Leave a Mark (Audio Script)

Stories

I didn’t realize sexual tension was a real thing until I met you.

I thought it was, like, just something that only happened with characters on TV or in romance novels.

It just sounded so unrealistic.

If two people are into each other, why wouldn’t they do something about it?

Why let it just linger and make life that much more difficult?

Well, it turns out, sexual tension is very real.

And when it happens in real life… it’s… intense.

And complicated.

And sometimes, oddly enjoyable.

Damn, it’s hot in there.

There’s a breeze out here on the balcony.

It’s refreshing after being in that stuffy room with so many people all night.

I knew tonight was going to be long—grand openings always are—but I wasn’t really prepared for this to turn into a full-blown party.

One that I’m really not in the mood for.

That’s one shitty thing about being a party planner, pretending you’re in the mood to party when it’s the absolute last thing you want to be doing.

I’m really not in the mood for socializing tonight.

So much schmoozing…

so much… bullshit.

Now, maybe if I have a lighter in my purse, I can…

ah, damn it…

“Here, I got you.”

Oh—thought I was alone out here.

And, of course.

It’s you.

Fucking perfect.

I can avoid you at the office pretty easily, but events like this when we all have to be on site make that a little more difficult.

I always thought having another queer person at work would be fun, like having someone around who just gets it, but you’ve actually made my life a thousand times more complicated from the moment you entered it.

“Didn’t know you were a smoker.”

You’re leaning against the balcony railing a few feet away.

You walk slowly towards me, holding out a lighter almost like a peace offering, but that smug smile on your face says otherwise.

“Thanks.

I’m not.”

“No?”

“No.

Just when I’m… stressed.

Or bored.”

“Party like that going on in there and you’re bored?

I’d like to know what your idea of a good time is, then.”

“Yeah, well, when our job is to put on parties like that, it’s work.

Not play.”

“Fair.”

You look out over the balcony at the gleaming lights of the city, your fingers drumming against the railing and the tip of your boot tapping silently against the concrete.

It’s something I always notice about you at the office.

How hard it is for you to sit still.

You smile at me again and it makes my chest tighten.

You always have this look like you know something I don’t.

Like you’ve got a secret only you know about.

You and I…

I try not to think about you if I can help it.

Every time I do, I just get… confused.

You were dating my best friend when we first met two years ago.

At first, I didn’t like you.

You had… well, still have… something of a reputation.

A kind of ‘love ’em and leave ’em’ thing that put a bad taste in my mouth.

I didn’t want my friend to get hurt and I definitely didn’t want to have to be there to pick up the pieces of whatever mess you were inevitably going to leave behind.

You claim you’re not into relationships, but somehow you always end up with women hanging off of you, thinking they can change or tame you or something.

The whole thing is annoying.

To be fair, you are hot.

You’ve got that obnoxiously charming smile and apparently, you can do unspeakable things with your mouth.

I get why you’re a magnet for pretty much anyone who looks at you.

And, as hard as I tried to resist, I’m unfortunately not immune to that stupid allure you have.

But I follow girl code, which means any attraction I had towards you had to be buried deep while you were with Kendra.

Naturally, as I expected, that relationship fell apart after a month or two.

That was an awful weekend of consoling her, so thanks for that.

And then, after a few blissful months of forgetting you even existed… you waltzed into my office last month. My new co-worker.

I’ve tried my best to avoid you since then, but… clearly, I can’t always do that.

“You did a good job.

With all this.

I heard the clients telling Mattie how pleased they are.”

“Mhm.”

I take a long drag from my cigarette.

Any excuse not to talk to or look at you.

“Alright, I clearly did something to piss you off.

Any clues or am I just going to have to guess?”

“Are you kidding?”

“No.”

“Let’s start with my best friend, huh?

Kendra?

You remember her?

You clearly let her think that what you had was going somewhere—”

“Whoa, whoa.

Wait—”

“—and then you broke her heart.

I can see right through you, you know.

This thing you do.”

“What?

What thing?

What are you talking about?”

“Do not act like you don’t know.

You’re like the lesbian Casanova.

You have no problem taking women to bed, so long as they’re gone the next morning.

You act like having an actual relationship would kill you.”

“Okay.

If that’s the way you feel.”

“It’s not the way I feel, it’s—God, you are so… ugh.”

I don’t remember either of us moving, but we’re suddenly very close, like you want to push back against what I just said.

A look of recognition flashes across your face and it almost looks like what I said hit a nerve. Maybe I went too far.

Maybe not though… because you lean forward even closer, your shoulder brushing against mine and shooting heat straight down my spine.

I’ve never been this close to you before.

“Any other analyses you have to offer?”

“Yeah.

You know, you’re really good at making things complicated.”

“What is so complicated?

We work together.

I’d like to be friends with you, you know.”

“Do you seriously think we could be friends?”

“Yes!

Why not?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that you’re my best friend’s ex.

Or that you’re my co-worker.

Or that you have a reputation as a—”

“Okay.

I get it.

Okay.”

“Okay?

Okay, that’s it?”

“What do you want from me?

What?”

“I want…

I want you to kiss me.”