His Five Night Stand Read Online Free PDF Page A

the night alone sometime, right?
    She kissed my cheek and left.
    I was struck by the tremendous silence of my new apartment.
    “Shit, I mean shoot,” I whispered, taking another swig of my beer.
    I hadn’t realized how much I feared this moment, being alone. I put away the take out boxes and rinsed out the bottles for recycling. I had the surreal feeling of being out of my own body, watching myself go through the motions of a life totally unfamiliar to me.
    Where were the crystal martini glasses, the classical music in the background, and the gas fireplace? Henry was so particular about details. I’d gotten used to the way we were together but I found myself wondering how much of what had been us had been me at all. I took another swig from my bottle; a nice beer buzz moving through my body. This was something else Henry and I rarely did, drink too much.
    We drank expensive beverages from even more expensive glasses. And we never ever left our beer bottles stacked in a small pyramid in the corner of our kitchen. Never ever. Ever. I took the bottle and sat it next to the other two on the floor. It really wasn’t a pyramid it was more of a line, and since I rarely drank I was smart enough to know that this was my limit or a little over my limit. I wasn’t sure if I cared actually. Henry wasn’t there to give me a disapproving look. I felt warm and happy, I felt good.
    Looking at my stack of beer bottles I remembered how Henry always said things tasted better in crystal.
    “I think things taste better when you aren’t around!” I shouted to the empty room. “Ha! That’s what I think you smug mother trucker.” I muttered to myself laughing. My laughter came from deep inside fueled by a feeling of coming undone and a rolling beer buzz that was moving through my body at a ferocious rate.
    I’d had more alcohol in 24 hours than I’d had in the past six months, and like any good drunk I was amazed at how good it felt to be tipsy and loose. I closed my eyes wishing I had someone to disappear into, a stranger to kiss, something dark and secret. How about Theo, the man with the dark hair who would never be mine? I wondered what went on between Theo and Odessa next door. Were they making love to each other right now? I wondered if Shea and Troy were in bed together. Had they stayed there all day? And Bella, had she found love this afternoon? Had Billie unlocked her bedroom door and invited someone back into her office? Maybe they’d fallen upon that red velvet couch.
    Suddenly I heard the sound of thumping as if someone were pounding on my door or a shared wall. My heart raced in response and I had this thought that someone in the building was trying to get my attention. I’d been wondering about things that were not my business and this was a sign I’d been caught, but that was ridiculous. “Hello? Anyone home?” I giggled, looking around the room. I expected the noise to stop but the thumping continued.
    Steady. Repetitive.
    Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
    I looked out the window thinking the noise was coming from the alley.
    I followed the sound past the kitchen door, walking along my wall, one hand tracing the stucco, the other holding my cold beer.
    Thump. Thump. Thump. Then I reached the point where the noise was loudest, right next to my closet. I put my hand on the wall and felt the rhythm vibrate beneath my fingertips.
    And it struck me all at once. This wasn’t random thumping, this was deliberate. This was intentional. This was a bed. A headboard, banging against my wall. I felt a wave of curiosity moving through me. This was Theo. This was the man next door.
    Thump. Thump. Then ever so quietly a moan.
    My mouth dry, breath shallow, I leaned in towards the wall and placed my ear against the wall.
    “Ahhhh, ahhhhh.” Then ever so softly. “Oh yes, oh yes, yes baby.”
    It was a woman’s voice ragged and breathless followed by the low mutterings of her lover. The voice was deep and strong. For a moment I