The Morning After

The light streaming through the curtains woke me up. My head was still a little foggy from last night, the memories of the club and the blonde blurring together with the buzz of alcohol still lingering in my veins. I turned over and found the space beside me empty, the bed cold. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and saw a small piece of paper on the nightstand.

I picked it up. It was a phone number. I smiled to myself, tossing the note back onto the table. Maybe I'd call her, maybe not. It wasn't like it was the first time I'd woken up to something like this. It wasn't even the first time in Barcelona. I stretched and got out of bed, my muscles sore from dancing and performing. I needed coffee. That was the first priority.

Before I could get to the bathroom, I heard a loud knock on the door.

Banging. I groaned. Who could it be this early?

I opened the door to find Stefani standing there, leaning against the doorframe, a slight smirk on her face.

"Still here?" she asked, eyes scanning the room as if she already knew what had happened.

I laughed, unbothered. "Nah, she's gone. Left me her number though," I said, lifting the paper and waving it a little in front of Stefani.

"Of course," Stefani said, rolling her eyes playfully. "Well, I'm not here for that. I just wanted to hang."

"Deal," I said, stepping back to let her in. "But first, coffee. I need it."

She nodded, heading straight for the kitchen as I made my way to the bathroom. "I'll take care of it," she called over her shoulder.

I quickly showered, the warm water washing away the remnants of last night. As I brushed my teeth, I let my mind wander. The blonde, the night, the club... and the slight tension that lingered when Stefani and I had been together on the dance floor. It wasn't something I could really explain, and maybe I didn't need to.

After I finished, I changed into something comfortable—simple shorts and a tank top. When I walked back into the living area, Stefani was sitting on the couch, a cup of coffee in hand. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

I took the coffee from her, thanking her as I sat down next to her.

"So, what's the word on the tour?" I asked, sipping the hot liquid as I looked at Stefani. "It's amazing working with you. Artpop's vision is coming to life with this tour. You should be proud of everything you've created."

Stefani's eyes softened a little, though she quickly turned the focus back to the conversation. "It's been a wild ride. But it's worth it."

She paused for a moment, tapping her finger on the edge of the coffee cup before meeting my eyes. "And what about last night?" she asked casually. "How was the girl you left with?"

I took another sip of my coffee, the heat of the cup grounding me in the moment. I felt a sudden rush of uncertainty. The memories of the dance floor came flooding back—Stefani and I, moving so close, the heat between us, the way she looked at me. But I didn't say anything about that. I just smiled and shrugged.

"I didn't get her name. I... don't really remember much about what happened after the club."

Stefani let out a small laugh, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, I'm sure whatever happened, you'll keep it to yourself."

"Maybe," I replied, a little smile tugging at my lips. "But some details... I don't think I can share."

Stefani raised an eyebrow, her gaze intense for a brief moment. "Well, if you can't tell me what you did... can you show me?"

The words hit me like a wave, and I froze. I didn't know if I'd heard her right, and the air between us seemed to thicken. Something about the way she said it, her tone—there was something in the way her body was angled toward me that set off alarms in my brain.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Stefani suddenly crawled across the couch, closing the space between us. Her body hovered just above mine, and I felt her breath on my skin, warm and sweet.

"Please, Lena," she whispered, her voice low. "I want to show me what you did to her."

My heart raced. I didn't know what to say, what to do, or how to process the moment. The weight of her presence was overwhelming, and for a moment, I was unsure of what was happening.

Before I could think, a loud knock at the door interrupted the tension in the room. Tara and Freddie's voices rang out from the hallway, breaking the charged atmosphere.

"Lena! You alive in there?" Tara called.

I breathed a sigh of relief, the sound of the door knocking like a lifeline pulling me back to reality. Stefani's expression shifted, her lips pressing into a thin line as she stood up slowly, her eyes locking with mine for a moment before she walked toward the door.

I quickly stood up as well, still trying to collect myself.

As I opened the door to let Tara and Freddie in, I felt the lingering weight of Stefani's gaze on me, but there was no time to address it.