A sliver of sunlight cut through the opening in Rachel’s curtains, spilling across her cheek and waking her. She groaned softly, rolling toward the wall as she tried to cover her face with the bedsheets, only to find that when she pulled them, they remained stuck in place.
Her eyes opened wide in dreadful realization.
She turned quickly and found Mike sprawled on his back next to her. One arm over his head, mouth slack as he snored loudly. Rachel jolted upright.
So it wasn’t a dream. He had stayed the night.
She scanned the room. There was a comical array of scattered clothes and takeout boxes. Her abs cramped as she reached for her phone to check the time.
10:43 AM
Rachel grimaced. She then checked her messages and found one from Noah.
Noah: Sleep tight, angel. Hope your day went well 🙂 Talk tomorrow <3
Her heart beat a little faster as guilt slipped into her chest. She turned the screen off quickly and laid the phone on her nightstand. She tried to remind herself that there was no reason to feel guilty. Noah had given her his blessing, after all. But she still looked away from Mike as he let out a loud snort.
Agitated, Rachell kicked his leg under the blanket, causing him to jerk awake.
“Wha… what is it?” he muttered, eyes still closed as he furrowed his brow.
“You were snoring,” Rachel said.
“Was not,” Mike said.
“You were.”
Mike let out a grunt as he flipped to his back and slowly opened his eyes.
“Fuck… what time is it?”
“Almost eleven,” Rachel said.
She watched him longer than she meant to. His hair was a mess, and his jaw was covered in stubble. His tan skin glowed in the morning sun. Her eyes trailed across him. There was a mark on his shoulder she’d left, and another on his neck. Strangely, she liked that it was visible to others. He scratched his ribs lazily, then yawned wide before covering his eyes with his beefy forearm.
Rachel sat back, turning while she tucked behind her ear.
Last night wasn’t supposed to become this morning. Mike was supposed to fuck her and leave.
But instead, she had let Mike in. Let herself be taken, not even remembering to record until later. Rachel had given herself to something that only she and Mike would remember.
And the worst part was, she knew it had gone beyond sex.
Mike’s shell had come undone. He wasn’t smart. He didn’t have clever things to say. But he was kind, warm, and funny. Rachel smirked as she remembered them lying in bed, watching cat videos he had saved from his feed, both of them laughing loudly together while eating takeout. He told her dumb story after dumb story while making fart jokes. All the while laughing playfully.
Mike’s laugh was golden.
Then his hand trailed up her thigh.
And Rachel let him take her, again.
And again.
And again.
Then, when they had stopped recording. Mike took her once more, slowly. The room was dark, save for light bleeding in from the living room lamp. He kissed her gently while thrusting like an animal. He lifted her up, dropping her onto his cock with slow control.
He came in her like that and held her close.
Rachel held him back.
She had never experienced something like that with another man. Mike wasn’t Noah, and he would never be.
But there was a real chemistry between her and Mike. Rachel hadn’t planned for that.
Mike sat up next to her. “Where’s your water bottle at?”
Rachel nodded toward the desk. “Somewhere over there.”
Mike reached and grabbed the nearly empty pink bottle, downed it, and stood. He was completely naked and entirely untroubled by it. Rachel watched as he grabbed his pants and pulled them on.
Mike cleared his throat. “That was uh… really special.”
He glanced at her quickly before laughing nervously.
“So thanks… I guess,” he said.
Rachel rubbed her arm, but didn’t say anything. Mike’s back flexed. She looked away. He glanced at her again awkwardly.
“You uh… you good?” he asked.
Rachel nodded far too eagerly. “Oh, yeah. Are you?”
“Fuck yeah,” he said with a grin. “Yesterday was…” He trailed off and rubbed the back of his head. “It was… fun.”
“Yeah, it was,” Rachel said.
There was a strange amount of caution to their words. Rachel slid out of bed, keeping the sheet wrapped around her as she looked for her tank top.
“Are things… weird?” Rachel kept her eyes focused on the floor, not daring to look in Mike’s direction.
Mike scratched his jaw. “Uhhh… I mean, no? Why would they be?” He laughed again.
Rachel nervously laughed with him.
“Exactly! Why would they be weird? We just hung out between fuck sessions…”
“Right! Like fucking bros or something. Or like, not bros who fuck but like… just fucking bros. But I guess we did fuck, but uh…”
Mike turned, stalling as he caught Rachel’s eyes.
“We were just hangin’ between fuckin’,” He said weakly.
Rachel rolled her eyes with a smile. It was meant to be nonchalant, but she certainly didn’t feel that way. The two stepped for the bedroom door at the same time, and stopped when they nearly hit one another. Mike was so tall. And wide, too. Rachel liked how he nearly filled the entire frame behind him.
“So uh… I should probably bounce,” Mike muttered, pulling out his phone uncomfortably. “Supposed to meet up with Ethan for lifting.”
“Oh,” Rachel said.
“Yeah…”
Rachel bit her lip. “Well, can I walk with you?”
Mike looked up. “You sure?”
“Yeah,” Rachel said.
He shrugged. “Yeah, I’m cool with that. Are you sure you’re good with being seen together?”
