11. Isabella
Istared at my buzzing phone, a headache forming at the base of my skull and a callus forming at the base of my right heel. The brightness from the screen momentarily blinded me, and I squinted at the name Natalia - BoraBoraBabe. The nickname I’d given my best friend during my extended island vacation had stuck.
Natalia- BoraBoraBabe: Back from paradise! Let’s grab some lunch and spill the tea xx
Isnorted. Spill the tea, indeed. The only thing I longed to spill at the moment was my entire body into a hot bath. Between all my late shifts at the PrismSociety, stressing about the upcoming event, and, oh god, last night.
Max.
Therewas tea to spill there. Not that I was ready to divulge what was going on between us. Not that anything was going on between us. After we’d sampled the port with the chocolate and Max had made his final decision for the wine list, I’d claimed to be tired and ushered him out of my parents’ front door.
Then, I’d laid in bed for hours, replaying every single second that had passed between us down in the cellar. The way he’d taken charge as soon as he knew what I’d crave. How he knew exactly how and where to touch me. How he spoke to me.
Ilet out a deep sigh and groaned as I rolled over. My thighs were tender from where Max had gripped them last night. But even with a headache, sex soreness, and massive overthinking anxiety, I wouldn’t turn down getting together with Nat.
Ihad missed her these last few weeks. I couldn’t wait to hug her sun-kissed shoulders and hear all about her time in BoraBora. I held my phone up to my face so I could unlock my screen and fired off a text.
Isabella: Yesssss, can you meet today? I could be at Buvette in an hour.
Igot an enthusiastic slew of emojis from Nat, and the plan was in place. Before pressing the lock button on my phone, I saw I had another text waiting for me. I tapped the green bubble with the red alert and couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
Max: Good morning, beautiful. Remember to drink extra water today. See you later at work.
Max. Well, there goes my plan to pretend like nothing happened between us. There goes my assumption that he regrets last night. Like it or not, the thing between me and Max was definitely going to need to be figured out.
Butfor now, all I had to do was get myself out of this bed and into the shower. If only I could float over to the hot water instead of having to use my feet.
Exactlyfifty-three minutes later, I pulled open the glass-paned door of the cozy and charming French-inspired café that Nat and I loved. My stomach growled as soon as I smelled the fresh bread and coffee wafting through the small dining lounge.
Asmy eyes wandered the vintage furnishings of Buvette, I remembered the first time Nat and I had stumbled upon it during our prep-school days. Nat had been the one to discover it after ditching a particularly boring art history class, and I, always the diligent student, had been coerced into joining her. The two of us had spent hours here, giggling over hot croissants and plotting our future globe-trotting adventures.
Luckily, Nat knew I would need the caffeine and fuel. I smiled at the French press of rich coffee and a plate of croissants already waiting for me at a back corner table where Nat was sitting. Natalia and I had practically been joined at the hip since prep school.
Iremembered my first day roaming the echoing halls, feeling like a fish out of water. Even though it had been Nat’s first year as well, she somehow looked like she belonged the second she walked through the doors. Her attitude was fearless, and my energy was different. Nat, with her sun-streaked hair always pulled back in a messy bun, her uniform skirt a tad shorter than the rest, and her mischievous green eyes, had me hooked from day one.
Bythe end of our first week, we’d pinky-promised never to leave each other’s sides. And over the years, we’d kept that promise. We had navigated boy drama, academic challenges, and the school’s strict dress codes.
Nathad introduced me to the thrill of adventure, dragging me on impromptu trips to secret spots around the city, sneaking into concerts, and even making the drive out to PennState just to make out with some boys. Nat was my person. It was Nat who gave me the confidence to purchase that one-way ticket almost ten years ago that kickstarted my travel adventures.
Islid into the booth next to Nat and snuggled into her side, craving the warmth of her skin. Nat threw her arms around me and squeezed tightly, kissing the top of my head. After our hug, Nat scooted back to lean against the wall as she turned to face me. I slid my ankle under my knee and picked up my coffee cup.
“Being back in the city looks good on you, Iz,” Nat said as she sipped her coffee.
“Being back in the city makes me feel my age. These blocks were a lot easier to walk a decade ago,” I said.
