“Time. Sliding through the dead of night. Shaking ‘til you start to cry. Your eyes won’t dry, ‘til the light of day…”


Marie made it back to her hotel, once again donning the red dress from the night before. Thankfully, her dad hadn’t made another appearance, but neither did Jess. And after a quick phone call, Marie got changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, threw her hair up into a messy bun, and went to meet Jess at the coffee chop down the street. The vacation was meant for the both of them to spend time together, but since Marco, Marie had seen less and less of her friend. Tonight that would change though. They’d hit up another popular club and spend the night with each other.

She pulled open the door and glanced around, spotting Jess at a table in the corner with a cup of coffee in front of her, and one across from her, waiting to be claimed. Marie sat down across from her and sighed, wrapping her hands around the ceramic mug.

Jess grinned and leaned her head against her fist, “I’m going to guess the event isn’t the reason for the unkempt appearance. It couldn’t have been that good,” she brought her cup up to her lips and took a small sip.

Marie lifted her mug and took a long sip, “it was a long night… and morning.”

“Jesus… spill,”

“Marco was at the event and my dad reintroduced us…” Marie paused as Jess groaned, “we got a room and had fun. And remember Charlie?” When Jess nodded, Marie continued, “well Marco had called him up, I guess, because he showed up at the hotel room this morning, and I got with both of them.”

Jess’ jaw was dropped as she tried to process everything. Even Marie could hardly believe the night she had.

“You know what the best part was though? Last night, he cuddled with me, and I slept with him; like physically slept. And I woke up and he was still beside me. He didn’t bolt in the early morning; I woke up and he was still there, snuggling up to me.”

“So are you two a couple or what? I mean you’ve seen the kid everyday since we met him,”

Marie shrugged and took another sip of her coffee. “He said we’re just having fun for the summer. So I’m not Marco’s, and he’s not mine, and I’m looking forward to the club tonight and meeting some new Canadians.”

“You sure?”

She looked up at Jess and bit into her lower lip. No she wasn’t sure; all she wanted was Marco, but he had made it clear that she wasn’t really anything too serious right now. She was just something to have during the summer, and when they both went back to their normal lives, everything would be forgotten.

That wasn’t necessarily ideal, considering Marco had been the first guy to actually stand up to her dad, and make sure he understood there was a line in the sand. Instead of allowing Bill to take Marie away this morning, he had fought for her in his own way. Maybe it was only so that he could fulfill an adolescent fantasy of having a threesome, but either way, when Bill had grabbed for her wrist, Marco had taken offense.

“He made his intentions clear. He wants me for the summer, or for however long we have in Montreal. That’s it. And if that’s the case, I have no shame in finding a new guy to spend the night with. I’ll dance with a new Canadian, and he’ll love me for the night. That’s what I’m good at Jess,”

“I don’t know… it just seems like he’s invested a lot of time in you, just to let you go. How could he even like the idea of you going home with another guy?”

“We’re not together, so it doesn’t matter what he thinks. I’ve cared too much about what my dad thinks about my life to worry about all the other guys who come and go. Because they don’t matter.”

“Okay Marie. I’m not trying to judge you, or change your mind. I just want to make sure you’re being honest with yourself.”

Marie nodded and finished off her coffee. She was sure that even if she saw Marco with another girl, it wouldn’t bother her. She simply wouldn’t let it. Tonight she and Jess would have an amazing time at the club. They’d find their own guys to spend the night with, get what they wanted, and then meet back up at the hotel to gossip and start all over the next day.

---

They showed up to the club dressed pretty similarly. Jess wore a tight, short white dress, accompanied with the black stilettos that were probably her prized possession. And Marie paraded in a tight black dress, which did wonders for her body shape. They both knew they left little to be imagined, but much to be desired, so when they strutted into the club, seeing the bright lights, they could assume what was in store for them.

Marie bought the first round of drinks and then tugged Jess to the center of the dance floor, moving flirtatiously with her, knowing it would grab the attention of the groups of single men. Boys were all too predictable; the same stunt could have them coming all night.

With their drinks almost empty, they meandered back to the bar, fit themselves between crowds of people, and ordered another round. And like clockwork, just as the bartender handed them their fresh drinks, Jess was tapping Marie’s shoulder. Upon spinning around, Marie smirked when she saw two men in front of them, checking out their bodies before looking into their eyes.

“You both are very beautiful,” the first guy blurted out. He was already on his way to being drunk, and after his confession, Jess stuck to him like glue.

The slightly shorter one approached Marie and leaned against the bar, facing her. He towered over her, and reached out, setting his hand on her hip, “what’s your name?” He whispered in her ear, drawing her nearer. The closeness gave him the chance to move his hand to her ass, cupping it tightly.

“Marie,” she whispered back, brushing her lips against his earlobe. He was already pressing her hips into his, and it was clear what he wanted. And Marie was willing to play along.

“I’m Liam… you wanna dance?”

Marie shot her eyes up to his and nodded, setting her drink back down onto the bar. She’d get a new one later, or have Liam buy it for her. They made it to the dance floor and Liam tugged Marie back against him, placing his hands on the front of her waist. She set her head back against his shoulder and moved with him, grinding her ass into his hips in rhythm with the movement. As the song got faster, so did their dance moves, and Marie could feel him start to grow harder.

She smirked and bent over, pressing her ass into his crotch. Liam groaned and pinched her playfully, earning a delighted squeal, and she popped back up, turning to face him. With her arms draped over his shoulders and around his neck, she flicked her eyes to the bar. Even with the area packed, she would’ve been able to spot him from a mile away. Marco walked up to the bar, looking slightly out of place in his put together attire. He looked confident in his slacks and dress shirt with the first few buttons undone. Although he could’ve been going to a job interview in that outfit, he looked casual.

