Cozy corner brews.

Mirella’s POV

“He said what?!” Tessa literally screamed, her voice reaching every tiny crease of the small cozy cafe we were currently in. She had dragged me out of the house to ‘get me out of the rut I was starting to sink in’ whatever that meant. Her words, not mine. We had ended up in this small cafe down the street from her workplace. ‘Cozy corner brews’

Tessa worked in a design firm, she was an interior design assistant, we had the same design degree, just that I, never pursued mine. I was busy playing the perfect stepford wife.

I quickly slammed her mouth shut with my palm while mumbling small apologies to everyone in the cafe as their annoyed and concerned faces were all turned towards us.

She licks my hand in weird swirls causing me to let go immediately in disgust.

“Ewwww.” I grimaced with a giggle.

“Oh shut up, you wish Andreas’s tongue did that to your clit last night, didn’t you?.” She teased, with a huge smile on her face.

“Tessa!” I cautioned. She giggles again.

“You naughty, naughty girl, you’re not denying it.”

She accused.

And immediately those words left her lips, my mind goes back to the night before, how I’d fought with myself, yelled in my head, how could I do that, something so dirty, so unethical, so fucking erotic.

I missed the warmth of his touch immediately his knuckles grazed my skin, leaving a cascade of tingles in their wake. even more when he left the room entirely, I fought the urge to soothe the raging ache between my legs, to the thought of him doing the dirtiest things to me. Tossing and turning all night, my mind spiraling every second that passed by, I was a different person last night.

I didn’t know what came over me, why I didn’t just cover up, why I agreed to the little show. He just had this aura around him, everything about the man was sexual, the way his shoulders and arms flexed beneath his shirt as he dropped his case. What the hell mirella, I hadn’t realized I had noticed these things about him, up until a month ago, he was just, Andreas voss, my brothers best friend, and now I’m not sure what he is. I mean he hadn’t even so much as touched me and I was so turned on, i trembled.

A trickle of what might’ve guilt, wormed it’s way into my stomach, followed by the overwhelming weight of shame. I just got divorced, Nikolai might’ve been a cheater, but I was not one.

Somehow I felt I had betrayed him somehow, in that little, thrillingly addictive moment I spent with Andreas.

Again, he was back to ignoring me, the house was empty when I woke up, I felt a twinge of disappointment, a twinge I prayed I wouldn’t feel. it’s like taking one step forward and two steps back with him. Yeah the one step being the little strip tease you guys had last night, I teased at myself, I stopped the growing smile on my lips. No, this is wrong, this is so wrong on so many levels, I’m pregnant, my life is about to change in the best possible way, my brother will end both of us if he ever finds out, he’s my brothers best friend.

I internally groaned, because even with all I’ve stated, it still did not quench my growing ache for him.

“Mirella!” Tessa calls, snapping me out of thoughts, you were so far gone, I’ve been calling your name for the past like 10 seconds?” Her face scrunches as she tried to determine the time.

“Anyways.” She shakes it off and continues. “is something wrong?” She asks. Concern evident in her eyes as she looked at me.

“I do not like andreas.” I say in the most assuring tone, trying to convince even myself, I couldn’t like him. You don’t have to like him to get his tongue on your clit. I teased again at myself.

Oh my God, when does this end. I groaned internally.

Tessa hummed, but in a ‘I don’t believe you one bit’ kind of way, and who could blame her, I’m having conversations in my head like a crazy person, trying to convince myself I wasn’t into him.

“I think the wicked witch of the west is going to fire me.” Tessa says, changing the topic, ‘wicked witch of the west’ referring to her boss, Felicia. From everything she’s raved on about her, let’s just say Felicia was a bitter bitch, in Tessa’s words of course.

“What, why?”

“She’s been firing staff all week, I think the design firm is about to be auctioned off, numbers have been down, we haven’t been able to meet our target either.” She said her tone low.

I reached out for her hand on the coffee table, squeezing tightly to provide comfort.

“You’re like the best help she has around there, I mean she barely does anything but sits on her, ass.” I tease to make her laugh.

“True dat.” She giggles. Then continues.”I really hope it doesn’t get to that, I really need this job mirella, I’ve worked my ass off, to get here, I’m almost where I need to be, I can’t be jobless and have to start all over.”

“You won’t need to, you’re a beautiful, smart, driven woman, if worst comes to worst, I’ll be here for you, I’ll help in whatever way I can, same as you’ve done for me, same as we’ve always done for each other.” I smile at her.

“Damn it, you’re gonna make me cry, you big softy.” She wipes away imaginary tears, with a smile.

Tessa nudged my elbow with the rim of her cup.

“Do me a favor.” She said lowering her voice. “Look around, tell me what you’d fix.”

“Tessa.” I started.

“Just… look around for a second,” she said. “Humor me.”

I sighed, but only a little, the warmth in her eyes made it impossible to roll mine at her.

The lighting is wrong,” I murmured. “They’re going for cozy, but everything is overhead. It flattens the room. They need table lamps, or those low pendant lights over each booth.”

I pointed subtly. “And the chairs? They’re too angular. Cozy means curves, stuff that looks like it’s hugging you back.”

I caught Tessa’s tiny, satisfied smirk and pretended I didn’t.

My voice sounded too natural. Too familiar. Like muscle memory warming up after months of refusing to move.

“And that corner?” I said, nodding to the empty nook by the window. “Perfect for a reading seat. Wide chair, knitted throw, maybe a basket of books. People love the illusion of quiet.”

Tessa’s smile softened, pride flickering through it.

“You still have it, you know,” she said. “That thing you do. Seeing what a space wants to be. You light up whenever you talk about it. You’d be a natural if you started up your own design firm”

I forced a light scoff but something tugged at my chest. It was a dream of mine, a dream I had stuffed down and buried, more consumed in ivfs and getting pregnant, being perfect.

Before I could reply, a middle aged woman that seemed to be in her 40s/50s came up to our table, a warm smile decorated her features.

“Hi there, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation, I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but your ideas sound like the perfect fit for this place. Are you into interior design?” She asks

I stiffened slightly, caught of guard but I didn’t miss Tessa’s grinning face.

“Ohh no, not really, I mean not officially, I’m so sorry, I just, I was just giving my opinion on the place.” I nervously rambled.

“Well, this is my cafe dear, and I could use someone with your eye, and such a passion for it, you should definitely become one, when you do, I’d very much like to be your first client, God knows this place could use some life. most people are just in it for the money and do a rubbish job of it all.” She said with a small laugh.

“If you’re interested, which I really hope you are, perhaps we could talk more sometime. Now, please enjoy your pastries”

She nodded at the both of us then moved on, leaving Tessa grinning at me like the damn Cheshire Cat.

“Not one word.” I scolded at her.

“I didn’t say anything.” She laughs, her hands raised up defensively.

Before I could say anything else, my phone dinged.

It was a message from andreas, i wasted no time in opening it.

Andreas: we need to talk bambolina.

About, damn time.

But why did a feeling of excitement and dread trickle down my spine.

Was he sick of me living in his house, was he finally going to throw me out?

Why did the idea of that make my chest hurt.