Chapter 5: Girls Night Out
: The Creaking Confession
The scent of stale beer and cheap perfume wafted through the lavender-hued air of Emily's bedroom, a pungent reminder of the night's escapades. The bed, a relic from a time when they were still a couple, creaked and groaned with each shift of the sheets, as if eager to share the sordid details of the evening's festivities. Dean lay sprawled on his back, his mind racing with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
He was still reeling from the conversation he'd had with Emily earlier that day, and the raw, honest words that had passed between them.
Emily had been right, of course. They couldn't keep dancing around the issue, playing this twisted game of push and pull, jealousy and denial. But the thought of letting go, of truly moving on, was like a physical pain in his chest.
Tonight Emily usually did bar night with the girls. He knew she said she likely wasn't going but he had heard that song before. He should probably go out himself. He wasn't in the mood to sit around here wondering if Emily would come home alone or not alone.
Emily drove around the same block three times, no real destination in mind.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, each one fighting for control. She knew what she needed to do, but the thought of it made her stomach twist into knots.
She took a deep breath and pulled into the nearest parking lot, turning off the engine and sitting in silence for a moment. Emily's phone rang breaking the silence. She glanced at the dashboard clock and realized it was almost 9pm. Where had the time gone?
She reached for her phone, hesitating before finally picking up. It was Emily's friend Stacey. Emily could hear music in the background. "Girl where are you?," Stacey asked, her voice slurred.
"Hey, Stace. I'm just... out and about," Emily replied vaguely.
"Out and about? Girl, your voice sounds like you've been crying. Spill the tea, what's going on?" Stacey demanded.
Emily sighed, leaning her head against the steering wheel. "I don't know, Stace. I'm just... confused. I had this conversation with Dean earlier, and it was like... it was like we were finally being real with each other. But then... then I went and had a great fuck with Marcus, and now I'm just...
fucked up, you know? I don't know what I want anymore. I thought I did, but then Dean and I have moments like that, and it just...complicates everything."
Stacey sighed dramatically on the other end of the line. "Girl, you are so fucking complicated. But you love it, don't you? You love the drama, the back and forth. You're like a fucking soap opera heroine."
Emily chuckled despite herself. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm fucking ridiculous."
"No, you're not ridiculous, Em. You're just...you.
You're just a hot mess who loves to fuck and then feels guilty about it. But you're my hot mess, and I love you for it."
Emily laughed, wiping away a tear that had escaped during their conversation. "Thanks, Stace. You always know how to cheer a girl up."
"That's what best friends are for, bitch. Now, are you gonna sit in that parking lot all night, or are you gonna come join us? I promise we're not as fucked up as you are right now."
Emily smiled, wiping away the last of her tears. "No, I'm good.
I don't think I'm up for a night out tonight. I'm just going to head home and… relax, I guess," Emily said, still staring blankly at the parking lot.
"Relax? Honey, you never relax. " Stacey chuckled.
"Well, maybe this time I'll try. It's not like I have anything better to do," Emily replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Well, if that's what you want.
Just remember, when you're sitting there all alone, trying to figure out what to do with yourself, that it was your choice. Nobody forced you to sit in that parking lot and wallow in self-pity," Stacey said, her voice filled with mock sympathy.
Emily shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You know what? Fuck it I'm in. I need a drink.......or ten."
Emily hung up the phone, a determined look in her eye. She had been sitting in her car, wallowing in self-pity for far too long. It was time to get out there and have some fun. She had always been the life of the party, and tonight was no exception.
She pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the bar where Stacey and the rest of their friends were waiting for her. As she drove, she blasted her favorite playlist, singing along at the top of her lungs and swaying to the music. By the time she pulled up to the bar, she was already in a better mood.
Before she could even set foot inside the door, a familiar voice called out to her. "Hey, big spender! Over here!" It was Marcus, leaning against the wall, a smirk on his face and a drink in his hand.
Emily shook her head, laughing. "What are you doing here?
I thought you had to work early," Emily said, raising an eyebrow as she approached Marcus.
He took a swig of his drink before responding. "I called in sick. Figured I'd have more fun here than at work." He looked her up and down, a mischievous glint in his eye. "And I'm glad I did. You look... hungry."
Emily laughed and playfully slapped his arm. "Oh, please. You're insatiable. I could barely walk after last night."
Marcus grinned, clearly proud of himself. "Well, I aim to please.
Emily took Marcus by the hand, "Markus listen, you have the cock of a champ but I need to be alone tonight to figure a few things out," Emily said softly.
