If you never shoot you'll never know

She shot him a look, brows raised in a way that said get real. "I wouldn't fight Callista for the last city bag on sale at Saks, I'm definitely not fighting her for a man. Derogatory." When she came back Ade glanced to the store associate nervously re-folding sweaters and chuckled, making a point of waving goodbye to him as they left. "Yes new with you. Give me something, anything, to work with here. Oh it's fine. They're fine. They think I'm stubborn and will quit as soon as I think I've proved my point, then go work for my cousin at our family's publishing group or something."

Benitez laughed a hearty laugh - he loved pushing his friend's buttons but Adeline's were especially entertaining. "You know I don't walk around living my existence to give you something to work with but I guess I could throw you a bone. So last week a couple of dudes corner me asking me all of these crazy questions and you know me so I'm giving them everything but a straight answer and we're going back and forth then boom…long story short, I got in a knife fight and came out on top, so yeah I killed a few guys and technically I'm a wanted man, but wild horses couldn't keep me away from taking my friend. Derogatory to get some food. And you know what, just so we're on the same page, can you remind me of your point again?" If I had access to generational wealth I'd take a cushy job for sure. Call me nepo baby of the century, I don't give a fuck if it means I don't have to think about bills."

Nova pursed her lips as she pretended to weigh her options. "Maybe just a nibble or two." She leaned in to playfully nip at his jaw. "It's only fair considering how you like to mark your territory." She gestured to a hickey on her collarbone that was just showing signs of fading. "I just want it on record that if you needed to eat me to survive for some reason I would let you." She shrugged. "Great. Let them know we might have to make a pit stop at the private island, all my good summer outfits are at the villa." She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless, content with their banter. How even if he thought her ideas were ridiculous he humored her. He was a realist and she was a dreamer, they balanced each other out in that sense. "I don't mean we have to do it all now, obviously. Venice beach sounds doable. And we could do Thailand down the line when one of us hits it big. I really just wanna get some time away, from here and the responsibilities and stress, but with you." She rested her chin on his shoulder so she could relax into him but still keep an eye on his face. "I would invite you on the Lisbon trip since you're an honorary member by now. But you know you're gonna be outnumbered the whole time. Or not. You'd probably sway Cecily to your side."

Benitez lightly smacked Nova's ass as she nipped his jaw as he saw the move coming from a mile away. "That's not exactly what I'm doing, I'm just an animal. He winked at her while he took another sip of the milkshake, "Okay, that sounds a lot more realistic, don't worry about it, not that I don't love the Lisbon gatherings and all of the 800 silent conversations going on between all of you, but I wouldn't dream of crashing your sister vacations. Even with Cecily on my side. Maybe I could convince my crew to go somewhere, get Callista to sponsor." He winked, "We could probably make Venice happen though, you want to look into it when we're back at my place?"

"Hell no. I've seen Titanic enough times to know better than to see ships as a trustworthy mode of transportation. And if you're not there with me I don't trust that anyone's sharing their door as a life raft with me." She slid the milkshake his way, opting instead to take his hand now that she had a free one. "Or what if there's some zombie outbreak. What are you gonna do with a zombified girlfriend?" Nova narrowed her eyes and scrunched her nose at him, knowing he would fair fine without her but not wanting him to even envision it. "Yeah, well, I always thought cruises were more for old people trying to check off destinations from their checklists before they were sent to retirement homes. So maybe the Lisbons have hit hag status. Unfortunately I do have to be back in time to start the last year of my classes so there are actual time limits." She sat up more attentive at his suggestions, obviously excited to hear his ideas. "Okay perfect. Let's do them both."

"If I'm not there and someone is trying to share their door with you I'm swimming up like jaws then you'll have that door all to yourself because that dude wouldn't require it anymore." He shrugged, "I don't know, does my zombie girlfriend try to eat me like in a bad way? Eh, we'll just have to work on love bites vs. hunger bites." Benitez had maybe on accident agreed to something he hadn't meant to judging by the look on Nova's face, "Yeah, let's do both. I'm gonna call the private jet and tell them to get here at once. We're on a time limit people!"

