Part 1: The Wake-Up Call
The early morning sun streamed through the large windows of the hotel room, casting long shadows across the floor. Ava stirred beneath the crisp white sheets, a dull ache in her head reminding her that the whiskey from last night was still very much present. She groaned softly, reaching out to grab her phone from the bedside table. The screen lit up, displaying the time — 8:45 AM.
Her mind instantly started to race. She had meetings later that day. Deadlines to meet. Yet, none of it seemed as pressing as the memory of what had happened on the rooftop.
Ava turned her head, glancing over to the other side of the bed. The spot next to her was empty. The sheets were still slightly rumpled, as though someone had just gotten up and left. She sat up, pulling the blankets around her, her mind hazy as the memories of the previous night started to flood back.
The kiss. The passion. Ethan.
She had kissed him. She had let herself get lost in him. In that moment, nothing else had mattered, not the world outside, not the responsibilities waiting for her. It had just been them. But now, in the cold light of morning, she was faced with the reality of it. What was this? Was it a one-time thing, a fleeting connection, or something more?
She heard a soft knock on the door and froze for a moment, her heart skipping in her chest. For a brief second, she almost hoped it was him, that he would come back in and they could pick up where they left off. But she wasn't sure if that was a good idea.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she slid out of bed, quickly pulling on the robe that was hanging on the bathroom door. With a deep breath, she opened the door to find the hotel room service cart outside, a tray with breakfast on it.
"Thanks," she said, feeling a little embarrassed at how awkward the situation felt. She smiled politely as she signed for the service, trying to ignore the storm of thoughts racing through her mind.
When she closed the door behind her, Ava took a moment to look at the tray, appreciating the gesture. Maybe it would give her time to clear her head, to think through everything that had happened. She wasn't sure what she expected when she first met Ethan, but it certainly wasn't this. Last night had been intense — and part of her wondered if she was just caught up in the excitement, in the passion of it all.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, picking up a croissant and taking a bite, her thoughts drifting back to Ethan. What was he thinking now? Had he already left? Did he see their night together as nothing more than a fleeting encounter? Or was there a chance it could turn into something more?
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She quickly grabbed it, hoping it was a text from him. But it wasn't. It was a message from her colleague, reminding her of an important meeting scheduled for later that morning.
Ava sighed, setting her phone down and running a hand through her disheveled hair. She knew she had to focus, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder what Ethan was doing. What if he wasn't even thinking about her? What if he was already onto the next thing, the next woman?
She quickly shoved those thoughts aside. She wasn't the type to obsess over someone after just one night. She was strong, independent, and had her own life to focus on. Still, as she ate her breakfast, her mind kept drifting back to the rooftop and the way Ethan had made her feel — the way he had kissed her like he wanted to memorize every inch of her. The way he had looked at her, like she was the only person in the world.
Ava knew she couldn't get too wrapped up in it. She couldn't let herself fall for someone she barely knew, no matter how intense their connection had been. But still, something tugged at her heart, something that told her this wasn't just some random encounter. It felt different.
As she finished her breakfast, Ava made a decision. She would go about her day as planned, just like she always did. But she couldn't deny that part of her was hoping that when the workday was over, there might be more waiting for her than just the usual routine. And if she was being honest with herself, she kind of hoped that more had a name — Ethan.