THE NIGHT WE MET

Chapter Two

The elevator moved, and each floor felt like it took forever. My mind kept racing, replaying bits of the night. How did I end up in this mess? Why did I let myself lose control?

When the doors finally opened to the lobby, I stepped out. My legs felt weak like they might give out at any moment. I didn’t want to go home yet. I wasn’t ready to face my family, not after what had just happened. I needed time to think, to figure out what to do next.

The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped outside, but it didn’t calm the storm in my head. How could I have been so careless? The Collins family was the one group of people I was supposed to avoid, and now... I’d woken up in David Collins’ apartment. And I didn’t even remember how.

I pulled my jacket tighter around me. Was last night the worst part? Or was it the thought of what might come next? What if David figured out how shaken I was? I couldn’t imagine facing him again. Our families had always been rivals, and now everything felt wrong.

As I walked, my thoughts wandered to the worst-case scenario. What if I got pregnant? My stomach turned at the idea. It was a slim chance, but it wasn’t impossible. I didn’t want to think about it, but I couldn’t stop the fear creeping in.

I stopped walking and took a deep breath. I needed to calm down and think clearly. I couldn’t run from this forever. Something had changed, and I had to deal with it, no matter how scary it seemed. But I didn’t know where to start.

I couldn’t go home yet. I needed more time to figure things out. But eventually, I’d have to face David. I’d have to face the truth. For now, all I could do was keep moving, one step at a time, and hope I wouldn’t fall apart in the process.

I took my phone out of my purse and dialed my best friend’s number. “Answer it, Gil,” I said beneath my breath. After a few more rings Gil finally answered.

“Hey, bestie. You’re up too early, it’s just six in the morning. This is so unlike you, you used to wake up late,” she chuckled on the other line.

“Shh. You talk too much, where are you? I need to see you as soon as possible. Are you in your apartment? I’m taking a cab there right now,” I said, without even breathing between the lines.

“A cab? Where’s your driver?” she asked me, probably confused.

“It’s a long story. I’ll be there right now,” I said ended the call and immediately entered the cab. After I gave the driver the address of Gillian’s apartment, I looked back at the apartment where I accidentally spent the night. “I’m doomed,” I thought to myself took a deep sigh, and slouched at the back of the cab.

What the hell have I done? And where the hell are my cousins? I looked at my phone to see if there were any messages or missed calls from any of them, but there wasn’t.

I typed a quick message to River, “Where the hell are you? Call me ASAP.”

My heart is pounding so loud. There are a lot of scenarios in my head which make me more irritated and annoyed.

The cab ride to Gillian’s apartment felt like it took forever, even though it was only fifteen minutes. My thoughts were racing faster than the car could move. I kept checking my phone, hoping for a reply from River or any of my cousins, but the screen remained empty.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling inside me. What were they thinking, leaving me like that? They were supposed to have my back, and now I was cleaning up a mess I didn’t even fully understand.

The cab stopped in front of Gillian’s building. I quickly paid the driver and stepped out. I pressed the buzzer for her apartment and waited.

“Yeah?” Gillian’s voice crackled through the intercom.

“It’s me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The door clicked open, and I hurried inside, taking the stairs two at a time. By the time I reached her floor, she was already standing at the door in a baggy sweatshirt, her hair in a messy bun, and a concerned look on her face.

“Sam, what’s going on?” she asked, stepping aside to let me in.

I didn’t answer right away. I walked straight to her couch and collapsed onto it, burying my face in my hands. Gillian closed the door and sat beside me.

“Okay, spill. What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I let out a sigh and finally looked at her. “Gillian, I screwed up. Big time.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean? What happened? Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?” Her voice was rising with each question.

“No, no one hurt me,” I said quickly. “It’s just... I woke up in his apartment.”

Her brow furrowed. “His? Who’s ‘his’?”

I swallowed hard. Saying his name out loud felt like admitting it was all real. “David Collins.”

Gillian froze, her eyes widening even more. " What? David Collins? Like... the David Collins? From that family?”

I nodded miserably. “Yes. Him.”

For a moment, she just stared at me, her mouth slightly open as she processed what I’d said. Then she shook her head. “Okay, back up. How did this happen? Start from the beginning.”

I sighed, pulling a throw pillow onto my lap and clutching it like it could somehow shield me from the shame. “We went out last night—me, Grey, River, and Tony. They wanted to ‘bond’ or whatever. I didn’t even want to go, but they dragged me to this bar. Everything was fine until River decided to crash their table. David was there with his friends.”

“Oh, no,” Gillian said.

“Yeah,” I said bitterly. “I tried to stay out of it, but they kept dragging me into the conversation. And then the drinks kept coming, and before I knew it, I was laughing at David’s jokes like an idiot.”

Gillian raised an eyebrow. “Jokes? He told jokes?”

“That’s not the point!” I said, then immediately regretted my tone. “Sorry. It’s just... everything’s a blur after that. I remember bits and pieces, but the next thing I know, I woke up in his bed.”

Gillian blinked, clearly at a loss for words. “And... did anything happen? Like, you know...”

“I don’t know!” I said, my voice breaking. “I think so? I was naked when I woke up, and he was... he wasn’t wearing a shirt. I panicked and left before he woke up.” I said in disappointment.