Strip Game - A Whirlwind Summer

44. 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑

♪✰❄︎𖤍❄︎✰♪

𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐋𝐄𝐘

"I love you." I heard him say.

I froze.

My heart skipped a beat. "What?"

"I’ve always… I really love you…"

That was it.

Whatever self-control I had left disappeared. My heart screamed louder than logic.

"I love you too, a lot" I whispered back, as I slid my hands under his shirt.

I helped him undress, shirt first, then his pants. He was out of it, but I didn’t care. I stripped myself bare and laid back.

He thrust into me immediately.

It all happened fast. Heat. Movement. Breathless moans. Skin against skin. His name escaping my lips like a prayer. It was wild, messy, raw. And it happened.

We did it.

Present

I gasped softly, clutching the edge of the sink as tears slipped down my cheeks.

I’m such a fool.

Those words rang again in my head, sharp and cold.

"This was just a one-night stand."

"I was drunk."

"Don’t tell anyone. Especially Luna."

My knees nearly gave way.

The tap ran loudly as I leaned in and let the water mask my sniffles. I splashed my face, trying to erase the memory along with the tears.

"Ashley? Are you okay in there?" Luna’s voice floated from outside the door.

"I’m fine!" I called back, forcing my tone light.

I stared at my reflection. My eyes were red. My lips still swollen. I hated myself for still wanting to remember his mouth on mine.

I dried my face quickly and stepped out. Molly was twirling in front of the mirror in a tight lilac dress.

"Does this look hot or what?" she asked with a grin.

Luna approached me gently. "You okay?"

I nodded with a tight smile. "Yeah… just needed a minute."

Molly turned, hand on her hip. "So? Dress rating?"

I forced a smile. "It’s perfect. You look great."

They went back to chatting about Drake’s party plans, about clothes, revenge, music, and Tiffany’s likely entrance.

I sat beside them, nodding when necessary, but hearing none of it.

Because I wasn’t there.

I was still in that room, under him, replaying words I wish had meant something.

××××

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒

Another dart missed the center, barely grazing the board before it dropped to the floor with a pathetic clatter. Third miss in a row.

"Bro, what the hell?" Jeff folded his arms and stared. "You okay?"

I didn’t reply. My fingers fumbled around the next dart, but I didn’t throw it. Couldn’t. I just stood there, staring through the buzzing lights, music, laughter, all over the arcade, but everything feels distance, like the whole place was underwater and I was slowly sinking.