Don't Explain

nine.

The next morning, I woke up to the sun streaming through the window, the warm light casting a golden hue over everything in the room. As I stretched and rolled over, I noticed the quiet hum of the hotel around me, the distant sounds of the city filtering through the walls. But there was something else that disrupted the peace: a knock on the door.

Confused, I slipped out of bed, my heart racing as I wondered who it could be. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a hotel staff member holding a small package. He smiled politely and handed it to me, saying, "This is for you, ma'am."

I took the package, my mind racing as I closed the door. I recognized the delivery instantly. It was discreet but unmistakably a box of Plan B. A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and I felt my cheeks flush as I recalled the events of the previous night.

Prince had taken charge in a way I hadn't anticipated, but I never expected him to arrange for a morning-after pill to be sent to me. I had forgotten about my birth control and the weight of that moment still hung over me, but receiving the medication felt like a public acknowledgment of my mistake, one that felt utterly mortifying.

With shaky hands, I opened the package and stared at the small box inside, feeling a mixture of shame and annoyance. Part of me was grateful he cared enough to take this precaution, but the other part felt exposed and vulnerable, as if he was treating me like a child who needed to be reminded of her responsibilities.

I could almost hear his voice echoing in my head, "No more risks." It was a reminder that I was part of a bigger game, one I had willingly stepped into but now felt trapped in.

After pacing the room for a few minutes, I decided I couldn't let this get to me. I took a deep breath, telling myself I'd just handle it like any other situation. I was an adult; I could manage this.

With a little more composure, I took the Plan B pill, my heart still racing as I thought about how this morning had started. There was no denying that things had shifted between us—this wasn't just fun and games anymore. There were real consequences to our actions, and now I had to face them head-on.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Prince. "Good morning. I had something delivered to you. Hope you took it."

I could almost hear his tone through the text, that mix of care and control he always maintained. My fingers hovered over the screen as I contemplated my reply. Did I want to express my embarrassment or brush it off? I settled on something simple.

"Morning. I got it. Thanks."

As I hit send, I felt a mix of apprehension and resolve. I knew that whatever was happening between us, I had to navigate it carefully. Today was another day in this tangled web we were weaving, and I had to be ready for whatever came next.

***

After a long day of processing everything, I finally decided to take charge of my life. I couldn't keep pretending that the chaos swirling around my relationship with Prince didn't affect me. Maybe it was time for a reset, a break to gather my thoughts away from this whirlwind of emotions.

That evening, as I sat in the plush chair by the window in my suite, watching the city lights flicker to life, I took a deep breath. I grabbed my phone and opened my messages, scrolling to Prince's name. He had been quiet since this morning, and I wondered if he was still processing the situation as I was.

Summoning my courage, I typed out my request: "Hey, can you change my flight to L.A. tomorrow? A few days early."

I hit send and waited, my heart racing. I could practically hear the clock ticking in the silence, and I felt a rush of nerves at the thought of what he would say. Would he understand? Would he be upset?