Back in the
day, one-night stands were pretty self-explanatory: You'd meet, flirt, and
following one too many bevvies (is there any other way?), enjoy a romp in the
sack. The rest was radio silence.
But not
anymore: According to the latest Singles in America survey, one in four people
have turned a hookup into a real, grown-ass relationship. (So whoever said
something about no one wanting a cow that gives milk away for free can suck
it.)
But if you
need proof, here are three women whose hookups turned into long-term things:
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The Long-Distance Love
"My
first one-night stand turned into a three-year relationship. We met online, and
he was visiting his family in the town where I went to school. When I saw him
in person, I was shocked. He looked incredible! Sparks flew, the conversation
just kept flowing. I eventually invited him back to my place. I had no
intention of seeing him again since I didn't believe in long-distance
relationships.
"The
next morning, he joined me for breakfast. Then he noticed that I was marinating
chicken for lunch and asked if he could swing by later to hang out. He was only
in town for a week, but he stayed over all the time. He invited me to have
brunch with his parents, which I reluctantly accepted, and it was a good time.
"When
he left town, he called me every day. A month later, he asked if I would be his
girlfriend. Since summer was only two months away, I thought 'Why not?' He
invited me to stay with him in Boston (where he went to school) for the summer.
We dated into our senior year of college and moved to New York City together.
We eventually broke up, but it was fun while it lasted."—Cassie F.
The Friend with Benefits
"It's
been almost a year and a half since my one-night stand, and I'm amazed that it
led to a fun, healthy relationship.
"My now
girlfriend was the cutest girl in my college writing class. I had no idea if
she was a lesbian and was too shy to talk to her in class. So we never had the
chance to hit it off. One night, my neighbors were having a party, and I
spotted her talking to her friends on the grass. I was a few drinks in and
thought, 'What do I have to lose?' It turned out she was bisexual, and we
hooked up.
"I
thought it was a one-night stand, then we casually transitioned into friends
with benefits. We kept it super-casual for as long as we could, but I began to
suspect our relationship might be more than physical when I had trouble eating
because my stomach was filled with butterflies. We started texting more, and
six-months later it was Facebook official."—Jolene S.
The Commitment Phobe
"I've
always joked that the only way I could ever be in a relationship is if I didn't
know I was in one. Not too long ago, my commitment phobia was at an all-time
high. I'd meet a guy at a bar or party, introduce myself using a fake name, and
quietly tiptoe out of his apartment post-hookup.
"A few
weeks after our hookup, I bumped into Brad at a Starbucks. I was on my way up
the street when I heard a familiar voice calling my fake name. I turned, and
there he was, looking as fine as ever. As we chatted, he looked down and
noticed my real name scribbled on my to-go cup.
"My
face lit on fire, and I confessed my web of lies to him. We ended up swapping
hilarious stories about the irrational lengths we've gone to to avoid
relationships. When I learned he was as screwed up as me, I felt instantly comfortable
around him. Long story short, we've been 'not together' for almost a year
now."—Amanda W.