"Picking a spot to vacation for the summer is down to the wire and yet no plans are locked down. I'm starting to think I should jet off on my own trip until my sisters can come to an agreement. One that isn't confining me to a cruise ship." Nova pursed her lips as she scrolled through clips of destination spots on tiktok for inspiration, while she waited on a pick up order at St. Elmo's. Now that she and her sisters were gaining more independence and going down their own paths they didn't share the same voice, or hive mind as others would call it. While she didn't mind that they were all becoming their own people it definitely made setting plans a bit harder. "There's just so much I wanna see and do and so little time. I can't even decide where to start anymore. Any suggestions?"

"You're never gonna catch me on a cruise ship ever in life, fuck that. Benitez took a pull from Nova's milkshake straw. "Who says there's so little time? You act like you're 88 years old or something. I don't know if I was picking a place I don't know if I'd go out of the country maybe something like Venice beach or something. I've always wanted to see that, but if I had to choose somewhere outside of the country then I always liked the sound of Thailand."

"I don't see why not." She snorted out a laugh at his snaps, gaze inconspicuously flicking to her co-workers as Benitez messed with her necklaces. "Both, and probably wondering if we're fucking too, even though I'm way out of your league," she joked, brushing his hand off her when his fussing started to get annoying. "Oh excuse me I didn't realize we were hauling a wagon back there. Give me like two minutes, okay." Whether he wanted to wait in the store or outside was up to him, but Adeline ran to the back to collect her things and clock out, a co-worker almost immediately asking who her friend was. "You didn't break anything did you," she teased as she found Benitez again on her way out, and looped her arm through his. "I'm starving. Anyway what's new with you, anything?"

"You're out of my league? Come one, we both know that when you saw me in group for the first time you and Callista both were practically fighting over who could want me more but pretend they didn't." That probably wasn't true, but truth wasn't needed when it came to trash talking in his experience, "Draggin' a wagon tbh. I got you, I can keep myself entertained." While she was gone, Benitez strolled around, playing a game of chicken with the sales person where he looked as suspicious as possible, but didn't actually do anything wrong. "Nah, I think I would have gave your friend there a heart attack if I had." He motioned towards the guy near front pretend to fold sweaters. "New with me? I don't know, but it's the start of summer I'm bound to get into something soon. How are you liking the workforce? Better yet how's your family dealing with one of their own working a regular job? Anybody stroke out yet?"

"I think my official title is 'visual merchandiser' but yeah basically. And that's where you're wrong, people love to feel like they're in on something." Secrets instantly made people closer, even if that secret was something as mundane as 'that bag's kind of ugly, isn't it, I don't know why it's up front, we just got this other one in..' She finished straightening out the mannequin, ignoring all the extra eyes on her and Benitez. "I am, aaand I'm off soon, this was me killing time. And yet.. you're still here. If you'd come like twenty minutes ago I would've made you play dress up."

"Oh yeah? Some of the shit I sell makes people see things, would I also be classified as a visual merchandiser? That bag is ugly though, it ain't much of a secret." Benitez did two sassy snaps being his usual goofball self. "You think you co-workers wanna fuck me, call the cops on me, or both?" He asked while he fussed with Adeline in the same manner in which she fussed with the mannequin, "Well I'd endure too much for you any day and if you ever try and make me dress up I'll go full spongebob and rip every pair of pants you give me."

Being a Chadwell meant never working a day in her life if Adeline didn't want to, but as her parents were no longer paying her to go away, her allowance came with certain expectations, rules she refused to abide by. The cost of her freedom was finding a job on her own and not because of a favor owed to her father, as if high-end retail was blue collar. "Too much jewelry right." She stepped back to look at a mannequin she'd styled, "Not in a Coco Chanel way, wrong store, and she was a nazi, so. Sorry. Can I help you with anything?"

"I thought I had shitty people skills, going straight to a dark history lesson is exactly what I'd do in a place like this so in a way hell yeah, but on the other, girl that is no way to make a sale. Assuming you are a sales person right? I don't know what one does here." Benitez strolled up, confident he'd never been in this store just as he was confident he wasn't making up how the other employees were watching him a little too closely, but he didn't care, he was there for Adeline, "Yeah, you can take lunch because I'm starving and I bet you are too. Also...there's nothing in this place that isn't 'too much'."

