Free Just This Night by Mari Madison

perfect.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “Are you still drunk?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Beth, this is what you wanted, remember? This is why you went to the club with me in the first place! One night of hot sex, no strings attached. And now, bonus! It’s not even awkward. You don’t have to give the throbbing love lance the boot. You don’t have to deal with some stage five clinger, texting you desperate love poetry 24-7 until you’re forced to block him on Facebook.” She shuddered. “Instead, you can just chalk this up to a night of awesome and move on with your life.” She reached across the table, holding up her hand for a high five. “Forget the roommate trophy. I’m getting you a dirty slut one. Which, I might add, is way cooler than some silly Emmy.”
    I groaned, leaning back in my chair and staring up at theceiling. “You don’t understand,” I protested. “I mean, trust me, I wish it were that simple. But it’s not. I can’t just move on and forget about him. Even if I wanted to.”
    Stephanie lowered her hand and narrowed her eyes. “Elizabeth White. Do not
even
tell me you’ve somehow managed to develop feelings for this dude after just one night.”
    I closed my eyes. My mind flashed back to Mac, wrapping me into his arms. His hot breath searing my shoulder as he cuddled me close, taking care to pull the blanket up over me so I wouldn’t be cold. Then I shook my head.
Don’t even go there, Beth.
    I turned back to my roommate. “No. I mean I literally can’t. Look.” I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out the employment letter I’d discovered in Mac’s jacket, presenting it to her. She took it from me and scanned it quickly, then looked up, confused.
    â€œI don’t understand. Who’s Jake MacDonald?”
    â€œMacDonald,” I emphasized. “As in
Mac
Donald. As in, ‘You can call me Mac’ Donald.”
    Stephanie’s jaw dropped. “Hold on a second. You’re telling me that your one-night throbbing love lance is going to be working permanently at News 9?” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Did you know that before you hooked up?”
    â€œOf course I didn’t know that!” I cried, exasperated. “Do you think I’m a moron? He left his jacket behind. I found it in his wallet.”
    Stephanie pursed her full lips. “Wow. Well, this changes everything.”
    â€œNo kidding. I mean, how can I even go to work now—knowing he’ll be there? What if he goes and tells everyone what we did? What if they all think I’m some horrible slut? God, I have half a mind to quit. ‘Sorry Richard,’” I quipped, making up my resignation speech to my boss on the fly, “‘I know I have six months left on my contract, but I didn’t take into account you hiring a guy I hooked up with. As you can guess, I couldn’t possibly stay.’”
    Stephanie rolled her eyes again. “And they call
me
a drama queen.” She shook her head, her black hair swishing from side to side. “Come on, Beth. Let’s not overreact. I mean, God, if I quit every job where I hooked up with a fellow employee or four? I’d be perpetually unemployed.”
    I stared down into my empty coffee mug, deciding not to comment on that. While sex with strangers might be Stephanie’s typical MO, it certainly wasn’t mine. Besides, what was that ugly analogy about not crapping where you eat?
    But it was too late now.
    Uninvited tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. This was so unfair.
    â€œOh, sweetie.” My roommate’s expression softened. She leaned across the table, placing her hands on my shoulders and giving me a comforting squeeze. “Do not even. You’re awesome. He’s an asshole. He doesn’t deserve even a single one of your precious tears.”
    â€œI know,” I