“We’re just friends, right?” Rachel said. Mike’s lips tensed.
“Yeah… right, no totally. Just friends.”
They gathered their things in silence, trading a set of smiles as they stepped out of Rachel’s apartment.
Then froze in place when they spotted Mel across the hall.
She was just outside her own door, hand still resting on the knob. Staring straight at them.
Mel stared at Rachel before glancing over at Mike.
“No. Fucking. Way,” Mel said, walking towards the pair.
“Mel, it’s not what it looks like,” Rachel spoke before she thought.
“Not what it looks like, huh?” Mel crossed her arms. “So what is it then? She asked.
Rachel stammered. “We… we were just hanging out.”
“All morning?” Mel asked.
“For a little bit, yeah.”
“Doing what?”
“Homework,” Rachel blurted out. Mel stared blankly.
“Homework?”
“Yep. Right, Mike?” Rachel said. Mike perked up immediately.
“Uh, yeah, homework. Totally.”
“Mhmmm, and all that moaning and yelling I heard yesterday… aaalll day. Was that homework too?”
Rachel grasped for some excuse, but only managed a nervous laugh. Mel scoffed and shook her head.
“For the love of fucking god. Do not treat me like a fucking idiot. I know what Mike sounds like when he’s fucking.” There was heat to Mel’s words. Rachel hated that it made her jealous.
Mike scratched his neck, doing his best to hide a bashful smile. Then he caught the look on Rachel’s face. His grin faded, and he cleared his throat.
“Look, Mel. Seriously, it’s like… super chill. Like, don’t worry. It’s all fun and games and… like… fuck alright. Lemme explain it more clearly. So like–”
“Mike,” Rachel cut him off sharply, “Just go downstairs. I’ve got this.”
He looked away, embarrassed. He let out a sniff and shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah, alright, whatever.” He stepped past them. Mel’s eyes stayed locked on Rachel as he disappeared down the hallway.
“Does Noah know you’re a cheating whore?” she asked flatly.
Rachel’s jaw dropped in shock.
“That’s not what this is,” She snapped.
“No? Because from here, it looks like you fucked the dumbest guy on campus behind your boyfriend’s back.”
Rachel felt her face flush hot.
“It’s not like that,” she said, lower now. “And he’s not fucking dumb.”
Mel scoffed. “Wooow! Defending your new boyfriend, Rachel?!”
“I—” Rachel’s lips trembled while she stuttered.
“Does Jack know?” Mel asked.
The question slammed into Rachel. She stared in disbelief.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” She asked, crossing her arms.
“I just assumed you were fucking him too. Figured he’d probably want to know Mike’s been added to the roster.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know enough,” Mel sneered. “You’re not special, Rachel. You just know how to get attention. You flash a smile, act all sweet and dumb, and suddenly every guy on campus forgets how to think. But I see you for EXACTLY what you are.”
Rachel stepped in close. “If you say anything to anyone, I swear—”
“What?! What the fuck are you going to do?!” Mel shot back, stepping so close that their foreheads nearly hit. Rachel’s hands were shaking as she watched Mel smirk.
“Yeah… that’s what I fucking thought,” Mel said. “You can threaten me all you fucking want. But you know god damn well that as soon as I let your little fucking secret out, you are absolutely fucked.”
Rachel’s throat went dry. Her voice dropped. “Please, Mel. Just… don’t say anything. Noah doesn’t deserve this kind of drama. This doesn’t need to turn into something bigger than it is.”
Mel shook her head.
“I cannot fucking believe you. But you’re right, Noah doesn’t deserve this. He deserves better.”
Rachel clenched her fists.
“Please…” Rachel said. She hated how pathetic it sounded. Mel took a step back and examined her for a moment.
“Here’s the deal. You keep doing your little slut thing, bury your claws in fuckboys, become a petri dish, I don’t care. I won’t say shit as long as you stay the fuck away from Jack. You so much as bat your lashes at him, and I’ll fucking ruin you. Got it?”
“I haven’t touched Jack,” Rachel said coldly.
“Awwwe, do you want a fucking medal for being a decent person? I see the way you look at him. I know how badly you want to ruin his fucking life for attention, but I won’t let you.”
“I’m not–” Rachel exhaled. “Fine, you don’t have to worry.”
“I’m sure…” Mel glared at her with disdain, then turned. “Enjoy your slut phase, Rachel. Hope it’s worth it.”
Rachel didn’t move until Mel’s footsteps disappeared down the stairs.
Then the panic set in.
She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breath. She reached for her phone with shaking fingers.
Mel was wrong. She wasn’t that kind of girl. She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone.
She loved Noah, and she knew Noah loved her.
But right now, a reminder wouldn’t hurt.
She scrolled through her camera roll and scanned the videos she and Mike had taken.
Her eyes stopped on the best clip.
She was fully naked, lit from above by the phone’s flashlight. Her body was glistening, her mouth open, head tilted back in absolute ecstasy.
Yes, this was the one. This would make it better.
She fumbled with a flirty text. Then deleted it and hit send.
Rachel leaned against the wall, staring at her phone while she bit her nail nervously.
Waiting for it to tell her everything would be okay again.