Disappointed!

Chapter THREE

Ariana woke up early in the morning and could hardly imagine her surprise to find the man next to her was still sleeping. He was so close, every breath he exhaled tickled her neck, and it felt hard to remain in one place. The room was unfamiliar to her, and the more she struggled to remember, the more reality hit her.

Damn! She'd slept with a stranger?

She tried to sit up but fell right back, a sharp pain shooting through her head. She whimpered, so disappointed in herself. What was she thinking? More importantly, where was she? Ariana knew she had to get out before this guy-whoever he was-woke up. Holding her breath, she carefully slid out from under the duvet. Quick as a flash, she got dressed, thankful he'd left her stuff on the dressing table. She reached for her purse and slipped out of the room without looking back.

---

Ariana sat in her living room with her friends, but her mind still processed the events of the night before. She had made it home, but the shame remained. Sarah and Emily were there, but Ariana couldn't get it out of her head that she had slept with a complete stranger.

How could I have been so careless? She thought, exasperated. She couldn't recall the guy's name-actually did he tell her?-but his face was as clear as crystal in her mind. And the sex? God, he was good. So good. She bit her lip, lost in thought.

"So, Ariana, are you excited about starting your new job? Ready?" Emily asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Ariana blinked. "Huh? What?"

Emily frowned. "You weren't listening?

Ariana shook her head. "Sorry, didn't quite catch that. Can you repeat?"

Emily and Sarah looked at each other. "What's going on with you? You've been out of it all morning," Sarah said with a growing trace of concern.

"I'm fine. Really."

"No, you're not," Emily insisted. "Is it Ryan and Rachel again? You haven't moved on from them?"

Ariana let out a sigh. "I'm trying. But now I've gone and done something stupid because of it.

What do you mean? What happened?" Sarah leaned forward and asked.

Ariana was hesitant to say anything. "I… I slept with someone. And I don't even know his name."

Sarah was taken aback. "What? You did what?"

"It wasn't planned. I just don't know how it happened."

Emily leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Wait one minute. You slept with someone you don't know? How?"

Ariana rubbed her temples. "It's complicated."

"We got time," Sarah said shortly. "Spill.

Ariana sighed again. "Yesterday… it was supposed to be my wedding, remember? Overwhelmed, thinking about Ryan, I just needed to get away. So I went to that pub downtown."

Emily burst out laughing. "You went to the pub? This is getting good!"

"What happened at the pub?" Sarah asked; her eyes were on fire with curiosity.

"I got drunk. Really drunk. Then this guy came over, took me home, and…" Ariana shrugged, walking to the window. "The next thing I remember is waking up next to him this morning. I snuck out and made my way home."

Emily was in fits of laughter. "You're serious? You don't remember anything about him?"

Not his name, nothing. I drove off in panic. I don't remember how I even got home. I'm literally just praying I never see him again."

"Oh my gosh," Sarah exclaimed. "This is. wow."

"I'm just going to laugh because, honestly, I don't know what else to say," Emily said, really still chuckling dryly.

"Be serious, Emily," Sarah scolded her.

Ariana threw a cushion at her, so embarrassed yet frustrated. "I swear, I can't believe I'm telling you guys this."

"We have to go," Emily said, getting off the couch. "But I'll see you Monday at work, right?"

Ariana nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there."

"Good luck, new girl!" Emily teased as she walked toward the door.

---

Ariana stood nervously in the office hallway, waiting for Emily. Today was her first day at the new job, and Emily had promised to show her around. But her phone wasn't going through, and Ariana was starting to panic.

Suddenly, Emily appeared behind her. "Heyyo!"

Ariana jumped. "You scared me! Where were you?"

"Sorry, love," she said. "I had a few things to finish up at home. Why aren't you in your office yet?"

"Who was supposed to show me around?" Ariana shot back, eyeing her friend.

Emily grinned. "Okay, okay. Oh, look, here comes the CEO."

Ariana turned, her eyes landing on a tall man walking up the stairs surrounded by people. Her heart stopped.

It was him.

His name hit her like a slap Greg.