The Afterparty (Audio Script)

Stories

“Hmm, what should we toast to?

Ah, to me! For getting an introvert to leave her house after 8 pm.

Cheers.”

“Okay, yes, very funny, Kels.

As if the self-imposed shame isn’t enough.”

“Hey, no shame.

All I’m saying is your cozy little weighted blanket and your little reality baking shows are still gonna be there when you get home.

Staying out late is good for you.

There’s research to back that up.”

“Mmm, yeah, I’m sure there is.”

I probably roll my eyes at Kelsey ten times a day.

It used to be about a hundred when we worked together at the bakery, but now that she’s got this fancy new programming job I don’t get to see her as much.

Which is pretty much why she’s always begging me to come out.

Honestly, though, I’m really glad I decided to come tonight.

A costume party hosted by a bunch of programmers at a brand new swanky hotel?

That was an easy ‘yes’.

Especially since this hotel, the Oro, is gonna be overrun with tourists as soon as word gets out about it.

Nice to get to check it out before then.

“Hey. Looks like you’ve got an admirer.

Don’t look, don’t look—”

I glance over my shoulder.

“I just said don’t look!

She’s gonna see—”

“Who?

The lady Frankenstein?”

“No, no, her .

The queen of hearts.

With the playing cards all over her dress.”

Oh.

Oh.

You.

You’re talking to a guy dressed as a dinosaur and you honestly look kinda miserable.

Your eyes leave your drink and look in my direction again.

You hold my gaze for… a really… long moment.

“Are you two having eye sex already?

Go talk to her.”

“Shut up.

I… I don’t know…”

“Oh, c’mon.

C’mon, c’mon, pleaaaase.

I know you’ve got this whole ‘my-crappy-ex-girlfriend-might-call-me-again-so-I’m-closing-myself-off-emotionally-

from-everyone-else’ thing going on, but you should really go for it.”

“Ooh, harsh. But… fair.”

“Go for it, before I do.

Because you know I will.”

I look down at myself and straighten the lapels of my jacket.

I kind of forgot I was even in costume.

This extra tuxedo Kelsey let me borrow is a couple of sizes too big, but it’s all I had to work with.

I look over my shoulder a second time.

God, that dress looks great on you.

You’ve covered it in playing cards and there’s a glittering crown sitting on the top of your head.

We make eye contact once again, but this time I don’t immediately look away.

Alright.

I’m doing this.

I’m going for it.

I turn around and—

“Hi.”

“Hi.

Um…”

“I’m sorry, this is totally weird, but… I know you, right?”

“Oh. Um, no… no I don’t think so.”

“Are you sure?

I just—I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

My face flushes with heat.

I can feel my tongue getting tied already.

I’ve never been great at the whole hitting on people thing.

Or getting hit on for that matter.

I don’t even know if that’s what you’re doing, but… I kind of hope it is.

“Oh! You work at—at—oh, what’s the name? That bakery on the east side!”

“Oh—Honeymoon Bakery.

Yeah, yeah, I do.”

“Oh my god, I was just there a few days ago.

You guys make an incredible chocolate croissant.”

“Hah, well, I can’t take all the credit.

But that’s sweet of you, really.”

My eyes unconsciously dip from your face to the thin gold chain around your neck.

Then, from your neck down to the curve of your hips beneath your dress.

“So… let me guess.

You’re… a Royal Flush?”

“Close.

Queen of Hearts.”

“Ahh, yes, the crown, the cards.

I get it now.

Very nice.”

“And you…?

You’re a…?”

“Oh, uh, nondescript secret agent.

My friend had an extra tux, so I took her up on the offer.

Low effort, I know.”

“Hey, nothing wrong with that.

Especially since you look so good in a tux.”

My cheeks burn with… something.

Admiration?

Embarrassment?

I don’t know.

It’s been so long since anyone’s made moves on me.

“Um… yeah, thanks.

So, you work for the company that put this thing on?”

“Yeah, I saw you were standing with Kelsey a minute ago.

We don’t work in the same department, but I see her around the office.”

“This hotel is out-of-this-world.

Your company really went all out.”

“Yeah, it’s not even open to the public yet, but… they gave all of us rooms for the weekend.”

You pull a key card out of your purse and wave it in front of me.

“Shut up.

Lucky!”

“Want to see my room?

There’s an incredible roof deck on the roof.

I’ve seriously never seen anything like this place.”

Wow.

Bold.

That’s fucking hot.

I glance around the room, but I don’t see Kelsey.

I bet she won’t even notice I’m gone.

“I would love to see your room.”

Fuck, am I… am I about to get laid?

I mean, at this point I think it’s pretty obvious that you’re into me.

But maybe I’m reading too deeply into all this.

Maybe you really do just want to show me your room?

You’re standing close to me, your shoulder brushing up against mine every few moments as the elevator carries us up.