Chapter 112 ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE

Chapter 112 ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE
TESS
The ride to the eatery felt long and very uncomfortable. I kept moving in my seat, adjusting my legs, hands, and waist.
I was very nervous.
Before I left my house, I took great care to wear something to cover me up and hide the hickey that was on my boob, neck, and shoulder.
When the car parked in the parking lot, I thanked the driver, opened the door, and stepped out.
I looked around to find where they were seated, and I spotted them in a corner, waving to me.
‘You can do this, Tess. Just try to avoid eye contact as much as possible,’ I told myself.
I wore my sunglasses and approached them.
‘Hello ladies,’ I said with a weak smile.
‘Look who finally decided to show up. Why are you always late? I literally told you to be on time’ Shirley said, fuming.
I pulled out a chair and sat down ‘Darling please, it takes a whole lot to maintain this beauty.’
Shirley rolled her eyes and shook her head.
The pregnant lady beside her chuckled ‘At least she didn’t say it was the traffic. She told you the truth.’
‘Exactly, at least someone appreciates my honesty.’
I stretched my hand for a handshake. I’m Tess.’
She shook my hand, Chloe. It’s nice to finally meet you. Shirley talks about you all the time.’
I raised a brow ‘Does she now?’
She nodded ‘Yeah. She told me you are her best friend.’
I smiled ‘Guilty as charged. I’m also her ride or die, her emotional support, her everything.’
Shirley rolled her eyes again. ‘You are so humble.’
‘Girl, I know,’ I replied.
Chloe laughed ‘Oh my God. You are so hilarious, I like you already.’
I placed my hand on my chest dramatically, ‘Oh, thank you.’
Chloe scanned me for a second, and the next thing I knew, she was pointing at my jacket ‘I love your jacket’
‘Thank you,’ I said, adjusting it.
‘Seems like you had a fun night?’
My eyes snapped up ‘What?’
‘The hickey on your neck. You are trying to hide it, but it doesn’t want to be hidden’ Chloe said excitedly.
‘Oh my God. I’m finished, think fast, Tess. Say something’
Shirley stared at me suspiciously ‘You didn’t tell me about this over the phone. Now, spill everything.’
I feigned ignorance ‘Spill what?’
Shirley pulled my jacket away and gasped when she saw the other ones. Start talking, Tess. Tell us who devoured you like this.’
My heart started racing, ‘I don’t kiss and tell,’ I managed to say.
Neither of them wanted to hear that; they insisted I tell them what happened.
I quickly thought of something and started talking.
‘Okay, fine. I had a one-night stand.’
The girls giggled ‘Tell us everything’
I crossed my legs to maintain my composure. ‘I met a guy in a bar last night, we talked, and then we went home together when we were a bit drunk and had a good time.’
Shirley hissed ‘What kind of shallow explanation is that? Just give us the deets, please.’
Chloe nodded quickly.
I smiled ‘Alright, we went home and had the most amazing sex ever. I never knew that the human tongue can be so exploratory, this guy licked me clean like I was his last meal on earth, pounded into me like a  fucking maniac, and touched me like I was his calming storm.’
The girls looked at me with dreamy eyes ‘Oh my God!!’
I laughed ‘Yeah, so when I woke up this morning, I saw the hickeys and…..’
Chloe exhaled, ‘I haven’t had good sex like that in a long time.’
We turned to her, feeling sorry for her.
Shirley rubbed her arm lightly ‘It’s okay Chloe, you know you can always please yourself. I, for one, have been having a fun time with my shower head.’
We laughed.
‘Girl, what?’
Shirley snorted, ‘A girl needs to have fun on her own, too.’
Chloe raised her glass ‘Amen to that. The last time I had good sex was with my baby daddy, and it has been months since then.’
A waiter came, smiled politely at us, took our orders, and left.
‘Men can be assholes, ’ Chloe continued.
We nodded in agreement ‘Most of them are’
‘Things between my baby daddy and I hasn’t really been juicy. He knocked me up and disappeared. I had to turn into an investigator before I could find him.’
I shook my head in pity. ‘He is such a fool.’
Chloe smiled weakly ‘I guess. We have been living together since I found him, and our relationship has been rocky, but recently, he has been kind, and he even told me something about him that I never saw coming.’
Shirley moved closer to her ‘What is it?’
A pause.
‘It’s not really a big deal, but he is not who I thought he was. He is dangerous but I still feel something for him and it doesn’t make sense for me to feel something for a guy that treated me like trash previously’
Shirley sighed, ‘I understand girl, love can make you lose your mind.’
Chloe sniffed ‘Yeah, I’m practically losing it. I mean, I should walk away from his life and not look back after the way he treated me, but instead, I’m nursing deep feelings for him. Maybe I’m crazy.’
Shirley hissed ‘You are not crazy Chloe, you are human, and you are allowed to love someone. It’s just annoying that most times, we find ourselves drawn to the wrong person.’
I didn’t move, and I didn’t speak.
It felt as if the girls were reading my mind.
‘Tess’ Shirley called me.
My head snapped up ‘Yeah?’
‘Why are you so quiet? What’s going on with you?’ she asked.
I swallowed ‘Nothing,’ I said quickly, faking a smile.
She gave me a long, suspicious look and turned away.
‘My ex was the worst,’ Shirley started, and I choked on my drink.
‘He is the one who cheated on you, right?’ Chloe asked.
Shirley nodded in response ‘Exactly, the bastard betrayed my trust, and I hope he suffers heavily for hurting me’
‘Most men don’t know how to keep it in their pants,’ I said quickly, trying to add to the conversation.
‘Exactly!!!’ both of them exclaimed at the same time.
‘You know, I had some friends when I was in New York, very crazy girls, but do you know the interesting story? One of them slept with the other girl’s boyfriend when they had a fight.’
Shirley gasped, and I froze.
‘Are you freaking serious?’
‘Yeah, when my friend found out that our own friend betrayed her, all hell broke loose, and the girl who did it maintained that she only did it because they were on a break. It was a battle, our friendship collapsed after that.’
‘My God!!! That is the worst betrayal ever, imagine being betrayed by your own best friend.’
‘I know, I don’t think I can handle it.’
‘Neither can I. I will probably kill them both’ Shirley stated.
It dawned on me right there and then that I will probably take this secret to my grave.