Eva Morales

“I know I haven’t said it to you yet, but I really like you.” Everything had been going so well with Sofia, and yet Eva had still found herself subconsciously putting up walls. Partially because of her last failed relationship, but also as a line of defence. In her mind, things were going too well for it to be real, so that meant things eventually had to end badly for her. Didn’t it? Despite all of those hesitations, the way that the other woman fit so perfectly into her life and managed to turned her views on dating around had her happy for the first time in a while. Sure, happiness was supposed to come from within, but what harm was there in spending time and getting close with someone who brought out that happiness in you?

Eva’s hand found Sofia’s, interlocking their fingers while she gazed over at the woman who she happened to find much more interesting to pay attention to than spooky hiking stories. “Sorry for all of the dramatics with the blindfold to get you here. I just wanted it to actually work as a surprise, and I’ve never been good at those.” Leaning in so that her lips were close to Sofia’s ear, she stopped in her tracks, whispering before continuing on with the group. “We might be able to make use of that blindfold later.”

"Wow...going right for it. I think one of the big factors is that we've both been through it, so it makes it easier to trust each other. When your biggest hesitation is a lack of trust in the person you love, it becomes easier to let go of that when you know someone has felt the way you do. That probably sounds bad, but when you know how badly something like being cheated on can turn your world upside down, it becomes something you'd never do pretty quickly. At least for me. I don't know...even if we didn't have that in common I think she would've changed my mind, it just would've taken a lot longer. All of that to say, the idea of officially being in a relationship still scares the shit out of me, but I'm not completely closed off to it anymore."

~

It was nice to feel that female empowering spirit radiating from the other woman–it did the job of reminding her that she could boost herself up without feeling guilty or something. “That’s partially the thing–Indian parents sometimes make the meddling even worse when we get older because now they feel like they have one last responsibility of getting us ‘settled’. It’s incredibly lame.” She heard the other’s story and found herself surprised at how the other’s mother was somewhat the same, “well that’s always fun. I find it the worst when the setup is with someone you know. It’s just awkward. I almost rather it be a stranger, you know?” She nodded at the other’s words before holding up another modest little summer dress. “What do you think of this?” She held it up to her body before smiling at the other and introducing herself as well. “It’s great to meet you Eva, I’m Shreya.” 

**

“Right? They’re so obsessed with the idea of marriage and kids…I feel like at this point in my life I know more people who have had marriages end in divorce than not.” Herself included. Eva wasn’t sure how she felt about marrying again in her future, but at least for now she wasn’t a fan of the institution. “Exactly! If we don’t know them then it’s easier to blow them off. It would also help if everyone my mom knew wasn’t straight.” Eva gave a small chuckle at the thought. “I love it.” She didn’t have to give the dress a second look, she knew the other woman could pull off just about anything. “Shreya…that’s a beautiful name. Did you grow up in Vancouver?”

.

“One cheek, thank god,” Jas tells her, “but it’s, like, the whole cheek. Probably narrowly avoided irreparably damaging my spine, honestly, but that’s just another Wednesday for me.” He perks up at the mention of her career, always a little surprised when he meets people who have actual badass jobs. “Wait, that’s so cool. I’d always be wiping out if I was doing stunt work but I feel like my willingness to try absolutely anything would, like,outweigh my liability risks, you know? Okay, hear me out,” he leans in closer, “what’s the possibility of you being able to take me with you one day? I’m slightly foaming at the mouth to see some stunt work, actually.”

**

“I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about you and your ass…we’re bonded now. So you’re accident prone?” At the start of her work in stunting, Eva felt the exact same as Jasper did in that moment. It had felt like she was untouchable – that was until she chose the route of law school instead. Coming back to it now in her adult life, it felt like a distraction in ways. A fun one, but still a distraction. “Oh, you definitely have to have zero regard for safety. Well…that’s not true. It's actually really controlled and safe, but you’ve gotta be able to let go of any fear and just do it. I’d say you’d be good at it but judging by the state of your ass, you’d be a lawsuit waiting to happen.” Her brow raised at his proposal – she was more flattered than anything. “Really? I mean I don’t see why not…you might have to sign some waivers and NDAs, but just promise me you won’t try any of it. We need to keep your other ass cheek in tact.”

“Clearly. Maybe we should co-write one. Make it our little side gig for some extra cash.” He couldn’t believe the sheer amount of those books sitting there on the shelf, but the fact that they were sitting there and not flying off the shelf gave him a little hope for humanity. “You should always be grateful for my friendship. How is that even a question?” He gave her that signature crooked of his only to be thrown off by the question she posed to him in the middle of the bookshop. “I’m not having this conversation with you here in a public place.”