Marie lost focus, only regaining it when she realized she had been staring, and now Marco was smiling back. He was speaking to another girl, but his gaze was focused on Marie. She pressed her lips into Liam’s collarbone, looking over his shoulder, and Marco smiled, lifting his drink up towards her. She glanced up at Liam, and made a bold move, leaning in to kiss his lips wildly. He didn’t fight it as she opened her mouth and pushed her tongue past his lips.

“What do you say we get out of here?” Liam snaked his hands around her hips and forced her against his body. Marie looked up over his shoulder and spotted Marco, leading another girl out of the club.

“We just got here though,” she smirked and pulled back to look up at him.

“Yeah but I think we’d have more fun out of here,” he tugged on her hand and yanked her off the dance floor, moving through the crowded club.

Marie stumbled behind him, following along as he led her out into the parking lot. Sleeping her way through Canada had been a fun plan, until it wasn’t. And she got the sneaking suspicion that this was no longer fun. Liam opened up his car door for her, and Marie pulled back away from the vehicle.

“I think I should head back inside,” she attempted to free her wrist from Liam’s hand, but he just held onto her tighter.

“No come on, we’re gonna have a good time.”

“Yeah… but my friend’s inside. I shouldn’t leave her alone in there. She’ll start to worry about me,”

“Well call her up and let her know a local is showing you a good time,” Liam closed the gap between them and encompassed his arm around her waist.

“You better back the fuck up, dude.” Marie warned, shoving her hands against his chest.

In an instant, Liam grabbed onto her, holding her face in his hand. “I don’t think you wanna talk to me like that baby,”

“Everything alright here?”

Marie glanced to the side, trying to resist Liam’s grasp, but he had a pretty firm hold on her. Despite that, she caught a glimpse of Marco standing a few feet from them. He looked as though he was on his way back into the club from the parking lot.

“Just talking to my girl, buddy,” Liam chirped, tugging on Marie’s cheeks to force her to look back at him. She whined out, and he snarled down at her.

“Doesn’t look like she wants to be spoken too,” Marco recoiled, pushing his hands into his pant pockets. For the level of distress Marie was in, he was acting fairly calm. Liam flicked his eyes to Marco.

“We’re good here,”

Marco pursed his lips and looked down at his feet, getting ready to walk away. But before he could, Marie let out a fearful wail, and it stopped him dead in his tracks. Liam pulled back his free hand, threateningly.

“Here’s the thing,” Marco started. His voice halted Liam for the time being. “I fancy that girl and if you hit her, I’ll break every bone in your body.”

Liam stared at Marco, and when Marie felt his hand loosen a little bit, she darted away, running to hide behind Marco. He took his right hand out of his pocket and brought it around his back to hold Marie against his body.

“You can have her,” Liam spat. “Slut’s not worth the time,” he ducked into his car and sped off, leaving Marco squinting through a cloud of exhaust with Marie shaking behind him.

When they were left alone, Marco turned and pulled Marie in tighter, wrapping his arms around her back. She buried her face into his chest and clutched onto his shirt, “are you alright?” He tilted his head to the side and brushed her hair away from her face, but she hid her face from him. “That guy obviously didn’t get the memo that Canadians are supposed to be the nicest people anywhere,”

Marie shook her head against his chest. She lifted her head to look up at him with a small smile across her lips.

“There’s that smile,” he set his finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up a little more. “Did he hurt you?”

Marie shook her head again and loosened her hold of Marco’s shirt just a bit, “no… he’s just being a dick. I didn’t want to leave with him… kinda got a weird feeling about him.” She brought a hand up to her eyes and swiped the tears of frustration and embarrassment. “Where’s the girl you walked out with?”

“I just walked her out to make sure she got in a cab okay,” he watched as she averted her eyes from his. He reached for her hand, “we should go get Jess.”

He led her back into the club, and even though people stared at her on the way in, she stuck close to Marco, fearing everyone around her. Thankfully, Jess and her guy were still there, making out beside the bar. When Marco approached, Jess pulled away and looked up at him, then at Marie. By her expression, she could tell something had happened, and she excused herself and followed them back out.

Marco was kind enough to drive them back to their hotel, escorting them up to their room to make sure they got in safely. As Jess disappeared inside, Marie turned around to face Marco as he pressed one hand against the doorjamb and looked down at her.

Marie chewed on her bottom lip nervously, writhing her hands together in front of her. And finally, she summoned the courage to stand on her tiptoes, leaning in to kiss Marco’s lips quickly. When she fell back to her normal height, she felt her cheeks get hot, “thanks for tonight. You always seem to be in the right place when I need help.”

He grinned and nodded his head, “you’re welcome.” He paused and watched as she fidgeted nervously in front of him, “so uh… my family’s having a little get together on Sunday… I’d really like it if you’d join us.”

“Jess and I leave Sunday. We’re flying to California to visit her parents,” Marie murmured, looking up at him again. She felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart; Marco’s expression was tearing her apart as he looked crushed by the realization that she’d be leaving.

Marco nodded and licked his lips, “so this is the last time I’ll be seeing you.”

Marie looked up at him and felt herself getting worked up all over again. But before she could break down too much, Marco cupped her jaw with his hand and kissed her slowly. She melted into him, breathing out heavily as he sucked on her bottom lip. And after he pulled back, he dragged his fingers across his lips, wiping off the tint of Marie’s lipstick.

“I’m happy to have met you,” he smiled and nodded once. He shoved his hands back into his pockets and strode off down the hallway towards the elevators.

Notes

"I Will" by Matchbox Twenty.