I walked out of the washroom and crashed into a tall man, when I glanced up, I was surprised to look into those familiar mocha eyes, or were they hazel? I couldn't tell due to the dim passage lights. Rowan stood before me wearing his easy grace and that infectious grin that had made me crazy for him.

What was happening to me? Why couldn't I just stand on my two feet without wobbling?

My head was feeling heavy; I guess drinking tequila was a bad idea. And bad ideas were usually suggested by Nina.

I felt dizzy, my feet felt like Jell-O, and I unable to concentrate on the music playing in the background or my surroundings, but his strong iron grip was keeping me steady on my feet or else I would probably be lying on the floor, maybe reciting my sorry story to the people going in and out of the narrow passage.

How did Rowan know where to find me?

I touched his face, and traced his jawline. "Rowan?"

He grinned. "It's Troy, but I can be whoever you want me to be."

I couldn't comprehend a single word because there was too much alcohol in my system. I clenched his jacket collar tightly and started crying. "Why? Why couldn't you just call me?"

"Because....I don't have your number, baby."

I hugged him and cried harder, ignoring his words. "I dreamt about you coming back to me. I can't talk about it to anyone, not even my best friends because they all think I've moved on, but I haven't. I'm trying so hard to forget you."

He traced his thumb over my cheek and I heard him whisper. "If I kiss you, will your pain go away?"

"I want you to kiss me. It's been two years since the last time we kissed."

"How did I kiss you? Remind me, was it slow like I'm head over heels in love with you?"

I nodded.

His fingers slid to the nape of my neck as he tilted my head a little and I felt his soft gentle lips on mine, moving at a slow pace. His tongue entered my mouth deepening the kiss. I liked it. I had forgotten what it was like being kissed, maybe I had fantasized about kissing Rowan most of the nights. But this was different, it was real and wrong at the same time. I ran my fingers through his soft hair, tasting mint on his breath, and a bit of alcohol.

His arms tightened around me.

His lips whispered something in my ear, but I couldn't gather his words.

My eyelids became heavier, and I think Rowan was carrying me somewhere.

Where was he taking me?

After what seemed like an eternity, I felt the soft bed underneath me. That's all I needed. To go to sleep.

Suddenly, I felt sick as I puked.

After that, everything was a blur.

All I remembered was a foggy vision of a shirtless Rowan settled on the bed beside me.

****

I woke up like every amateur drunk having a hangover the next morning, but this was the type of a hangover where a person did not recall the incidents of the previous night, just like the hangover movie. I thought it was hilarious. Now, not so much.

I was sprawled in a strange bed in a strange room. I covered my face to shield from the sunlight. My dress was on, but the fabric had rode up all the way. I sat upright in the huge king sized bed and glanced around, trying to place exactly how I was in this bed.

I tried hard to remember what happened after my trip to the club washroom, all I recalled was seeing Rowan in the passageway and kissing him. The details were blank after that. I groaned in frustration. Had Rowan come back from Denmark so he could meet me?

The bedroom was posh, but not too spacious. A huge flat screen mounted up on the opposite side of the wall. A small dresser beside the bed and a door I assumed must be a walk-in closet. A fiery red and black guitar placed in the corner.

I heard footsteps and the door swung open. The tall stranger from the club sauntered in, shirtless, his abs were exposed, there were tattoos running up his arms and his biceps, he was only wearing a pair of jeans, holding a tray of what I assumed was breakfast. The delicious aroma of coffee filled the air. He had the lighter shade of brown hair and striking hazel eyes. When I looked closer, I realized he didn't look so much like Rowan, although a shadow of his features.

The stranger grinned, showcasing a set of white teeth as he placed the tray on the bed and settled beside me. "Good Morning, beautiful. Thought you would be hungry so I fixed you breakfast."

"How...how did I get here?" I asked. I was too damn scared to hear his answer.

"Sweetie, you asked me to take you home last night. And, this is my home." He explained like it was a matter of fact, like he had girls come in and out like that on a daily basis. He grabbed for a toast from the tower of toasts, spread some jam on it, taking a bite as he leaned back on the bed casually. "I bought bagels and cream if you prefer that over toasts."

What have I done?

I had lost my appetite.

"Where's my boyfriend?"

The guy's eyes furrowed as he took a sip of his steaming hot coffee. "Your boyfriend? You mean the blond bartender you were talking to? Didn't see him at all."

I realized he was talking about Gabriel. My heart was beating so fast, not because this guy was good looking, but with the thought of what I may have done thinking that it was Rowan all along.

"Who are you?"

He laughed. In other situations it might have looked sexy, but now it looked downright villainous. "Do you always do this?"

"Do what?" He was testing my patience.

"Spend the night with a guy and then forget their name?" He laughed again. I was starting to feel annoyed. "Because I sure as hell never had a girl forget my name after one night. They always keep coming back to me. You're the first with the amnesia."

"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god! What have I done?!" I covered my face with my hands on the verge of another major breakdown as the reality of the situation hit me hard.

