KISSING A STRANGER
1017 Words
The loud, booming music seemed to fade to the background. My attention was zeroed in on Lucas as I replayed his words.
“Sorry?” I asked, the alcohol gone from my system in an instant.
He shrugged so casually that I began to wonder if there was something wrong with his head. “You asked me to marry you. I replied.”
I stared at him blankly for a few seconds and then smiled. “You were joking. I thought you were serious there for–”
He pulled me into his body, staring down at me with a raised eyebrow. Through my tiny dress, I could feel his muscles pressed against every inch of my body. My nerves ignited and my heart sped up against my will. “You forced my hand to remain under your dress and then proposed to me. The very least you could do is take responsibility.”
I flushed. “It was the alcohol and you know it.”
“Do I?” he asked.
I could have easily dismissed him had he not looked so serious like we were discussing the price fluctuations of the stock market. That is, if I ignored the infuriating smirk on his face.
“Why are you so insistent on this?” I hissed out, trying not to show I was bothered by the hand gripping my thigh.
“I’m single. You're single. It's Valentine's day. It's like the fates themselves are on our side.”
When I tried to move out of his embrace, he tightened his grip around me, forcing me to all but sit in his lap if I didn't want to fall on the ground, flat on my face. He tilted his head when he saw how quiet I had become. His eyes flitted around my face and eventually settled on my lips.
When he brushed his lips against mine, I shoved him away instantly, covering my face with my hand. He blinked, startled and stared at me with disbelief.
I almost kissed a stranger.
Burning with shame, I shakily paid for my drinks. His eyes followed my every movement lazily. When I turned to leave, he held my arm. “Elena Reed, right?”
Hearing him say my name in his smooth, flirty voice caused heat to spread through my body. I gulped and snatched my hand to my chest. “What’s it to you?” I snapped.
He raised his hands in defence. Before he could say anything that could have my entire defence crumbling, I shoved past him and hightailed out of the club as fast as my five inch heels could take me.
I didn't stop running until I got to my hotel room, five minutes away from the club. After checking no one was behind me—just in case he had decided to follow me—I slammed the door and fell to my butt against it. As soon as I closed my eyes, his beautiful face flashed in my mind.
Jason never made me feel this way. With him, I felt secure, safe, assured of tomorrow. Lucas promised a bumpy ride. I could imagine what kind of mischief he got up to in his daily life if he could comfortably accept a marriage proposal from a half drunk woman.
I dropped my face to my knees. “Why am I thinking about him? I won't see him ever again,” I muttered.
My phone rang, interrupting my self loathing. I glanced at it, half hoping it was my jerk of an ex-boyfriend, calling to apologize. It would be easy to destress by yelling at him.
To my disappointment, it was my sister, Dana. I halfheartedly answered the call. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
I frowned, hating her telepathy more than ever. Danny always knew when anything was wrong with any of us from just a word. I cleared my throat before replying. “Why do you ask?”
“You sound like you've been drinking,” Dana said.
“No, I don't.”
She laughed. “You're right. You sound like your usual self but I heard you traveled to the Bahamas. I thought that it must have been your boyfriend's fault. Maybe he pissed you off. Did you guys break up?”
“How…how did you figure that out?”
“It's Valentine's day and your socials have remained deader than a skeleton. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out something’s up.”
I smiled sadly. “You're right. The asshole cheated.”
“He did what?!” our last born yelled.
“Hey, Evie,” I said tiredly.
“I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you say your boyfriend cheated?!” Evie yelled.
“Caught them kissing and everything.”
“Alistair! Lisandro! We're going to the Bahamas!” Evie yelled.
“What? Why?”
Upon hearing Alastair’s voice, tears sprung to my eyes. He was our firstborn and nothing short of a pillar in our family. Even Mom relied on him.
“Ally,” I cried, unable to keep composed in front of my little siblings any more.
“Elena? Elena, what's going on?” he asked, worriedly. “If you don't talk, I'm coming to Florida right now.”
I laid on the floor. “Ally, he cheated on me with Ruby.”
“Who the hell is Ruby? What happened?!” he yelled, starting to get angry. In the background, I could hear Dana explaining what had happened to him. In a few seconds, he returned to the phone. “Your damn boyfriend cheated on you?”
“He said I was…I was…”
“You were what?”
“Ugly…Jason called me ugly!”
“I'm gonna kill him. Tell me where you are.”
“I went to get drunk but I'm going home tomorrow,” I whispered, suddenly feeling drowsy.
“Elena, you better not be in a bar. Elena? Elena, answer me!”
I hummed, unable to keep my eyes open and fell asleep.
- Writer
