Chapter 4: Climax
Jake's apartment was eerily quiet as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. The worn-out leather couch in the living room bore the brunt of Jake's weight, his thoughts consumed by the enchanted notebook he had stumbled upon earlier that day.
Emma, dressed in a silky robe, walked past the living room, her reddish-brown hair tousled — a remnant of their passionate encounter earlier.
Jake's friend Lisa entered the apartment quietly.
A smiled tugged at Emma's lips as she spotted the petite, intelligent woman. "Hey, Lis." The husky timbre of Emma's voice caused a faint blush to bloom on Lisa's sienna cheeks. She cleared her throat, nervously tugging at the end of her black braids.
Sarah leaned casually against the kitchen counter, one fingertip mindlessly tracing the rim of her dessert wine glass. Her eyes followed the graceful twirl of the pale liquid in clear strangeness.
"Um," Sarah's brows knit together as she considered the sudden silence. "Where's Jake?" A spark of concern etched its way across her delicate features.
"He's relaxing on the couch," Emma soothed, her posture easy. Dismissing Sarah's worry with a flap of her hand, she added, "Just thought the three of us could unwind for a bit before he joins us again."
Lisa narrowed her deep brown eyes, her lips thinning as she picked up on the vague tension. "Emma, what's up?