he pulled me close felt different every time, like it might mean something. 1 hated that I was hoping for more from someone who never promised me anything.
My fingers wrapped around the glass tighter. The condensation dripped down onto the bar top, leaving rings under my hand.
I remembered the way he looked at me when he asked to come with me. Like he meant it. Like he wanted to be there.
I downed the rest of the drink.
Maybe I was reading too much into everything. Maybe it was just the fantasy of it. Who wouldn’t feel things, being around someone like him? A man like Karl made it easy to forget it was all fake. He gave attention in a way that didn’t feel empty. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, you remembered it. And maybel wanted it too badly.
1 flagged the bartender again and asked for another.
My head was buzzing now, the weight in my limbs setting in. I tapped my fingers on the rim of the glass as it was placed in front of me.
1 mought about what I’d say if 1 saw him now. Would I tell him it didn’t matter? Would I ask him what she was doing there? Or would I pretend like it never happened?
was halfway through my second drink when someone slid into the stool beside me. He didn’t say anything at first, just rested both elbows on the bar and glanced sideways.
“You good?” he asked, voice calm but curious. “You’ve been drinking like the glass insulted you.”
Hblinked at him, barely registering his face, then scoffed and looked back down at my drink. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He shrugged, watching the bartender rinse out a shaker. “Just asking. It’s not every day you see someone drinking alone with a look like they got punched in the chest.”
Let out a quiet Laugh more batter than amused. I stared at the rim of my glass, then swirled it a little.
“You ever feel stupid for catching feelings you had no business catching?” I muttered, not expecting hun to answer. “Like. I don’t even know why I care. We’re hor even dating We’re just in a con-”
I stopped, clamping my mouth shut
His brow lifted. “A co
“Never mind.” I said quickly, waving it ul, eyes darting away.
He leaned in just a linie. “So let me get this straigh. Your husband is cheating on you, and you’re here getting wasted over it”
1 hesitated “Well, yeali kind of.”
He leaned back. lips tugging into a small stark “Then why don’t you get even?”
Fturned to look at him “What?”
Chapter 25
“Get even,” he said again, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “He wants to play around, let him. You’re allowed to have fun too. You’re not chained to him, are you?”
I didn’t answer.
My mind drifted back to that girl. The way she leaned into Karl’s chest like it belonged to her. The way he didn’t push her off. The way he didn’t even look surprised I walked in. Even though it was just a contact, I thought he would at least respect what we agreed on. I thought he understood what this was supposed to mean
But maybe that was my
y mistake.
let my eyes fall back to the man beside me. He wasn’t bad looking. Clean jawline, nice smile. His tone was flirty, but not sleazy. He was watching me now, waiting.
Maybe he was right.
I wasn’t the only one in this contract. And if Karl was going to make a fool of me, maybe it was time I did the same.
1 exhaled slowly, then tilted my head just slightly in his direction.
“I’m down”
Great the guy said, his grin widening just a little. “You won’t regret it.”
1 forced a smile, picked up my glass again, and took another long sip. It burned a little less this time, or maybe I was just getting used to the taste,
A one–night stand.
That’s what I needed.
Nothing serious, no drama, no contracts, Just something reckless to remind myself I was still in control of something. And if Karl could have women crawling all over him, then so could I.
I nodded to myself and pushed the glass aside. “Alright. I just need one more drink if I’m going through with this. There’s no way I’m doing this © sober.”
The guy laughed, hands raised in surrender, “Fair enough. I’ll go book the room. Be right back.”
I didn’t stop him. I leaned my elbow on the bar, asked for another, and stirred the straw in the glass while biting down on the inside of my cheek.
Aour–night stand
I whispered it to myself like it was a plan I’d been working on for weeks.
and with
By the time I finished the last sap. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned my head and there he was, that same guy, holding up a key card pleased look on his face.
1
“Alright” he said, slipping the card into his wallet. “Got us a room just a block away. Decent hotel, nothing sketchy. We’ll have a nice night, just you
Í grabbed my purse and nodded oner, not thinking too hard,
He turned to lead the way, and 1 took a step forward.
“What night are you talking about!”
The voice sliced clean through the noi
ie noise of the har
It was sharp, controlled, and a older than I had ever heard
My monach dropped intantly
Karl was standing a few feet behind us, los posture stil, one hand in his coat pocket, the other clenched tightly at his side. His jaw was locked. His cjes weren’t online. They were fixed un the guy in front of me.
The guy turned to, blinking at the sight of him. “Uh, sorry, do I know your
suk a slow step forward
I asked you a question,” he said, still not looking at me. “What night are you talking about?”
