Chapter 5 Junie’s POV

Waking up with the bright lights from outside, I noticed the silence in the room. Maybe it was that silence that woke me up because it was uncomfortable and it was wrapping around me like a blanket.

I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling, and then slowly I turned towards the window side. 

Everything was different from what I had thought, especially with the Vegas skyline.

When I tried to touch him, it was then that I noticed that I was alone. I immediately stood up, holding the pillow close to my chest.

“Where is he?” I quickly asked myself, hoping he would probably be in the bathroom, but I didn’t hear any sound from the bathroom. 

I quickly moved towards the other end of the bed and looked at the floor, where he had dropped his clothes, but nothing was there. 

It could only mean one thing, he had left before I woke up. I didn’t even get to know his name. But I could remember his face clearly.

Maybe we will meet again someday. 

I quickly returned to the bed, and lay down on it, my heart did this stupid little drop, like I’d missed a step going downstairs. Which was ridiculous because this was exactly what one-night stands were supposed to be.

You wake up, you leave, you pretend it never happened. Easy. Clean. Forgettable.

Except I could still smell cedarwood on the pillow next to me.

I sat up slowly, pulling the sheets around myself even though there was no one to see.

That was when I noticed the hotel notepad on the nightstand. It was folded only once. My mind was racing heavily, and my hand trembled as I managed to reach for the notepad.

The first thing that was written on it was ‘No regrets.” But he didn’t say his name.

I didn’t even know his full name. Didn’t know what he did for a living, where he was from, or whether he took his coffee black or loaded with cream. I knew how his hands felt on my skin and how he looked at me like I was worth paying attention to, but I didn’t know his name.

What the hell did I do?

I knew it was a one-night stand and I shouldn’t even know his identity, but I also wanted to know because there was something about him that felt so comfortable. I wanted more of him and I wished I would be able to see him again.

Maybe he should have said goodbye before leaving, that might actually have helped me. 

“Oh shit!” I exclaimed, trying to fight that weird feeling away from my body. “I have to talk to Cassie about it. Maybe she knows him because she comes here often.”

Even while the thoughts were inside my head, I tried as much as possible to forget about it because I didn’t want any regret, and with the way the panic was hitting me, the cold pain, and how everything went last night. 

I just shook my head and buried my head under my hands. 

I looked at the notepad again and read the line that said no regrets. It’s also so easy for him to conclude and I thought it would be easy for me to also conclude with him.

It wasn’t something I was used to, and every moment meant something to me. He probably did this all the time, charmed women out of their better judgment, made them feel seen for a night, then disappeared into whatever life he had been waiting for.

I needed to get out of here.

“I have to take a bath,” I quickly stood up from the bed and I rushed straight into the bathroom. I quickly turned the shower on and made it very hot, as hot as it could get before I finally stepped into the spray. 

I didn’t want to say I was regretting every moment. I just swallowed it inside of me and let the water pound against my shoulder.

I wanted to wash away everything and feel clean again. But nothing seemed like it was going to change.

I quickly reached for the soap, and that was when I noticed that I was still with the band that Declan had given it to me earlier when we started. I had to wear that band for a long time and it was time to finally throw it away. 

You’re making a mistake, Junie. You’re just scared. Everyone gets cold feet.

That was what my mother had said. What Declan had said. What half my family would have actually talked about. I don’t know how I will be able to fix it, but I just have to let everything go.

Maybe, he would come around. But going down with my cousin was something I didn’t really get. 

Declan was full of pride, and I knew him very well. He might actually apologize but not in the form of a true apology. I have been occupied all through the week and he just couldn’t wait for me even when I tried to satisfy him anytime I had the chance to do it.

He didn’t appreciate me enough, and that was sad.

He said I was giving him cold feet, but I don’t really know how I was doing that. We were supposed to get married and I wasn’t even scared of marriage.

I just have to focus on myself so that I will be able to pay my mother’s hospital bills. If I allow Declan to decide my life, I will just be here and watch my mother suffer, then maybe realize myself after many years of being what he wants me to be. 

The water suddenly felt too hot. I twisted the knob and stood there shivering as the spray turned lukewarm, then cold.

Last night, the stranger didn't need me to be anyone. He’d just asked if I wanted to stay, and when I said yes, he believed me. No convincing required. No extra drama necessary to lighten the room. 

I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a towel that probably cost more than my car payment. Then I heard my phone buzzing.

Cassie… I totally forgot about her. 

When I came out of the bathroom, the phone was exactly where I had left it earlier. It was buried just inside my purse and I wished I had dropped it just by the side of the door when he first kissed me. 

I quickly picked it up and immediately the screen lit up like it had been waiting for me to reach for it. 

The notification I saw immediately made me go mad at myself. What’s this?