Chapter 4 Attractive Stranger

• Attractive stranger
• Laurie Ston.
• It was late at night when I finally arrived at the hostel where I was staying. Clarice had sent a car to take me back, and I was extremely sensitive after talking to my friend and spending a precious moment by her side. I entered the guesthouse as quietly as possible, even though it was practically empty.
• I made my way to the front of the elevator, and, with a sigh of relief, I was grateful for the opportunity not to have to take the stairs. I pressed the button and waited patiently for it to arrive.
• The metal doors opened silently, revealing an interior illuminated by a soft light. I entered the elevator and pressed the button for my floor. But before the doors closed, I saw the silhouette of a man approaching, and in a thoughtless act, I put my hand out between the doors, preventing them from closing completely, until he could enter.
• “Thank you...” He said, his thick, husky voice drawing my attention.
• “Go ahead.” I said, huffing at the end as I realized that my voice had failed me.
• He was strong, tanned, had tattoos all over his body, and his hair fell disheveled over his face. Our gazes met for a moment, and I felt an electric current run through my body. It was as if time had slowed down and everything around me had disappeared, except for the two of us.
• The gray of his gaze was intense and enigmatic, with a mixture of curiosity and magnetism. The next few seconds seemed like an eternity. We stood there, side by side, feeling the electricity in the air. Neither of us said a word; the palpable tension was completely paralyzing us.
• The elevator began to move slowly up the floors. Before I could ask any questions, the elevator reached my floor. The doors opened, revealing my empty corridor. I stepped out, and, with one last look, our eyes met again.
• And then I moved on.
• What had just happened? Who was that attractive stranger? I entered my room with my mind full of questions that I wanted to ignore. I blamed the wine drunk at dinner, the sensitivity, and nostalgia, and even the pain of being a cuckold.
• I threw myself on the bed and blacked out completely.
• ***
• Throughout the week, I gave myself entirely to the preparations for my best friend's bachelor party. Every detail was carefully planned, ensuring that it would be an unforgettable night for her. My afternoons were filled with phone calls to organize the activities, from booking restaurants and bars to choosing the perfect venue for the party, as we discussed over the phone when she confided in me her wishes. I spent hours researching decoration and entertainment ideas, trying to give Clarice a celebration worthy of her last days as a single woman.
• In the mornings, I immersed myself in the world of gastronomy, looking for delicious snacks and desserts for the party. The city's snack bars became my sanctuary, where every desert I tried took me to paradise, or not. I browsed the stores, searching for the best accessories and themed decorations. I was tireless, making sure that everything was perfectly aligned with Clarice's tastes and personality. As the day of the bachelor party drew closer, my excitement grew. I found myself busy setting up the space, hanging decorations, arranging tables, and preparing a warm and festive atmosphere. Everything was prepared with both audiences in mind. For the first time, I invented a joint bachelor party. So that there was no disregard or any detail that could affect the wedding, and so that they could have fun together, with their friends.
• Then the big night arrived.
• I chose a long-sleeved black dress covered in velvet because of the cold. The tight fit on my body gave way to curves that had been forgotten for years, and to be daring, I went for a deep neckline. The dress went just to the thigh, at least five fingers above the knee, and a slit on the side left an elegant slit that only promised to show things that couldn't be seen. And to guarantee this, I put on thin black tights. With a soft, smoky eye in shades of black, I added eyeliner to contrast my eyes, which were a mixture of green and yellow, and finished off with red lipstick. I tied my hair up in a neat bun and put small rings in my ears, contrasting with a discreet bracelet and a necklace that had unfortunately been a present from Josh. I was reluctant to get rid of it because it had been marked as our first present. I wasn't yet ready to discard it. To finish off, I put a pair of pumps on my feet. Wondering if I would at least be able to walk around the reception in them, since, over the years. I had gotten used to wearing sneakers or sneakers so as not to look bigger than Josh. He felt inferior.
• As I was the last to leave, I couldn't be the first to arrive. But I was reassured to know that I had left everything minimally ready for when my best friend arrived at the venue.
• So, when I had finished, I went down to the reception excited, and a car was waiting for me outside. I was anxious to see Clarice's reaction. I wanted her to feel loved and to feel how grateful I was for this moment. I couldn't wait to see the radiant smile on her face.
• When I got out of the car in front of the venue, the sound of laughter and lively conversation filled the room, so I took a deep breath and went inside. It was already crowded, and I wanted to be able to contain my nervousness at being unaccompanied for the first time after three long years, only going to places where Josh was there or thereabouts.
• “You're amazing,” Clarice came up to me. “And you look beautiful, by the way.” she said, winking.
• “Did you like it?” I asked with a shy smile on my face.
• “Did I like it?” She hugged me. “Look at this place, I can hardly believe how perfect everything turned out!”
• “I wanted it to be just as you described.” I said, kissing her cheek.
• “It's better than I imagined; I couldn't have found anyone better; you were born for this, my friend; you're going to be a professional decorator.” She said it excitedly. “Come on, let's enjoy the evening.”
• She pulled me onto the dance floor, and soon Max joined us. The pulsating music filled the room and gave us more energy. I was surrounded by laughter, lively conversations, and happy people. I walked past where the lights danced to the rhythm of the music, the drinks arrived, and we enjoyed this momentous occasion. I didn't want to worry about how much I was drinking, it was going to be an unforgettable night, and it would be. Clarice was radiant next to Max, the two of them were enjoying the moment, and, sometimes, they moved away to greet the others, although I had approached her friends and wasn't so alone. Embraced, we danced to the music, losing ourselves in the infectious beat and forgetting anything else in the world apart from right there, right now.