Eliana's POV

We all dissolved into laughter and when the laughter finally faded, Sophia leaned back against the cushions, looking like she'd conquered the world.

"Honestly? Best bathroom break of my life." She said.

"You're unbelievable." I said to her, shaking my head while hiding my smile behind the coffee Juliette had handed me.

"And you're suspiciously quiet." Sophia said, eyes glinting as they flicked to me. "Don't think I didn't see you last night."

Heat climbed my neck instantly as I thought of Asa, and my grip tightened on the cup, praying my face wasn't giving me away.

"I was just dancing." I said quickly.

"Mhm-mmh. Sure." Sophia said.

Juliette shifted nervously on the couch, drawing the attention away from me for the moment. She hadn't said much since walking in, and her blush hadn't faded either.

"And what about you, Jules? You disappeared with someone too." Sophia pounced.

Juliette's lips parted, but no words came out at first. She fiddled with the sleeve of her cardigan, eyes downcast, before finally opening up.

"It... wasn't a guy." She answered in a whisper.

Juliette's cheeks flushed deeper, and she wouldn't quite meet our eyes. That alone was enough to make Sophia and I lean in closer like predators circling prey.

"Wait," Sophia said slowly, her grin spreading. "What do you mean wasn't a guy?"

Juliette bit her lip, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. She glanced at me like she was searching for backup, but all I could do was raise my brows in anticipation and wait.

"Oh my God," Sophia gasped, sitting up straighter. "Was it that waitress?"

"Why are you like this?" Juliette groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Because I saw the way she was looking at you," Sophia sing-songed, delighted. "All doe eyes and secret smiles while she was topping up our glasses."

"Fine! Yes. It was her." Juliette said with a blush, practically glowing.

"Juliette!" I choked on my coffee.

"She was cute and... really sweet." She dropped her hands with a resigned huff. like the confession had cost her something. "And bold. I didn't think she'd actually follow through but..." Her voice trailed off as she shook her head, half-shy, half-dazed.

"But what? Tell us what happened." I pressed, leaning forward, eager to know what comes next.

Juliette's lips twitched, torn between embarrassment and excitement.

"She pulled me out of the bar and that was it. We left through the back and she took me to this tiny hotel down the street. She had the keys like she'd done it before. Like she had planned it or something."

"God, I live for this. What happened next?" Sophia said, making a dramatic noise as she clutched at her chest.

"We didn't... you know, go all the way." Juliette finally said after a momentary hesitation, also chewing the inside of her cheek.

"Boring." Sophia pouted.

"Shut up." Juliette shot back, and then her eyes went dreamy in spite of herself. "It wasn't boring. It was...intense. She kissed me, and it was like she knew exactly what she was doing. Like she wanted me nervous on purpose."

"And then?" I asked.

"We... fooled around. She touched me, and I..." Her voice dropped, but we both heard her clearly. "I touched her too."

"Juliette, you dirty little thing!" Sophia squealed, covering her mouth like a teenager even though she was the oldest of us.

"I am not dirty," Juliette protested, while letting out a laugh.

"You let a waitress finger you in a hotel room," Sophia fired back, grinning from ear to ear. "That's textbook slut behavior, Jules."

"Oh my God." I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the laugh bubbling out as if I didn't have my own adventures last night.

"Why do I even tell you anything?" Juliette said, burying her face in a cushion, her muffled groan only making us laugh harder.

"Because we're your best friends," Sophia answered sweetly, "and because you love that we call you out."

"I hate you." Juliette peeked up with narrowed eyes.

"No, you don't." Sophia leaned closer, eyes glittering with mischief. "So? Did you... you know?"

"She... went down on me." Juliette whispered after hesitating, blushing.

The air in the room snapped tight. Sophia gasped so loud I was sure the neighbors probably heard her.

"No way." Sophia said.

I nearly dropped my coffee. My brain scrambled, trying to imagine shy, quiet Juliette-sweet, careful Juliette-doing something so bold.

"You're lying." I said to her.

Her smile turned sly, the faintest edge of pride sneaking through her embarrassment.

"I'm not." She said.

"Juliette, you absolute slut!" Sophia said, throwing a cushion at her.

Juliette squealed, throwing it right back, and suddenly the room erupted in laughter again, all three of us doubled over with it until my stomach ached. When we finally settled, Sophia wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

"First me in the bathroom, now Juliette in a hotel room... what a night." Sophia said, amused.

"Unbelievable," I said, shaking my head, though I couldn't stop the smile stretching across my face.

"Which leaves only one question..." Sophia's eyes slid to me, with undeniable curiousity showing on her face.

"Yeah, Eliana. You disappeared too." Juliette turned, her blush fading into curiosity too.

"Nothing happened." I said, clutching my coffee tighter, trying to play it cool.

"Liar." Sophia smirked widely like a cat scenting blood.

Juliette leaned forward, eager now, her shyness gone in the face of my deflection.

"Come on, Ellie. You left the dance floor and never came back." She said.

I looked from one expectant face to the other, my heartbeat rattling in my chest. They weren't going to let this go.

"Spill. Every detail." Sophia grinned like she'd already won.

"Yes. Tell us everything."

"Fine," I finally said, "But you have to promise not to interrupt."

Both of them leaned closer, wide-eyed, hungry for whatever I was about to say.

And just like that, the spotlight was on me.