I couldn't. I hadn't just lost my V-card to some stranger whose name I didn't even know.

How could you, Alana?

"Did we...did we?"

"Of course we had sex, and let me tell you, it was the best—"

I couldn't hear his words, I'd tuned everything out as I dissolved into a crying fit. I had sex with a complete stranger and the worst part was that I couldn't even remember it. How could I do this to myself. In the back of my mind, I wondered how I could possibly do this to Rowan. Then I remembered, we weren't together. Rowan was probably out there sleeping with a bunch of girls in Denmark too. A single one-night stand on my list wasn't going to hurt, right?

Right?

I cried harder.

"Hey, what's wrong?" The guy moved closer to me and took my hands in his. "It was just causal sex. Why are you crying?"

He seemed genuinely concerned. "Are you scared that your boyfriend will find out? I wouldn't tell a soul. Nobody would know."

I pulled my hands out of his grasp. "How could you do this to me? I was drunk."

"You asked for it, sweetness."

"I would have asked you to jump off your balcony, would you have done that too?" I snapped back.

"I don't understand. What's the big deal?"

This guy was like the fucking epitome of chilled out behavior. What was virginity to him anyway? A box of colorful donuts that I distributed in the mall? What the hell? Who was this guy exactly?

"Because...I was a virgin." There I said it. The word was being the operative word. Past tense.

He gaped at me, like really stared at me as if I had confessed that I had herpes.

"You're kidding." He declared, grabbing for a bagel.

"I'm not."

"So you're upset because you think I took your virginity?"

"Of course." I said wiping my tears. "I don't even know you."

"Now you do."

Exasperated, I threw the covers and climbed to my feet. I needed to get out of this place so I straightened my dress and grabbed for my cellphone from the dresser. "Just so we are clear, nothing happened between us and we don't know each other."

The guy stood up and folded his arms across his chest blocking my way. "I don't even get a simple thank you?"

I started at him incredulously, "Thank you for what? For having sex with me while I was defenseless and drunk?"

I'd burst his nerve because he didn't seem amused now. He was pissed off. That playful smile was wiped clean.

"I brought you to my apartment yesterday because I couldn't find your friends or your boyfriend for that matter..."

"Gabriel is not my boyfriend."

He ignored me and went on. "And you puked all over my expensive shirt and my rug. Took me ages to clean that ugly yellowish stain that ain't gonna vanish in the next twenty fucking years. Yeah, and guess what, you were too drunk to even know what the fuck you were blabbering about and slept like a dead body in my bed while I had to sleep on the couch. And I don't fuck dead bodies, just so you know."

I burst out laughing. I think I had tears in my eyes.

"What's so funny?"

"So that means I'm still a virgin."

"Technically, yes. I mean, how stupid are you? Your clothes were still on when you woke up this morning, and I guess you are walking fine which is a dead giveaway that I wasn't anywhere between your legs. It was a joke, and I practically saved your ass from sleeping with a complete stranger who would have taken advantage of your innocence." He barked.

"Says the stranger who played tonsil hockey with me by making me think that it was my boyfriend. That's not taking advantage? Remind me why I should be thankful to whatever-your-name-is, Mister."

"It's Troy. Yo, girl, just cuz I'm keeping my mouth shut doesn't mean you have to run yours. Also, don't even get me started on your friends, they were busy boozing their asses yesterday and I'm pretty sure they forgot all about you. Some friends. So, I did you a favor, be thankful that you were at the hands of the great Troy from Oblivion."

"Oblivion?" I asked. "What is that?"

"If you still haven't gathered. I'm the guitarist for a local band that will go international soon."

I suppressed an eye-roll. He was so full of himself.

"Good luck with your band." I said as I checked my phone. It was switched off.

I dreaded going back to my little studio apartment. God knew what Chez and Nina were up to. They had probably even filed a missing's person report till now and going bonkers, running around the town.

"Thanks for everything, and sorry for your t-shirt and the rug." I rummaged in my purse and handed him some cash.

He handed the money back to me. "I don't think this will cover it, besides I threw it already so no big deal."

"Okay." I said, stashing the money back into my bag.

Before I could step out of the apartment, Troy placed a jacket over my shoulders. I raised my eyes in question. He said, "You are going to attract a lot of unwanted attention with that dress of yours, it's better you put this on, and I don't need the jacket back."

"Thanks." I said as I pulled on the jacket. It was warm and smelled like him. 

"I can offer you a ride home if you want..." he offered.

"So that you can get my address, thanks but no thanks. You've already done enough, Troy."

"Hate to break it to you, love, but I already know where you live." that grin again.

I didn't ask how or why as I said goodbye and walked out of his apartment.

When I stepped out of the elevator, a group of guys stepped in, eyeing me suspiciously. I paid no heed as I made my way out in the cool October air.

****

A.N: Hey Everyone, Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. Please show me your support by voting and commenting. It means a lot to me.

So, what do you guys think of the new character Troy? And what do you think Rowan is doing? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below ❤️

Stay Blessed as always! 💜