After the Heartbreak

Chapter 4 of Part II: The Morning After

(Megan’s POV)

The morning light streamed in through the curtains, pulling Megan from a deep, dreamless sleep. She blinked, her eyes heavy and her head pounding with the remnants of last night’s alcohol. For a moment, she stayed still, trying to orient herself, wondering why her surroundings felt unfamiliar.

This wasn’t her bed.

Megan’s heart raced as she sat up abruptly, realizing she was on a couch in someone’s living room. Panic washed over her. Where was she? What had happened last night?

She quickly scanned the room, noticing the sparse, neatly arranged furniture and the distinct lack of any personal touches—no photos, no knick-knacks. The room felt clean but impersonal. Her gaze moved to the coffee table, where a glass of water and a box of tissues had been left out.

And then it hit her.

The club. Mark. Too many drinks. And then… the man who had taken her home.

“Oh no,” Megan whispered, sinking back into the couch and covering her face with her hands.

She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as flashes of the night came back in pieces. She vaguely remembered Mark introducing her to a man at the club, someone quiet and a bit distant. And then… nothing. She couldn’t even recall how she ended up here, in this stranger’s apartment.

Megan groaned inwardly. Not only had she been so drunk that she needed someone else to take her home, but now she was waking up in a man’s apartment she didn’t even know. And to make matters worse, she had no idea where her purse was.

She glanced around, but there was no sign of her belongings. Great, she thought, biting her lip. She didn’t want to stay and ask about it, though. The last thing she needed was more awkwardness with this guy, whoever he was. Mark had said they lived in the same neighborhood, but that hardly made her feel better. She didn’t even know his name.

Megan’s stomach flipped with embarrassment. She needed to get out of here—now.

Pushing the blanket off her, Megan stood up, wobbling slightly as the room tilted for a brief second. She cringed at the thought of what this man must have thought of her last night. She quickly scanned the apartment again, confirming that no one else seemed to be awake.

Perfect, she thought, making her way to the door. She’d deal with the missing purse later. Maybe Mark could contact the guy and tell him about it. For now, she just wanted to escape without making things more uncomfortable than they already were.

With a quick glance back at the apartment, she slipped out the door and into the cool morning air, her heart still racing from the lingering embarrassment.