-Maya’s POV-
Life felt like it was slowly regaining a semnce of normalcy. The twins were getting along with Ivan and it tugged my heartstrings whenever hy cuddled
He was simply just perfect. As for me, I’d managed to maintain a delicate dance of
avoidance with my father. A part of me itched to confront him about what van had revealed
about the brother! never had a chance to meet but I knew a collision was inevitable and frankly, thest thing I needed was another explosion. The pas
I threw myself into work, using design as an escape. Ironically, most of my efforts were currently focused on the redesign project for the very ‘person who
Alex’spany. Thankfully, Ms. Edwards hadn’t officially handed it over to me, so she remained the one in contact with him. One lessplication, at l
Tonight, I was out with the girls–
Natalia, Riley, and Sarah. We’d decided to explore new territory for drinks, avoiding the Rusty Compass after the chaotic show we’d put onthest time N
and I were there. Riley was extremely grateful and it was good to see her slowly warming up to us. As for Sarah, we’d be surprisingly close. She ha
spoke and she had been present at our wedding.
“Earth to Amaya,” Sarah snapped her fingers in front of my face, her voiceced with amusement. I flushed, caught red–
handed zoning out. Natalia rolled her eyes dramatically.
“We should rename you ‘Space Woman,” she dered, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. “Always staring off into space, lost in your own little w
We all turned to stare at her, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on our faces. Natalia, seemingly oblivious to the effect, simply shrugged.
“What? I know I’m horrible at making jokes,” she muttered, taking arge swig
of her drink. Then, her expression turned mischievous. “Speaking of stress and things worthy of being stared at… how is Ivan?”
The question hung in the air, the pointed tone making my stomach clench. I knew exactly what she was implying. She used thesame tone whenever I ca
I red at her, my annoyance evident. “Why do you have to say it like that, Natalia?” I grumbled.
Sarah seized the opening. She leaned in conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling with curiosity “Come on, Amaya,” she pressed.
“We’ve all been dying to know. Is he as hot without the suit as he is with it?”
I narrowed my eyes at both of them, then flicked a nce towards Riley. She, the calm observer of the group–
likely a product of her barkeep training. But even she seemed to be wrestling with a flicker of curiosity in her gaze. This was exactly what I got for introdu
A blush crept up my checks, a traitorous warmth that I couldn’t quite control. The truth was, I hadn’t allowed myself to think of ivan in that way. Or maybe
“Oh my god,” Natalia practically whisper–shouted, her voice filled with mock horror. “You guys baven’t fucked yet?”
INSTALL
By now,
now, I was sure my face rivaled the color of a ripe tomato. “Knock it off, Nat,” I mumbled.
ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
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Undeterred, Sarah jumped in. “But why not?” she persisted, her head tilted inquisitively. “He is extremely extremely hot. You two are married. The man is
up? And don’t tell me you are still hung up on that bastard that shall not be named.”
I had told them everything from the beginning to the end, from how I went against my family only to end up rejected, then the istion and how Alex was
that they existed. Yes, my life was a hell of
a lotplicated. Fran a hand through my hair, frustration mingling with the blush that still burned on my cheeks. “It’s not that
simple and no it doesn’t have anything to do with Alex. He is the past and I am done with him.”
Natalia eyed me like she could smell my lie because it
was a lie and I kept telling myself that over and over. One day, I hoped I would finally believe it. I had tried to cancel that kiss from my thoughts but it kep
“I bet he would be a monster in bed and the size of his dick will be attuned to that monstrosity. He gives me this quiet vibe of a psycho that will kill but yo
Riley choked on her drink then started
coughing
“There, there honey.” Sarah rubbed her back, “Don’t worry, you will used to being vulgar soon enough.”
I shook my head, a wry smile ying on my lips despite myself. These two were going to be a force of nature together, and a chaotic one at that. But a s
“Alright, alright,” I conceded, rolling my eyes yfully. “You two definitely need to get your minds out of the gutter. And for the record, what happens –
or doesn’t happen–between
Ivan and me is none of your business. Now, can we please move on to a less… personal topic? And also, you two are morons.”
Riley burst outughing while Natalia and Sarah red at the two of us.
Natalia pouted yfully, “You used to be so fun, not anymore. We were just trying to lighten the mood.”
I knew I wouldn’t win this argument. These women were relentless when they set their minds to something. Just as I opened my mouth to formte a wi
Riley and I exchanged skeptical nces. While the prospect of escaping the relentless questioning about Ivan was tempting, venturing out into the unkn
Sarah, however, seemed to have already made up her mind. “Great idea, Natalial” she eximed, her enthusiasm infectious. Before either Riley or I cou
“Come on, you two slowpokes,” she called over her shoulder, a mischievous grin stered on her face. “Don’t tell me you’re getting too old for a little adv
With a sigh, I knew there was no point in resisting. Riley simply shrugged and followed Sarah’s lead. Thankfully,
we’d all only had one drink each, so our motor skills were still rtively intact.
exactly are we going?” I asked Natalia as we squeezed past the other patrons and out of the bar.
“Where ex
Natalia winked at me conspiratorially. “That,” she dered, her voice filled with a hint of mystery, “is a secret for now. Just trust me, it’ll be fun.”
Fun. That was one word I wouldn’t have used to describe my current situation. But as we piled into a taxi, the three of us crammed together
in the backseat, a strange sense of anticipation fluttered in my stomach. Maybe, just maybe, a night of unexpected adventure was exactly what I needed
I couldn’t help it, the s