Chapter 197
**Sara**
I pressed Jessica's doorbell, the familiar chime echoing through the apartment. A moment passed before I heard footsteps approaching.
Emily swung the door open, her hair wrapped in a towel and wearing a pink bathrobe covered in cartoon ducks. "Oh hey! I thought you were the pizza guy."
"At two in the afternoon?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't judge my life choices." Emily stepped aside to let me in. "Besides, pizza is an anytime food."
The living room was its usual chaos - magazines scattered across the coffee table, half-empty coffee mugs, and what looked like an attempt at organizing shoes that had given up halfway through.
"Is Jessica up yet?" I asked, carefully stepping over a pile of fashion magazines that had spilled onto the floor.
"Oh, she's up. Been blasting Taylor Swift in her bedroom for the past hour. I swear if I hear 'Shake It Off' one more time-"
"I heard that!" Jessica's voice carried from down the hall. She emerged in silk pajamas, hair perfectly styled despite supposedly just waking up. "It was 'Anti-Hero', not 'Shake It Off'."
"Same difference," Emily muttered, retreating to the bathroom with her towel threatening to unravel.
Jessica bounded over and hugged me, nearly knocking me off balance. Her silk pajamas rustled against my jacket.
"So..." I steadied myself. "Do you remember anything from last night?"
"Oh god." Jessica pressed her hands to her temples. "Everything. The shots. The parking meter. The squirrel conspiracy. Can we pretend none of that happened?"
"Are you always like this when you drink? I mean, the parking meter seemed pretty into you."
"I may have gone overboard." Jessica collapsed onto her couch, draping an arm over her eyes. "Jake kept challenging me to shots, and my competitive spirit took over. Did I really try to convince Emily that pigeons were working with meter maids?"
"Among other theories, yes." I perched on the armrest. "The trash can seemed pretty heartbroken when you left it for the meter."
"Stop!" She grabbed a throw pillow and buried her face in it. "I drank way too much. Next time someone suggests tequila shots, just knock me unconscious."
"Alright." I patted her shoulder. "At least you didn't try to give your number to any fire hydrants."
"Don't give drunk me any ideas." Her voice was muffled by the pillow. "I might end up dating the entire Department of Transportation."
"Please don't do that," I laughed, settling onto the couch beside her. "I think the ones you're already sleeping with might get jealous."
Jessica peeked out from behind the pillow, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Jealous? Oh, come on. They know what they're getting into. No strings, no drama."
"Still, it's a bit much," I said, shaking my head. "Last thing you need is a love triangle involving public property."
Jessica rolled onto her back and stretched, yawning dramatically. "Well, they better get ready because exams are finally over! Do you know what that means?"
"That you can focus on finding a job like the rest of us?" I teased.
"Nope!" She grinned, tossing the pillow aside. "It means I can finally get back to having some real fun. My vibrator's been working overtime while I was stuck in exam hell."
"Oh God," I groaned, though I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm serious! I've been deprived for weeks. Weeks, Sara! I was starting to forget what an actual orgasm felt like."
"You poor thing," I said dryly.
"Right? And it's not just about getting off," she continued, undeterred by my sarcasm. "There's something about real human touch that just... Ugh! Makes all those stress knots disappear. And believe me, I had plenty."
"I can imagine," I said.
"You don't understand," she insisted, her eyes wide for emphasis. "It's not just about sex toys and solo sessions in the dark. It's about the whole experience—the build-up, the anticipation. And don't even get me started on how much I've missed being tied up!"
"Okay, okay! I get it! You've been missing out."
"Damn right I have," Jessica sighed dramatically, collapsing back onto the couch. "But now that we're free from those godforsaken exams, it's time to make up for lost time."
"And you plan to do that by...?"
She shot me a wicked grin. "Oh, I've got plans. Brad's already texted me three times this morning asking when we can 'celebrate.' And Blake, let's just say he has some new toys he's dying to try out on me."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress my smile. "You really won't change, will you?"
"Why would I?" Jessica shrugged playfully. "Life's too short to be anything but wild and free."
Just then, Emily reappeared from the bathroom, now dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. "Are you two still talking about Jessica's sex life?" she asked with an exasperated look.
"Always," Jessica replied without missing a beat.
"Well, try to keep it down," Emily said with a mock scowl. "Some of us have actual things to do today."
"Like ordering pizza at two in the afternoon?" I teased.
"Exactly," Emily nodded seriously before breaking into a grin.
Emily flopped onto the couch between Jessica and me, her expression turning mischievous. "You know, Jess, maybe you should consider moving out. That way, I won't have to hear your moans echoing through the walls when you're on your sex toy marathons or during those video calls with Brad and Blake."
Jessica's face lit up with mock indignation. "Excuse me! This is my apartment. You're the one crashing here!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter. "She's got a point, Emily. Weren't you supposed to move out like forever ago?"
Emily sighed dramatically, leaning back and draping an arm over her eyes, imitating Jessica earlier. "I'm still searching for a job, okay? It's not easy out there. But I've got an interview soon, and if all goes well, I'll be out of your hair."
"Promise?" Jessica arched an eyebrow though a playful glint was in her eye.
"Promise," Emily said with exaggerated solemnity. Then she smirked. "But until then, you'll just have to deal with me."
Jessica threw a pillow at Emily's head, which she caught deftly and quickly stuck her tongue out. The two of them always bickered like sisters.
"Seriously, Emily," Jessica said, settling back into the couch with a dramatic sigh. "You need to get out more. If you keep focusing solely on job trails, your... uh... lady parts will become sad."
I burst out laughing. "Did you just say 'lady parts'?"
"Yes, I did," Jessica replied with a smirk. "I'm trying to be polite here."
Emily rolled her eyes. "My 'lady parts' are just fine, thank you very much."
Jessica shook her head. "No, they're not. When was the last time you even had sex? And don't tell me you haven't been using any toys either."
Emily blushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson. "It's been a while, okay? I've been busy with job applications."
Jessica tutted like an old grandmother. "That's no excuse! You need to balance your life. Trust me, a little fun goes a long way in keeping you sane."
Emily huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll find a boyfriend once I get a job and have some stability. Unlike some people, I'm not interested in casual sex."
"Oh please," Jessica scoffed. "Casual sex is great! No strings attached, just pure fun."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "And how's that working out for you?"
Jessica grinned wickedly. "Perfectly! Brad and Blake keep things interesting, and I'm always up for more adventures."
I shook my head at Jessica's endless enthusiasm for her adventurous lifestyle. Sometimes, I wondered how she managed to keep track of everything - and everyone.