"Yeah, it does," she agreed, smiling quietly to herself. "I mean, you don't have to be too shocked. Oh I'm sure, Lip's never been subtle a day in his life. I'm sure he's on to me too, he asks all the same vague but somehow still pointed questions you do." She frowned, hesitant to admit when he was right. "Okay, sure, when you put it like that. That tracks for you, it might even be a miracle Nova found someone with a head almost as big as her's," she teased. "I don't need to have a specific type though, do I. Like can't I just know when I know?"

"Oh shit, he doesn't know, damn you really do like to keep it close to your chest huh? Knew I'd have to watch out for you, most likely to commit a murder and get away with it over here." He smiled, obviously satisfied that he was once again right. "Don't feel too bad about it, reading people is a talent of mine, my friend Ainsley says I'm an empath. Really it's just a necessity. Nah, you don't have to do or have anything, somebody tells your otherwise just tell them to fuck off." He chuckled, "As long as you got what you need and you're not hurting anybody you're good. Its your fuckin' life, right?"

Cecily narrowed her eyes right back at him, too stubborn to outright admit he'd clocked her. Once he caught on she laughed as Benitez threw his arms around her, then shook her head, "Just Bridget, and now you. I don't want to make some big formal deal about it, but if you could not tell Nova... She'll be mad I told you first." She didn't if that were actually true but regardless it felt like something that should come from Cecily herself. "Oh please don't," she sighed, exaggerated, while he tried to pin down her type, the small quirk of her lip letting him know she didn't actually mind. "Picnics? Where you are you getting that, no, I don't know. I like people- women, who are.. sure of themselves, I guess, not in an arrogant or even extroverted way, just confident. Or maybe comfortable's more like it."

"No formal deal, I've got you. It just feels really good when you figure something out about yourself and accept it so I'm happy for you in that way. It'll be our little secret. I'll work on my shocked face. I told her that Lip guy was not romantic interest, I've caught him staring at my abs that time we all swam at your apartment." Benitez shot Cecily a dull look, "You're telling me you don't like picnics. I can see you reading a book on a blanket right now as clear as day. Confident women but not cocky. I like a cocky woman, but that can't be shocking since I'm with Nova. She's cockier than I am most days."

"As you should, okay, nevermind. Venture on." Their collective guilt hung heavy in the air between them, a fleeting reminder of things they didn't talk about. Not outside of group anyway. Pursing her lips she considered his offer, and sure she was on a fine level now and she'd drank a lot already but who was she to deny such generosity either. Rather than make a decision herself she turned it on Benitez, brows raising. "Surprise me?"

"For you Ads, I know what you want." Benitez grinned, "When it comes to partying, you're a simple girl over anything, you just want to catch a vibe and ride it out so how about some simple, verified clean, and classic MDMA. Here you go. He pulled a baggie out of his pocket and dangled it in front of his best friend, "As long as you promise me you'll make some memories tonight."

"And yet not a single one of their hair maintenance skills has rubbed off on you. So that defense is pretty flimsy. Either way, for saving the day I feel like I should get some kind of special privilege, like you letting me throw a cute braid in there one of these days." Nova stated pouting her bottom lip out and pushing some strands of his hair behind his ear, before handing him the hair tie. "You mean, I didn't really give you much of a choice. One day you were just stuck with me and now you can't find a way to get rid of my anymore, can you?" She rolled her eyes, struggling to hold in a smile so he wasn't under the impression that he could just sweet talk his way out of everything with her, even though as of now that was very much the case. "I'll overlook you throwing me under the bus cause I like you that much. But if a cute girl seduces me away from you just remember you set yourself up." She cupped his face in her hands and leaned in to press a kiss to his lips in return. "Yeah, but you're outnumbered all the time when you come over to my place. So what's the difference?"

"Well I'm not easily influenced, and in their defense, one of them is bald so they're a little less strong in the influencing there. Wait, are you trying me and saying I'm not well maintained, because I can almost guarantee I'm the most put together of your exes. And even if I'm not, fuck 'em." Benitez grinned, "I'm confident that you won't leave me for a cute girl. If before we got here was any indication, you're very satisfied where you're at." Benitez turned Nova around by her hips so her back was pressed to his front and he wrapped his arms around her midsection, "Eh, you talk a good game, but you Lisbons are all poker face. You all love me. If you didn't I probably wouldn't be allowed over as much as I am."

"Okay honored but I can only fend them off for so long," she teased, nudging him right back. "Not quite. Oh so this is a business venture for you." Ade shot him a pointed look, smirking even knowing he'd see right through her bullshit. "And here I thought rainbow capitalism was just corporate. What are we pedaling tonight, anything good?"

