The apartment reeked of stale beer and regret, a fitting aftermath to the kind of party that starts with tequila shots and ends with someone crying in the bathroom. Siham sprawled across the sagging couch in the middle of the chaos, her legs dangling over the armrest, one stiletto still clinging to her foot while the other lay abandoned under a pile of empty cans. Her phone buzzed insistently on her stomach, each vibration a tiny jab of guilt. Ehab’s name glowed on the screen, his sweet, clueless texts piling up like a stack of unpaid bills.
*Hey babe, just got off work. Miss you. How was your night?*
She groaned, rubbing her temples. Her head throbbed from the cheap vodka still sloshing in her system, and the lingering scent of some frat boy’s cologne clung to her skin like a bad decision. She could still feel the heat of his hands on her waist, the rough press of his lips in that dark corner of the party. What the hell had she been thinking? Ehab deserved better than this. But God, it had felt *good* to let go, even for a few reckless minutes.
From the kitchen, Shiksya’s sharp cackle cut through the haze, followed by Shiwani’s throaty laugh. The two of them were still riding the high of the night, their voices bouncing off the peeling walls of their cramped Oklahoma apartment. Siham tilted her head to see Shiksya leaning against the counter, a half-empty beer in one hand, her dark hair a wild mess of curls. Shiwani, perched on a stool, was twirling a strand of her sleek black hair around her finger, her lips curled in a smirk as she recounted her latest conquest.
“Swear to God, that dude thought he was gonna get me to go home with him,” Shiwani said, her tone dripping with mockery. “I told him, ‘Sweetie, I don’t do sleepovers unless there’s breakfast involved. And I mean the kind with waffles, not your sorry excuses.’”
Shiksya snorted, nearly spilling her beer. “You’re ruthless, Shiwani. What about you, Siham? Don’t think we didn’t notice you disappearing for, like, twenty minutes. Spill it, girl. Who was the lucky bastard?”
Siham’s stomach twisted. She sat up, brushing a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear, and forced a casual shrug. “Nobody. Just needed some air. It was hot in there.”
“Oh, please,” Shiwani drawled, her dark eyes glinting with mischief as she slid off the stool and sauntered over. She plopped down on the couch beside Siham, her thigh pressing against hers with deliberate closeness. “Don’t give us that innocent bullshit. I saw you with that frat bro, all cozy in the corner. Looked like you were getting plenty of *air*—straight from his mouth.”
Siham’s cheeks burned. She opened her mouth to protest, but Shiksya was already crossing the room, her hips swaying with predatory confidence. She leaned over the back of the couch, her breath hot against Siham’s ear as she purred, “Come on, babe. Don’t play the good girl now. We know you’ve got a wild side itching to come out. Did he at least know how to kiss, or was it all sloppy frat-boy tongue?”
“Shut up, both of you,” Siham snapped, but there was no real venom in her voice. She swatted at Shiksya, who dodged with a wicked grin. “It was nothing, okay? Just a stupid moment. I’m with Ehab. You know that.”
Shiwani raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Oh, we know. Sweet, perfect Ehab, all the way up in Canada, sending you his little heart emojis while you’re down here getting felt up by some dude who probably calls his dick ‘The Commander.’ Tell me, Siham, does Ehab even know how to make your knees weak, or is he all ‘let’s cuddle and talk about our feelings’?”
Siham glared at her, but the words stung more than she’d admit. Ehab *was* sweet—too sweet, sometimes. Reliable, steady, the kind of guy who’d never push her out of her comfort zone. And she loved him for it. Didn’t she? But tonight, that frat boy’s hands on her, the thrill of doing something wrong, had lit a fire she hadn’t felt in months. She hated herself for it, but she couldn’t deny the rush.
“You’re such a bitch, Shiwani,” Siham muttered, grabbing a throw pillow and chucking it at her. Shiwani caught it with a laugh, her eyes gleaming with challenge.
“Hey, I’m just saying, live a little,” Shiwani shot back, tossing the pillow aside. “Long-distance is a killer. You’re not a nun, Siham. You’ve got needs. And if Ehab’s not here to take care of them, well…” She trailed off, her gaze sliding to Shiksya with a conspiratorial smirk.
Shiksya picked up the thread seamlessly, her voice low and teasing. “Exactly. You’re young, hot, and stuck in this shitty apartment with us degenerates. Might as well have some fun. What’s the harm in a little flirting? A little touching? Nobody’s gotta know.”
Siham’s phone buzzed again, and she glanced down at Ehab’s latest message: *Can’t wait to see you next month. Counting the days.* Her chest tightened. She wanted to text back something sweet, something to erase the guilt gnawing at her, but her fingers hovered over the screen, frozen. What could she even say? *Hey, babe, I made out with some random guy tonight, but I totally love you*?
“You’re thinking too hard,” Shiksya said, snapping her out of her spiral. She straightened up, draining the last of her beer and tossing the can into the overflowing trash. “Look, Siham, I’m not saying dump the guy. I’m just saying… don’t lock yourself in a cage while he’s a thousand miles away. You deserve to feel alive.”
“Yeah, and speaking of feeling alive,” Shiwani interjected, her tone suddenly bright with mischief, “Shiksya, didn’t you say Juraj’s bringing his roommate over tomorrow? What’s his name again? Cristian? The one with the jawline that could cut glass?”
Shiksya’s grin turned downright feral. “Oh, yeah. Cristian. He’s a fucking snack, Siham. Tattoos, abs, the whole bad-boy package. And the way he looks at a girl? Like he’s already picturing her naked. You’ll see.”
Siham rolled her eyes, but her pulse quickened despite herself. “I’m not interested. I’ve got enough problems without adding some wannabe playboy to the mix.”
“Uh-huh,” Shiwani said, her voice dripping with skepticism. “Keep telling yourself that, babe. But when Cristian walks in here tomorrow, looking like sex on legs, don’t come crying to us when your panties mysteriously disappear.”
“Fuck off,” Siham shot back, but she couldn’t suppress the reluctant smile tugging at her lips. She shoved Shiwani’s shoulder, trying to shake off the heat creeping up her neck. The last thing she needed was another temptation. Ehab’s texts still glowed on her phone, a silent reminder of the promises she’d made. But as Shiksya and Shiwani dissolved into another round of laughter, trading crude jokes about Cristian’s rumored bedroom skills, a dangerous curiosity stirred in Siham’s chest.
Tomorrow. Cristian. A name that already felt like trouble. She told herself she wouldn’t look twice at him. She told herself she’d be good. But deep down, in the hazy aftermath of vodka and bad choices, a small, reckless part of her whispered, *What if?*
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