KAREN
"Are you sure about this?" Abby asked, watching me apply the third coat of mascara.
I met her eyes in the mirror. "No. But I'm doing it anyway."
She'd spent the last twenty minutes helping me transform from a heartbroken mess into someone who looked like they had their life together.
My hair fell in waves I'd never managed on my own. The dress she'd lent me, black, tight, shorter than anything I'd normally wear, made me look like a different person.
Maybe that was the point.
"You don't have to do this," Abby said softly. "We can stay in. Watch terrible movies. Eat ice cream."
"I need to get out of my head." I reached for the lipstick, red, bold, nothing like my usual nude gloss. "Just for one night."
*Deadweight.* The word still echoed in my skull, Matt's voice sharp and clinical.
"Okay." Abby squeezed my shoulder. "But promise me you'll be careful. Text me when you get there and when you leave."
"I promise."
"And don't do anything reckless. Or get pregnant."
I laughed despite everything. "Yes, Mom."
She hugged me tight, then released me with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Go. Have fun. Forget he exists."
"See you tomorrow," I said, grabbing my bag.
"Bye!" She called after me.
My Uber was already waiting outside, so I got in and we drove off.
I'd picked the wildest club I could find, Mirage. I didn't know why I chose it, but it felt like that's where I needed to be tonight.
There was a long line of people when we pulled up, and I didn't want to stand there. Most of them were teenagers who looked like they'd just turned eighteen and couldn't wait to get a taste of club life.
I remembered bitterly my first time at a club. It was with Matt, of course. It ended with us fighting because guys were hitting on me.
I adjusted the top of my dress, exposing more cleavage than I was used to, put on what I hoped was a confident smile, and walked straight toward the bouncer.
When I got there, I didn't say a word. I just walked past him into the club.
He didn't stop me.
The power of a low-cut dress and fake confidence.
The whole place was loud, bass pounding so hard I felt it in my chest. For a moment I almost turned around, but I remembered that tonight was all about getting wild.
I pushed through people dancing. Some were already drunk even though the night had just started.
I was heading toward the bar when someone grabbed my hand. I turned to see a man who looked like he could barely stand on his feet.
"Let's dance, pretty lady," he slurred, pulling me against his chest.
The smell of alcohol hit me like a wall. I cringed, yanking my hand free.
"No thanks," I said firmly, pushing past him.
I finally made it to the bar and took a seat on one of the barstools. The bartender, a woman with purple hair and full sleeve tattoos, looked at me with a raised brow.
"Give me your strongest drink," I said.
She smirked. "Rough night?"
I just shrugged.
She slid a bright blue concoction across the bar. I lifted it and took my first shot.
It burned going down, sweet and sharp and absolutely horrible. I coughed, my eyes watering.
God, how did people drink this stuff regularly?
But tonight was all about getting wild, so I ordered another.
I turned to watch the people on the dance floor, moving without thinking, without worrying.
Was this what Matt wanted? Nights like this instead of picnics and quiet dates?
It was just one summer.
I shook my head. I wasn't here to prove anything to him.
I was here for me.
"Hey, beautiful." A voice came from beside me, too close, too smooth. "Buy you another drink?"
I glanced over. A guy in his late twenties stood there, leaning against the bar like he owned it. Expensive watch. Smug smile. The kind of guy who wasn't used to hearing no.
"I'm good, thanks," I said, turning back to my drink.
"Come on, don't be like that." His hand landed on my lower back without permission, heavy and possessive. "One drink. One dance. What's the harm?"
I shifted away from his touch. "I said no thanks."
"Playing hard to get?" He moved closer, invading my space. His cologne was overwhelming, mixing with the alcohol on his breath. "I like that."
Panic fluttered in my chest. This was exactly why Abby didn't want me coming alone.
"My boyfriend's waiting for me," I lied, glancing around desperately.
"I don't see any boyfriend." He smirked, his hand moving to my waist now, gripping tighter.
"Looks like you're all alone to me."
My heart pounded. The bartender was busy at the other end. The music was too loud for anyone to hear me over it. I was trapped between this guy and the bar, and he knew it.
Just then I spotted a handsome man walking towards the bar so I quickly jumped down from the stool and walked to him.
"Hey babe, took you so long I was beginning to worry," the man's face had a confused expression.
"Please play along, please, save me," I said in such a way that only he could still hear me over the loud music and immediately his face relaxed, understanding what I wanted.
"Sorry babe, I had to go pick up my phone from the car, I left it there." He said as he planted a kiss on my forehead.
I knew the creepy guy was still watching us, so I wanted to give him a show. I drew the man's head down and planted a kiss on his lips.
What started as a joke turned into something else. I forgot we were pretending. Forgot the creep was watching. I had gotten over him because this stranger's lips didn't feel strange at all.
They felt like they were meant to be on my lips. When we broke the kiss, I turned to look at where the creepy guy was standing
and he wasn't there any longer.
Now I couldn't face this guy I just kissed.
" Do you kiss everyone you meet like that?" He asked and I could hear the teasing in his voice.
That was when I really looked into his eyes. I got lost, they were so beautiful that I could stare at them forever.
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," was I even sorry? No
" By the way, I'm Rek."
" Karen.” My voice came out breathless.
