She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. Part of her couldn’t believe she was having this conversation in the middle of a crowded cafe, but another part revelled in the openness, the raw honesty between friends.
Sophia’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Oh, I’ve got plenty more. Let’s see… roleplay?”
Emily felt her cheeks flush as she glanced around the bustling cafe. “Christ, Soph, you’re relentless,” she muttered, but there was no real annoyance in her tone. “No, not yet. Anyway.”
Sophia’s grin widened, undeterred. “Ooh, ‘not yet,’ huh? Sounds like someone’s been thinking about it.”
Emily kicked her friend’s shin under the table, eliciting a yelp. “Focus, you perv. We’ve still got work to do.”
But Sophia was on a roll. She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Okay, okay. How about… public stuff? Like, you know, risky business?”
“No, again, not yet anyway.”
Sophia’s eyebrows waggled.
“Next question,” Emily cut her off, fighting a grin. “Before I die of mortification right here in this cafe.”
Emily glanced at her phone, the screen lighting up with a new notification. She smirked, running a hand through her hair. “Alright, Soph, time’s almost up. You’ve got time for three more yes or no questions before we need to hit the road again.”
Sophia’s eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. She drummed her fingers on the table, clearly savouring the moment. “Okay, let’s make these count. Have you two ever… filmed yourselves?”
Emily nearly choked on her coffee. “Jesus, Sophia!” she hissed, eyes darting around to make sure no one had overheard. Her heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and unexpected excitement coursing through her. “No, we haven’t. Christ.”
Sophia grinned, undeterred. “Just checking. Alright, question two: Has he ever gone down on you in a semi-public place?”
“No. Last question, Soph. Make it count.”
Sophia’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Okay, final question. Has Lucas ever… eaten food off your body?”
Emily couldn’t help it. She snorted with laughter, nearly spraying coffee across the table. “Yes,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Sophia squealed with delight, clapping her hands together. “Oh my god! Details, now!”
Emily rolled her eyes, but couldn’t suppress her grin. “It was chocolate frosting, if you must know. And yes, it was incredibly messy.”
“And?” Sophia prodded, leaning forward eagerly.
“And… it was also kinda fun,” Emily confessed, her voice low. She remembered Lucas’ tongue tracing patterns on her skin, the sweet stickiness, the way they’d both dissolved into giggles. “But I’m not giving you a play-by-play, so don’t even ask.”
Sophia’s eyes danced with amusement. “I can’t believe my little Emily is all grown up and getting freaky with frosting.”
“Oh, shut up,” Emily laughed, wadding up her napkin and tossing it at her friend. “Like you’ve never done anything wild.”
“Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t,” Sophia teased. “But we’re not talking about me right now.”
Emily glanced at her watch. “And we’re not talking about me anymore either. Break’s over, missy. We’ve got more flyers to deliver.”
As they gathered their things, Emily couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her chest. Despite the teasing, there was something comforting about being able to share these moments with her best friend. It made the whole whirlwind with Lucas feel more real, more grounded.
The sun was dipping low on the horizon as Emily guided her car through the winding coastal roads back to Seabridge. The scent of salt and seaweed drifted through the open windows, mingling with the fading smell of ink from the stacks of leaflets they’d distributed throughout the day.
Sophia stretched in the passenger seat, stifling a yawn. “God, I’m knackered. But it feels good to have gotten all those flyers out.”
Emily nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Yeah, the gallery opening should get a decent turnout now.”
A comfortable silence settled between them for a few moments before Sophia turned to Emily, her expression curious. “So, Em… have you found out anything else about Lucas? I mean, beyond the bedroom stuff,” she added with a wink.
Emily’s hands tightened imperceptibly on the steering wheel. “Actually, yeah. He, uh… he has a kid.”
Sophia’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? How old?”
“Not sure exactly,” Emily replied, biting her lip. “He was born just before Lucas joined the military. But here’s the thing – Lucas hasn’t seen him since he was a baby.”
“What?” Sophia gasped. “Why not?”
Emily sighed, her chest tightening as she recalled Lucas’ pained expression when he’d told her. “The divorce from the kid’s mother was really messy. Like, scorched earth messy. Lucas doesn’t even know for sure what his son’s name is now.”
“Jesus,” Sophia breathed. “That’s… that’s heavy.”
Emily nodded, her throat tight. “He’s trying to find him, but the ex-wife did a pretty thorough job of disappearing with the kid. It’s not exactly easy to track them down.”
As she spoke, Emily felt a mix of emotions swirling in her gut. Sympathy for Lucas, anger at his ex, and a twinge of anxiety about what this might mean for their relationship. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead.
“How do you feel about all that?” Sophia asked gently.
Emily shrugged, struggling to find the right words. “Honestly? I’m not sure. It’s a lot. But… I care about Lucas. And I want to support him through this, whatever happens.”
Sophia reached over and squeezed Emily’s arm. “You’re a good person, Em. Just… be careful, okay? Make sure you’re taking care of yourself too.”
Emily managed a small smile, grateful for her friend’s concern. “I will, Soph. Promise.”
As they drove on, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the complex emotions churning within Emily. She knew the road ahead might be bumpy, but for now, she was just grateful for the warmth of friendship and the promise of new beginnings.