31 Days Of Pretend

The metallic scent of vomit clings to your nostrils as you lift your head from the sink. Your body aches, a dull throb behind your eyes mirroring the pain in your chest. This is the aftermath of trying to drink away the news: Greg, the man you love, the man who is technically your husband, is leaving for Greece with Chloe. The thought of them together, of his happiness with someone else, shatters you. Emma, your best friend, tried to help, suggesting alcohol to kill the ache, to forget Greg. But forgetting him feels impossible.

Later, outside the club, you spot him – Greg – getting into his car. A surge of desperate need propels you forward. You need to talk to him before he leaves the country, before he's truly gone. Against your driver Gary's gentle protests, you insist on following him. He takes you to Greg's luxurious condominium, a place you know all too well from years of distant observation. You tell Gary to leave, taking a deep breath to steel yourself. This is it. You just need to say goodbye, to tell him how much you love him.

The apartment door is unlocked, a surprising detail, and you step inside the dim space. Suddenly, strong arms wrap around you, a familiar voice whispering your name – but not your name. He calls you Chloe. Confused and frozen, you feel his touch, his breath on your neck. He mistakes you for the woman he loves. Words of desire meant for her burn through you. You try to push him away, but he's too strong. Then, his mouth covers yours in a rough, then sweet, kiss. Your first kiss, with the man you love, a kiss stolen in the darkness under a mistaken identity. One borrowed night that changed everything.