Trigger Warning: Attempted SA

Audrey's POV

"I'd love to take you out on a date. Call me❤️" with Scarlett's phone number right below the words.

That's the message I saw on my cup when I grabbed my order. The heat on my face felt as if someone had set it on fire, so I knew that I was blushing. Hard.

The feeling of soaring high up in the sky lasted until I climbed into my car and pulled away from the parking lot. My mind began to clear as I remembered about Andrew. Andrew, my boyfriend. What the fuck am I going to do? I said "yes" to a woman who asked me out on a date while I'm still in a relationship. I hated cheating. No, I despised it, and even considered emotional feelings towards another person, or even simply thinking about someone else, as cheating.

While I was waiting at a red light, I decided to call my best friend Vivian. Even though she doesn't exactly give the best advice in regards to my moral values, her words still create an impact on me.

"Hey Audrey. What's up?" She answered, picking up on the second ring.

"She asked me out Viv," I breathed, barely containing my mix of joy and doubt in my voice.

"Wait, what? She did? What did you say? I hope you said yes!" Vivian asked excitedly.

"Well, that's the problem."

"What do you mean? We are talking about Scarlett, right? That barista?"

"Yes. I just don't know what to do. I don't think I can--"

"Wait why? From what you told me, she's a beautiful redhead, your favorite type of woman, who asked you out on a date..." Viv interrupted me. There was a short pause before she resumed. "Hold on. Are you still with that shithead Andrew?"

"Yeah... That's what I called you for. I don't know what to do. As far as I know, he has no clue about any of this, and I'm overwhelmed with guilt. You know how I feel about cheating," I sighed, not even attempting to hide the trepidation in my voice.

"Girl, I've told you a million times before. Break up with that asshole. He doesn't deserve you, and you deserve to be with someone who makes you feel the way the redhead does." She huffed. I could tell she was sick and tired of telling me this over and over again.

"It's not that easy, Viv. He is not going to just let me walk away, especially if I tell him it's because I found someone else. And a woman at that," I pointed out as I pulled up to the front of my apartment complex.

"You know that I can and will be your backup when you do break up with him," Vivian assured me. "Look, just go on the date with Scarlett and see where and how things go. Don't let some shithead male prevent you from meeting your destiny."

"I guess I will just have to think about it a little bit more," I replied as I parked my car.

"Don't think about it. Just do it."

"I'll think about it Viv. Look, I gotta go. I'll talk to you tomorrow," I responded as I stepped out of my Audi.

"Okay, Audrey. And remember what I told you."

I rolled my eyes.

"I know you rolled your eyes," Vivian huffed.

"Ugh, bye Viv."

As soon as I put my phone away in my bomber jacket and opened the backdoor of my car, Andrew approached me from the apartment sidewalk.

"Hey, princess," he greeted, grabbing my waist and giving me a kiss on the lips.

"Hey baby," I smiled.

"Here, let me help you with those." He offered, reaching inside the backseats and taking out the groceries that I bought earlier today.

"Thank you."

"No thanks needed. This is what gentlemen do." He winked.

I smiled, but as soon as he turned his back, I rolled my eyes. "Gentlemen." He always had to point that out every chance he gets. As if he wanted praise for doing the bare minimum.

He grabbed all the groceries and started heading up the stairs that led into the apartment building, with me following close behind. He was wearing a white Adidas t-shirt and black shorts which showed off his muscles and god-like body. The grocery bags were quite heavy, so I could see his veins strain bulge against his skin as he trudged through the hallway.

Old-fashioned lamps lined the walls approximately six feet apart, the light glowing dimly through the stained glass. They created an ambience that was both depressive and peaceful at the same time. Our apartment was at the very end of the corridor. Sometimes I wished that it was at least in the middle instead of having to walk over a hundred feet.

"So how was your day? Anything exciting happened?" Andrew questioned, catching me off guard as I opened our apartment door.

"No, nothing much." I shrugged. "How about you?"

"Eh, the usual," he answered as he set the groceries down on the kitchen floor. "I did find out today that I'm going to be in London for two weeks on a business trip though. It's important, so I can't miss it."

A business trip... For two weeks... That would mean...

"Oh..." I blinked, faking the disappointment in my voice.

"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay with me being gone for so long," he remarked as he glanced at me while he took off his jacket and hung it up on the wooden coat rack.

"I mean... If it's important then you should go. I won't stand in the way," I chuckled.

"That's my girl," he grinned and stepped closer to me.

