5 Things You Need To Learn About Successfully Pulling Off A Polite One-Night Stand

The morning sun shines through the window. You yawn sleepily, stretching your arms above your head. Rolling over, fluffing the pillow, your eyes open and you find yourself face-to-face with the friend of a friend of a friend you met at last night’s party.

Now what?

1. Be honest.

Let’s rewind to the beginning of the evening. Between the drinks and dances—but prior to heading back to someone’s bed—one of you should clarify expectations. If all you want is a one night stand, that’s fine, but be upfront. If you want more, it’s a good idea to bring that up, too.

If you utter “Milano” and he starts jabbering about the two of you on an Italian holiday while you just wanted a cookie, it’s best to look for someone else with whom to spend the evening.

2. Be prepared.

If you’re starting to tug at clothing and making out in the corner of the bar is no longer appropriate, you’re going to want to get out of there. Tell someone where you’re going—just in case—and keep your cell phone handy. And ladies, if you didn’t slip a condom in your purse when you left the house, get one from the bar bathroom or your best friend.

He may not be able to “find” one when the time comes, and ending up naked in his bed with no condom and too much Stoli in your bloodstream is a recipe for disaster.

3. Don’t overstay your welcome.

Once the fling has been flung, get out. Waking up together is very “couple-y,” and curling up next to warm body can breed attachment. That doesn’t mean you need to bolt for the door (or kick him out) as soon as the deed is done. A few minutes of conversation followed by a “Thanks for coming over,” or an “I really should get home,” sends the message with minimal drama.

Sometimes, though, sleep happens. Whether there was enough chemistry to seduce you into basking in the afterglow or whether alcohol made it impossible or impractical to hit the road, you’ve now got to get out of there in the light of day. Best-case scenario: Both parties are clear in advance that the encounter will only be for one night, and you part ways with a simple, “That was fun. Take care.”

Unfortunately, the combination of alcohol and hormones may mean that you skipped the first step (clarifying expectations), and you could roll over, open your eyes and say to yourself, “Oh, my God. What did I do?” or worse, “Who the hell is this?”

Sneaking out is not an option. If you are gutsy enough to go to someone’s home in the middle of the night, be gutsy enough to let them know you’re leaving. If you two stumbled back to your place, making a break for it is clearly out. Getting up and getting dressed, however, is perfectly acceptable.

If you’ve got a snoring lump who doesn’t wake up when you’re opening dresser drawers and turning on the faucet, a gentle tap on the shoulder accompanied by, “Hey… I’m sorry to wake you, but I need to start my day,” should do the trick.

4. Pick up after yourself.

If you’re on the receiving end of such a farewell, be friendly, don’t dawdle and don’t even think of “accidentally” leaving your watch/bra/cell phone. It’s obvious. It’s annoying. And it looks desperate.

5. Thank your host.

Of course, it’s possible that you sincerely enjoyed the company of your late-night lover, and that you think he enjoyed yours, too. Pay attention to nuance here: there are lines between interested and polite, and politely uncomfortable and sprinting for the door.

Unfortunately, the lines can be faint. If you roll over to a smiling face and you’re game for another go-round, by all means, take a tumble then go for eggs and see what happens. Or go with the ever-direct, “You know, I enjoyed your company. I wouldn’t mind seeing you again.” If he bites, he’ll get your digits. If he looks shifty and uncomfortable, there’s no point in backpedaling. You know where you stand.

If he’s the one in hot pursuit but you just wanted a fun fling, simply say, “I had a great time, but I’m not looking to date right now.” Don’t waiver, but don’t be a jerk about it. Thank him for coming over, and hug him good-bye at the door. Being polite and respectful keeps everyone’s dignity in tact. And politeness and dignity are what manners are all about.