**

“I’m in. What should we write about, though?” Eva didn’t hesitate for a moment – hell, if he had been serious, Eva would have jumped right on board. Even after university, she maintained a certain love and respect for Raj. One that would’ve had her following him blindly if he asked. “Wow…I’m a healthy level of grateful for it, but I’d be more if you bought me wine or brownies more often. Or at all. Come on…I don’t think you’ve gotten me either since we were in LA together, so you kind of owe me.” She put forth her best pleading smile and puppy dog eyes. “I forgot you had some class for a second there.” She held no shame in her sexuality and if the conversation led to it, she would’ve had no problem discussing it in the middle of a bookstore. That didn’t take away from the understanding she held that not everyone felt that way. “You can send me some links or air drop it to me or whatever. I’m easy.”

—

Nazli didn’t need to hear the rest of whatever Eva was about to say to know she wasn’t going to love it. She already had a groan of accusation queued up in her throat before the words ‘you’re on your own’ left her best friends lips.

“You better have a damn good reason, Morales, because you promised.” Which, okay— it hadn’t been anything so serious or official as that, but she enjoyed knowing she wasn’t the only one among her friends filling their nights with reckless, casual sex. Isla was dealing with Warren, Ang was likewise facing down her past between two men—

A full blown pout turned the corners of her mouth down while she sullenly supplied, “I already picked us out really slutty, matching outfits for this weekend.” She hadn’t, but Eva didn’t need to know that yet.

Taking the offer of more wine with an equally petulant nod, she was halfway through guzzling down her newest glass when something within the rest stuck out. “Wait. Sofia?” Not the most uncommon name in the world, but—  “You mean Sofia as in… lives in this building on the top floor Sofia?” The name fit, the son fit, the beauty and personality to match fit. Who else could it be.

Just like that she accepted the fact that maybe she did have a good reason for bailing on the single girl life, but if Eva thought she could leave it at just that she had another thing coming. “Rewind and start over. We’re not even touching me until you fill in these gaps.”

** “I never said that I couldn’t wear slutty, matching outfits anymore…I’m actually a little offended that you think that would ever change.” Eva had always been a free spirit and self expression had been a part of that whether she was in a relationship or not. “There’s no harm in looking good. If anything, we’d be doing the world a disservice if we didn’t match.”

The lawyer clearly hadn’t noticed how swept up she had been in the time she had been spending with Sofia, having never really drawn the connection of them living in the same building. She was at her best friend’s enough that she should have thought of it at some point. Perhaps it was the fear of jumping into something new after being cheated on two times too many that kept her from telling anyone about the woman who had come into her life and flipped her outlook on romance on its head.

“Maybe? Yeah…that’s her.” Shifting on the couch, Eva took a few sips of her wine before a smile took to her lips, her thoughts jumping to the day she met Sofia. “I met her at a pottery class this summer and we went to a wine bar after. And then we hooked up after the art festival one night and we’ve just been hanging out since.” It felt strange talking like this about someone – she hadn’t since she met Carter. “Your turn,” she repeated, hoping she’d get something in return.

…

He let out a sharp laugh, “is that what you saw of me?” He joked with her, “I should have put good future husband on my resume,” he teased. He wondered if his ex ever thought that about him when they were together. “It was very impulsive of me,” he told her truthfully, “I went to Cuba for work and stayed longer than the job required me and I met her and I guess the rest is history.” It was an abridged version of his relationship with Alma, leaving out what happened to him and how exactly him and Alma ended up married, “I just couldn’t see myself coming back without her, so we got married.”

Even if his relationship with his wife was falling apart in front of his eyes he would keep pretending. Shaking his head, “I am still trying to get her to forgive me, believe me.” Another one of his problems was his mother and his sister, who both were still upset with his disappearance and reappearance with a surprise in tow. Alma and his mother were both strong personalities who preferred to have the upper hand which left him in the middle. Just a few more years and Alma could end things and be rid of his and his mother.

** “Well…I mean, I don’t know.” Her lips pursed together as she took a moment to really think about it. “Maybe not when we were in high school, but when I started thinking about marriage and settling down and all of that, I thought about it once or twice. You were always a good person in my life, T.” Shrugging the comment off, she refocused on him and his surprisingly spontaneous marriage.

