The fluorescent lights of Victoria’s Secret cast a rosy glow over the sea of lace and satin. Emily’s fingers trailed over silky fabrics as she and Sophia navigated the racks, their eyes scanning for the perfect piece.
“What about this one?” Sophia held up a crimson teddy with strategically placed cutouts.
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Too… porn star. I want sexy, not ‘available for hire’.”
Sophia cackled, replacing the hanger. “Fair enough. Ooh, what about this?”
She brandished an emerald green babydoll that shimmered under the lights. Emily’s eyes lit up. “Now we’re talking. That would look amazing with my skin tone.”
As Emily held the garment up to her chest, her mind wandered. What would Lucas think? Would his eyes darken with that predatory gleam she’d come to crave? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
“Earth to Emily,” Sophia sing-songed, waving a hand in front of her face. “Are you still with us, or did you mentally skip ahead to the bedroom already?”
Emily felt her cheeks flush. “Shut up,” she muttered, but couldn’t hide her grin. “I’m just… considering the possibilities.”
“Uh-huh,” Sophia smirked. “Well, while you’re ‘considering’, check this out.” She held up a midnight blue corset with delicate silver embroidery. “Classy, but still sexy as hell.”
Emily’s breath caught. “Oh, that’s gorgeous.” She chewed her lip, indecision warring within her. “Think I should get both?”
Sophia’s grin was positively wicked. “Honey, treat yourself. You deserve it.”
Emily emerged from Victoria’s Secret, pink bag swinging from her wrist, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. “Coffee?” she suggested, spotting the Starbucks across the mall.
Sophia nodded, falling into step beside her. “God yes. I need caffeine to process all the potential debauchery we just purchased.”
They settled into plush armchairs, steaming lattes in hand. Emily took a sip, savouring the rich flavor. “Thanks for coming with me today. I needed this.”
“Anytime, babe.”
Emily opened her mouth to retort, but the words died on her tongue as she caught sight of a familiar figure striding through the door. Sophia followed her gaze, her eyes widening.
“Shit,” Sophia hissed, her grip on her cup tightening. “What the fuck is Ryan doing here?”
Emily’s stomach churned. “I don’t know, but-” She froze, her blood running cold as she noticed who Ryan was walking towards. “Oh no. Sophia, look.”
Tucked away in a corner booth almost completely out of sight sat Lucas, his silver hair speckled hair unmistakable even from across the room. Ryan made a beeline for his table.
“Fuck,” Emily breathed, her mind reeling. “Please tell me what I’m seeing is wrong. Please tell me Lucas isn’t Ryan’s dad.”
Sophia’s face had gone pale. “I… I don’t know, Em.”
Emily watched, heart pounding, as Ryan clasped Lucas’ hand in a firm shake. The resemblance was undeniable the same strong jawline, the same confident set to their shoulders.
“This can’t be happening,” Emily whispered, her voice barely audible over the bustling coffee shop. “How could I not have known?”
Emily’s chest tightened, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. She gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white. “I need to get out of here,” she said, her voice trembling. “Now.”
Sophia nodded, her face etched with concern. “Okay, hon. What do you need?”
Emily swallowed hard, fighting back the nausea rising in her throat. “Can you get our coffees swapped to takeaway? I’ll meet you by the car. I just… I can’t be here right now.”
“Of course,” Sophia said, squeezing Emily’s hand. “Go. I’ve got this.”
Emily stood on shaky legs, grabbing her purse and the Victoria’s Secret bag. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, terrified of accidentally catching Lucas’ gaze.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she muttered under her breath as she wove through the tables. Her mind raced, replaying every moment with Lucas, searching for clues she might have missed. How could she have been so blind?
As she pushed open the door, the cool air hit her face, and she gulped it down greedily. She practically ran to Sophia’s car, fumbling with the door handle before collapsing into the passenger seat.
“This isn’t happening,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against the cool glass of the window. “It can’t be.”
But deep down, Emily knew. The pieces were falling into place with sickening clarity. Lucas was Ryan’s father. She’d fallen for her cheating ex’s dad.
Sophia slid into the driver’s seat a couple minutes later, takeaway coffees in hand. She squeezed Emily’s hand and said, “Let’s go back to mine. We’ll have cocktails and junk food.”
Emily nodded gratefully, her mind in uproar. The familiar scent of coffee filled the car, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. Her stomach churned as Sophia pulled out of the parking lot.
“I can’t believe this shit,” Emily muttered, running a hand through her hair. “How the fuck did I end up here?”
Sophia shot her a sympathetic glance. “We don’t know for sure, Em. Maybe it’s not what we think.”
Emily’s phone vibrated in her lap. She looked down, her heart racing as she saw the name on the screen.