"When are you leaving?" I inquired as he stood before me, his eyes darkening with desire.

"Tomorrow," he replied, tilting my head up with his hand. "Which gives us tonight to make up for the next two weeks."

He kissed me and I returned the gesture, but it did absolutely nothing for me. Perhaps it was because of Scarlett. How she remained in my mind like a photograph in a priceless album.

I softly pushed him away.

"I'm not in the mood," I told him.

"What do you mean?" He narrowed his eyes at me as his smile dimmed.

"I'm just tired...and hungry."

"Oh come on, baby. My little Powerpuff?" He pouted, attempting to approach me again with a pleading look on his face. "I'm going to be away for two whole weeks. Don't you want to make up for the time that I'm going to be gone?"

"Andrew," I implied as I glared at him and shoved him a little harder. "I said that I'm not in the mood."

"Please. Baby, you know I have needs," he said, ignoring my pushes as he backed me away into a wall. The cool surface pressed into me as my heart began to pound in my ears. I knew what he was capable of. After all, what he did all those months ago was evidence of that.

His body pressed itself against mine until I could barely breathe as he leaned in and slightly bit my earlobe. I swallowed the bile of dread in my mouth and pushed him off me once again, this time causing him to stumble a few feet backwards.

He threw his hands up in an act of surrender.

"Damn, you're strong," he chuckled lightly. His eyes, however, did not hold the look of someone who found it funny. "Okay, fine. I'm going to go cook some dinner and then I will start to pack for tomorrow."

"Sounds good. And look, I love you, okay?" I added.

"You sure about that?" He grinned, as his eyes retained that cold, dark look.

Three days later

It has been three days since Scarlett gave me her phone number and asked me out, and over thirty-six hours since Andrew had left for London. I still couldn't come up with a decision, and it's been occupying my mind most of my days.

"Place!" I commanded Cobra, the six months old German Shepherd puppy, as I pointed to the elevated dog bed twenty feet away. Cobra ran to the bed, climbed on top, and laid down. He stayed in that position and looked at me eagerly as I approached him.

"Good boy!" I praised, giving him a piece of cooked chicken as a treat and rubbed his head while his tail wagged vigorously. "Yes, you're a good boy, aren't you? Who's a good smart boy?" I laughed as he licked my face.

"I'm very much impressed by his progress," Cobra's owner, Marion Bianchi, marveled as he walked up to us.

"That's because Cobra is a smart boy who needs the right training," I remarked, getting up and smiling at Marion. "He's also a beauty."

"He's definitely worth the investment that I made in him," he chuckled lightly. "I will bring him by again next week if you have an available slot in your schedule."

"Yes, I think I can train him next Tuesday at 2:15 P.M., but I will have to check my schedule to make sure. I will text you to let you know when I'll be available for Cobra," I told him.

"Sounds good!" he replied, clipping the leather leash to Cobra's collar.

"Okay then. I will see you next time, Marion. And you too, Cobra!" I added, bending down to give Cobra a scratch behind his ears.

As soon as they walked away, my mind immediately became consumed with the impending decision of whether or not I should agree to go out with Scarlett. What if both options will end up with me regretting it?

Cobra was my last dog for the day, so after I left the training facility, I decided to stop by at the park. I have my special place there where I have always been able to make my best non-regrettable decisions. I sat down on the wooden park bench and observed the ducks swimming in the lake as several people passed by.

Among them were an older couple, perhaps in late fifties to early sixties. They each held an ice cream cone, and when the woman's ice cream suddenly splattered on the ground, the man immediately gave her his ice cream without a moment's hesitation. He kissed her on the forehead and I watched her gaze up at him with love etched across her face. It might have been just a silly ice cream, but it made me feel like I was missing an important puzzle piece in my life.

I inhaled deeply and opened my contacts on my phone where I had saved Scarlett's number. As the phone began to ring, I felt the all-too familiar feeling of dream creeping up on me. What if I'm making an irreversibly terrible mistake?

"Hello?"

My god, that husky-like voice alone sent goosebumps all over my arms. I didn't even realize how much I actually missed her until she answered. My heart was pounding so loudly that I was afraid she would be able to hear it.

"Hello? Is this Scarlett?" I asked.

And that's where I told her that I will go out with her.

So what if it's cheating, I didn't care, because I wanted to be with Scarlett, and no boyfriend was going to block my way, or my destiny as Vivian put it. I fucked it up with Julia, and I wasnt going to let it happen a second time.

Fuck it, right? What is life without taking risks?