Between Drinks and Deadlines

TER

le

rked 5 straight shifts without break at Fat Joe's. I was trying to rec

ropped myself up on one elbow, scanning the room. His clothes were gone. No note, no message, nothing. I guess that's how a one night stand w

ward excuse about why he slipped out early. But there was nothing but silence and the faint hum of th

ong? Did I miss a signal? Everything seemed fine last night, didn't it? Or maybe it

ght creeping through the blinds felt too bright, too harsh. Part of me wanted to text him

before was nothing more than a fleeting moment-something that came and went,

ish it, keep it in the 'To bring out at night' compartment." I

when I noticed it - a thin, jagged crack spidering across the screen

my phone or dropping a message, half-knowing there wouldn't be one but still hoping. Nothing. No messages, calls from

ith your hot stranger? Spill t

er. "You alive? Or was he so g

ing worse. If only she knew. I hadn't even told her about waking up alone. Maybe it was better this way. Let h

e phone that felt broken; it was me, too. There was no reason to feel like this. It was one night. He was a stranger, and strangers didn't owe y

't going to let this mess up my day-or my life, for that matter. So he didn't stic

h alr

didn't recognize myself for a second. What was I even doing here, in this hotel room that suddenly felt too empty, too cold? I

voiding the reflection as I passed. I wasn't going to stay here ano

ont of me, the carpeted floors too plush, the walls too white. Everything felt wrong. I made my way toward the

d it to sting this much. I held my head up anyway, gripping my bag a

ng back there in that room-something more than just a cracked phone screen or a night of fun. I wasn't sur

my job. If I can't land a man, at least I can land a job. I p

I couldn't land a man, I could land a job. The idea of a stable job kept me steady,

couch, a half-eaten bag of chips in her lap. Withou

of chips before they spilled ev

You sent me *three words* last night-found my man-and then disappea

ips down on the counter. "Sorry,

er. "Not what I think? Girl, you either had the best night ever or the

ownplay it. "It was...

not fooling me, but we'll circle back to that la

or now. "I'll give you the lowdown later. Right now, I ne

he couch. "Ah, the job. Fine, I'l

ya knew how far from "fine" things had really been this morning. But there was no

l" category. Most of it was casual or worn out, but after some digging, I found a few pieces that might pass for sec

ey weren't perfect, but they'd get me through the week until

life was manageable. I turned on my playlist, letting the familiar beats fill the room, and kicke

ng to the rhythm. One song turned into another, and soon I was full-on dancing

tried to creep in, I just turned the volume up a little louder and kept moving,

t need a man to validate me, and I certainly didn't need to dwell on so