.CHAPTER 3.

She was a queen in every way. And she knew it. At least, a part of her did. Or maybe that part just liked to think so. Walking down the quiet streets of Harlington—

SREYA SLAMMED THE book shut with a sigh as her soft chocolate brown orbs scanned The Kofièn.

Twenty years ago, the prestigious Persian Magazine had noted this as the best Café in Tales, but as she watched the senescent worn out curtains and mildly stained tiles, she couldn't help but admit that it had aged quite well over the years.

The bulbs overhead were covered with a ceiling lampshade made of metal and sophisticated ornament. The roof was undoubtedly worked on every month to avoid leakages. Tables with round tops hid the geriatric tiles, the tablecloths a healthy white colour but worn out around the edges. The cruet stand, a small glass stand containing salt and pepper shakers were used as center pieces and looked as old as time. The owners, however, refused to discard anything. One might call them hoarders but Sreya felt like they truly believed the saying, "the older the better". The only new thing was the air condition that stood unconcealed at the far end of the medium-sized space and judging by the amount of people that still trooped in, she doubted people minded the old things, she didn't, she was used to them already.

Twenty years ago, she was five and her mom, a single surviving mother of three, usually brought she and her then fifteen years old twin brothers to the cafe for breakfast and sweets every Saturday.

Tales was a small town, so small you barely saw it in the Country map but Sreya loved Tales. She loved the way sand slipped between her toes whenever they went to the beach. She loved that Mrs. Dale brought her homemade cookies to their doorstep every Sunday morning. She loved the birthday parties she'd attended and the ones she'd thrown. She loved that everyone in Tales knew each other. She loved that the town protected its own but she'd wanted more. She'd had dreams. They'd all had dreams.

Sreya's mother, Freya Dronian had lost her husband whilst carrying Sre in her womb so Sreya never knew her father but she'd heard amazing stories about the man she'd never met. The sea was the heart of the town. Water made Tales Tales. Her father had been a lifeguard. Rescuing people from drowning, watching boats at sea from the lighthouse. From the tales, he was everything a good lifeguard was. Dedicated and selfless.

One night, a thick storm raged outside and the sound of desperate knocking and shouting made faint by the pouring rain reached their ears. A boat was at sea, thrashed about by angry relentless waves and they weren't sure the owners of the craft knew how to swim. In haste, he rushed out on another boat with a few other lifeguards to help but the vast water body wouldn't be deterred. Wave after wave, the rescue boat moved still, till it toppled over. The other boat was already deep beneath the water. With the rain beating down hard and the furious storm working up to a high pitch, the lifeguards swam.

You know when you're told not to fight the tide. To let it carry you. To give it control. You don't always survive. Her dad hadn't. One good thing, the people of Tales never forgot. The next morning, Mrs. Dale had showed up with cookies and her mother hadn't spent money on anything for close to a month. She wasn't allowed to pay for anything she'd shopped for and they'd helped paying the mortgage and electricity bills till Freya could stand on her own two feet. She'd worked two jobs, one as a waitress then helping out at the boutique a stone throw from their home but they still got free food at The Kofièn. After her mom had complained to the aged couple running the Café that she could pay for her own meal and reminded them that it's been years since her husband died, they told her the lives he'd saved over the years were worth more than any free food and that they won't take her money.

Mrs. Dale never stopped bringing cookies and The Kofièn never took their money. Reminiscing, she relieved the Saturdays they visited. People rarely worked on weekends so everywhere was usually alive with energy and she liked it. The Kofièn always smelled like freshly baked bread, cookies, waffles, cupcakes with chocolate toppings, you name it. They had it all. The cake was soft and melted easily when she ate it and she'd thought of asking the couple for their recipe. The baked products were so good... Maybe that was why she still dragged her lazy ass here whenever she visited. And as always, her mother was late again.

As if summoned on thought, Freya walked in and Sre let out a sigh of relief, she was getting impatient.

"Hey Madre, you look gorge", she greeted as she pulled Freya in for a full length hug. She'd missed her.

All through Sreya's teen years, she always thought her mom was the most good looking woman she knew. Freya Dronian wasn't looking looking like she'd collapse and die any minute, if anything Freya was full, something we call thick these days. She wasn't too thick, or she'd be disgusting. Everything was just right.  Her generous God given curves weren't hard to miss. The tone small stomach, round hips and full breasts. Unfortunately, Sreya got it all and sometimes she hated it. Men looked at her like she were some piece of meat and not a human being. 

"You're late. Again", Sreya continued after they'd both sat down. Not willing to let her mom off the hook that easily.

Freya laughed, "I know, baby. I'm sorry. Tim worked me up so much last night, I didn't even get enough sleep".

Seriously, mom? 

"I don't think I needed to know that", Sreya replied, picking up her menu. She'd have the usual. Coffee, not too strong with enough sugar and cream, then chocolate cookies.

Tim was Freya's "friends with benefit" person but Sreya could tell Tim adored her mother. Her mom, however, still loved her late husband and just wanted sex. When Sre was little, Freya had kept her personal life at bay to watch over her kids. The only men Sreya saw around the house were the plumber, the electrician and the carpenter when they came around to fix things.

"You're too uptight, Sre. Loosen up", her mom bit back after their orders had arrived.

"You know why".

At that, Freya's looks softened but before she could speak Sreya cut her off, changing the mood abruptly. 

"I've had sex a thousand times, mom. My vagina is probably oversexed by now".

She was some kind of sex ninja

Cookie in mouth, Freya chuckled, "You're supposed to be a virgin till you're married. I taught you that."

"Yeah, you did. Right after you told me to check his finger for a ring then rip his clothes off if he's not taken".

