I feel a throbbing pain in my lower stomach some time in the morning. In response to it, I groan and bury head into the pillow trying to get back to sleep and bear the pain but it becomes unbearable with the second. My eyes snaps open and the first thing I see his Hardin sleeping face, half of his face is buried on the pillow, his arm stretched around my back.

Smiling as I remember everything we did last night, but the feeling soon fade when the pain in my stomach increases. I move Hardin's hand gently to avoid waking him and roll out of bed. My eyes searches the ground and halt when it catches what I'm looking for, I bend down and grab my dress on the floor. I pull it over my head and rush to the bathroom.

Relief my bladder and while cleaning up, I realize that the pain I've been feeling is mensural. "Oh God! Not now, not today." I groan and look around the big bathroom. I open the cabinet and search through it but I doubt the hotel management keep tampons, pad or mensural cup around here.

Why didn't I prepare for this? It's early this month. I always prepare for it but damn, what am I going to do?

I have nothing to stop the bleeding and I don't want what Hardin and I have to finish like that.

I groan again and return to the bedroom. He is still sleeping and I don't want to wake him. The blood on my first day is always light and not heavy. If I leave now, I can make it to my apartment without getting stained.

I find my panties buried under my jacket, rushing to putting it because I don't want the blood dripping down my inner thighs. I don't care that it was on the floor, I'll take care of myself when I get home. I grab my jacket and shoe before walk to the side drawer, I look through and find a notepad and pen.

I write: Last night was amazing and I'm so sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, I got my period and I'm a disaster right now. I would love to see again. I know you're leaving and all but... Have a safe flight.

Walking to the other side of the bed, I place the note under his phone and give him one last look before leaving the room.

****

I open the door to the two bedroom apartment I share with Nova and lock it behind me. I take off my jacket and hang it on the rack hanging on the wall not far too the door. I toe my boot and rush to the bathroom.

I open my cabinet and grab what I need before taking my dress off and tossing it somewhere around the bathroom. I turn on the shower and wait for the water to warm before stepping under it and scrubbing myself with my loofah. When I done, I wrap a towel around my body and move to sink where my supplies are. I insert my tampons and brush my teeth, grabbing another towel before leaving the bathroom.

The door of the apartment opens and Nova stumbles in, she looks different than she normally does after spending the night with a random stranger. She looks like she just woke and besides that, there's nothing.

"You don't look like a mess," I comment as she makes a beeline to the living room and slump on the three-seater.

"I know." She doesn't sound happy.

I change direction to the living room and seat on the center table in front of the three-seater. She turns and lay on her back.

"I was really looking forward to getting laid last night, that's why I extended the invite to literally anyone but I got a call from my dad."

"Oh shit." I mutter.

She pouts and blinks. "I know right, I even got you to curse."

Nova parents are divorced, they separated when she was really your and she stayed with her mom, she sees her dad once a year when he's available. She hates her dad but not his money. Her parents come from old money and she's doing very well for herself. She is the only reason I can afford this place even though she's convinced me a lot of time to move to her condo. I don't want to live off her, so I declined. She didn't move to the condo because she doesn't like living alone or being alone, that's part of the reason she has lots of friends. The bottom line is she isn't close with her dad but the last time they saw each other was two years, and he told her that the next time he would be calling would be able a job because as amazing has Nova is, she doesn't like working. Her dad disagrees with it, he doesn't like the idea of her spending his money and not making any of her own.

"What does want you to do?" I ask.

"He got me a place in his company, Dawn."

I clap in excitement for her. "That's great. It's just a twenty five minutes drive from here."

I raise her body up and lean her weight on her elbow. "The headquarters. He wants me in Seattle as soon as possible. He wants me to move."

Oh no, that can't be right.

"You can't move to Seattle, what about me?"

She frowns and gives me the are-you-kidding-me look. "What about you? I don't know, Dawn, why don't you pack your bags and move with me?" She says with a humorless chuckle but stop. "Wait a sec–"

I cut her off before they thought goes further. I know Nova. "No." I completely disagree because I already know what she's thinking about, stupid of me to even suggest it and put the idea in her head.

She purse her lips. "You don't even know what I'm about to tell you." She's using the sweet, baby Nova voice but I've lived with her long enough to know all her tactics.

I get up and redo my towel. "You are going to ask me to move with you." There, I said it.

"And?" She isn't even trying to deny it, she already knows all her charms are wasted on me and she doesn't even try to put in more effort anymore.

"And I can't. Are you insane to even suggest that?"

She rolls her eyes and moves to a sitting position. "Why not?"

Do I even have to tell her all this?

"Because I have a job here. I have a life here."

She rolls her eyes like what I listed isn't important. "I'll get my daddy to buy you a boutique. What do you think? Your own boutique."

Oh God, Nova.

I groan and close my eyes. "You know it's not an issue."

I open my eyes and glare playfully at her. "You want to tell your dad to buy me a boutique? The dad you hate so much and never talk to? That same dad?"

She claps her hand and points at me like I see the point she's trying to make. I don't.

"Yes, that dad and speak of which where did you go last? You just bailed me on man, that's not cool. I planned a whole speech and when it was time to say the speech, you were no where to be found. The huge four step cakes that I had made, wasted, just like that."

"I'm sorry, I met someone." I feel guilty for not appreciating what she does for more often.

"Shut the front door, you met who?" She presses like I know she would but I don't mind, I tell her everything. "You're blushing, spill bitch."

I smile shyly and sit back on the center and tell her about Hardin. I let her know how amazing he is and how our night went without exactly going into details.

"Oh my God! Dawn, I'm so happy for you." She reaches forward and wraps arms around me. "Did you at least leave a message or any way to contact you?" She asks when she pulls away.

I nod. "Yes I did, I left a message and..."

Oh no, no, no, no. God no.

"What?"

"I didn't leave my number. I didn't leave my number." I get out and head to my room.

"What? How can you not–slow down where are you going?"

I open the door to my room, and answer her. "I have to go back. I have to go back to the hotel." It's a good thing I know where it is and his room number.

"I'll call you a cab."

That is part of the reason I love her.

I ditch my towel and change fast. By the time I'm done, the cab is already here. I rush out of the room with Nova yelling, "go get your man bitch."

I enter the cab and tell the driver where I'm going as I continue drying my hair. I catch the driver giving me a weird look through the mirror but I don't care, I'm having a kid life crisis.

Once the hotel come to view, I toss the wet towel inside my bag and enter, I head to the reception and see Ralph, hope he remembers me from last night.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Miss, how may I be of service?"

"Hardin Smith, can you call him for me?"

"I'm afraid Mr. Smith has checked out."

What?

"He's gone?"

He nods.

No. This can't be right. He can't be gone.

Why didn't I leave my number? Why?