Sleeping With a Ghost

CHELSEA

I pull into the apartment complex and notice Brian’s car parked out front. I grab my briefcase, step out of my car, and head inside.

As I walk into the kitchen, I spot a box of muffins and pastries on the counter.

“Looks like Brian brought breakfast,” I murmur to myself. Then I notice two empty coffee cups next to the box. One of them is smeared with pink lipstick.

“What the...?” I whisper.

I follow a trail of clothes leading to the bedroom. Some of them are Brian’s, but the rest aren’t mine.

I pick up a matching set of panties and a bra, and then an apron that reads Connie’s Coffee and Cakes. There’s a name tag attached that says Bunny.

I push open the bedroom door to find Brian, blindfolded and tied to the bedposts. A naked girl is straddling him, moving rhythmically.

Brian lets out a loud moan as the girl opens her eyes and sees me. I put a finger to my lips, signaling her to be quiet. She freezes.

“Hey, why’d you stop?” Brian asks.

I yank off his blindfold. Brian’s eyes dart from me to the girl and back to me.

“Who are you?” he asks the girl.

She slaps his chest. “Brian, you jerk. Who is she?” she demands, pointing at me.

“I’m Chelsea, his fiancée.”

“You told me she left you because you were too big for her. She couldn’t handle you,” Bunny retorts.

“Too big for me?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“I honestly thought it was you,” he says, looking at me.

“You know, Brian, I’m not even mad. How old is she? She looks like she’s barely sixteen.”

“I’m nineteen,” she snaps.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” I say, pointing at her. Then, turning to Bunny, I ask, “So, why are you here sleeping with my Brian?” I cover Brian’s mouth with my hand.

“We’ve been chatting for a while, mostly about sex. I told him my pussy is so tight, I can make any man cum within a minute. He said, ‘Challenge accepted.’

“I didn’t think you were real,” she admits, still sitting on Brian.

“How could you miss all my clothes on the floor? Oh, never mind,” I say, looking at Brian. “Is this because I didn’t sleep with you this morning?”

“Baby, it’s not what you think,” Brian starts, but Bunny tries to get off him. I put my hand on her shoulder.

“Stay put!” I command, then look down at Brian. “This,” I say, waving my hand between us, “is over.”

“You can’t call me baby or fiancée anymore. In fact, don’t even say my name. We’re done. You messed up.

“You can have the big house we were building. Hope you can afford it. Maybe Bunny can help you pay for it with her tight pussy.”

Brian’s mouth hangs open, struggling to find words.

“Nothing to say? Really?” I remove my engagement ring and place it on his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he manages to say.

“It’s too late for apologies,” I say, flipping him off.

I walk out of the apartment, get into my car, and start laughing. It’s a hysterical, cathartic laughter that soon turns into tears. But they’re not tears of loss or sadness. They’re tears of relief.

I feel a sense of liberation, a newfound confidence in myself and my future. I have a house filled with everything I need. I can focus on my writing and on myself.

I don’t have to worry about his feelings anymore.

I sit in the car for a few minutes, and I see the curtain twitch in the bedroom window.

I grab my phone and text Lynn and Zoey to meet me at What Was I Thinking Bar and Grill. I start the car, see the curtain move again, flip them off, and drive away.

***

I reach the bar before Lynn and Zoey. I order three margaritas and wait for them.

A few minutes later, they walk in. I raise my glass so they can spot me.

“Girl! It’s too early for drinking,” Zoey says, grinning. They both sit down as I raise my glass.

“To new beginnings,” I say.

They both grab their glasses and raise them.

“What are we celebrating?” Lynn asks.

“I’m taking the house.”

“That’s great,” they both say as I down my drink. They look at me, puzzled. I put the glass down.

“Brian’s okay with the house?” Lynn asks.

“He doesn’t know about the house, and he never will,” I say, looking for the waitress to order another drink. “Can I get another one?” I ask, holding up the empty glass.

“Chelsea, what happened?” Lynn asks.

“Well, I went home to tell Brian about my book deal and the house.

“But instead, I found him tied to the bed, blindfolded, with a waitress from Connie’s riding him. Her name is Bunny.”

The waitress brings me another margarita. I take a sip.

“Wait. She told him she had the tightest pussy and could make any man cum in seconds. So Brian accepted the challenge and did it in our bed.

“That jerk had the nerve to tell her I left because I couldn’t handle his cock. Can you believe that? There were nights when I had to fake an orgasm because I wasn’t feeling a thing.

“But I loved him, you know? I would have done anything for him.”

“That asshole!” Zoey exclaims.

“I just walked out. Didn’t even grab my stuff. The weird part is, I didn’t cry. I mean, sure, I shed a few tears, but it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my chest when I saw him with that girl.”

I take another sip of my drink. “It’s like everything is falling into place.”

“How many drinks have you had?” Lynn asks, eyeing me.

“This is just my second,” I reply, holding up my glass. “I can’t go back to my apartment now.”

“I’ll grab your stuff for you later,” Lynn offers.

I pull out my keys, remove the apartment key, and hand it to her.

“I hope he’s still there with her because I’d love to kick his ass,” Lynn says, her anger palpable.

“I don’t even care anymore,” I admit. I raise my glass. “To fresh starts.”

“Fresh starts,” they echo in unison.

“Who’s up for a sleepover?” I ask, grinning widely.

“I am,” Zoey says. “I’ve been dying to try that tub. It’s practically beckoning me.”

“I can’t. I have a dinner date with Brandon and his parents tonight. He thinks having dinner with his folks is going to salvage our sinking relationship.

“I’ll give it another shot, but I’m not holding my breath,” Lynn says. “Do you accept rain checks?”

“My dear, my door is always open,” I assure her.