The pub’s smoky haze enveloped Emily as she slid into the worn leather booth, the scent of stale beer and greasy chips assaulting her nostrils. Sophia plopped down opposite her, two rum and cokes sloshing precariously in her hands.
“So,” Sophia said, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin. “Spill it, girl. How was the date with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody?”
Emily felt heat creep up her neck. “It was… nice,” she mumbled, suddenly fascinated by a water ring on the table.
Sophia snorted. “Nice? That blush says a hell of a lot more than ‘nice.’ Did you stay the night?”
“I might have,” Emily admitted, unable to suppress a small smile.
Sophia let out an ear-piercing squeal that had half the pub turning to stare. Emily slouched lower in her seat, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
“Keep it down, would you?” she hissed. “I’d rather not broadcast my sex life to all of Seabridge.”
“Oh please,” Sophia waved a dismissive hand. “Like these sods care. Now tell me, was Daddy as good as ever?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Jesus, Soph. Yes, alright? It was fan-fucking-tastic. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” Sophia grinned, taking a long sip of her drink. “About damn time you got some good action.”
Emily kicked her under the table, but couldn’t help laughing. Trust Sophia to be crude and caring in the same breath. Still, as the rum warmed her belly, Emily found herself relaxing. It felt good to let loose after the stress of work and… everything else.
“So what now?” Sophia pressed. “Are you seeing him again?”
Emily shrugged, tracing the rim of her glass. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Bullshit,” Sophia retorted. “You like him, he clearly likes you.”
Emily sighed, images of Ryan’s missed calls flashing through her mind.
Emily’s phone buzzed in her bag, the vibration a stark reminder of the chaos she’d left behind. She pulled it out, her stomach clenching as she saw the notifications.
“Ryan tried calling me while I was with Lucas.”
Sophia’s eyebrows shot up, her hazel eyes widening. “What? That asshole has some nerve. What did he want?”
Emily shrugged, her fingers hovering over the screen. “No clue. Five missed calls and three voicemails. Probably trying to make up some bullshit excuses.”
“Have you listened to them?” Sophia leaned in, her curls bouncing with the movement.
“Nope,” Emily said, popping the ‘p’. She stared at her phone, conflicted. Part of her wanted to hear what Ryan had to say, to tear into him for his betrayal. But another part, the part that was still raw and hurting, wanted to delete the messages and pretend they never existed.
“I can’t decide if I want to or not,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sophia reached across the table, her warm hand covering Emily’s. “Hey, you don’t have to decide right now. That dickhead can wait.”
Emily nodded, grateful for her friend’s support. She took a sip of her rum and coke, the burn of alcohol a welcome distraction. Her mind wandered to Lucas, to the night they’d spent together. It was a stark contrast to the mess Ryan had left behind.
“I could listen to them for you, babe. Filter out the bullshit, see if there’s anything actually important about cancelling vendors or whatever,” Sophia suggested.
Emily hesitated, her fingers tightening around her phone. Part of her wanted to hurl the damn thing into the Thames and be done with it. But practicality won out. With a sigh, she slid it across the sticky pub table. “Knock yourself out.”
As Sophia pressed play, Emily knocked back the rest of her rum and coke, wincing at the burn. Even from across the table, Ryan’s voice rang out, loud and slurred.
“Fucking hell,” Sophia muttered, her brow furrowing. “He’s absolutely hammered.”
Emily’s stomach clenched. She’d seen Ryan drunk plenty of times, but this… this sounded different. Desperate. Unhinged.
“Baby, please,” Ryan’s voice pleaded. “I fucked up, I know, but we can fix this. Just come home.”
Emily’s eyes stung. She blinked hard, willing the tears not to fall. Not for him. Not anymore.
Sophia’s face darkened as she listened to the second message. “More of the same bullshit,” she reported. “Excuses, begging. God, he’s pathetic.”
As the third message began, Emily braced herself. But nothing could have prepared her for what came next.
Ryan’s drunken ramblings suddenly cut off, replaced by giggles and the unmistakable sound of sloppy kisses. Then a woman’s breathy voice: “Ooh, Ryan, you’re so hot…”
“Shit!” Ryan swore. “Is this thing still-”
The message cut off abruptly.
For a long moment, silence hung between them. Then Emily burst out laughing, a raw, slightly hysterical sound. “Well,” she managed between gasps, “I guess that answers that question.”
Sophia reached across the table, squeezing Emily’s hand. “What a fucking wanker,” she said fiercely. “You’re well shot of him, Em.”
Emily nodded, feeling a strange mix of pain and relief wash over her. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Yeah, I really am.”
Emily tossed back the rest of her rum and coke, savouring the burn as it slid down her throat. “Whoever she is, she can fucking have him,” she spat, slamming the empty glass on the sticky pub table.
Sophia’s eyes widened. “Whoa there, tiger. Easy on the glassware.” She glanced at Emily’s phone. “Hey, speaking of men who aren’t douchebags, you never texted Lucas back.”
“Shit!” Emily grabbed her phone, a string of curse words tumbling from her lips. “I got so caught up in work bullshit, I completely spaced.”
Her fingers flew over the screen as she typed out a message:
Baby Girl: Had an amazing time last night. Let’s do it again soon 😉
She hit send before she could overthink it, then tossed the phone face-down on the table. “There. Done.”
Sophia smirked. “Ooh, winky face and everything. Get it, girl.”
Emily rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide her small smile. “Oh, shut up.”
As she reached for her glass, only to remember it was empty, Emily’s mind drifted to Lucas. His strong hands, his commanding presence, the way he made her feel both safe and exhilarated. It was a welcome distraction from the clusterfuck that was Ryan and his drunken voicemails.
“Earth to Emily,” Sophia said, waving a hand in front of her face. “Where’d you go just now? Lemme guess – reliving some steamy moments with Daddy?”
Emily felt her cheeks flush. “Maybe,” she admitted. “Is it crazy that I’m already thinking about seeing him again?”
Sophia shook her head emphatically. “Hell no. After the shit Ryan pulled, you deserve some fun. And from what you’ve told me, Lucas sounds like he knows how to show a girl a good time.”