“I didn’t have a chance to talk to her, saw her leaving with the boyfriend yesterday. She was inside packing. I asked him what was going on, and he said she was moving to Boston with him. Next thing I knew, there was a sign up out front this morning.”

My ears felt like they were burning. “Really…”

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t remember what I said to Philomena after that. I didn’t even have a recollection of the ride back to the motel. I would have expected to feel angry or confused, but everything was just numb.

Holding my phone in my hands as I sat on the bed, I wanted to text her, but the more I thought about it, the less it seemed like a good idea. If she really were moving to Boston, she didn’t even bother to tell me that she’d made her decision. Was she there already? Was she even going to call me this weekend like she’d promised? Suddenly, the numbness was wearing off, replaced by pure rage.

Grabbing my wallet, I walked across the way to the bar. I didn’t want to feel the emotions of losing her. I didn’t want to feel anything tonight.

The words rolled off my tongue bitterly. “Hit me up, Carla Babes.”

Carla looked absolutely shocked to see me sitting in my usual spot. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, Aussie.”

“Well, I came to say goodbye. I’m leaving to head home tomorrow, and I’m not coming back.”

She poured my drink faster than ever, sensing I needed it badly. “What happened?”

I took a swig and slammed the glass down on the bar. “It’s over.”

“That’s it? Over? Aubrey stayed with Dick?”

It pleased me that she’d also adopted my nickname for him.

“Yes. I went to her house today, and everything was cleaned out. There was a sign out front advertising the place for rent. The dickhead told the neighbor Aubrey was going to Boston with him.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“End of story.”

“So, she didn’t even have the decency to tell you herself?”

“The decency or the guts, not sure which.”

“How did you leave things with her?”

“I’d gone back to Hermosa Beach for a while. She thinks I’m still there. She was supposed to call me this weekend. I decided to come back anyway and check on things. Now, I know what she was planning to tell me when she called.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

“I was really hoping things would work out for you. You deserved to have a happy ending.”

“Can we not talk about this anymore? About her?” I swallowed as if it were painful.

“Okay. Whatever you want.”

Carla quietly placed drink after drink in front of me. She knew that I was in no mood to talk, so she let me be. At one point, she cut me off, refusing to serve me anymore. I lay my head on the counter as she wiped down the tables. The bar was getting ready to close. I had no concept of what time it even was. The sound of the television and a few patrons talking was muffled.

She tapped me on the shoulder. “Come on, big guy. I’ll drive you across the street.”

I got into Carla’s red Prius and rested my head back on the seat with my eyes closed. I was still a little drunk but starting to sober up. I would have probably had to drink myself to death to get to the level of inebriation necessary to forget this day. So, in a sense, I was pissed at Carla for refusing to serve me more alcohol but grateful to her for looking out for me.

She walked me to my room and quietly followed me inside. Lying back on my bed, I crossed my arms and closed my eyes. When I opened them, Carla had disappeared. The water was running, and I realized she was in the bathroom.

I closed my eyes again. This time, when I opened them, Carla was standing by my bed. She’d taken down her hair, which was usually up in a retro style. She’d washed off the heavy red lipstick she wore. Most notable was the fact that she’d taken off all of her clothes except for her red lace bra and matching underwear. Her breasts were spilling out of the material, and the panties barely covered her curvy bottom.

My voice sounded sleepy. “What are you doing?”

“Remember what we talked about? The offer still stands. Let me make you forget everything. No strings, Chance. Just you and me and a really good fuck.”

My dick twitched, my body unable to control the natural reaction to that proposition.

“Carla Babes, you don’t have to.”

“I want to. God, Chance, I want to so badly. You have no idea what you do to me.”

Shit.

Before I could form words, she began to straddle me over my jeans, grinding against my half-stiff cock. “I think you’re ready for me,” she muttered over my lips.

She kissed me, and I reluctantly returned it, unsure of whether to accept her offer or push her off of me.

“Do you have a condom?” she whispered.

“No.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry. I’m on the pill, and I’m clean.”

Carla lifted my shirt over my head as I closed my eyes again. She was kissing down my chest as my intoxicated mind imagined it was Aubrey.

Aubrey.

Aubrey.

Aubrey.

Carla gently pushed me back further onto the bed. She started to open my belt buckle as I continued to lay down. When my cock sprung free into the cold air and she started to stroke me, I knew she was about to take me into her mouth. Something deep within me screamed, “Don’t do it.”

I slid my body back suddenly before pulling up my underwear. Standing up, I zipped my pants.

Moving my fingers through my hair, I looked down at the ground and shook my head. “I can’t do this.” Grabbing my shirt and slipping it back over my head, I said, “I’m so sorry.”

With her hands on her hips, Carla bit her lower lip and nodded in understanding. “It’s okay, Aussie.”

“It’s not you…it’s just—”

“Her. I know. It’s her.”

“I’m just not ready to—”

She spoke louder. “You don’t have to explain, Chance.”

Carla looked sad. I hated hurting her feelings, but being with her like that didn’t feel right at all.

“I’ll get dressed and go, okay?”

“You don’t have to leave.”

“I really should.”

After she put her clothes on, Carla came over to where I was standing and kissed me gently on the cheek. “One day she’s going to wake up and regret it. I hope by that time, you’ve found the one you’re really meant to be with. Because it’s not her.”

“Thank you, Carla Babes. Thank you for everything.”

“Please come back someday when your head’s on straight again, will you, Aussie? I want to know that you’re happy.”

“I will. I promise.”

Just like that, Carla drove away into the night.

Left with a minor case of blue balls, I retreated to the shower. Letting the warm water run down on me, I squirted some shampoo into my palm and fisted my cock into my hands, jerking it roughly. Despite best efforts to block her from my mind, all I could think about was Aubrey as I stroked myself. Visions of her rubbing her clit while we masturbated together in my bathroom infiltrated my brain. I jerked myself harder and imagined coming inside of her instead of my hand. As I finished, my thoughts were spiraling out of control. I leaned against the tile wall, overcome with emotion as the orgasm shook me.