Natlaughed, the sound light and free. “You always exaggerate. And please, I’ve seen your step tracker. You walk miles daily.”
“I’m actually surprised to see you back already. LastI saw, it looked like you and what’s-his-name were having a lot of fun.” I smirked.
Natwinked. “Oh, he was tempting, but NewYork has its hold on me. But . . . I wanted to tell you first—I’m actually back for good. My parents wanted me to take over the family business.”
“Holy shit, Nat, that’s huge!” I responded. “What area are you taking over?”
TheBeaumonts were a huge figure in NewYorkCity. What started as a textile and spice trading company back in the 1800s has since ballooned into an entire holdings company that deals with real estate, antiquities, non-profits, spas, and wellness centers.
“I’ll be overseeing the health and wellness side. I know there’s a lot I could bring to spice it up from everything we learned while traveling.” Nat shrugged. “Who knows what area we end up exploring next?”
“This makes my heart so happy, Nat,” I said. I tore off a piece of buttery croissant and popped it in my mouth. “I’m so glad you’re back. Oh! And since you’re here, you have to come to this event I’m helping with in a couple of weeks.”
Ifilled Nat in on all the details about the PrismSociety and the wine-tasting event I was putting together for Max. I kept what had gone down last night to myself.
“Is he hot?” Nat asked in the middle of me explaining the chocolate taste test Max and I had done to prepare for the event.
“Who?” I asked.
“Max. The dashing, young sommelier.” Nat clarified.
“Oh, uh . . .” I stared up at the ceiling like I had to think about it. “I mean, one might say he is attractive.”
“Oh, ‘one might say,’ huh?” Nat teased, bumping my shoulder. It reminded me of all our times abroad when we would huddle close in a sticky booth at whatever pub we could find and scan the crowd for available guys.
Nathad always been such a good wingwoman for me, reminding me to go after what I wanted, to claim it, and take it. I had missed her energy.
“You were always so good at putting together amazing events, Iz. Remember when you threw that stunning summer solstice party in Greece?” I smiled at the memory. The travel guides had sent out a photographer to use for their next magazine. I hadn’t thought it had been a big deal, but they were still using the photos from that event, even now.
“I can’t wait to see it all come together,” Natalia said, sipping her coffee.
“SoI guess you should also know that . . .” I hesitated, trying to figure out exactly how to describe what the PrismSociety was like. “The club is . . . adult.”
“Like a strip club?” Nat asked as she brought her coffee cup to her lips.
“No, not like that at all,” I said. “More like a place for people to explore their . . . fantasies. They have different rooms upstairs that members can reserve and use . . . however they want.”
“Oh, spicy!” Nat said quietly. “What kind of rooms?”
Ishould have known I could count on Nat to be curious instead of judgmental. I smiled and said, “I don’t really know, I haven’t actually been in them. ButI hear there’s a sensory deprivation room, one that has a lot of accessories, one that has multiple beds. . . . It’s very posh though.”
Natshivered with excitement. “Well, maybe you’ll just have to take some PTO just so you can spend some time in the spicy part of the club.”
Ishook my head. “Honestly, letting loose in a club my brother works in gives me the heebie-jeebies. He would have to be, like, out of the country or something.”
Icontinued, “But . . . maybe you could host a retreat at the PrismSociety, blending in your ‘specialties.’ I can just see the tagline: ‘Discover your desires and find your center.’”
“As long as I have you to plan it, girl, I’m in for whatever,” Nat added and laughed. “Okay, well, unfortunately, I have to run. I have an actual board meeting to attend.”
“Oh, she’s so fancy!” I teased. “See you soon, love.”
Icould smell Nat’s vanilla rose shampoo when she reached in for a hug and I squeezed extra hard before letting go. Something settled in me with Natalia around. It’s like she could ground me with just a simple catch up and it refueled me. Good friends were like that, and I was lucky to have her.
Ifelt a newfound sense of confidence with the upcoming event knowing Natalia would be there by my side to help with any crisis. Not that Ineeded the reassurance that moving back to the city was the right choice (okay, so I did need it) but having Nat here was the validation I needed that I was exactly where I belonged.