Chapter 2. Sex with a Stranger: pt. 2

“Cherry!” Belle called from the room. “I’m gonna borrow your lip gloss in front of the mirror table.”

“Oh, it’s not mine. It’s Brie’s.”

Belle put it in her purse and went to the living room to ask Cherry how she looked, but she didn’t even get the chance before Cherry commented on her outfit.

“What are you wearing?” Cherry asked, sitting up on the couch.

“A dress?”

“And leggings?”

“It looks cold outside.”

“The lip gloss—did you use it?”

“No. I put it in my bag just in case my lips get dry,” Belle answered, and Cherry couldn’t help but sigh.

“Okay, let’s start with the clothes,” she said, going to the room to pick something better for Belle to wear.

Going through Belle’s clothes, Cherry didn’t find any of them worthy of the night. She had to take out one of her own dresses.

“Here, change into this.”

“Yours?”

“Yeah.”

“It looks short,” Belle pointed out.

“Yeah, that’s why I gave it to you. You are about to get laid.”

“I’m sure not getting there by seven,” Belle mumbled as she changed into the dress Cherry had picked.

“Has she left?” Brie asked excitedly as she entered the room.

“She was about to. She was gonna wear leggings with this,” Cherry said, holding up the discarded outfit.

“My grandma actually bought this,” Brie laughed. “We should go shopping, maybe next Saturday. A lot of her clothes are to my grandma’s taste.”

“Are you sure I should wear this?” Belle asked, still undecided about the dress’s length.

“Come on, it’s not that short,” Cherry said, making Belle turn to look at herself again.

It had thin straps, making the dress almost sleeveless. It was blue and stopped right above her knee. Brie gaped in surprise when she saw her.

“Oh my gosh, Belle! You look fabulous.”

“Really?” Belle asked, still tugging at the hem of the dress.

“Did you tell her to wear a bra with it?” Brie asked Cherry.

“No, she needs to take it off,” Cherry said, and Belle swallowed.

“My bra?”

“Yeah, baby. Take it off,” Cherry nodded.

“Fine.” Belle went back to the bathroom to remove it while Brie and Cherry chatted.

“If she comes out, you do her makeup,” Cherry suggested.

“I still have to go back to the laundry place. I just came to see how she looked,” Brie replied.

“You fucking had all day, Brie. Just help her—she’s your cousin—and then you both can head out together.”

“Okay, okay. But you have to go with her. She doesn’t know the hotel; someone has to show her.”

After they agreed, Belle came out again, and Brie did light makeup on her. They left soon after finishing Belle’s dress-up.

“It’s cold, guys,” Belle said, shivering once they were outside.

“It’s not that cold—just a little windy,” Cherry said as she locked the apartment door.

“Wait, I’ll get her a scarf to keep the cold off till she gets there,” Brie said, stopping her.

Belle was about to mention how late it was but stayed quiet when she saw Brie returning with a scarf.

The cab stopped right in front of the hotel entrance. It had driven past the gate, so Belle didn’t have to walk far.

“Alright, have fun,” Cherry said as Belle got down. Brie had stopped at the laundromat on the way.

Belle waved at the cab as it drove off. When she was about to enter the hotel, it occurred to her that she had forgotten the scarf—she could feel the cold again.

Once inside, she was glad for the warmth. She walked up to the female receptionist standing behind the desk.

“Good evening, ma’am. How may I help you?”

“Um, I’m here to meet… um… Ben. A Mr. Ben,” she said, hoping he had already arrived.

“Just Ben?”

“Um, I believe that’s what he entered his name as. I don’t really know. Can you help me check if there’s a Ben on your list?”

“Let me check.”

“Thanks.”

Belle watched the receptionist skim through the monitor. She noticed when the woman stopped clicking the mouse.

“There is a Ben. You said you’re here to see him?”

“Yes.”

“One minute.” The receptionist picked up the phone and made a call, smiling reassuringly at Belle.

“Sir, sorry to disturb you, but I just need to be sure. You said a lady would arrive by seven p.m., and there’s someone here…” She paused, listening. “What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Belle. Belle Miller,” Belle replied.

“Yes, sir,” the receptionist said into the phone. She hung up and turned back to Belle. “Sorry for the delay, ma’am. Here’s the room card.” She handed it to her with a professional smile. “Do enjoy your stay.”

Belle nodded and took the card, walking toward the elevator while checking the number. It read 26.

Upstairs, she scanned the line of doors until she reached number twenty-six. She stopped there and drew in a long breath.

As she was about to open the door, an elderly cleaner passed by with her trolley, glancing at Belle as she moved on. Belle imagined what her grandmother would think of what she was about to do.

After convincing herself to go through with it, she swiped the card and opened the door slowly.

The room was dimly lit, but she could still see clearly. She stepped in and closed the door behind her, unconsciously pulling down her dress.

The room was simple. A television was mounted on the wall, and its remote lay on the table beside the bed. Because of the lighting, she couldn’t tell the color of the sheets, but she guessed they were white or cream.

Two mini sofas sat opposite each other. A man’s coat was neatly draped over the arm of one chair, making it look like the chair was wearing it.

She walked over and touched it slowly. It felt smooth under her palm. She leaned in and inhaled its scent without lifting it from the chair.

It smelled good.