New story preview

 I’m Akayla, I’m 30, and I work as an office manager at an advertising agency in Phoenix, AZ.

I’ve just gone through a double breakup--with both my best friend and my boyfriend because I caught them together in a compromising position at my house, which happened a year ago. I then received an invitation to their wedding six months later. The wedding’s at a beachside hotel and resort in a place called Pineapple Cove, California. My wedding invitation stated that I could bring a plus one. 

Part of me wanted nothing to do the two people who had betrayed me, but then again I might find my date while I’m in town for the wedding, which is three weeks from now. So I packed my bags, gassed up my convertible, drove from Phoenix to Pineapple Cove with an invitation in hand.

As soon as I arrived in town, I checked into a four-star downtown hotel. I unpacked my bags, including the dress I planned on wearing to the wedding, an one-shoulder number, since the wedding’s at the beach and the reception’s at the hotel and resort. One day, I went to local coffeehouse on Main Street and ordered an iced caramel coffee with a shot of espresso. I looked at my invitation while I drank my coffee.

To be honest, I didn’t want to go to the damn wedding of two people who deserved my wrath and had me contemplating a double murder in my mind, But on the flip side, I did RSVP and had planned on bringing a plus one. The best way to get over an ex is to get under a new one. Thankfully, I’d already bought them a gift, though I didn’t want to give them a damn thing after all the shit they had put me through.

While I was lost in thought about the wedding, I was briefly interrupted by a male voice saying to me, “Excuse me, is this seat taken?”

I looked up and said, “No, you can sit here with me.”

He then sat across from me with a coffee in his hand, he had almond-shaped eyes and honey-kissed skin. He wore a gray suit and tie, had on a pair of glasses, and a name tag that said “Kevon” 

“Are you new in town?” Kevon asked me.

“I’m from Arizona, Phoenix to be exact. I’m visiting and in town for a wedding.” I replied as I showed him the wedding invitation. 

“Oh, I’m sure it’s a joyous occasion.” He said, looking at the invitation.

“I’m sure it is, though I have mixed feelings about it.” I said to him.

Then, I asked him, “Are you single, Kevon?”

“I’m very much single.” He replied.

“The reason I had asked is because I need a plus one for the wedding. Would you like to be my date?” I asked him.

With a dimpled smile, he said, “I’m flattered and I’d be honored to be your date for the wedding, Akayla.”

“Great, do you have a phone number that I can call you?” I asked Kevon.

Kevon and I then exchanged phone numbers before we continued our conversation, I learned that he’s the manager at the hotel I’m staying and that he also works the front desk as the concierge. We both walked back to the hotel; he went to the front desk and I went back to my hotel room. While I was in the hotel lobby, I noticed a mini flyer promoting an event for a nightclub in town, so I picked up a copy of the flyer before going to the hotel room.

I looked at the flyer, which said “Masquerade Night” with a mask on top of it, the bottom said, “Saturday night, 8 o’clock at  Club Pleasure”. The event’s taking place on the sane day as the wedding, but at a different time. I compared both of the events, the wedding’s in the early afternoon and the masquerade night at Club Pleasure takes place later. 

Then, an idea came to me, which was to buy a new, sexier dress for the masquerade event. I decided to go on a bit of a shopping spree at the Pineapple Cove Mall, an outdoor shopping center. 

Fast forward to the day of the so-called wedding, I went with Kevon and drove in his car to the Seaside Serenity Hotel & Resort, where the wedding reception took place. Kevon wore his best formal tuxedo, looking like a male model with his black hair parted at the center. The wedding was at the beach, Ashley (the bride/my ex-best friend) wore a mermaid-style wedding dress as she walked down the aisle and Dalton (the groom/my ex-boyfriend) smiling back at her. 

Kevon and I watched as the couple recited their wedding vows in front of family and friends, though my mind was on my date as I briefly looked at him. After the wedding came the reception and after party, I had the best time with Kevon, forgetting all about the backstabbing bride and groom. We snuck away to the restroom for a quick makeout session, Kevon’s an amazing kisser and I liked the way he held me close while we were making out.

After that, we came back to the reception, we danced to music courtesy of a live jazz band and ate some yummy dinner served buffet-style. We walked over to the table where the newly married couple sat and wished them the best. I had thanked the bride for taking my ex off of my hands. 

“I also want to thank you two for showing me your true colors and for proving to me that I deserve better. I deserve both a best friend who isn’t a jealous backstabber and a man who’s not a needy liar, cheater, and a total piece of crap.” I said to them with a smile, killing them both with kindness and cutting them out of my life with class because they’re not worth a damn to me anymore.

