Author Note: Song Prompt for this chapter - I'm The Only One, performed by Melissa Etheridge

Sarah

Sarah tucked her hair behind her ears before cupping some water from the basin and splashing it on her face. She avoided looking at the alcoholic, flushed reflection of herself in the bathroom mirror. This has been a common occurrence over the past few weeks, ever since meeting Rick.

Not by his doing, but by hers. She was the one who kept dragging them to the bar every night to drink, before they headed back to his motel room. Sometimes, if they were still sober enough, they would have sex, or they would pass out in each other's arms.

Sarah grimaced, turning away from the mirror. She had opened the door when she had invited him to dinner. A dinner that never took place, replaced instead with a meet-up at the bar.

"Sarah?"

Rick's soft knock on the door made her jump.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes! Yes, I'm fine." She pulled on her lip; she was anything but fine.

*

Rick

Rick frowned and moved away from the door. His eyes scanned his motel room. Apart from some of his clothes strewn over a chair, it was tidy, with his suitcase tucked into one corner. How long has it been now? Two weeks since meeting Sarah? And a week ago, his work contract had expired. He was paying for the room out of his pocket. He sighed. He didn't mind.

He didn't want to leave. He knew Sarah had business in town concerning a property. She didn't offer up much information, and he didn't ask. The one time he had tried, her demeanor had rapidly changed, and she had left the bar, only to return a few minutes later, apologizing.

The bathroom door opened, and he turned.

He opened his arms, and she happily crossed the space between them. She melted into him, and he held her tightly. He didn't know much about her, apart from how she made him feel.

*

Sarah

"I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shirt.

"For what?"

She shrugged. For using you? For the inevitable hurt and heartbreak I will cause you.

"You want to?" She lifted her head, her hands shifting to the front to start undoing his buttons.

He released her, his hands covering hers. "Would you mind if we don't tonight?" His words stabbed her in the gut, and she stepped back.

*

Rick

"Oh fuck, Sarah. I want to have sex with you! I-I think tonight, it's not what you need." He pulled her back into his arms.

"You are an incredible woman, and I would fuck you 24 hours a day if it were possible," he chuckled as she relaxed against him. "But-but we have time, right? Let's just cuddle, yes?"

She nodded, and they moved to the bed. Rick kicked off his shoes and bent to remove hers. He threw back the comforter, and Sarah got on the bed and settled in the center. His heart twisted as she smiled at him, holding out her arms.

It was sometime beyond midnight, and Rick was still awake, watching the flickering streetlight dance on the ceiling. Sarah had fallen asleep quickly, whether it was because of how much alcohol she had consumed or because of exhaustion.

Tonight had been different from the moment she had stepped through the bar's door. He had wanted to ask her what was wrong, so very desperately. But she had laughed and ordered drinks.

His arms tightened around her. He knew this was not a real relationship.

How could it be? They were two lonely strangers in a town that was not their home, just hooking up.

Fuck, Rick. You fell for this woman the moment you saw her!

He knew, deep down, he might be the only one who cared whether this was worth fighting for.

Would he be a fool if he tried to make whatever this was between them into something real?

*

Sarah

The early-morning light hit Sarah as she rushed down the pathway towards the bar and her car. She had, guiltily, left a sleeping Rick without a word. Her head was killing her from her stupid drinking binge last night, despite Rick's numerous attempts to curb the flow of alcohol.

She needed to leave, now. She was becoming too attached to him. He had this cute smile that would widen whenever he noticed her. She smiled, and he had little crinkles around his eyes when he laughed. She stopped walking, remembering the feel of his hands as they caressed her body. Although their lovemaking could be wild, he was always considerate, putting her first.

Rick was unlike any man she had ever been involved with. She frowned, and there had been a few. Some not so nice. Actually, none of them were nice.

She continued walking. She didn't dare think about any possibility of forming a relationship with Rick, beyond what it is—a casual fling.

She quickly unlocked her car and got in. Long-term was not in her vocabulary.

She was not prepared to be the only one to build a relationship, only to watch it fall apart when Rick got tired of her.

And he will. They all do.

She did not want to feel like she was not good enough, ever again.

*