7 - Sinful Attraction

*PRESENT*

After I stepped off the curb from Sam’s house after finding Kyle half naked in her house, I walked to the street and collapsed on a bench with my thoughts muddled up in my head. The confusion rang through and I thought watching people come and go was going to help the frustration that was budding generously within me.

How long have they been together? Are they together?

The questions never stopped coming and one would think that if you didn’t have the answers to questions in your head, the questions would stop asking itself.

“Oh my God, there you are.” I heard Sam sigh in relief when she saw me and plopping down beside me on the bench.

“Let’s talk, let me explain – ”

“How long have you guys been together.” I cut through, not wanting to meet her eyes.

“We’re not together Aria, not like it’s a regular thing. We hooked up randomly like a year ago but it’s not serious at all. We’re like just fuck buddies when the need arises.”

I rolled me eyes, feeling the annoyance and jealousy reach every corner and crevice of my body, “You see a lot of people, no Sam I mean you fuck a lot of people, why did you have to fuck him?”

Sam gave me a look, “I don’t have to, I mean – ” then she stopped before she went on, “It’s been what two or three years since you guys have been together and last I heard you’re in a happy relationship with Shawn who’s the best guy for you.”

“Ok but you still fucked him last night after I told you everything that was going on, how he’s my boss now and everything.”

“I asked you if you still had feelings for him, you said you were happy with Shawn.” she said.

“I mean I am you know – it’s just – ” I nearly broke down but I managed to right myself and Sam was patient.

“I’m so confused okay, Kyle being my boss now how’s that going to work out with all these unresolved feelings. I mean I moved all the way here to escape everything Kyle put me through, and what? he’s here now? And then there’s Shawn, who’s just – ”

“Aria,” Sam said softly, moving to grab my hand and hold them reassuringly.

“I don’t want to miss him, I don’t want to yearn for him and – ”

“And you’re not because you love Shawn ok. We all have our what ifs moment once in a while, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to act on it. I mean of course, seeing Kyle is going to bring back all those memories, if it didn’t it means you didn’t love him and it’s never a crime to fall in love Aria.”

I looked at her now and she had that therapist look on and I playfully rolled my eyes, “Oh please Sam, don’t give me your therapist look.”

“I can’t help it.” she said out loud while laughing before scooting towards me and taking me in her arms.

“It’s going to be fine Aria, I promise.”

“Well if you say, I should probably start thinking of what to wear to his welcome party tonight.” I said.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

I nodded in response, fiddling with the hem of my coat distractedly, “I mean sure, it’s customary that I attended. I invited Shawn but he’s busy, do you want to come?”

“I can’t make it, I have a blind date tonight but good luck though.”

****

I stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying the final touches to my make up then slipping into a beautiful black dress that I pulled off the rack of a random boutique I wandered into and I knew it was the perfect dress for the night even though I needed to stay away from Kyle that night. I was going to this party as an employee, not as an ex-girlfriend and nothing more and I needed to keep things that way.
I walked out of the bathroom with Shawn bent over his laptop and when he saw me, he did a double take.

“Where are you going looking all dolled up and sexy.” he stood up and made his way towards, taking me in his arms and placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

“For a party, I told you this morning. A welcome party for the CEO or whatever.”

“Oh yea, I remember.”

“You sure you don’t want to come?” I asked him again hoping he’d say yes because Shawn would be the hedge between me and a sinful attraction with Kyle. Shawn looked at his computer with several files littered across it and then back to me, a sorry look on his face and I didn’t need him to tell me no twice.

“I’m sorry honey, I have loads of grounds to cover but you have fun and I trust you’re going to drink responsibly.” he kissed my cheek again and my heart fluttered because when Shawn acted this way, it reminded me why I decided to go out with him. Shawn was safe and reliable, he knew what he wanted and he provided the security that I needed, the security that Kyle deprived me off.

“No promises, but I’ll try my best.” I said before dashing out the door to a waiting uber.

I arrived at the club later than everyone else and the moment I stepped into the chaos of loud music and moving bodies influenced by intoxication, Janine pressed a glass to my hand.

“Here drink up, everyone is almost buzzed, you need to catch up,” she said loudly and I could see she was tipsy already because of the lazy dance in her eyes and I took the drink from her and downed it one go, my eyes secretly searching for Kyle but he was nowhere in my line of vision.

“Go tiger,” Janine yelled with her hands raised up before handing me another shot and everyone squealed in delight.

“Now you have to drink a third shot for messing up the deal,” Randy from purchasing said to me and I grimaced as the pure liquor burned my throat, I could already feel the slight buzz in my head, the music pumping in my veins, a few more shots I’d be damning all the consequences.

Still Kyle was nowhere around me.

“ – and where’s the man of the hour?” I asked casually.

“He’s not here yet, maybe he’s running late or he’s not going to come at all, no one really cares.” Janine responded to me.

Was that disappointment I felt or now the freedom to act how I usually would in a club just like in college. Sam and I, downing shots after shots and grinding on random strangers till we’d feel their hard on and then run away.

“Well pour me another shot.” I yelled and Janine poured the liquor from the bottle straight into my mouth with a squeal.

It’d been a while I drank this much, in fact I hadn’t gotten terribly drunk since the incident that did in fact ruined my life and I was just about to ruin the streak. I drank more booze till my head was swimming and the club lights danced around me. I felt euphoric, unhinged and a lot like a daredevil when I finally stepped unto the dance floor and I latched onto the first guy I saw. He was tall, blonde hair and in my drunken eyes looked like the 2002 version of Brad Pitt and if it was still the college, I’d be making out with him at the corner of the club, but tonight I was going to keep everything PG 16 at least.

I scooted up to the Brad Pitt wannabe and he grabbed hold of my waist while I twisted my waist on him, my hair wild and my moves too fast for him because of how drunk I was but it didn’t stop him.

“You’re so hot.” I heard him whisper in my ears but I pretended not to hear, I just wanted to dance and maybe I wanted somebody to want me.

Just then he spun me around look at him and his face was morphing to a Theo James – oh just kill me now!

“Wanna get out of here.” he asked and I shook my head.

“I’ll rather dance.”

“Come on, I’ll make you feel good.” his eyes were tempting but my resolve was stronger until I felt his hands slid up my thigh and when I tried to pull away from him, he held me in place.

“I see you like to play hard to get.” he whispered and I struggled to pull away from him.

“I’m not playing hard to get, let go of me!” I yelled back but instead his hands only inched higher on my thigh, moving dangerously close to the spot in between my legs but in that moment, I felt someone snatch me from Brad Pitt wannabe now Theo James – it’s crazy they don’t even look alike.

“Get away from her!” the familiar voice said while I was pressed to his chest and I recognized it, because my heart began to beat loudly.

“I won’t say it again – get out now!”

It was Kyle – and there it was, the sinful attraction wrapping it’s brutal wings around us.