“Wow…she must be really special, then.” Talking about marriage and trying to keep it positive felt almost impossible after her attempt at it and the wreckage that came with it. “Marriage sure is something. I hope yours works out better than mine did.” She was sure that he at least heard about some of the failure that was her marriage from his mom with all of the gossiping their mothers did together. “Other than the casual marriage what kind of trouble have you been getting into? You know, I wouldn’t complain about having a little more Theo in my life.”

“You’re actually quite frightening. Has nobody told you that yet? I mean, how did you find me here anyway? You stalking me or something?” How simple it was to joke around and tease her like this. The doctor shook his head, “Yeah see, I would if I thought Fifty Shades was even worth spending money on. I’m sure you can find it on the internet, but there’s probably way better porn to be watched than reading that toxic excuse for a book.” He didn’t know if she was actually serious, but he let her keep going, his eyes following her finger as it ran across the shelf of books. “Stop,” he randomly said, stepping up beside her to see what she’d landed on. “So? What’s it gonna be?”

**

“Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude.” She just nearly finished the title before letting go of the chuckle she had been holding back. “Holy shit...my mom used to buy us these when we were younger. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. They were kind of sad, actually.” Taking a step back, Eva took note of how many of these books lined the shelf. “Didn’t realize how much of a killing the author makes off of these. I think we’re both in the wrong business, Raj.” Shaking her head, she pulled another from the shelf. “Chicken Soup for the Soul...The Power of Forgiveness.” The title was enough to prompt an eye roll, a sigh escaping her lips before she turned to face her friend again. “Do we think this is a sign that I have some forgiving to do? Or that I should be more grateful for your friendship...because I’d rather the latter. And can we go back to the porn thing? I’m very curious about what kind of stuff you’re watching these days.”

~

Even from this first meeting, she had to say that a compliment like that coming from this woman definitely did a lot for Shreya’s personal self-esteem. “I mean…I don’t proclaim it loudly, but I do think I’m a decent looker,” she could feel her cheeks warming a bit at the attention that was on her. But she knew she looked good most of the time and perhaps it was time to own that confidence. “It’s becoming a reoccurring thing yes,” Shreya rolled her eyes as soon as she’d said that to let the other know her thoughts on the topic. “I mean…I’ve mostly just been sent their details with a tiny passport size picture so what can you really tell from that. But some of them are decent for sure,” she chuckled before nodding at the other’s suggestion and looking through the racks nearby for something that matched. “I like the idea of something emerald green for sure, but how revealing are we going for?” If this was a night out on the town, then Shreya didn’t have too many apprehensions, but for a lunch with her mother–she didn’t want to hear too much afterwards about her inappropriate attire.

**

“Well as long as you know it.” Eva was always glad to see when someone was confident in who they were, or at least could see themselves in the light that others did at least to some extent. Strangers were no exception. “I’m sure that’s fun to deal with. I mean I know mom’s have good intentions and everything but you’d think when their kids are adults they’d finally stop mingling. Mine nearly had a heart attack when I told her I was getting a divorce...she hasn’t stopped trying to set me up with people since. I think last week she was trying to get me to go for coffee with this guy I used to chase around in elementary school.”  She took a step back and examined the other woman’s outfit again. “Hmm...maybe something a little less revealing for the day time, but you should definitely grab that one for when you feel like going out and letting loose. It was basically made for you. I’m Eva, by the way.”

-

Margot admired someone with humor, but especially applied to oneself. She grew up surrounded by people who took themselves too seriously, herself included. A smile pulled at her pink lush lips, as she circled to the other side of the rack. Margot knew she’d never wear anything here, but there was something about walking around a store that felt comforting. “So is she who was in my bed, or was it you?” Her tone hushed, only loud enough for them to hear.

Margot squinted slightly at the options in the woman’s hand. “I mean the leather jacket is certainly a choice.” She leaned forward on the rack of clothing. “But in my opinion, why waste your money on any of this when you look best with nothing on?” Margot teased. She couldn’t help herself.

**

“Oh, it was definitely her. She’s much more exciting and adventurous than I am.” Eva’s window of one night stands only lasted a few months before more recently coming to a hault that she wasn’t too upset about. As fun as it was, and even though her and Sofia technically weren’t anything official, reserving her time for one person had her feeling a lot better than the one night stands she had filled her time with to numb the aftermath of her divorce. That certainly didn’t take away from the fun that she had doing it. 

“You’re not into leather jackets?” A chuckle bubbled in her throat as the other woman alluded to their night together. “Please tell me that’s not your best pick up line. I mean it’s a solid four out of ten, but I expected some more creativity.”