The Wrong Kiss

Something was wrong. I was trying to be intimate with my boyfriend, but his reaction was… off.

I was wearing the lace lingerie he’d been begging to see me in for months, but he hadn’t so much as touched me.

The room was dark. I leaned in close, my breath warm against his ear. “Your surprise,” I whispered. “Do you like it?”

His breathing hitched, becoming ragged.

A thrill went through me. It was working.

I looped my arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply.

But just then, my boyfriend’s voice echoed from outside the room.

“The lights are on, but nobody’s home?”

I froze. A wave of ice and fire shot through my veins.

If Leo was out there… then who was I holding right now?

1

In the pitch-black room, I scrambled off him, clutching the front of my lingerie to my chest.

“Who are you?!” I hissed, my eyes wide with terror as I stared at the shadowy figure before me.

A moment later, a low, cool voice answered.

“Zane.”

I froze at the name. He was Leo’s roommate.

I’d seen him a few times when I’d come over to visit. My impression of him was that he was aloof and quiet, a man of few words who seemed to keep the world at arm’s length. We’d never exchanged more than a brief nod.

The memory of what had just happened rushed back, and my face burned with shame. “What are you doing in Leo’s room?” I demanded.

“Borrowing a charger.”

His answer was simple, but my panic was anything but. I was standing here in next to nothing. A man and a woman, alone in a dark room. If Leo walked in now, there would be no explaining this away.

In a desperate rush, I grabbed my discarded clothes and my phone and dove into the wardrobe.

“Don’t let Leo see me. Please,” I begged in a small voice.

Zane was silent for a two-count, then he walked over and closed the closet door for me.

At that exact moment, the bedroom door swung open.

Leo walked in and flipped on the lights, flooding the room with a brilliant glare.

“Hey? Zane, what are you doing in my room?”

Zane picked up a charger from the desk. “Came to borrow this.”

“Oh,” Leo said, his tone casual. “By the way, have you seen Raina? She told me she was coming over.”

“Haven’t seen her.”

A nervous sweat broke out on my back.

Today was our one-year anniversary. Before leaving work, I’d texted Leo telling him I had a surprise for him tonight. He was working late, which gave me plenty of time to come over and get ready. My plan had been to offer myself up as his present the moment he walked through the door.

I never imagined it would turn into a disaster like this.

“Something’s wrong with my computer. Can you come take a look?” Leo asked.

“Sure.”

After Zane led Leo out of the room, I scrambled out of the closet, threw on my clothes, grabbed my things, and slipped out of the apartment.

2

On the way home, I sent Leo a text.

[Hey babe, I’m not feeling well, so I couldn’t make it over. Sorry. I’ll have to owe you your surprise.]

He replied almost instantly: [Are you okay? What’s wrong? Do you want me to come over?]

[No, it’s fine. I’m ...