Eliana's POV

"Fine!" I began, trying to keep my voice casual, "I'll give you the short version. You can thank me later for sparing you the dirty details."

"Whatever. Tell us!" Sophia said.

They both leaned forward like predators, hungry for every word I was about to say.

"So...his name is Asa." I started. "Remember when I was dancing with you, right before you kissed that guy?"

"Yeah, I remember." Sophia replied.

"Immediately afterwards I bumped into Asa on the dance floor, spilling his drink on him. Then we moved to the lounge where I helped clean him up. We talked, laughed, kissed a bit, nothing too crazy... and then we ended up in his car for a little... privacy." I said, letting a faint blush creep across my cheeks. "And then he brought me home. Let's just say... he knows how to make a girl feel wanted."

Sophia's grin widened, and she tilted her head, clearly enjoying every word.

"Talked, kissed, went to the car... and that's it?" she teased, her voice echoing with disbelief.

I laughed, shrugging. "I told you, it's the short version. Trust me, I'm being merciful here."

"Intense is an understatement, I bet." Juliette smirked knowingly.

I leaned back, swirling the card between my fingers. "Yeah. Intense is definitely one word." I said, leaning back while swirling Asa's card between my fingers. "It was crazy... and honestly, I loved every second of it."

"Did he give you his number before leaving?" Sophia inquired, leaning closer.

"Yup." I answered, holding up the card slightly. "I tried calling him before you guys came over, but no answer. Typical, I guess."

Juliette chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course he didn't answer." Juliette chuckled, shaking her head. "But at least you've got a number. Who knows? He might actually call back. And...you've got a memory." She said raising her brows as if applauding me for having a one night stand with a total stranger.

"Yeah... it was one wild ride." I said. "He's... intense, but in a way that just works, you know?"

"Sounds like someone had their fantasy come true. Admit it. You loved it." Sophia said in a conspiratorial voice.

"Yeah you've got me. I did. I really did." I said, laughing softly while twirling the card between my fingers again. "And I'm not even mad that it was just a one-night thing. Sometimes, that's exactly what you need."

"Yeah. One for the books, huh?" Juliette nodded, smirking.

"Exactly." I said, holding up the card. "A little memento from last night. It's... perfect."

Suddenly, Juliette's phone buzzed loudly, pulling our attention. Her brow furrowed as she glanced at the screen.

"Ugh... it's my cultist ex," she muttered.

Sophia clapped her hands together, eyes lighting up.

"Answer it. Put it on loudspeaker." She said. "We need to hear this."

"Fine, but don't laugh too hard." Juliette said, rolling her eyes as she pressed the speaker button.

The room grew quiet for a moment, and then the caller finally spoke.

"Juliette... I know this is sudden," the voice on the line began, "But please just hear me out. When I came by yesterday, I just... I just wanted to see you. I missed you."

"Miss me?" Juliette's eyes narrowed immediately as she responded with a sharp voice. "You mean you wanted to use me. Don't pretend. Yesterday, like every other time, it was just sex. Nothing more."

The line went quiet for a moment, all we heard was the faint sound of his muffled breathing.

"I... I didn't mean to hurt you," he said finally, almost pleading. "I just wanted... to feel close. I missed us. I thought... maybe we could-"

"You missed 'us'?" Juliette cut him off, her tone almost cold as ice. "You never cared about 'us.' You only cared about what you could get. Every single time we met, it ended the same way. S*x. And yesterday... yeah, same story. Nothing more. Don't pretend otherwise."

There was a faint, almost defeated chuckle on the line.

"I... I guess I just wanted to see you. That's all." He said "Maybe to... reconnect?"

"Please." Juliette said as she rolled her eyes. "Every encounter was the same. You never loved me. You only loved having me. And yesterday? Just to prove the point again, wasn't it? Nothing more than sex, as usual."

The caller remained silent as if completely out of words.

"Don't ever come close to me again. And... maybe next time, actually care about the person and not just their body."

After a moment's silence, Juliette ended the call, leaving a quiet stillness in the room. Juliette lowered her phone, smirking at Sophia and me like a queen surveying her territory.

"Finally. Justice served." Juliette said.

"Amen to that!" Sophia clapped her hands together, ecstatic.

"Man, you really know how to handle him. That was brutal but effective." I shook my head, laughing softly.

"Practice makes perfect." Juliette shrugged with a smug little smile.

The energy in the room shifted as the reality of breakfast crept in. Sophia jumped to her feet, eyes glinting.

"Alright, enough drama." She said. "Eliana, get dressed! Breakfast out. My treat!"

I groaned, tugging at a sweater that had fallen onto the couch.

"Why not just stay here? I could make something quick. Home-cooked, hot, easy..."

"Nope. We vote. Breakfast out, ladies!" Juliette rolled her eyes.

"All in favor of leaving and avoiding kitchen disasters?" Sophia grinned, spinning slightly toward the door

"Yeah!" Juliette shouted.

Unbelievable. I let out a dramatic sigh, smiling wryly.

"Fine. You win. Breakfast it is." I said in agreement.

"Come on! Shoes, coat, whatever. Let's move!" Sophia clapped, clearly delighted with the victory.

"One day, I'll win this vote..." I tugged on my leggings, muttering.

"Dream on, Eliana. But maybe... next time, just maybe." Juliette winked at me, smirking.