Free One Night Stand (The Complete Story) by Katie Silver

isn’t who you think he is. Here, look.”
     
    He handed me a large envelope. I opened it and pulled out a small stack of photos. They were all taken in front of this building, and all of them were focused on Lorenzo. Except in every photo, he was with a different woman.  The only thing consistent was that they were all pretty and dressed in clothes that barely covered their bodies. And in each photo, Lorenzo’s arm was casually draped over his chosen conquest of the night.
     
    “Oh.” My heart crashed.
     
    “I’m sorry, Emma. I know he can come off as charming, but you can’t trust him. But if you want revenge, I can help you get it. Work for me. For the government. Keep seeing Lorenzo, act like nothing is wrong, and let us know whenever he slips out information about his family and their dealings. “
     
    I could feel my vision growing fuzzy. Tears were welling in my eyes, but I didn’t want to cry over Lorenzo. Not again. I was done. With all of this.
     
    “No. Detective Russo – I mean Mike – I just want to go home. I’m done with Lorenzo. I just want you to leave me alone now. Please.”
     
    My cab pulled up to the curb just in time. I walked around Mike and quickly jumped into the back of cab. On the quick ride home, I felt like my heart might explode. But that was it. I was done with men. And most of all, I was done with Lorenzo. I had been so foolish to believe that I was special. To Lorenzo, I was probably just one more easy lay.
     
     
    Three weeks later:
     
     
    I walked into the kitchen groggily and stared forlornly at my coffee. I wanted to drink it. I needed to drink it so I could study for my upcoming exams. But even the smell was putting me off.
     
    “Good morning sleepy head!” Ava bounced into the kitchen with her usual unexplainable cheeriness.
     
    “G’morning,” I mumbled back.
     
    “You ready for our study sesh?” Ava, Riley and I had formed our own little study group for the classes we had in common. We each had different strengths, so studying together helped us be better prepared for the exam.
     
    “Yeah, just give me a few minutes. I’m still not feeling well.”
     
    “Oh no!” Riley walked into the room, a concerned look settling over her pretty features. “Maybe you should go to the doctor. You’ve been feeling sick for like a week now.”
     
    “Yeah, maybe.”
     
    “Maybe it is because of her heart break,” Ava whispered dramatically.
     
    “It isn’t heart break. I’m over him.” I looked down, knowing that it was a lie. A lie I would repeat until I had convinced myself.
     
    “Is that why you’ve been avoiding even opening all the texts he sent?” Ava asked pointedly. She was right. Lorenzo had called many times in the past few weeks and sent over a dozen text message. I had avoided even opening them or listening to my voicemails because I didn’t trust my resolve. I needed to stay away from him, but my heart felt like it was crumbling every day. I was also ignoring my phone because I had missed several calls from Detective Russo. I wanted both men out of my life, but neither one seemed ready to leave me alone.
     
    “It isn’t heart break,” I repeated. “I think I have a stomach bug. This is the fifth day I’ve vomited.”
     
    Riley and Ava looked at each other, then both turned to look at me.
     
    “What?” I asked.
     
    “Did you and Lorenzo…use protection?” Riley asked gently.
     
    “What? No. It was all really heat of the moment, I guess.” I responded. Then it sunk in. “Wait…are you saying I might be pregnant?”
     
    “I have some tests in my room. In case. I’ll go grab one for you!” Ava jumped up and ran back towards her room.
     
    I stared up at Riley, shock and fear making me feel helpless. “I know we were irresponsible. It was just those two times and I just wasn’t thinking. I might just be sick, right?”
     
    Riley rubbed my back and smiled at me gently. “It might be just that. Why don’t you take