Daddy: Hey baby girl, did I see you in Starbucks just now?
“Fuck,” Emily hissed, showing Sophia the text. “What do I do? I can’t… I can’t deal with this right now.”
Sophia’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Don’t reply. Not until we figure this out.”
Emily stared at the phone, her thumb hovering over the screen. “But what if-”
“No,” Sophia cut her off firmly. “We need time to process this. Lucas can wait.”
Emily nodded, dropping the phone into her purse. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as the reality of the situation washed over her.
As soon as they reached Sophia’s flat, Emily made a beeline for the kitchen, her hands shaking as she grabbed bottles and glasses. The familiar motions of mixing drinks grounded her, if only for a moment.
“Fuck,” she muttered, spilling some tequila on the counter. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Sophia leaned against the doorway, her eyes following Emily’s frantic movements. She knew her friend well enough to stay quiet, waiting for Emily’s mind to stop spinning.
Emily thrust a tequila sunrise at Sophia, the orange and red layers swirling together like her chaotic thoughts. Sophia took it with a tight smile and led them to the living room.
They sat down, the silence stretching between them. Emily took a long swig of her drink, wincing at the burn.
“I can’t believe this,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. “Surely I haven’t managed to fall in love with my asshole ex’s dad?”
Sophia reached out, squeezing Emily’s knee. “We don’t know that for sure, Em.”
“What are the odds it’s anything else? Or is it a coincidence? Ryan’s mum isn’t in the picture, and he never knew his dad, he just knows his parents had a very messy divorce and that his dad was in the military.” She snorts. “They even look kind of alike.” She drained her glass, setting it down with a thunk. “God, I’m such an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot,” Sophia insisted. “This isn’t your fault.”
Emily’s mind raced, replaying every moment with Lucas. “But what if it is? What if I subconsciously knew? What if-”
“Stop,” Sophia cut her off. “You can’t do this to yourself. We need to think rationally.”
Emily stood up abruptly, pacing the room. “How am I supposed to be rational about this?” She ran her hands through her hair, tugging at the roots. “I’ve been fucking my ex’s father, Soph. There’s nothing rational about that.”
Sophia watched Emily pace, her brow furrowed with concern. “Shots,” she declared suddenly, pushing herself up from the couch. “This calls for shots.”
Emily paused her frantic pacing, a hysterical laugh bubbling up. “Tequila?”
“Is there any other kind?” Sophia winked, disappearing into the kitchen.
Emily collapsed back onto the couch, her head in her hands. Fuck. How did this happen? Her stomach churned, a toxic mix of dread and disbelief.
Sophia returned, arms laden with shot glasses and a bottle of tequila. She set everything on the coffee table with a clatter and poured two generous shots.
“Here’s the deal,” Sophia said, sliding a glass towards Emily. “We can’t react until we know with 100% certainty that this is what’s going on.”
Emily grabbed the shot, throwing it back in one swift motion. The liquor burned a path down her throat, settling warm in her belly. “Logically, I know you’re right,” she said, voice hoarse. “But my brain is in full-on panic mode.”
“I get it,” Sophia replied, knocking back her own shot. “But jumping to conclusions won’t help anyone. We need facts.”
Emily nodded, reaching for the bottle to pour another round. “Facts. Right. Like the fact that I’ve been sleeping with a man old enough to be my father. Who might actually be my ex’s father.”
“Em…” Sophia warned.
“Sorry,” Emily muttered. “It’s just… fuck, Soph. What am I going to do?”
Emily downed two more shots in quick succession, grimacing as the tequila hit her system. Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, screen lighting up with a new message.
“Shit,” she muttered, hesitating before picking it up.
Daddy: Hey baby girl, you okay? Having a good girls day?
Emily’s stomach clenched. She stared at the message, her vision blurring slightly from the alcohol and the surge of emotions.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Sophia asked, leaning forward.
Emily nodded, tossing the phone onto the couch beside her. “He’s asking if I’m okay. If I’m having a good day.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Oh yeah, just peachy. Found out you might be my ex’s dad, no biggie.”
Sophia reached out, squeezing Emily’s knee. “You don’t know that for sure yet.”
“What am I supposed to do, Soph? Ask him point-blank if the kid he’s been trying to reconnect with is my asshole ex?”
Emily’s mind raced, replaying every conversation she’d had with Lucas about his son. How had she missed this? The timing, the messy divorce, it all lined up.
“Fuck,” she groaned, reaching for the tequila bottle again. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Sophia snatched the bottle away. “Enough of that. We need a game plan, not alcohol poisoning.”
Emily slumped back, closing her eyes. “A game plan. Right. Step one: figure out how to un-fall in love with a man who might be my ex’s father. Any suggestions?”