The Ex Games

“It was better than I had hoped for,” I mumbled, and his eyes lit up with pride as he lay back with me cuddled into him.

“I’m so glad that I met you, Katie Raymond.”

“Me too, Brandon Hastings.” I kissed his chest and we both fell asleep.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, are you lost?” The front desk clerk walked towards the elevator and stared at me.

“Sorry, what?”

“It’s just that you’ve ridden up and down in the elevator for the last ten minutes.”

“Oh, sorry.” I blushed. “The purple lights just made me remember something.”

“Okay,” the lady gave me a strange look. “You’re on the sixth floor, if you forgot.”

“Yeah, thanks.” I pressed the button again and shook my head. “Focus, Katie, focus.” I mumbled to myself. Now was not the time to relive my memories of Brandon Hastings. He hated me and I hated him, and I was praying that if he saw me, he wouldn’t remember who I was. It didn’t matter how great it had been when we first started dating. It didn’t matter that his touch made my whole body melt. It was over. He had broken my heart and if I wasn’t careful, he was going to ruin my business career as well.

I walked out of the purple-lit elevator and to my room reluctantly. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be reminded of Brandon. Not now. Not when everything in my life was finally getting better. I had even started dating a new guy just before I had gotten the job. He was a nice guy as well. Matt was someone I could see myself with in a serious relationship. He was safe and I knew he really liked me; it didn’t matter that he didn’t set my heart on fire like Brandon had. I was older and wiser now. I knew what real love was. What Brandon and I had was a fantasy; a fantasy built on lies, and when it had all come crashing down it had nearly broken me. I wasn’t going to let myself dwell on the past. I couldn’t allow myself to go down that road again.

***

The alarm went off at 5 a.m. and I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep again. “Get up, Katie.” I lectured myself as I pulled the blankets up over me. I groaned and sat up, adjusting my eyes to the darkness. I got out of bed and turned on the light and opened my suitcase. Meg and I had gone shopping before the trip, and I had gotten the sexiest business attire I could find. I had also gotten some new makeup, new perfume and a new Chi straightener so that my hair would be as sleek as possible. I wanted to make sure I looked as good as I had ever looked. I didn’t want him to recognize me, but if he did, I wanted to look as hot and sexy as possible. I grabbed my shower cap and walked to the bathroom. I needed to shower first, and then I would do my hair. I stared at my wild waves in the bathroom mirror and groaned. It was going to take an hour, at least, to get my hair anything close to straight and sleek. I stared at my appearance again and started laughing as I thought about going to work looking like this. Brandon would definitely remember me if I turned up like this.

“Let’s shower together.” Brandon pulled me out of bed with him, the night after we had made love for the first time.

“I’m still tired.” I mumbled.

“There’s time to sleep tonight.”

“Not if you wake me up a million times tonight like you did last night.”

“Well, I need to get as much of you as I can, while you’re here.”

“I’ll be here next weekend.” I yawned and stretched.

“I’d love it if you stayed here this week as well.”

“What?” I froze and looked at him with wide eyes.

“I know, I know. I’m moving too fast. Sorry, I’ve just never felt this way before.”

“Oh,” I jumped out of bed and kissed him. “I’ve never felt this way before either.”

“I just want to spend every night with you.”

“I know.” I sighed. “But I need to stay at my own place, it’s just easier for me to get to work from there.”

“I guess I could spend a couple of nights there if you want.”

“No.” I shouted and then stepped back. “Sorry, it’s a mess and I’d be embarrassed for you to see it.”

“Don’t be embarrassed.” He pulled me towards him and kissed me. “I’m sure you have lots of debt from college and I’m sure your new job can’t be paying you that much. I don’t care where you live.”

“Uh, thanks.” I buried my face into his chest, shame turning my face red. “It’s hard as a new grad, you know, especially in this economy.”

“Where did you go to school again?” He questioned me.

“Columbia… uh, I mean, I always wanted to go to Columbia. I went to Florida Atlantic University.” I mumbled, wanting to die.

“I’m always looking for new account managers for the hedge fund, if you're interested in doing stocks?”

“Oh, thanks, but I couldn’t.” I smiled weakly. ”It wouldn’t be right. We only just started dating, I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “I think that’s why I like you so much, you’re the furthest thing from a gold digger I’ve met in New York.”

“Well, you would know.” I said, quite surly, and he laughed.

“Don’t be jealous, Katie.”

“I’m not.” I pouted and followed him into the bathroom. “Oh my God, look at my hair.” I cried out as I looked into the mirror and saw a crazy mess. “I look awful.”