by lisiagho
I barely have time to be embarrassed because my stomach begins to act up. “I think I might hurl.”
“After that picture, I wouldn’t blame you.”
Despite everything, he still manages to make me laugh. He sweeps me off my feet—literally—and begins to hurry up the last flight of stairs.
“I’m sorry.” I feel the need to explain myself to him. “I thought it was my sister.”
“Don’t worry,” he assures me. “I doubt you’re smitten with the owner of that duck.”
I giggle and then groan as my stomach rebels again. The moment we reach our room, I run inside and slam the bathroom door shut, emptying my margaritas into the toilet.
So much for all the primping and flirting. My one-night stand turns into a one-night sleepover. The last thing I remember is me burying my head into a pillow thinking to myself: Just five minutes.
Sunlight is streaming through the hotel curtains.
My date is fast asleep on the couch looking like the angel he is.
Yesterday’s bright yellow duck flashes before my eyes and I cover my face, dying inside. I dragged this dude to a hotel just to make him carry me up six flights of stairs and fall asleep on him.
It’s a miracle he’s still here.
Quietly, I put my hair in order, strap on my heels and hobble outside. Thank goodness the elevator has been fixed. (That was fast!) As I pay for our room—the least I can do after the disastrous night—I think about running. Before I know it, I’m already striding out of the hotel. The sun is shining, at odds with how gloomy I feel. I meet an awesome guy and what do I do? I screw it up. I screw it up so thoroughly that I don’t even sleep with him. Forget a second date—how on earth am I going to face him?
I look up to see where I’m walking and what do you know, it’s our coffee shop. My short dress and heels stick out like a sore thumb at 7am in the morning but I can’t bring myself to care. I push open the door. The little bell tinkles as I enter and the coffee guy from yesterday blinks at my outfit before greeting me with an overly cheerful smile. “Good morning! What can I get you?”
I sigh.
“One ristretto and one latte please.”
© lisiagho 2023-08-31