The mention of her ex-fiance’s name sent a pang through Emily’s chest, but it didn’t hurt as much as she’d expected. Maybe the tequila and mind-blowing sex had something to do with that. Or maybe she was finally starting to move on.
“Yeah, well,” Emily shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “It was just a one-night thing. No need to make a big deal out of it.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. That’s why you’re grinning like an idiot and have his number saved as ‘daddy’ in your phone.”
Emily groaned, burying her face in her hands. “God, I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Not a chance in hell, baby girl,” Sophia replied with a wink.
Emily’s cheeks flushed as Sophia’s laughter echoed through the cozy living room. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on her friend’s amused face.
“Oh my god, Em! How did he even bring that up?” Sophia wiped tears from her eyes, still giggling.
Emily rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, if you must know…” She paused, savouring the moment. “I was overthinking things, as usual, and he told me to stop. I jokingly said ‘Yes, sir,’ and that’s when he dropped the bomb.”
Sophia leaned in, eyes wide with curiosity. “And?”
“He said if I was going to scream anything but his name, he prefers ‘daddy’.” Emily shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the heat rising in her cheeks.
“Holy shit!” Sophia exclaimed, nearly spilling her coffee. “And you just went with it?”
Emily’s mind flashed back to the intensity in Lucas’ eyes, the commanding tone of his voice. A shiver ran down her spine. “Yeah, I did. It’s not hurting anyone, right? Plus, it was… kinda hot.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Damn, girl. Who knew you had it in you?”
Emily laughed, tossing a throw pillow at her friend. “Oh, shut up. Like you wouldn’t have done the same.”
As Sophia dodged the pillow, Emily’s thoughts drifted. She’d never been one for pet names or power dynamics, but something about Lucas made her want to explore. It was thrilling, liberating even. After the clusterfuck with Ryan, maybe this was exactly what she needed.
“Earth to Emily!” Sophia’s voice snapped her back to reality. “You’re thinking about him right now, aren’t you?”
Emily grinned, unapologetic. “Maybe. So what if I am?”
“Nothing,” Sophia replied, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Just don’t forget to text him. Or should I say, text ‘daddy’?”
Emily groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I’ve created a monster.”
Emily’s brow furrowed as she stared into her coffee mug, the once-steaming liquid now cold and forgotten. Her mind raced, replaying the events of the previous night on an endless loop.
Sophia leaned across the kitchen counter, concern etched on her face. “Em, what’s going through that head of yours?”
Emily’s green eyes flicked up, meeting her best friend’s gaze. “I don’t know if I can do this, Soph. It’s all happening so fast.” She ran a hand through her disheveled chestnut hair. “Fuck, I was supposed to be getting married. Now I’m having one-night stands with strangers old enough to be my dad?”
Sophia reached out, squeezing Emily’s arm. “People move on when they’re ready to move on, babe. All you can do is what feels right.”
Emily scoffed, pushing away from the counter. She paced the small kitchen, her bare feet slapping against the cold tile. “Right? What the hell does that even mean anymore?”
“Look,” Sophia said, her voice gentle but firm. “With all the best will in the world, Em, I don’t think you were happy for a while with Ryan, even before we found out he’s a cheating scumbag.”
Emily froze, her back to Sophia. The words hit her like a punch to the gut, forcing the air from her lungs. She wanted to argue, to defend the relationship she’d invested years in, but the words wouldn’t come.
Because deep down, she knew Sophia was right.
“Fuck,” Emily whispered, leaning her forehead against the cool surface of the refrigerator. “When did everything get so complicated?”
Sophia’s laugh was soft and sad. “Pretty sure it’s always been complicated, babe. We just got better at pretending it wasn’t.”
Emily turned, sliding down to sit on the floor, her back against the fridge. She pulled her knees to her chest, suddenly feeling very small and very lost. “So what now? I just… keep having random hookups until I figure my shit out?”
Sophia joined her on the floor, their shoulders touching. “If that’s what you want, sure. Or you could take some time for yourself. Or you could see where things go with Lucas. There’s no rulebook for this, Em.”
Emily leaned her head on Sophia’s shoulder, closing her eyes. “I wish there was. A nice, straightforward guide to getting your life back on track after your fiance turns out to be a lying sack of shit.”
“Now there’s a bestseller waiting to happen,” Sophia quipped, earning a weak chuckle from Emily.
They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.
“I’m scared, Soph,” Emily finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sophia wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I know, babe. But you’re also strong as fuck. You’ve got this.”
Emily nodded, trying to believe it. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came next. “Alright then. I guess it’s time to figure out what the hell I want.”
“That’s my girl,” Sophia said, planting a kiss on the top of Emily’s head. “Now, how about we start with breakfast? I’m thinking pancakes and mimosas.”
Emily managed a genuine smile. “Fuck yes. If I’m going to overthink my life choices, I might as well do it with a buzz and a sugar high.”
As they stood, Emily caught her reflection in the window. She looked tired, a little worse for wear, but there was a spark in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. Maybe, just maybe, she could do this after all.
The pancake batter splattered across the kitchen counter like abstract art as Emily fumbled with the whisk. Her head spun slightly from the lingering effects of last night’s tequila.
“Fuck,” she muttered, watching egg yolk drip between her fingers. “I used to be good at this shit.”
Sophia snorted, her own hands coated in a mixture of flour and eggshell. “Used to be? Babe, you’ve never been good at cooking.”
Emily flipped her off with a batter-covered finger. “At least I’m not the one who set pasta on fire last week.”
“That was one time!” Sophia protested, but her laughter betrayed her.
As Emily reached for another egg, the carton slipped from her grasp. She watched in slow motion as it tumbled to the floor, erupting in a mess of yolks and shells.
“Jesus Christ,” Emily groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
Sophia stepped carefully around the eggy disaster. “Ya think? We’re in no state for this domestic goddess bullshit.”
Emily leaned against the counter, suddenly feeling the weight of everything – the breakup, the wild night out, the morning-after jitters. “Soph, I can’t even make fucking pancakes. How am I supposed to figure out my life?”
Sophia wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders, leaving a floury handprint on Emily’s shirt. “One step at a time, babe. And right now, that step is getting the hell out of this kitchen before we burn the place down.”
Emily managed a weak chuckle. “Maybe we should just go out for brunch. I could use some hair of the dog and food that isn’t a biohazard.”
“Now you’re talking,” Sophia grinned. “Let’s get our asses to that little cafe by the pier. Their Bloody Marys are lethal.”
As they stumbled towards the door, leaving the kitchen carnage behind, Emily felt a small spark of hope. Maybe she couldn’t make pancakes or navigate her love life right now, but she had her best friend and the promise of strong cocktails. For the moment, that was enough.