Just One Night

Chapter 7

It was the night of Nick's welcome home party. The club was packed, as usual, full of beautiful people. The DJ spun only the best music, and the liquor was flowing - especially in Nick's booth. Sarah had even hung up her managerial hat to spend a few hours at the party.  She'd danced the night away with JR, having the time of her life. She'd even danced with Nick for a song. He kept his hands in respectable places the entire night. 

Nick was enjoying himself, flirting with all the girls, drinking way too much. He stood on the table to make a toast, accidentally kicking over an open bottle of champagne. Everyone in the booth let out a loud, good natured groan. Sarah, who'd had her arms wrapped around JR's neck, dancing with him, looked at the commotion. She rolled her eyes, but had a smile on her face. Leaning close to JR's ear, she told him she was going to go get someone to clean up the mess and bring a new bottle. She took his wrist, checking the time on his watch, and added that she had to do some work before the end of the evening so that she'd go to her office. 

He grabbed her ass in both hands, squeezing tightly. "Alright. I'll come get you when it's time to go. I can't wait to get you home".

She kissed him hungrily, reluctantly pulling away after a few moments. "Bye baby".

She left the VIP, Nick approaching JR, both men watching her leave.

"She's fucking hot, man", Nick slurred, obviously intoxicated.

JR slung an arm over is friends shoulder's giving him an amused smile. "Yes, she is". 

"Man...if I could....just one more time...."

JR looked at Nick, confused. "If you could what?"

"Fuck her".

JR moved his arm away. "Now, you're being disrespectful".

Nick held his hands up, laughing, "Okay! No fantasizing about fucking your girl!". He backed away from JR, holding up his glass to salute him. 

JR fumed for a few minutes, thinking. Suddenly, he realized Nick had said 'just one more time'. He turned to look for Nick, finding him dancing with some girl. JR pulled him away. "I need to talk to you. What do you mean 'one more time'?

Now it was Nick's turn to be confused. "I told you, man! I fucked that ass a while back. It was the hottest night of my life. Best pussy I've ever had".

Without thinking, JR punched Nick square in the face. The crowd in the VIP froze, gasping. 

"Yo! What the fuck, man?!", Nick yelled, hand over his cheek. 

JR lunged at him again, but stopped himself from connecting. He wasn't a fighter. Especially not with someone he had considered family. He clenched his fist at his side, seething, but turned to walk away. He looked up at Sarah's office, then made his way to the stairs leading to it. The bouncer at the stairs shook his hand, knowing he was Sarah's boyfriend, letting him up. He climbed the stairs, head spinning, not knowing what he was going to say or do when he got to the office. He entered without knocking. 

Sarah, who was seated at her desk, smiled brightly when she saw him. The smile faltered, though, when she saw the look on his face. She went to him, quickly, concerned. Cupping his face in her hands, she looked him over. "Baby, what happened?".

He rested his forehead against hers, his jaw clenched tight. His hands remained limp at his sides. "Did you fuck him?".

Sarah immediately knew he was talking about Nick. "Baby, I..."

"Did you fuck him?!" he roared, scaring her enough that she took a step back. He had never raised his voice to her before. 

She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I tried to tell you".

He stepped towards her. "You tried to tell em? When? When did you try to tell me?".

"So many times!" she exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. "The night he came for dinner. But, you didn't want to talk about it! It was one night! Before I met you. It meant nothing!".

He shook his head, nostrils flaring in anger. He put his hands on his hips. "You're a whore".

Sarah felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. "What?", she whispered, tears spilling over. 

"You fucked two best friends, and then lied about it".

She went to him, taking his face in her hands. "I have never lied to you. Ever. And, I have never, in my life, been referred to as a whore. I love you, and only you, but what you're saying right now, you can't take back, so I'd think very carefully before you say anything else". 

He looked her in her eyes, seeing the hurt he had placed there, and relented. He pushed her hands away, turning to leave. "Find your own way home tonight".

He left Sarah standing in her office, dumbfounded. She went to her window watching him run down the stairs, and push his way out of the club. Not knowing what to do she collapsed onto her couch, tears coming full force. She cried for a few moments, then wiped the tears away, sniffing loudly. She forced herself to go through the motions of closing the club, waiting until everyone was gone before calling an uber to take her home. 

She stared out the widow, seeing nothing, on the drive home. When she got home, she took out her phone, ready to dial JR's number. Before she could, her phone rang, his name showing on the call display. She answered quickly.

"Are you home?", he asked. He sounded tired and withdrawn.

"JR -", she started.

He cut her off. "I just need to know if you're home".

"I am".

"Okay. I have to go". He hung up without saying goodbye. 

She sighed, looking up at the ceiling, tears filling her eyes again. "I didn't do anything wrong" she said, to the empty apartment. She had a scalding hot shower, crying her heart out as the heat enveloped her. She stayed under the spray until the water ran cold. Shivering, she wrapped herself in a towel, crawling into bed, and pulling a heavy comforter over her. She reached for the phone she'd placed on her night stand, hoping to see something from JR on the screen. When there was nothing, she replaced the phone, burying her face in her pillows. She hadn't slept alone in weeks, she and JR alternating staying at each others places. She got out of bed, opening the drawer he'd claimed in her dresser. She rifled through it, pulling out one of his favourite sweatshirts. She dropped the towel, pulling the sweatshirt over her head. She put the hood on, then climbed back into bed, pulling the comforter tight around her. She knew she wouldn't sleep that night, so just laid there, trying not to think. She wondered if he was sleeping, or if his heart was breaking the same way hers was.