I nodded, and we headed into my room. I turned the lamp on my nightstand on, filling the room with dim, golden light. Once on our bed, we made out and slowly peeled our clothes off. Alec’s breathing grew heavy, but it sounded sort of wheezy. I tried to not let it bother me, even though pulled me out of the moment.
When Alec took my underwear off, I waited for him to have a reaction. Jordan always stared at my pussy like it was some kind of precious treasure. Alec didn’t react at all. He just shoved his own pants down, and I could see the outline of his erection through his boxers.
“Can I fuck you now?” he asked.
I stared at him. Just like that? What about foreplay? I wasn’t even wet yet.
“Ella?” he said, when I hadn’t replied.
This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. Suddenly, I felt cold and way too exposed. The more I looked at Alec, the more I wondered: what was I doing? Did I even want to sleep with him? Or was I just desperate for sex?
Was I even attracted to him? I thought I was. But in that moment, the thought of him lying on top of me, with his wheezy breathing, made me shiver with repulsion.
“Um,” I said, standing up, grabbing my clothing to cover myself. “Sorry, I…I just need a moment.” I ran into my bathroom and closed the door behind me.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t look aroused, with flushed cheeks. Instead I looked…anxious. Slowly, I pulled my clothes on.
“Is everything okay?” Alec asked through the door after five minutes passed, and I still hadn’t come out.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. Alec had gotten dressed and was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands in his lap.
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m not feeling well.”
His brow creased. “What’s wrong? Do you need medicine?”
I shook my head. “I’ll just take some painkillers and get some rest.” I gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
He gave me a small smile. “That’s okay. I should get going anyway. It’s late.”
“I’ll walk you down,” I said, following him to the front door and pulling a pair of slippers on.
We didn’t talk in the elevator. I couldn’t tell whether Alec believed I was genuinely sick, or whether he knew I was just making an excuse. Was he annoyed? I’d be annoyed if I were him.
But just before the elevator arrived on the ground floor, he took my hand and squeezed it. I smiled at him, and we stepped out into the lobby together.
That’s when I saw Jordan. Once again, he was wearing sweatpants and a black t-shirt that looked too tight on his broad shoulders. He never dressed nicely, ever.
For a second, I wondered what he wore to his job. He probably wore a suit and tie. The image was laughable.
“Ella,” he said. His gaze fell on Alec and his jaw tightened.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
Jordan didn’t reply, and in the corner of my eye, I saw Alec giving me a questioning look. I summoned some composure. “This is Jordan, my…friend from college,” I told Alec.
“Right,” Alec said after a pause. He offered a hand to Jordan. “I’m Alec. Nice to meet you.”
Jordan stared at the hand like it was contagious, but after I glared at him, he took it. “Likewise,” he said, shaking Alec’s hand briefly, before dropping it like a hot potato. He turned to me. “I need to talk to you.”
Part of me wanted to cuss him out, but I couldn’t, not in front of Alec. I forced a smile. “Sure. Just let me say goodbye to Alec. Wait here.” With that, I led Alec outside. There was a light summer breeze that tangled my hair.
“Well,” Alec said, “I had a good time tonight.”
“Me too,” I replied. “Sorry it was cut short.” I touched my temple, pretending I had a headache.
“That’s okay,” Alec said. “Get lots of rest, okay?”
“I will,” I promised him.
