Page 5 of A Night With You

Aubrey pulls back, the wind rustling her hair. "God, that was--that was nice. I have to go."

She whirls away, leaving me behind, and I lean against the back wall of the bar with a smirk spreading across my face.

This time, it doesn't seem so permanent to let her walk away.

Aubrey glances back at me just before she turns the corner and gives me a little wave. Then she's gone.

There goes my dream girl, giving me a memory and a view of her I'll hold onto forever.

AUBREY

With my eyes heavy and a slight hangover, I wake up slowly, images from my dreams hanging on until the last possible second. Bennet Thompson was the star of all of them. I can't remember exactly what we were supposed to be doing in the dream, but I can remember what we did instead.

I remember the heat of his hands on my body and his mouth capturing mine and how perfect it was to be so close to him, like we were always meant to kiss like that.

In the dream, the lighting was dim, the way it was in the back of the bar in that room under construction. I kept expecting for someone to walk in on us--I think I could hear voices--but nobody did. And there was nobody else moaning in the dream. It was just the two of us, and Bennet seemed as absorbed with me as I was with him.

It felt so vivid, like it wasn't just a dream. Almost like we'd been dropped into another life and found each other there. Even in my dream-life, I guess my main priority is to make out with him in a darkened room.

In my dream life, he was an amazing kisser… just like he is in real life.

I flip my pillow to the cool side and stretch, but it doesn't do anything to get rid of the electric sensation of needing more.

Smiling into the pillow, it’s almost embarrassing how much I want him. I still can’t believe I kissed him. I almost did it out there in front of everyone. A quick peck and then run off. But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making it up in my head and that he really wanted me.

I squeal into my pillow, reliving that memory from last night.

It's been a long time since I felt this needy over a man. I might've felt this way back in school, but I don't think I had the words--or the courage to kiss him, to be honest.

Now I do.

Now I've done it, and it feels like my entire life is starting. A promotion. Bennet back in town. I know my life has technically been happening all along--I've worked hard for it--but something about this morning feels fresh and new and a little headachey.

I had a bit too much to drink last night.

How much did I have to drink last night?

My phone buzzes on the table next to my bed, and I pick it up lazily and hold it in front of my face.

There are tons of messages.

Another one comes in as I'm scrolling through them. It's from Gemma, sent to our group chat. My heart speeds up as the words sink in.

Did you two hook up last night?? Bree, answer us!

One from Marlena pops up just below that.

If they did hook up, he's a five-minute kind of guy.

There's no way, Gemma answers.

I hold shaking fingers over the screen and type out my own message. This isn't a dream, that's for sure. It's real sunlight streaming in through my bedroom window and real messages pouring onto my cell phone's screen. I glance at the clock reading nearly 9 am as my fingers fly across my phone and I type out a response.

Wait--did he tell people we hooked up?? I'm just now seeing all these, I slept in!!

Gemma sends five winking emojis, and then she's typing something else. I hold my breath and wait for the message to arrive.

He said you kissed but nothing else.