Chapter 4 - Scare and Lecture

Amalia 

I got to Eva's apartment a little earlier than expected after we ended the call. 

I didn't tell her I was actually already out of my door before she even agreed because I already had a little plan in mind. 

I had it all planned out with her mom beforehand, as she agreed with me that she needed to get out of her mundane and boring routine. 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I admire her deeply. 

She's a fantastic mother, teacher, daughter, and friend to us all, always putting us first and herself last. 

Well, that's gonna change. 

It's time for the old Eva to come forward before all that bullshit took her down. 

That beautiful girl was so much fun! 

She was outgoing, fearless, loud, carefree, the kind who would sing her lungs out in the car without a care in the world. 

Ah, the good old days when we used to spend our summer vacations in Crete. 

Endless hours on the beach, hiking, or having coffees at the harbor talking about everything and anything, and our nights were spent dancing the night away, boys, drinking, being a little crazy as you do in your teens. 

A smile full of fondness and nostalgia tugs at my lips, remembering the good old days, and because I can hear Eva singing from inside like she used to.

I’m about to knock when I get an idea. 

I'm going to be a little evil and sneak in and see how long it takes her to realise I’m there. 

Knowing her when she’s like this, she will probably not even hear me. 

I use my keys to unlock the door and step inside to see her in all of her booty-shaking glory while she’s vacuuming the living room, singing, or rather butchering, to Bootylicious. 

The woman can do a lot of things, like dance, but she’s no singer. 

Poor Katerina.

I quietly snicker, watching her, but also smile because it reminds me of the old Eva that I wish I could see more often. 

I close the door, dropping my purse by the coat stand, and walk down the main hallway to the kitchen, avoiding the living room, and I see the two frappes on the kitchen island already made. 

I pick one up at random since we both have them the same way, and I make myself comfortable on the stool, cross my legs, and simply enjoy the show that is Eva, who is now listening to K-pop. 

I carry on watching her as she headbangs, and I shake my head. 

How the hell isn’t she deaf? 

She always has her music blasting so loud that I can hear it too. 

I'll admit it's not bad for once.

I faintly smile to myself because I know Kat got her into K-pop. 

I’m not a big fan of it myself, but if it means I see this smile on Eva, then who cares?

I sip my drink and let out a quiet hum of delight. 

Hmm, that's good cold coffee in this heat.

  

After a little while, I find myself swaying and tapping my foot to the music. 

I’m about to hear another song start, and decide it’s time to end this. 

I walk over to her and tap her shoulder since she is still oblivious that I’m here. 

I just hope she doesn't punch me. 

"SONOFABITCH!!" She screeched, jumping in fright, and then spun round wide-eyed and saw me. 

I couldn’t help it, and I burst out laughing. 

I see her take out her headphones, still panting heavily, glaring at me, while I'm hunched over, holding my stomach, laughing loudly and hysterically with tears in my eyes.  

"You’re a bitch! Payback from the call? And just how much did you see?" She asks after a beat, once she had calmed her breathing, but she was still giving me the evil eye. 

She walks into the kitchen with a loud huff, shaking her head in aggravation as she puts her headphones in their case.  

 

I follow her and sigh. 

"Ah, that was so good, and no, it wasn't, although it should have been. You were mean! I knew you wouldn't have heard me, and when I heard singing from outside, I was right." I smirk, wiping my eyes from the tears of laughter, still trying to catch my breath.

 

"And I saw enough to know you can still drop it like it's hot,” I say, wiggling my brows, clicking my fingers. “You seriously are one hot mama with those abs, and that ass of yours is absolute perfection. I’m jealous.” I fake a pout. “You've been working out, haven't you?" I wink and grin, sitting on the stool again, taking a sip from my coffee.  

"Yup, and zumba whenever I get the chance." She sheepishly says, her cheeks going slightly pink at my compliment.  

 

"Okay, I'm just gonna move this laundry into the bedrooms, and I'll be back." She says quickly, taking the laundry that’s all nicely folded on the couch, and disappears for a few moments.  

 

Aw, she cute, but it's true! She's in incredible shape. You never would have thought that body of hers had carried and delivered a child. 

As mentioned before, the woman is a hard worker. 

Her incredible body is also a testament to that. She’s also fucking gorgeous with her naturally thick curly brown hair, amazing bright green eyes, and natural pink full lips. 

If only she could see herself as I see her. Any guy would be lucky to have her, as she is beautiful both inside and outside. 

Well, let's hope tonight goes according to plan anyway. I'm smirking to myself, rubbing my hands together like a villain. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eva 

After I put the laundry away in both my room and Kat's room, I join Lia in the kitchen. I take the stool opposite her and sip my coffee while observing my friend. 

Lia is my ride or die. 

We have been through everything together. 

In fact, she and Mama were in the room with me when I gave birth. 

I don't know what I would have done without her in my life. My beautiful, bossy, batshit crazy in the best way, no filter friend. 