I did enjoy having some wedding cake, by the way. The cake had three tiers each with a different flavor: vanilla in the first tier, red velvet in the second tier, and marble cake in the third tier; I had a slice of red velvet for the first piece.

“Have another piece of cake, I don’t like for you to look so thin.” Kevon said as he offered me a second piece of wedding cake, this time it was vanilla.

We left the wedding reception before it got dark so we could get ready for the masquerade night at Club Pleasure. I went to my hotel room and changed into my new, sexy dress that I had bought at the mall. My sexy dress was a black velvet strapless maxi with rhinestones, a boned corset, and a high slit; I wore my dress with faux suede pumps and my midnight shoulder-length hair was in a side ponytail with curled ends.

Kevon took a look at me and said, “Oh my God! Akayla, you look absolutely stunning in that dress.”

“Thank you, Kevon. I couldn’t decide between this dress and a few others that I bought at the mall.” I replied with a smile.

“I feel like I’m in the presence of a goddess. It’s your ex’s loss anyway.” Kevon said to me while we put on our masks for the masquerade night. 

Eight o’clock came and we had arrived at Club Pleasure’s Masquerade Night. The club was filled with masquerade-masked men and women, the DJ playing R&B hits from the 90s and the 2000s, and the servers handed out champagne, finger foods, and sexy named cocktails. The club was full of activity and socializing, the dance floor filled with dancing, and the bartenders put on a show while making the drinks. Kevon and I went onto the dance floor, I got to see his beautiful eyes through his mask. He held me close while we danced to The Dream’s “Rockin’ That Thang”.

We danced to a few songs and went over to the bar to people-watch while I sipped on a cocktail. Kevon, on the other hand, admired me as I sat with my leg draped over the other. I felt very sexy in that dress because it showed off my curves and the high slit showed my thick thigh. 

We then returned to the dance floor and held each other close. Next thing you know, we were approached by a masked stranger, I got a good look at him; he had honey-kissed skin and almond-shaped eyes like that of Kevon, except he had tattoos on his hands.

“Mind if I cut in?” He asked.

I looked at Kevon and he nodded yes. “Don’t worry, I’ll be at the men’s room. I’ll be back shortly.” He said as he stepped aside.

So I got to dance with the masked stranger, he turned out to be an amazing dancer. 

“You’ll have to excuse me, but you look very sexy tonight.” He said to me.

“Why thank you.” I replied.

“Are you sure you’re not Angelina Jolie? Because that dress you have on looks like something she wore.” He added.

Sexy, a good dancer, and a charmer all in one, I thought to myself smiling at him. “Well you’re quite sexy yourself.” I said to him, returning the compliment.

A few minutes later, Kevon rejoined on the dance floor and all three of us started dancing. The masked stranger had placed his hands on my shoulders while Kevon placed his hands on my waist. The DJ played “Freak Me” by Silk as the three of us danced, it was so hot having to dance with two men at the same time; all this plus the R&B music playing made it much sexier. Not gonna lie, I had more fun at this club than at the wedding.

“I have to take care of something real quick, I’ll be back. You two keep dancing.” the masked stranger said as stepped out.

It was back to just me and Kevon on the dance floor, we looked into each other’s eyes as we danced. 

“This music has me in the mood, like I want to enjoy some sexy time with you.” I had said to Kevon.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to do a little public display of affection with a beautiful woman. Now that you’re here, I want to kiss you here on the dance floor and make it come true.” Kevon replied.

With that being said, Kevon held me in his arms and gave me a passionate kiss on the lips. We made out with passion in the middle of the dance floor, I felt his hand on my upper thigh as we continued to kiss. The masked stranger made his return and then said, “We got one of the rooms ready for a little privacy.”

Kevon and I followed the stranger upstairs to one of the five private rooms. The room we entered had a red couch, a table that had a serving tray filled with fruit and finger foods, and champagne chilling in an ice bucket; the three of us then sat together on the plush red couch. From there, Kevon and I fed each other fruit while the masked stranger started kissing on my shoulder. The stranger then poured some champagne into a glass, dipped a strawberry in it, and fed it to me. The combination of the champagne’s fizziness and the juicy, plump strawberry tickled my taste buds; Kevon kissed my lips while the masked stranger kissed on one side of my neck, their hands rubbing on different parts of my body. My hands touched both of their faces and the masked stranger got his turn to kiss my lips.

“Akayla, would it be okay with you if he watch us?” Kevon whispered to me, asking for my permission

“He can stay and watch.” I replied with a nod.