Marcus looked at her, his eyes showing a glint of hurt. "Alone, yeah, I can do that. But listen, Em, don't think I'm a fuck boy, I actually like you and I know you have feelings for Dean still. But I'm here for you, okay? I just want to make you happy."
Emily's heart skipped a beat at Marcus's words. She had never considered that someone like him would be so understanding and patient with her. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Marcus. That means a lot.
Thanks, Marcus." Emily smiled at him, her eyes softening with sincerity. Marcus returned the smile, and for a moment, Emily thought she saw a hint of longing in his eyes.
"Well, I'd better get going," Marcus said, breaking the moment. "Work tomorrow and all that. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
Emily nodded. "Will do. Thanks again, Marcus."
As Marcus walked away, Emily turned and headed into the bar. The music was loud, the air thick with smoke and the smell of cheap beer. She spotted her friends at a table in the corner and made her way over to them.
As she slid into her seat, Stacey looked up from her drink and grinned. "Well, look who decided to join the party after all."
Emily rolled her eyes but laughed. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in why don't you." She signaled to the waitress for a drink. "So, what did I miss?"
Stacey raised an eyebrow. "Well, for starters, we've been talking about your love life, or lack thereof. And by 'we,' I mean mostly me, because who doesn't love a good drama?"
Emily groaned and buried her face in her hands.
"Oh god, please tell me you didn't start a Dean vs. Marcus deathmatch bracket already."
Stacey shook her head, her eyes wide with mock innocence. "Oh, no, honey. We're far beyond that. We've already started the 'Which Dick Would Emily Choose If She Was Stranded On A Deserted Island With Only One Option' tournament."
Emily's eyes widened in horror, and she looked around the table at her friends, who were all nodding along and taking notes. "You're all fucking sick," she muttered, but she couldn't help smiling. "How am I supposed to choose?
I can't just pick one dick," Emily protested, her eyes darting between her friends as if looking for an ally.
"Oh, come on, Em. It's not like you haven't had them both. We're just trying to figure out who you like more," Stacey said, taking a sip of her drink.
Emily sighed dramatically, "You guys are impossible. Fine, let's play.
How about this: I'll take the one that can make me scream the loudest," Emily said with a smirk, taking a sip of her drink and leaning back in her chair.
Stacey clapped her hands together gleefully. "Excellent! That's a perfect way to start the bracket. Now, who do you think can make you scream louder? Marcus or Dean?"
Emily's eyes flicked to the ceiling as she considered the question. "Well, I've heard Dean make me scream plenty of times, but Marcus has a certain... intensity to him that's hard to match. Marcus wins that one easily," she said thoughtfully.
"He's like a fucking freight train when he gets going.
The girls hooted and hollered, obviously delighted with Marcus's performance so far. "Alright, what's the next category?" Stacey asked, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Um, how about 'Most likely to put the headboard through the wall?'" Emily suggested, taking another sip of her drink.
The table erupted in laughter, and even Emily had to stifle a giggle.
"Alright, alright, that's not even a real category," Stacey said, trying to compose herself. "But it is a valid concern. I mean, have you seen the damage that thing has taken lately?"
Emily grinned, "Well, you know what they say, if you're not putting a headboard through the wall, you're not fucking hard enough."
The girls hooted and cheered, clearly loving the direction this bracket was taking.
Emily grinned, taking another sip of her drink. "Alright, alright, let's keep it going. How about 'Best "Foreplay?"
Stacey suggested, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Emily smirked, "Well, let's see... Dean, hands down. You did not just say that out loud."
Emily shrugged, unapologetic. The man has a way with words. And his tongue... fuck, it's like he's writing sonnets with it."
The table erupted in laughter, and Emily blushed slightly but didn't look away.
The man knows his way around my body."
"So, what's the next category?" Stacey asked, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"How about 'most likely to leave you sore the next day?'" another friend piped up, and the table erupted in giggles.
Emily smirked, "Well, that's an easy one. Marcus for sure. He's like a fucking jackhammer."
The girls groaned and fanned themselves, clearly enjoying the imagery. Emily took another sip of her drink, her eyes flicking to the door as she noticed a familiar figure walking in.
Dean.
*blinks in surprise* *double-takes* *triple-takes*
Oh, hey, Emily. Didn't expect to see you here. *looks around the bar, scanning the crowd* I was just... checking out the local wildlife. *rubs chin thoughtfully* Yeah, I heard there's this really rare species of legs that just wanders in here almost every night. *winks*
Emily. *raises an eyebrow* *crosses arms* *taps foot impatiently*
Oh, please. You know damn well why you're here. You're here to see what I'm up to.