The glass doors of the shopping centre slid open, releasing a blast of air-conditioned coolness that was a stark contrast to the muggy summer heat outside. Sophia stepped inside, her friends close behind, their laughter echoing off the polished tiles.
“So, Soph,” Freya prodded, her auburn pixie cut catching the fluorescent lights as she cocked her head. “On a scale of ‘oh my god’ to ‘holy shit I’m going to die from orgasming’, how good was it?”
Sophia rolled her eyes, but couldn’t suppress the smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”
“That’s not an answer,” Evelyn chimed in, her brown eyes twinkling with mirth.
Sophia sighed, exasperated but secretly enjoying the banter. “Fine, you vultures. It was… pretty fucking amazing, alright?”
The girls whooped and high-fived, drawing curious glances from nearby shoppers. Sophia felt her cheeks burn, a mix of embarrassment and pride swirling in her chest.
“Okay, okay,” she said, turning to face Emily. “I get it now. I know how you felt when you first started your fling with Lucas. It’s like… fuck, it’s intoxicating, isn’t it?”
Emily’s teasing smile softened, replaced by a look of understanding. “Yeah, it is,” she agreed, then paused. “Is that all this is though? Just a fling with Jake?”
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness of the question. She swallowed hard, pushing down the flutter of… something… in her stomach.
“Yes,” she said quickly, maybe too quickly. “That’s all it is. It’s all either of us want.”
But even as the words left her mouth, Sophia couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she might be lying to herself.
Emily nodded, her green eyes searching Sophia’s face for a moment before she abruptly changed the subject. “While we’re here, I want to pop into Victoria’s Secret. Need to pick up some new things.”
Sophia arched an eyebrow, grateful for the distraction. “Again? Em, you’re in here practically every week buying new shit.”
As they approached the store’s entrance, the scent of perfume wafted out, mingling with the mall’s air-conditioned atmosphere. Freya snorted, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“It’s because Lucas keeps ripping it off her,” she quipped, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads.
Emily’s cheeks flushed crimson, but she didn’t deny it. “Fuck off,” she muttered, punching Freya lightly on the arm.
Sophia’s mind raced, unbidden images of Jake’s hands on her own lingerie flashing through her thoughts. She shook her head, trying to clear it. “Jesus, Em. At this rate, you should just buy stocks in the company.”
“Or start charging Lucas for damages,” Evelyn added with a wicked grin.
As they entered the store, surrounded by lace and satin, Sophia couldn’t help but wonder if she’d be making her own Victoria’s Secret run soon. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, equal parts excitement and trepidation.
Freya, ever the practical one, began sifting through the racks with surgical precision. Her eyes darted from one piece to another, occasionally holding something up before discarding it with a shake of her head.
“What about this?” she asked, dangling a sheer babydoll nightie in front of Sophia’s face. “Though I suppose there’s no point in me buying it. Not like anyone’s gonna see it anyway.”
Sophia rolled her eyes, pushing the garment away. “Christ, Frey. You’re a catch. If you’d actually leave the ER for five minutes, maybe you’d find someone to appreciate your lingerie collection.”
“Right,” Freya snorted. “Because nothing says ‘sexy’ like smelling like antiseptic and having dark circles under your eyes.”
As they moved through the store, Freya continued her commentary, holding up various items for Emily and Sophia’s inspection. Her dry humour and self-deprecation were a stark contrast to the sultry atmosphere of the boutique.
Suddenly, Freya stopped short, her eyes widening as she pulled something from the rack. “Holy shit, Soph. This has your name written all over it.”
She held up a bright orange lace bodysuit, its strategically placed cutouts leaving little to the imagination. Sophia felt her breath catch in her throat, her mind immediately conjuring images of Jake’s reaction to seeing her in it.
“Fuck me,” Sophia muttered, her eyebrow arching as she reached out to touch the delicate fabric. “Okay, I’m going to have to buy that one.”
Emily let out a low whistle. “Damn, girl. Thought this was just a fling?”
Sophia’s cheeks burned, but she met Emily’s gaze defiantly. “It is. Doesn’t mean I can’t look hot while it lasts.”
The girls tumbled into TGI Fridays, arms laden with shopping bags and faces flushed from laughter. Emily slid into a booth, her pout deepening as she watched a waiter pass by with a tray of colourful cocktails.
“Fucking hell,” she grumbled, eyeing the drinks longingly. “Of all the days to be responsible.”
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh, sliding in next to her best friend. “Oh, come on, Em. You offered to drive, remember?”
Emily shot her a withering look. “Yeah, well, that was before I knew we’d end up here, surrounded by booze I can’t touch.”
Freya and Evelyn squeezed in opposite them, already perusing the cocktail menu with gleeful expressions.
“Ooh, look at this one,” Evelyn cooed, pointing to a lurid blue concoction. “It’s got vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and blue curacao. It’s called ‘The Fuck-It Bucket’.”
Emily groaned, dropping her head onto the table with a thud. “You’re all evil. Pure evil.”
Sophia patted her back sympathetically, even as she flagged down a waiter. “We’ll take three Fuck-It Buckets and one virgin mojito for our designated driver here.”
As the waiter left, Emily lifted her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So, Soph. Planning on modelling that new bodysuit for Jake anytime soon?”
Sophia felt her cheeks heat up, but she met Emily’s gaze head-on. “Maybe. What’s it to you?”
“Just wondering how long this ‘fling’ is going to last,” Emily replied, air quotes and all. “You seem pretty invested in it for something casual.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. She’d been trying not to think too deeply about her situation with Jake, content to ride the wave of passion and excitement. But Emily’s words hit a nerve she’d been desperately trying to ignore.
“It’s just fun,” Sophia insisted, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
The arrival of their drinks provided a welcome distraction, and Sophia eagerly grabbed her garish blue cocktail, taking a long swig to avoid meeting Emily’s knowing gaze.
As the alcohol burned its way down her throat, Sophia’s mind drifted to Jake – his easy smile, the way his hands felt on her skin, the sound of his voice when he called her “babe.” She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts.