A Woman's Journey of Multiple Loves

The morning after...

I don't need to tell you about my sleepless night; it was painfully evident. My thoughts relentlessly revisited the handsome stranger I had met outside the club the night before. With morning light piercing through my curtains, I was grateful the torment had come to an end. I hastily showered and donned my favorite comfy outfit: denim hot pants and a white t-shirt that playfully slid off one shoulder. Grabbing a bowl of cereal, I made my way to my study and fired up my computer. The next two hours disappeared in a blur of work.

"Done for the day, Sky," Maria, a woman in her forties with greying black hair, stood by the door.

I offered a warm smile and wave. "Thanks, Maria. Please give my regards to James; he's been avoiding my visits lately." Maria was the one who kept my house in order. My job paid well, and I genuinely enjoyed it. I might not be the boss yet, but I was just a couple of steps away.

"He's quite busy with school now," Maria defended her son, who was an adorable little boy with a head full of black curls, sparkling dark eyes, and a dimple that I loved to kiss.

"I understand," I replied, and Maria left. I stretched and hit "send" to upload the document. After her departure, I took a short break before returning to my work. Two more hours passed before I could finally power off my computer. I checked the time and hurried to my room to change. I had to retrieve my car from the club before meeting the girls for lunch.

"You're late!" Sasha greeted me as I finally reached our table. She wore oversized sunglasses that made her pixie face appear even smaller, her curly hair tied back in a loose ponytail.

I placed my handbag beside my chair and smiled. "I'm sorry, I had to pick up my car. When did you get here?"

Sasha glanced at her watch. "A few minutes ago." She groaned as a passing driver blared their horn. "Tell that person to keep it down! Why did you let me drink so much?" She playfully accused me.

I rolled my eyes. "Me? I couldn't get you to listen to me for two minutes last night! Where's Taylor? She said she'd be here by 1 PM."

Sasha sat up and looked past my shoulder, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Having one last taste of her chocolate man. Those two had better find a room."

I turned my head in the direction Sasha was pointing, confirming her observation. Those two were going at it as if they hadn't laid eyes on each other in the past twelve hours. They stood discreetly behind a sleek black jeep. Yet, what truly seized my attention and held it in an unyielding grip wasn't the car or my friend engaging in a rather public display of affection. It was the man standing beside the driver's side of the jeep, casually puffing on a cigarette. Even though his face was partially averted, I instantly recognized him.

Memories from the previous night surged back, inundating my mind like a relentless wave. The images that had tormented my thoughts, causing me to toss and turn throughout the night, replayed themselves in my head until I had to clench my thighs together to suppress the sensations that stirred beneath. A quiet sigh slipped from my lips as my panties shifted, inadvertently stimulating my senses.

"Yo, Tay, get a room!" Sasha's voice interrupted the scene, and she immediately regretted her words as she groaned and held her head in her hands.

I turned my gaze towards her, concern etched on my face. "Are you alright?"

"No!" she groaned. "This is the mother of all hangovers. Well, at least I got her attention. Here she comes."

My attention shifted back to Taylor as she approached us, her radiant smile lighting up her youthful face. "You look well-used," I teased as she joined us, taking a sip from Sasha's water.

"Oh, I was," Taylor confessed with a playful grin, leaning in to kiss me before planting another on Sasha's bowed head. "Travis is AMAZING! Kept me up most of the night, well, what remained of it anyway. And believe me, s*x is the best medicine for a hangover," she added, glancing at Sasha, who groaned even louder. "What's up with you?"

Sasha, struggling to recover from her hangover, quipped, "She didn't have enough s*x to cure her hangover."

I chimed in, "Brandon-Landon or something had to leave early."

Sasha's phone began to ring just as she finished her sentence. Checking the caller ID, her smile grew. "It's Landon," she announced with a smug smile before answering the call.

I turned my attention back to Taylor, only to find that the jeep had vanished. Suppressing my disappointment, I forced a smile as Taylor approached. "Sooo, what did you get up to last night after you left?"

I shrugged and perused the menu that had been placed before me. "Got home, had a nice, hot soak in the bath, scented candles and all the trimmings, then curled up on my bed and went to sleep."

Taylor plucked a grape from the fruit display on the table and popped it into her mouth. "This is why we love coming to this place. It's not a large restaurant, more like something you'd find in France or Italy, with the option to sit inside or outside. We prefer the outdoor seating, watching people go about their lives. Plus, they always have a variety of snacks on the tables, from fruits to nuts to warm, fresh buns—whatever you fancy. And their food is simply heavenly, offering dishes from around the world."

"Really now?" Taylor raised an eyebrow.

"You know something I don't?" I inquired.

Taylor smiled and pushed her hair away from her face. "Maybe. Do you know Jayden?"

I shook my head, still smiling as I ordered from the waiter. "I'll have your world-famous Lad na, and for Sasha here," I pointed to her as she giggled on the phone, "bring some chicken noodle soup. Taylor?"

"I'll have the Lad na as well," Taylor replied before turning her attention back to me. "Well? He seems to know you because he told me to say hi to you before they left."

A light bulb went off in my head. "Oh, you mean Travis' friend? He helped me with my car keys yesterday; they seemed to have a mind of their own."

"Is that so?" Taylor's brown eyes sparkled with interest.

I added with a sly grin, "No, he and I didn't engage in any backseat activities." I watched as her eyes dilated, and I quickly warned, "I know that look, Tay. Don't even think about doing something funny."

"What? You need a good time, and who better than that hunk of a man? If I were into someone like him, I would've had him last night. But..." Taylor paused, and I finished her thought.

"You like your men tall, muscled, and chocolate," I said, rolling my eyes, which caused both of us to break into laughter.

Sasha chimed in, "What? I'm a chocolate addict."

In all the years I had known Taylor, she had never dated a Caucasian, in stark contrast to Sasha and me. Between the two of us, we had dated people from various racial backgrounds and enjoyed the diversity.

Sasha placed her phone on the table and smiled at us, her brown eyes twinkling. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you just had phone s*x with Landon."

Taylor quipped, "Anyway, I was telling Sky that she needs a good time in the sack. How long has it been since her last boyfriend?"

Sasha held up one finger. "And counting."

Taylor pondered aloud, "How she does it is beyond me. No one-night stands, no friends with benefits... You'll have cobwebs down there!"

And that was Taylor—a chatterbox with somewhat unconventional reasoning but always ready to offer advice in her own unique way. On the other hand, Sasha was not much of a talker, but people listened when she spoke. Her charisma made her words highly sought after.

"I doubt it!" I replied loudly, causing a few nearby diners to glance toward us. I lowered my head, attempting to conceal my blush.

Taylor smirked and prodded further. "Anyway, she met someone yesterday. He's Travis' friend."

"Really," Sasha giggled. "Finally!"

I clarified, "We didn't exactly 'meet.' He just helped me with my car keys, and it was dark, so he might not have seen me that well, because I didn't see him that well." I bit my lower lip, adding a small embellishment to my story.

Sasha and Taylor exchanged glances before breaking into laughter. I rolled my eyes and smiled, knowing that my friends were about to embark on some mischievous adventure that would either irritate me or make me laugh. "Enough of that for now. Let me enjoy my lunch in peace, without the threat of indigestion."