"Well every little bit counts, especially when it comes to keeping me alive." He shrugged, "Not just a business venture, it's philanthropy. Straight people get charged twice as much, like a reverse Stonewall. Allyship comes in all forms. Tonight it's only shit that keeps you up in non lethal doses." The quiet part was between them, hell it was always in the back of his mind, and he gave her a quick smile while he rocked on his heels, "You need something? For you it's on the house."

"Or something." She shrugged, and then realizing how that came off added, "We know each other just from being in the same Lisbon-Cruz extended universe but I don't know, we've never really hung out until now." Maybe she'd been wrong about her sisters all having the same type, maybe it was a proximity thing. "I mean I'm still navigating it, trying to decide if that's even a label I identify with..." By that she meant was ninety perfect sure she was, she just hadn't said anything with her chest yet. Smile growing, she took her drink from him. "Not fucking with you."

Benitez narrowed his eyes at her, so she knew he was suspicious. He and Cecily got along so well because they thought alike a lot of the times, at least he thought so, and he knew that he could talk around in circles all day, but that did make sense on the off chance that he was off base when it came to Cecily and where her romantic interests reside. "Oh shit, I was right and you just told me. Do your sisters know?" He grinned and pulled the younger Lisbon into a hug, "Happy Pride, Cecily. And hey if I've got to keep this between you and I, say less. But with that being said...can we talk about girls together? What's your brand of baddie? I'm thinking..." He crossed his arms and placed his hand on his chin in faux deep thought, "the artsy nature loving queer girls who like having aesthetic picnics in the park is your vibe. Then again you are a Lisbon so history would say southsiders like Strad. Yeah...I can see you with someone who'll shake things up for you."

"That's what you actually wanted a girlfriend for this whole time, isn't it? For all the free hair shit?" She asked before taking one of her gloves off to hand him one of her revolving hair ties. Unfortunately for him this particular one had a small bow attached to it. "Do you want me to hold your hand? Would that make you less afraid of running into all the scary women?" Nova cooed, struggling to hold back a laugh as she held her hands out for him. "Have intimidating women always been a weakness of yours or is this a more recent development?"

"Nah, not really. Most of my friend group is queer, if you recall I didn't want a girlfriend, you were just undeniable." Despite his sweet words, Benitez opened and closed his upturned hand rapidly in a 'gimme' motion. "What do you think you can go up against thirsty women pissed and disappointed....actually yeah, they'd just hit on you and I can make my great escape." He made a show of taking her hands and kissed the back of each, "Who do you think I am? This is not an everyday situation, I am extremely outnumbered and as you pointed out, a cis-het man so just keep me close and keep me safe."

"Ooo hot take. Not sure you're allowed to have an opinion on that, you know, as a straight cis man, but," she dropped her voice to a whisper, leaning in to him some. "Your secret's safe with me. Like, a leave-in or just conditioner? If you're looking in the wrong places it is, all you really need is a gel or a mousse maybe. I'll send you a list. Is Nova here?"

"Oh I know, I just knew you'd be a safe space. You know I count on you to protect me from the lesbians." He grinned as he knocked his shoulder into hers, "Isn't every conditioner leave in if you...leave it in? Oh make no mistake, I'm not looking at all. Yeah, she's with her sisters. I was putting some work in you know. It's one of my most lucrative nights of the year."

It wasn't that Cecily didn't trust him or anything like that, she was just matching his energy. "Ohh Stradlin," she said as though that description just now jogged her memory. She'd argue she could be a tough crowd too, just not in the literal greaser sense he'd meant it. "I like it, I think the waterfall's a bit much. I don't know how it ties into pride either, or if it's camp, but I'm still pretty new to this whole gay thing, so..." She gave him a knowing look as she finished off the rest of her drink. "Nope, I'm good- On the questions, I mean, I do want another drink."

"Yeah Stradlin, so you two are like...friends or something? What is with you Lisbons and soutsiders?" There was a double meaning in there, but when Cecily mentioned the word 'gay' her comment flew over his head, only hitting him when he was returning with their drinks, "Hold up, what did you mean when you said you were new to the whole gay thing?" He narrowed his eyes as he passed her drink to her, "Are you fucking with me?"