Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(25)

I stay silent.

With bated breath they all wait until Beth pipes up. “You can’t leave us hanging, Eva. Is this the first one-night stand you’ve ever had?”

“Beth, you can’t throw me under the bus like this. We’re supposed to be friends.”

A few curses fly out of my mouth.

“Hey, girl. Listen.” Beth uses her calm tone. “This is big. It proves you’re moving on. It’s great news.”

Eden backs her up. “It’s brilliant news, Eva. Progress.”

“I know,” I mutter. “But you know I’m not in love with Ewan anymore, right? I haven’t been for a long time. He’s the father of my children and he will always have a special place in my heart, but it’s not love love. When you say progress, it’s not like I’ve been holding out for Ewan or anything. I’m not waiting for him to change. It’s been months since I’ve been on a night out. I’ve never had the opportunity to meet anyone. I haven’t even considered it to be honest. You know this, right, girls?”

“Yeah, we know.”

“Of course, we know that.”

“Fully aware.”

“Yup.”

They all speak in harmony. I can see their eye rolls from here.

I wrap the white fluffy towel Knox left me around my cold skin and smile ’cause I know my girls have always got my back.

“I want to know who you’re with, though. I’m not serving another customer until I know,” Toni says excitedly. She’s a sucker for our quintet gossip.

I pinch the bridge of my nose hard. These four always give me headaches. When they push, they push hard. But I love them with all my heart.

“It feels really high school if I tell you who I am with. I’ve never done this kind of thing before.” I haven’t.

I have always been very private with my sex life. I dated Ewan throughout the last year of high school. I’d never been with anyone else. We did the long-distance thing when I went off to study at dance school. As soon as I qualified as a dance instructor, Ewan and I married and I instantly got pregnant with Archie. Marrying young and becoming a mom, my whole life has always been about Ewan, Archie, Hamish, and the dance school.

While I love going out with the girls, two or three nights out a year is more than enough to satisfy my needs. I much prefer meeting them for ice cream in the daytime or for long walks on the beach. I love hearing about the girls' bedroom antics. It’s like their thing. It’s never been mine. I share my concerns with my girls. “Also, it affects more people. I have to think about the boys if this gets out.” And your dad and Lincoln, Eva. My inner sass jabs me in the ribs.

“Okay, give us three clues then, and we can work the rest out for ourselves. You don’t have to give a specific name,” Ella pushes harder. Although I know she’s desperate for one.

I think for a minute. Three things. Okay, I can do that. Without being too specific.

“You still with us, Eva?” Eden asks.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “Okay, three things. One, I left with him last night. Two, I am currently in his pool. Three, it was the best sex of my life. Oh, and here’s a bonus for you. Four, that’s how many times we had sex and I lost count how many orgasms I had.” I blush berry red in the empty pool room. These are the kinds of conversations I’ve had with the girls, but from their side of the table. My, how the tables have now turned. “Oh, and he’s currently out shopping for more condoms because I’m staying again tonight.”

Squeals from the girls pierce the air, vibrating through the high ceiling space.

“And that’s all you’re getting,” I state firmly, all the while smiling.

Ella asks, “Is it Kno—”

I press end, not allowing her to finish, and put my phone in silent mode.

My messages app flashes like a beacon as it notifies me of fourteen new text messages. I tap it open and low and behold. All from Ewan. One pings in from Ella.

Ella: Fair enough. I respect your privacy. ;) But I will find out who you are with! Could you please help me stuff envelopes for my wedding invitations next week? I’m so disorganized and we only have a few weeks to go. Eden was asking if you could do a video on social media promoting our new dance merch? Could you also speak to the printers about the new signage for the studio? It’s looking sun-scorched.





I pull out my reminder app and add these to my to-do list for the coming week. There are at least twenty things on it already.

Me: Sure. Consider it done.

Ella: You’re a gem. Off to finalize the wedding cake. So exciting.

Me: Have fun and enjoy the planning. Keep the dress you borrowed; it suits you better.

Ella: Thank you. I love it. You have a bridesmaid dress fitting with the girls on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Confetti. I forgot to tell you. Sorry.





Ella is having four bridesmaids—me, Eden, Toni, and Beth. This should be our final fitting.

I’ll have to ask Ewan’s mom and dad if they can help look after the boys. I add the date and time to my calendar and fire a quick text to Frances, Ewan’s mom. She responds instantly with a thumbs-up.

Me: That’s fine. I’ll be there.

Ella: Thank you! Love you. x.





Closing my phone down, I ignore all of Ewan’s messages and dive back into the crystal-clear aqua waves, quickly shooting to the top again to begin my aimless floating I was enjoying so much.