Hello Lovely Reader,
I was working on a completely different story when this one reared its head and demanded to take up all of my thoughts until I wrote it. Please note that it has themes of BDSM, so if that is not your cup of tea, I recommend another one of my tamer stories. Hope you all enjoy it! As always, leave some comments!
XOXO SkylerLuv
******
Eve is hiding something, but I can't figure it out.
She gives me a playful smile behind the menu in her hand. Her dark eyes have a small glint that I've yet to see since we met two years ago. She brushes her short and wavy brown hair until she decides to just put her sunglasses over her head to hold it back. Eve is conventionally pretty. Her almond eyes are a product of her American mother and Korean father. Her skin isn't necessarily fair but it's definitely lighter than mine and she has some freckles on her cheeks. Although we're around the same height, she has proportionate-sized boobs and a butt. She works out a lot more so she's more on the lean side.
Meanwhile, I have big boobs and a nice rump due to genetics. My mom, who is black, has blessed me with a wonderful body and amazing genes. She's well into her 50s but looks young enough to be my sister. My skin is dark and my body is firm but I still work out just in case. I got my long curly hair from my father's Latin side of the family. I would be considered cute whereas Eve is pretty or even beautiful. I brush my hair aside, ignoring the wind around us as we eat by the water.
It is a typical Sunday morning, and we're doing what we typically do on a Sunday: recover from the night before by drinking mimosas for brunch. Unless we already have plans, we both try to keep this tradition alive at least twice a month.
"I'm going to figure it out." I look down at the menu. I'm feeling something sweet today.
"Bri, I wish you would just drop it." Her soft tone is as assertive as it will ever get.
Eve and I met right at a point in my life when I was going through a big change. I decided to quit my previous sales rep position because of the emotional and mentally draining trauma I was constantly being put through. It wasn't enough for me to quit but I also decided to move out of my ex-boyfriend's place and end our three-year-long relationship because I was unhappy and he didn't seem to care enough to try. I only moved a few hours away but it was far away enough that I felt like I could start a new chapter. Now, I work in a small marketing company as an executive assistant. It doesn't pay as much as my previous job did but I haven't regretted it once. I'm still proud of myself for taking that big leap that led me here.
I joined a new gym after moving the last of my things to a one-bedroom apartment and that is where I first saw Eve. We both happen to go to the gym either early in the morning before the workday or late at night after it was mostly vacant. I saw her a few times, lifting really heavy weights and doing a lot of cardio, while I stuck to my basic workouts just to keep my legs, arms, and abs tight. Eventually, we got to saying small hellos while we filled our water bottles and after about three weeks, I got the guts to ask her if she knew of any good places around the area. Apparently, she was fairly new as well and had previously lived a few states away, so she wasn't too familiar with any good spots. We decided to exchange numbers and she became the first friend I made here.
I think back to the first couple of times we went out together. Eve is more reserved than I am but is still up for a good time. Her humor is not as outright goofy as mine but she has her moments where she can be charming- or flirty even- when guys notice us at the bars. We've received plenty of free drinks because of her. She has a way of making anyone feel important in a short period of time, which is why she did more of the talking. I'm better at surface-level conversation with strangers until I feel more comfortable around them. Eve on the other hand is always composed and has a natural way of getting people to open up to her.
Becoming friends felt very natural and before I knew it, we built a comfortable routine of seeing each other enough to get our work and personal gossip out of our system. Although we are close, we also keep a healthy distance so we're not too dependent on each other. She still has her own friends and hobbies and I have mine. I still love and appreciate every moment we do get to spend together though.
"Are you ladies ready to order?" Our waiter has a notepad out.
"Yes, I'll have the ham and cheese omelet and she will have the breakfast combo with the blueberry pancakes please." Eve folds her menu and takes mine out of my hand to give it to him.
He makes a small note and then leaves after retrieving the menus from her.
"What if I wanted something else?" I pretend to be annoyed.
She rolls her eyes. "Then that means something is wrong and the world might end soon."
I stick my tongue out and take another sip of my mimosa. She's not wrong. I'm pretty predictable when it comes to food. We try lots of different restaurants and I do sometimes stray from what I typically get but I'm more of a breakfast person and pancakes are always a must. It is still mildly annoying to not be able to catch her off guard. Eve is always on it and is sure of her place in this world. She's observant and thoughtful which makes it hard to differentiate what she really likes to do from what she is doing just to appease someone.
"Okay, smartass." I move around, shifting in my yellow sundress. "But when I find out your secret, I will have the upper hand."
She scoffs but otherwise ignores my comment. "Have I told you how yellow compliments your skin tone?"
"Yes, thank you." I lift my chin slightly. She's not going to budge on this and it's starting to get to me.
Why would she want to keep anything from me? I feel like we have gotten much closer than when we first became friends but maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable enough to confide in me. Not with whatever she is hiding at least. I mean, I don't tell her everything about my life, but my minor omissions are not groundbreaking. Although I know she would be a great listener, she doesn't need me talking her ear off about the latest thing my mom has guilt-tripped me into doing.
She reaches over and places her hand over mine.
Her dark eyes are no longer playful. "Please, let it go."
This is her putting her foot down and I don't want to make things awkward between us. I will just have to be okay with staying in the dark on this one. Even if it is eating me up inside. I don't want to make her uncomfortable and maybe I should just trust that she is choosing to keep this from me because it won't be as exciting as I'm making it out to be. Whatever her reasons, I will try to respect them.
My shoulders sag but I nod.
"Fine, fine. If you want to keep secrets from me, then okay. Who am I other than some random girl you met recently?" I throw my hands up.
"Now you get it." She smiles and sips her drink.
"Ha ha." I motion to the waiter to bring another round of mimosas.
******
Eve's car is parked halfway around the block from her job.
I grab the lunch bag I made for her and wave to the girl at the front desk as I walk by. They all know me around here. I've visited before and Eve always introduces me to anyone that doesn't know me. She would prefer it that way so no one ever gives me a hard time when I drop by and wander around. I'm always made to feel welcomed though. She should be getting ready for her lunch break, based on the time I pulled in. I peek into the windowless lunchroom and see two other guys that work under her. They wave me over, and one of them pulls out a chair for me.
"Eve should be down soon." The older one of the two comments.
I smile and nod before asking them about their day. It is nice to talk to them and catch up on their personal life, wife and kids, and everything in between. I like talking to them but it has taken me a while to find common ground with them. Eve is used to working in a warehouse and talking to blue-collar workers. They like her and respect her because she is thoughtful and fair with them. I don't really find myself coming across a lot of people like them in my life. Deep down they are all very sweet and respectful.
"Well, this is a lovely surprise!" Eve comes up behind me and gives me a hug. "Is that for me?" She's wearing khakis and a blue polo. Her cheeks are slightly pink from walking around all morning, I assume.
I get up and hand her the bag, smiling wide. "Thought you would like a nice home-cooked meal."
