Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

MELANIE

I blink the sleep from my eyes and groan. The pounding in my head is a reminder that I’m no longer in my twenties. I drank way too much last night.

Someone bumps me, making me tense up.

I glance to my left, and then my right.

Oh, my God.

I’m surrounded by men in a room I haven’t seen in twenty years.

Events replay in my mind. What have I done?

Sitting up, I grab my head in the hopes that it will stop spinning. Lying in the bed next to me are Simon and Oliver. Kent is sleeping on the floor where we had sex, which is odd, since it’s his room.

I can’t believe we did that.

I had sex with three guys last night. I even took it in the ass, something I said I would never do. It was as if I was someone else. Someone adventurous. Someone who was confident and sure of their place in the world.

I’m none of those things at this point in my life. I’ve never felt more confused than I do right now.

I need to get out of here.

Creeping out of bed, I try my best not to wake them. I gather up my clothes and gently close the bedroom door behind me. As I get dressed in the hallway, my mind races. I can’t believe that happened. I was drunk as hell, but even with all the doubt floating in my head, there’s no denying I will never forget it. The feelings, the fantasy of it all. It was an amazing and life-altering experience.

But it’s not something I’ll be repeating.

The best thing to do is pretend it didn’t happen and hope they do the same. While it was fun in the moment, today, I feel like shit. It’s not just from the hangover. I haven’t been with anyone except my ex in years. We were together for so long, it feels wrong to be with someone else.

It was insane to do something so reckless.

I leave the house as another shame fills me. I’m sneaking out like a teenager. It’s a selfish thing to do. They deserve better than that, but I’m too chicken to face them.

I may have just tainted what could’ve been a great renewal of friendship.

I sigh, feeling lower than low.

As if my morning isn’t bad enough, I see my mother’s car parked in her driveway. I can only hope she’s already gone to bed. With my shoes in my hand, my hair a mess, and my early morning walk home, she’s going to know what I did the minute she sees me.

Tiptoeing onto the porch, I skulk inside. The door closes silently behind me. I smile, releasing the breath I was holding and turn. I’m almost in the clear; I just need to make it to my room without disturbing her, and she won’t know anything.

I tread softly down the hallway, glancing at the kitchen as I pass. My eyes widen as I freeze.

“Had fun at the party, did we?” My mother smiles.

My shoulders sag. Damn it.

I drop my shoes, defeated. “Don’t ask.”

My mother doesn’t get into my business much, but the entrance I just made will probably have her prying a little.

“I think I deserve something,” she says.

I trudge past her into the kitchen. “I was hoping you’d be asleep.”

“No such luck.” She turns to follow me with her gaze. “I came home and no one was here. There’s a snowstorm coming tonight. I was going to text you.”

“How bad?” I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and chug half.

“Bad enough that I’m staying at the hospital so I don’t miss my shift tonight.”

“That’s why you’re not in bed,” I mutter.

“Yes. I was packing. Now, why aren’t you?”

I groan. “I did something bad.”

“How bad?”

“Multiple people bad.”

She cringes. “At once?” When I nod, she adds, “I don’t want to know how that worked.”

Laughing at the look on her face, I immediately regret my action and wince at the echo in my head.

“Take a pain reliever for your hangover. We’ll talk more after the weekend.” She walks to the living room and grabs her overnight bag. “Stay warm. The power may go out. There are extra blankets in the bathroom closet. If you need to, you can always go to one of the neighbors’ houses in case of an emergency.”

“No, I can’t.” I frown.

She snorts. “Good luck resolving that mess. Waffles are in the freezer.”

“Thanks,” I mumble as she leaves.

I am so screwed.