Her mom's laughter could be heard by the couple in the next table, "Then the 'stay away from guys with baby mamas' rule. We don't need the drama that comes with that".

Sreya had to laugh. "Your role as a mom was so hit and miss"

"Oh my God. I know".

A moment passed and her mom's eyes watered.

"But I'm proud of you both. You're a very successful neurosurgeon, Mason is doing well as a construction Engineer and Ethan has his own Mechanic shop. They facetime me a lot since they never have the time to come down. You only come once in a blue moon", Freya finished accusingly.

Sreya resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "You never come to visit me either, mom"

"You know how much I hate the City. Plus, you owe me that much. I spent 5 agonizing minutes trying to push your big ass head out of my vagina".

Sreya chuckled, "What? Five minutes?"

"Five minutes, girl. Five fucking minutes. That's like hours if you ask me"

Sreya loved her mother to death but sometimes she just couldn't understand how she got through life thinking the way she does.

Clucking her tongue, Freya popped another cookie into her mouth, "Who the hell am I kidding? I see you all the time. Tv, magazines, books. Hell, you're like fucking Mariah Carey or something. Only, you're a doctor".

Sre sipped her coffee, "It's a good thing to me".

"No, it's not. Stop working too hard. Get a penis in your vagina. You're too tight".

Me or my pussy?

~•~

"What the fuck, Sreya", Luna said as she greeted Sre with the customary side cheek pecks. "I hate you for looking amazing".

Sreya rolled her eyes.

"This is why you have no friends", Luna finished.

"Trash-talk but you're classy so I forgive you".

Eye roll, hair flip. "How are you?"

Luna Lowell was a very popular psychotherapist and Sreya's good friend. When asked how she felt about the therapist she'd plainly say, "she saved me" and Lowell did save her. Luna was married to Kyle Lowell, a renowned business Tycoon. They've been married for 8 years and Sre could tell Luna was crazy about him. They didn't have children, not because they couldn't. They just didn't want to.

Luna had golden hair that stopped halfway down her slender back. Her eyes, a soft sea blue color. Her ivory skin seemed to have a permanent magical glow to them and her slender feminine body reminded you of a delicate rose. You'd want to touch it but you'd be scared you'd destroy it so you'd stare from a distance. She looked like some kind of Fae. Sreya personally believed she was a mermaid with legs. One look at her and you'd believe in supernatural beings.

"I'd be better if I was getting some action".

"You've been talking to your mother again, haven't you?"

Sre laughed, "I have. She has more fun than I do".

"You're too tight, boo. You need to loosen up".

Again. Me or my pussy?

"What the hell—" , Sre began

"There are 101 cocks in this room, honey", Luna announced

Sre's eyes widened as the occupants of the next table turned to stare and an elderly woman closed her son's ears. Sreya almost fell out.

"I've been counting". The door opened. "Make that 102".

Sreya couldn't help the girly giggle that escaped her mouth. Presently, they were seated in the posh insides of the Estex Fountain Hotel. They were to meet Yazmine and Ariah there afterwhich they'd head to Sournas for lunch.

After Sre's life took a turn for the worst, she'd moved to Verum City still shattered. Ethan, her brother had wanted her to come stay with him so he could keep an eye on her but she'd refused. She met Ariah months later and she introduced Sreya to Luna. She and Luna grew very close though she'd met Ariah first. Yazmine was a mutual friend and soon enough the four grew inseparable.

Luna continued, blatantly ignoring the fact that the family beside them was giving her their full attention, "Point is, it's literally raining cocks here. Just walk up to the guy behind me and kiss the concealer off his face. He's been staring at your boobs since you walked in".

And he was staring at her boobs.

This time, Sreya threw her head back and laughed out loud. The sound sweet and serene, taking all the attention her boobs were getting.

"Luna, he looks like nature threw up on his face and the concealer only makes it worse. Plus, if someone is going to be stimulating my nether regions he has to look like sin".

"He does look like sin, girl. I mean, something holy couldn't possibly look like that".

"Shut up, Luna. There's no way I'm getting beaten in here".

"Fine. He's all mine then".

Bitch, ain't you married?

Yasmine arrived halfway through Luna's rant about how much she had gained in the last month. Before Sreya could reprimand her, Yaz beat her to it, "I know, I'm late. Drew had his fine ass lips latched to my clit I couldn't get away, I almost canceled on you guys"

"You wouldn't dare", Luna replied.

"Oh My God, look at that cleavage", Yaz said aloud as she felt Sreya up. Hands on boobs.

Sre swatted her hand away, "Why the fuck are you groping me in public?"

"I didn't know we could do it in private", Luna murmured and Yaz laughed

"I was putting on a show for the guy behind Lu. He's been staring. Is that concealer on his face?"

Sreya nodded. There was nothing wrong with men covering up a little but for the love of God, rub it in properly and don't use it as body cream.

"He seems really into you".

"You mean, the babies",  Luna corrected referring to Sre's tits.

Ariah soon arrived and they got up to leave. Halfway to the door, Luna Lowell shoved her bag to the group and walked back. Sreya thought she'd forgotten something at their table but soon brushed the assumption away when Luna walked towards the "concealer guy" who was already standing by now.

Slipping something that looked like a business card into his pocket, she leaned up and whispered "Call me" into his ear, her hand reaching down to grip his cock through his pants. His eyes bulged out his sockets and a bright red shade started up his neck to his face, the crimson colour visible despite the make-up.

As soon as they were out the door, the four burst out laughing, you'd think they were high school girls except they didn't look it.

Ariah spoke up, clearly out of breath, "What the hell was that about?"

"That was a Christmas card I got from the grocery store a year ago, I finally put it to good use", Luna said with sass, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.

Yazmine fell out.