She's the only person, outside my parents, whom I trust not only with my life but also with my daughter's, which is why I chose her to be Kat’s godmother. 

And of course, Kat adores her crazy godmother or θεια (auntie), as she calls Lia, since she often visits and sleeps over at her house more often than her actual aunt and uncle. 

My older brother, Petro, and sister, Stella, no longer live near us, so it's tricky trying to see them regularly, plus they have their own lives, and we have ours.  

"What are you staring at, weirdo?" Lia asks, bringing me out of my thoughts. 

I shake my head with a soft smile. 

"Nothing, I was just feeling grateful to have you as my friend and just how much you have been there for Kat and me," I say with a soft smile.  

"Aw, sweetie, you know we are each other's ride or die until the day we die. No one comes between us, and you know I'll do anything for that little girl. You truly are doing an amazing job with her, and she's a cutie with a sassy mouth, so it's easy to like her. Although these days, I think she prefers Angelo." She says, rolling her eyes playfully with a chuckle. I let out a small chuckle with a nod. 

Well, he is a big softie when it comes to her, so I don't blame her or Lia for that matter. 

 

"So, Eva mou, as much as I love your praises, can we talk for real now? Because, as your friend, I am a little worried. You've been separated for a year now, and although fucking Andy is still trying to delay the divorce, which is not what I wanna talk about right now. I know you'll be seeing your lawyer sometime this week, but can I ask why you haven't been putting yourself out there?" She rapid-fires. 

I sigh, turning my gaze away. Here we go. 

"I just don't want to. Lia, this is the first time in a long time that it's just me and Kat. We have our routines, and our lives are relatively calm and stable. This is also the first time in my life where I am genuinely comfortable being on my own, living on my own, and it's freedom in more ways than one." I tell her, chewing on my straw, avoiding her gaze.  

 

Lia lets out a big groan of frustration. "I get that, sweetie, and I’m happy for you. I swear that therapist did wonders, but come on, don't you miss going out, flirting, I mean fuck, what about sex?! You're only 29, and yet you act like you are in your 50s or something, like you're past it all. It seems like you have no life left in you, just going through the motions. There's more to life than just that."  

"Hey! That's a little much! Yes, of course I miss sex! I'm human after all, hence the toys in my nightstand, but I’m also not looking for another relationship!" I scowl, crossing my arms, getting a little mad at her comments.

"No one said about getting into a relationship, but it's time to get the mothballs out of your pussy for God's sake. I mean, when was the last time you had sex? With an actual person." Lia asks with a serious tone, taking another sip of her coffee while I debate whether to tell her or not. 

I’m getting seriously ticked off with her comments about my lower region. I think it gets enough attention, just not in the way she wants me to, but it works for me. 

 

"I don't know whether I should tell you, cause it seems like you are mad enough at me." 

And with that, Lia's eyes widened both in shock and disappointment. 

 

"Oh my fucking God, please don't tell me that the last person you had sex with was Andy?!” 

I don’t answer her. 

She squints her eye and loudly gasps at my long silence. “Jesus fucking Christ, please, I beg you, find yourself a fling just so you can say that pathetic old fucker wasn't the last person you fucked." 

I roll my eyes at her and wave my hand back and forth in a dismissive gesture over her dramatics. 

I take another sip before I answer her. 

"Oh yeah, cause last time that worked out so effing well that I ended up pregnant! Plus, Andy wasn't that good anyway, so it’s not like I'm missing out on much.” I casually shrug my shoulder while Lia just tuts in disapproval. 

“At least now I get orgasms via my toys. I see that as a win. It had been a while since I had orgasms after all." I wiggle my brows, pursing my lips playfully, and that makes her laugh. 

Mission accomplished. I managed to break some of the tension in this conversation. 

"Ooh, wow, so tell me, who was the best? And I need the name of that toy. Maybe I can use it with Angelo and see who or what is better." Lia giggles, drinking the last of her coffee before getting up to put her glass in the dishwasher. 

I instantly blush, knowing the answer very well. 

I may not know who it was, but I remember how well he played with my body like a fine-tuned instrument and made me moan, groan, whimper, and scream with his touch, mouth, tongue, and his huge.... 

The memory of that night still gives me shivers, and I blush a deeper shade of pink that makes Lia’s grin grow wider. 

I quickly turn my head and start fanning myself, attempting to cool myself down.  

"Um, you know of him because it's the guy from that senior party you dragged me to." I say, biting my lips nervously.  

Again, Lia's eyes widened as I don't think she expected that. 

She knows the story, of course, and tried to help me find him, but eventually gave up because I couldn't recall. I hoped one day I would see him, as he and Kat deserve to know about each other, but as time went on, I gave up on that hope. 

Yet another reason I am hesitant about one-night stands after what happened. I felt like such a slut that I never did anything like that again. 

Well, that and other reasons led me into therapy. 

Either way, it's a no-no. 

This is where I somewhat agree with Lia's earlier comment that I'm too old to be doing certain things. 

I'm a grown woman now, not an irresponsible teen.