Chapter 11
**Tom**
Sara and I stepped out of my apartment building, the cool morning air nipping at our skin. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the bustling city street. A yellow cab idled at the curb, its engine humming impatiently.
"Well, looks like your chariot awaits," I said, gesturing dramatically toward the cab.
Sara laughed. "My pumpkin carriage, you mean?"
"Careful, it might turn back into a squash at noon."
We stood there for a moment, neither of us quite ready to say goodbye. I shuffled my feet, suddenly feeling like an awkward teenager again.
"So, uh, this was fun," I said, mentally kicking myself for such a lame line.
"Yeah, it was," Sara replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
I took a deep breath and went for it. "Listen, if you ever need another... you know, night of wild passion or just someone to talk to, I'm your guy." I spread my arms wide. "Tom's Discount Therapy and Booty Calls, at your service."
Sara snorted, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. "You're ridiculous."
"It's part of my charm," I winked. I opened my arms for a hug, and she stepped into them. Her warmth against me felt nice, and I wished the moment could last a little longer.
As we pulled apart, Sara's expression turned serious. "Tom, I... I hope I never have to see you again."
Ouch. That stung more than I expected.
"You sure know how to wound a guy's ego." I clutched my heart dramatically. "And here I thought we had something special."
Sara's eyes widened. "Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that. You're wonderful, Tom. It's just..." She trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
"Hey, I get it," I said, waving off her concern. "We agreed on no strings, remember? I'm just teasing you."
But deep down, I couldn't deny the disappointment. I wanted to see her again, to make her laugh, to explore whatever this connection was between us. Yet, I knew better than to push it.
Sara visibly relaxed. "Right, of course. I'm glad you understand."
I flashed her a grin, trying to mask my disappointment. "Well, you know what they say - if you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours. If it doesn't..." I shrugged. "It was probably just using you for your body."
Sara laughed, shaking her head. "You're terrible."
"I prefer 'charmingly inappropriate,' thank you very much."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. I decided to push my luck a little further.
"But hey, who knows? We might meet again if nature has some other plans."
"Nature?" Sara raised an eyebrow. "What's nature got to do with it?"
I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively. "Well, you know how Mother Nature works in mysterious ways. One day, you're minding your own business, and BAM! You run into a devilishly handsome stranger at the grocery store, reaching for the same bunch of bananas."
Sara snorted. "Bananas? Really?"
"Hey, don't knock the banana meet-cute. It's a classic for a reason." I paused for dramatic effect. "Plus, it's suggestive."
She burst out laughing, her whole body shaking with mirth. "Oh my God, Tom. You're incorrigible."
"I'll take that as a compliment," I said, bowing slightly.
The driver honked, reminding us of the waiting cab. Sara glanced at it, then back at me. "I should go," she said, a hint of reluctance.
I nodded, suddenly feeling awkward again. "Yeah, of course. Don't want to keep ol' leadfoot waiting."
We stood there, the air thick with unspoken words and missed opportunities. I wanted to say something profound that would make her reconsider, but all I could manage was a lame. "Take care, Sara."
She smiled, a little sadly. "You too, Tom."
I watched as Sara climbed into the cab, her hair catching the sunlight momentarily before she disappeared inside. The yellow door slammed shut, and just like that, she was gone. The cab pulled away from the curb, merging into the morning traffic and carrying Sara out of my life as quickly as she'd entered.
"Well, that's that," I muttered, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Another one bites the dust."
I turned to head back inside but was frozen, staring after the cab long after it vanished. A nagging feeling tugged at my chest like I'd forgotten something important or left the stove on. Except in this case, what I'd left behind was a connection with someone who'd managed to worm her way under my skin in record time.
"Get it together, Tom," I chided myself. "You're acting like a lovesick teenager. It was one night, nothing more."
But as I trudged back to my apartment, I couldn't shake the memory of Sara's laugh, how her eyes crinkled when she smiled, and how she'd looked wrapped in my sheets this morning. It was more than just physical attraction—there was something about her that drew me in and made me want to know more.
I flopped onto my couch, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe we'll meet again," I mused aloud. "Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly, and I'll win the lottery on the same day."
Still, I couldn't help but imagine running into her somewhere. At a coffee shop, perhaps, both of us reaching for the last blueberry muffin. Or maybe at a bookstore, our hands brushing as we grabbed for the same trashy romance novel. (Hey, everyone needs a guilty pleasure, right?)
"Oh, fancy meeting you here," I'd say, flashing my most charming smile. "You know, they say the universe has a funny way of bringing people together."
And she'd roll her eyes, fighting back a grin. "The universe, huh? I thought it was just your inability to make a decent cup of coffee at home."
I chuckled at my own imagination. "Great, now I'm having full conversations with myself. Next stop: crazy cat lady status."
I rolled off the couch and headed to the kitchen, determined to distract myself. As I rummaged through the fridge, I wondered what Sara was doing. Had she made it home? Was she thinking about me too, or had she already filed our encounter away under "fun night, but time to move on"?
"Stop it," I growled, slamming the fridge door harder than necessary. "She made it clear she doesn't want to see you again. Respect that and move on."
But easier said than done, right? I mean, how often do you meet someone who can match your wit, laugh at your terrible jokes, and make your toes curl in the bedroom? It's not exactly an everyday occurrence.
I sighed, shaking my head to clear my thoughts of Sara. It was time to focus on work. I trudged into my study, a room lined with bookshelves and dominated by a large mahogany desk. The familiar scent of books and leather usually calmed me, but it did little to settle my restless mind today.
"Alright, Tom," I muttered, plopping into my chair. "Time to put on your professor pants and educate some young minds."
I reached for the Advanced Corporate Finance book and flipped it open. The words swam before my eyes, refusing to make sense. I blinked hard, trying to focus.
"The principles of capital structure..." I read aloud, hoping it would help me concentrate. Instead, my traitorous brain supplied an image of Sara's perfectly structured... assets.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," I groaned, dropping my head onto the book with a thud. "Get it together, man. You're acting like a horny teenager, not a respected academic."
I lifted my head, determined to power through. But as I stared at the page, the letters seemed to rearrange themselves:
"S-A-R-A"
"Great, now I'm hallucinating," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Next thing you know, I'll see her face in my coffee grounds."
I tried again, focusing on a paragraph about risk management. But instead of dry financial terms, my mind conjured up memories of the risks we'd taken last night. The way I kissed Sara, my lips tracing a fiery path down her neck, sent me shivers. Her soft sighs and wandering hands ignited a primal hunger within me.
"Nope, nope, nope," I said, standing up abruptly. My chair screeched against the hardwood floor, jolting me back to reality. "Cold shower. That's what I need. A nice, frigid blast of water to wash away these thoughts."
I stomped towards the bathroom, already unbuttoning my shirt. As I reached for the shower knob, I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
"Look at you," I said to my reflection. "A grown-ass man, acting like he's never seen a pair of tits before. Pull yourself together, Tom."
But even as I stepped under the icy spray, I imagined Sara joining me, her warm body pressed against mine as the water cascaded over us...
"Oh, hell," I groaned, resting my forehead against the cool tile. This was going to be a long day.
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