Brenda Novak - Until You Loved Me

“You should’ve done it.”

“Probably. Anyway, the towels were thicker than any I’ve ever felt, and there were monogrammed robes with slippers in the closet. It was pretty impressive.”

“Wow. So he was good-looking and rich.”

“Yes. And he had other assets, too.”

Gripping the sides of the table, Amy leaned forward. “Are you talking about what I think you’re talking about? You didn’t actually sleep with him, did you?”

Ellie felt her face heat even more.

“You did?” Amy gasped.

She nodded. “And it was absolutely incredible.”

Amy’s jaw dropped as she fell back in her seat. “I can’t believe it. So he was normal? Didn’t do anything that made him seem weird or made you uncomfortable?”

“No. I’ve never been touched like that. It was the best night of my life.”

“Wow!” Amy leaned forward again. “Going home with a stranger doesn’t always work out so well. I hope you understand that.”

“Good thing. Otherwise, I’d go clubbing every night.”

“I’ve never seen you like this,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve never been like this.”

“It was that good.”

“Better than good. But I don’t have a lot of experience. So maybe it was just better than Don.” She stopped for a second, remembering her boyfriend before Don, and changed her mind. “No. Anyone would think that was about the best sex can be.”

Amy acted as if she didn’t know what to say. “You could knock me over with a feather right now.”

“I was shocked myself. I never dreamed I was capable of being that reckless.”

“Speaking of reckless...” She lowered her voice. “Please tell me you used protection.”

Ellie glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “Of course. We used the condoms Leslie shoved in my purse.”

“Condoms...plural?”

Ellie cleared her throat. “He, uh, recovered quickly.”

“Whoa. Okay, but...he didn’t have any birth control of his own?”

“None. We would’ve had to stop and buy some if Leslie hadn’t given me those, so it worked out perfectly.”

“And here I thought it was more of a joke when she gave us those. I certainly didn’t use the ones she shoved in my purse, but she got a kick out of making you blush. She told me she’s never met anyone who can still turn red over things like that.” She clasped her hands together on the table. “But back to your...experience last night. What man goes to a club and picks up a girl without having any condoms?”

A man wearing sunglasses, which was also odd, but she didn’t mention that part. “He’s traveling. I guess he didn’t expect to need birth control while he was here.”

“That makes him seem even better. Obviously he wasn’t cruising the club just hoping to get laid.” Her expression turned pouty. “I wish I could’ve at least caught a glimpse of him.”

“You didn’t see us because we slipped out the back.”

“Why would you do that?”

She shrugged. “He said it was too crowded in front.”

“And no one tried to stop you?”

“He’s pretty tall and imposing, and he moves with...authority. I don’t think there are too many people who’d dare get in his way.”

“There are guys who get paid to do that. They’re called bouncers, remember? You can’t walk out the back of a club.”

“I’m not sure what to tell you. Hudson spoke to some guy, and the big man guarding the back door let us out.”

“Hudson, huh?” Amy pulled out her smartphone. “Hudson who? Let’s see if we can find him on social media.”

“I don’t know his last name.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Why not?”

“We weren’t focused on that sort of thing.”

“Isn’t that basic?”

“It is, but...” Almost as soon as they’d walked out of Envy, they’d agreed not to talk about their families or their work, the two things most people droned on and on about when they first became acquainted. It seemed a little strange now, although it hadn’t then.

“But what?”

“He said he was tired of repeating all the same stuff, and you know me—I’ve never been much for small talk. In this case, there didn’t seem to be any point in going through the motions. He’d already told me he wouldn’t be in town for long. We both knew we weren’t starting a relationship, that once he left, we’d probably never see each other again. That changes your expectations.”

“You said you spent two hours on the beach.”

“We did.”

“You must’ve talked about something!”

“We talked about philosophy, politics, religion. Even certain mysterious phenomena he saw on a TV program last week where they used satellites to spot odd structures on earth.”

“You talked about philosophy, politics, religion and science?”

“Yeah. You know, how the universe was created, and the fact that Venus was a sister planet to Earth at one time and might’ve fostered life before a runaway greenhouse effect turned it into an oven. Whether we’re looking at something similar on Earth.”

She shook her head. “Only you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? It was fine. We agreed on politics and religion.”

“You told him you believe in evolution.”

“Of course! I told him the evidence for it is staggering.”

“Like I said, only you.” She laughed as she moved so the waitress could deliver their salads. “Even drunk, you’re talking about heavy subjects, risky subjects or subjects most other people don’t know much about.”

“He knew plenty.” Ellie had been surprised that Hudson was so intelligent. Not because she was arrogant about her own IQ. She just didn’t think it was all that common for one man to have so much going for him.

A text came in. Her parents were safely in Paris, said they were jet-lagged but would check in later. Relieved to know they were okay, because it stabilized her world after a crazy twenty-four hours, Ellie was about to put away her phone and start on her salad when she got another text—this one from Don.

Hey, I was wondering if tonight would be a good time to come by and get the rest of my things.

She stared down at those words. They seemed so impersonal, the kind of thing he’d say to any old friend. Only four days ago, this was the man she’d been planning to marry, to spend the rest of her life with. And now he was coming to get his CDs, his sweater, his cat, who’d been living at her house since they typically spent more time there, and a few pans he’d left. Her life had changed so abruptly and so completely.

“What is it?” Amy asked.

Attempting to mask her frown, Ellie glanced up. “Nothing.”

“Come on. What is it? You were so happy a second ago.”

“Don. He’d like to come by tonight.”

Amy took a drink of water. “What for?”

“I have some of his things.”

“Are you going to let him?”

“Why not?”

Amy blinked in surprise. “Last I heard you didn’t want to see him. You said it was hard enough to run into him at work. But since you have no choice about that, why not put his stuff in your trunk and let him get it at the lab?”

“Because I can’t put his cat in my trunk.”

“He’s taking Lulu?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“You love that cat!”

“So does he.”

“That’s cruel.”

“It is what it is. And why put it off? I might as well let him come tonight,” she said and texted him her response. That’s fine. I’ll be home after seven.

“You don’t think he’ll bring Leo...”

“He could. I doubt he’s looking forward to facing me alone.”

“He’d better not bring him.” Amy stuffed a forkful of lettuce in her mouth and spoke around it. “I’m shocked you haven’t destroyed what you have of his, to tell you the truth—except for Lulu, of course. Lulu’s a great cat. You should keep her on principle.”