Late Night

The drive home is quiet.

You keep the music low as you make your way through the mostly empty streets. You’re tired now, but the buzz from earlier is completely gone. Your mind keeps drifting back to the last couple of hours and, more specifically, to Mia.

You went back into the bar because you thought she was hot and wanted her number. That part was simple. You didn’t expect to spend over an hour standing beside your truck getting to know her, and you definitely didn’t expect to leave with a date.

You think about the way she looked after her shift with that oversized denim jacket thrown over her clothes. You think about the stories from the bar, finding out how much of the same music you listen to, and the long hug she gave you before she left.

Then you remember her walking away, catching you staring at her ass again, and giving it a playful squeeze just because she knew you were looking.

You laugh quietly to yourself as you continue driving.

Mia said she’d check her schedule tomorrow and text you so the two of you could figure out the date. You don’t know when it’ll be yet, but you know you’re going to see her again.

The thought keeps you smiling for another few seconds before your mind eventually drifts somewhere else.

Kelly.

You haven’t done anything wrong. At least, you don’t think you have.

You and Kelly never said you were dating, and you definitely never said anything about being exclusive. You hooked up, admitted you’d both wanted each other for a while, and agreed neither of you wanted it to be a one-time thing.

That’s basically as far as the conversation went.

Now you have a date with Mia.

A few hours ago, you were sitting beside Steve telling him about Kelly. You told him what happened between you, how long both of you had apparently wanted it, and how neither of you wanted it to be a one-time thing.

Then you walked back into the bar because another woman was flirting with you.

Now that woman’s name is Mia, you have her number, and you’re planning to take her on a date.

It sounds a little more complicated when you put everything together like that.

You shake your head and keep driving. You’re too tired to figure out what any of it means tonight.

By the time you pull onto your street, it’s late enough that most of the houses are completely dark. You park the truck and shut off the engine.

Before you can reach for the door, your phone lights up in the center console.

You glance down and see Mia’s name on the screen.

You lock your phone and sit there for another few seconds before finally climbing out of the truck.

You head inside as quietly as possible. The house is completely dark, and there’s no sound coming from the kitchen or living room. You close the front door carefully behind you and listen for a moment, but everything stays silent.

Your dad and Kelly are already asleep.

You take off your shoes and quietly make your way upstairs. When you reach the second floor, you pass your dad’s closed bedroom door without hearing anything from the other side.

You think about Kelly for a moment as you walk past.

A couple nights ago, you were upstairs with her while your dad was gone. Tonight, you were outside a bar getting to know Mia and making plans to take her on a date.

You still want Kelly. That hasn’t suddenly changed because you met Mia, and you know she still wants you too. The two of you never agreed to anything beyond keeping what happened between you secret and wanting it to happen again.

Mia is different. There’s no sneaking around with her or worrying about your dad coming home early. You asked her on a normal date, she said yes, and tomorrow she’s going to tell you when she’s free.

You’re not sure what having both of those things happening at the same time is going to mean yet.

You reach your bedroom and quietly close the door behind you. The room is dark except for the faint light coming through the window, so you switch on the small lamp beside your bed instead of the overhead light.

You empty your pockets onto the dresser, setting your wallet and keys down before putting your phone beside them. You pull your shirt over your head and toss it into the hamper, then undo your jeans, push them down, and step out of them.

After being out for most of the night, it feels good to finally get out of everything you wore to the bar.

You pick your jeans up from the floor and drape them over the back of a chair before opening your dresser. You grab an old T-shirt and a pair of loose shorts, pull them on, and take a second to straighten everything up before heading toward the bed.

You pick your phone back up and plug it into the charger on the nightstand. The screen lights up when you set it down, and for a second you half expect Mia’s name to appear again.

Nothing comes through.

You both already said goodnight, and neither of you finds another excuse to start the conversation again.

You switch off the lamp and climb into bed. The room goes dark as you settle against the pillow and pull the covers over yourself.

Your body finally seems to realize how late it actually is. The tiredness from the entire night catches up with you almost immediately.

Your thoughts wander briefly back through everything that happened. You went out for drinks with Steve, told him the biggest secret you currently have, met Mia, left the bar, went back inside for her, got her number, spent the end of her shift talking to her, and somehow finished the night with a date.

A couple nights ago, you were secretly hooking up with Kelly.

Tonight, you met someone new.

You don’t know what either of those things is going to turn into yet, and right now you’re too tired to worry about it.

You roll onto your side and close your eyes, letting your head sink deeper into the pillow. Within a few minutes, your thoughts finally stop running through the night and you fall asleep.