ɴɪᴄᴏʟᴀ ʜɪʟʟ

Yara: me, a girlfriend? ha! i'm not cut out for all that romance and love stuff.

Yara: melting? wow, you're so smitten with her!

Yara: ha hahaha well those too, but i'm trying not to feed that ego of yours

Yara: her name is sasha, she's a tall red-head with gorgeous blue eyes. totally sexy in an adorable way, if that makes any sense? i want her in my bed like yesterday

Nicola: We both know that's bullshit.

Nicola: I really am! You'll have to meet her soon. Once everything's official.

Nicola: Come on, you're the one with the large ego here, not me!

Nicola: Sexy in an adorable way 🤔 Probably kind of like Ivy 😅

Yara: oh la la! things are heating up. you guys are adorable. i feel like i'm witnessing a romance novel come to life.

Yara: judging by 'a lot' i assume she's a good kisser?

Yara: true. see, this is why i keep you around

Yara: you're going to love it! met one of my neighbours, she seems nice, and she's also very hot, so that's a plus.

Nicola: Haha, you're not missing much, considering you always get a report from me! You just have to get yourself a girlfriend then you can have that yourself, you know. 😉

Nicola: God... You don't even know. I'm practically melting every time she kisses me.

Nicola: Here I thought it was for my undeniably good looks and my impeccably good advice-giving skills.

Nicola: I'm sure I will, you've always had good taste!

Yara: don't judge me, i've had a lot of wine

Yara: omg that's great!! did this date end with another sleepover? 👀

Yara: i'm soooo tired, it's a good thing i took some time-off to get settled. remind me why i moved again🙄

Nicola: Of course you did, haha!

Nicola: It did not! Get your mind out of the gutter. It did include a lot of kissing though.

Nicola: Because you found this house and thought it was perfect?

“Girl code?” Well that just made it sound like they were in high school, Aubrey letting out a chuckle. “Nope, not convinced.” Honestly, she was just being silly now. It’s not like she had some huge secret tactic to win over the ladies, some trick or whatnot that worked. But it was fun to play the little back and forth, something she didn’t do all that often. “Besides, if you used them on her, then really, she’d only be falling for me. Isn’t that how it works?” 

“Yeah, girl code!” she exclaimed. Wasn’t there something about a woman helping out another woman. “Since when is there rivalry when really you should be supporting another woman.” A grin then tugged at her lips, followed by a single brow rising. “Oh, you wish!” She laughed at the idea. Plus, Ivy truly was a catch and she wasn’t going to give her up anytime soon. “Trust me, that one I have successfully bagged and tagged even without your help,” the author joked.

Yara: hey casanova! 😉

Yara: oh wait no, that's me. you're more of a romeo hahaha

Yara: shit! now i forgot why i was texting you

Yara: speaking of romeo...how's the fair maiden Ivy?

Nicola: You forgot why you were texting me? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Nicola: She's good 😊 We just recently had our do-over date, couldn't have gone better.

Nicola: Though part of me really wants to ask her if we're actually a thing or not.. But I have a good feeling.

“Guess I’m traditional like that..” Not that she dated all that often, but she definitely didn’t subscribe to things like Tinder as a way of meeting people. “—-Oh, no.” A shake of her head, brunette hair shifting on her shoulders. “I’m not telling you. Firstly, then there’ll be no surprise when I try it. And secondly, I don’t want you stealing my techniques and using them on your whoever.” 

Ivy relaxed into the embrace. Nicola’s arms felt great around her, she couldn’t help but indulge herself in the woman’s closeness. Similar to what they shared on the dancefloor and various other instances. In the short time that they knew one another, Ivy embraced how close they became without years having passed by. Not that they knew everything about each other yet, however it certainly felt like it. To have Nicola share the same sentiment brought a smile to her lips. “We’re lucky to have that kind of a connection.”

“I also know that no one knows my little sister better than I do so don’t pull that game with me. Except maybe on this one singular occasion.” Yet again he gave her a well mannered smile. He wondered how anyone would ever be able to keep up with both of them together. How had their parents coped all of those years with the three of them rushing around in that house? How would this woman that Nicola spoke of so highly manage to sit down and take them both in as siblings? Because Liam would always be protective. If he saw any flaws in Nic’s judgement he would tell her. For the better. “But no, you’re not getting anything from me. I have stories that shouldn’t be heard by my friends let alone my baby sister. They’re too much.” At that point he leant back and looked at her out of the corners of his soft eyes, smirking ever so faintly. “Oh you know the hetero code is soooo strict. Straight people can’t just kiss. All or nothing.” But he was amused by her copycat motions and her voice and when he was challenged, he just grinned. “You wouldn’t dare to dare me. Because you know I would lose….” He took in a deep breath and leant over to clap his hand down on her knee. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

Nicola shook her head. “God, you’re so stuck up!” she said with a chuckle. Nicola herself was quite open, but her brother didn’t seem to be as open about these sorts of things. Not that she would push him, if he didn’t want to tell her then he didn’t want to tell her. “But fine, you keep your dirty stories to yourself.” She leaned back in the couch, taking another bite of pizza. “God, bloody straight people.” It was a playful sentiment, one that was accompanied by a grin that was still very present on her features. “See, here I am, patiently waiting because I’m not pushing Ivy into anything. Kisses it is,” she said with a shrug. And then a smile pulled on her lips at his next words. “I am. I really am. She’s wonderful. Even we’re not really official yet, but I have a good feeling.”

“You implied it.” Aubrey replied, head tilting, though she couldn’t help but be intrigued when Nicola admitted she may have gone for it. “Really, that’s all it takes? A free drink? Come on, set the bar a little higher. Make them woo you. At least a little.” Honestly, though, it had been a while since Aubrey had hit on anyone - she hadn’t made any attempt at a dating life since moving to London. 

Feeling Nicola’s eyes on her, she turned her head to better see her face. The nervous air about the other made Ivy wonder what was running through her mind. Will you hold me? Was it the way Nicola looked at her; vulnerable, nervous and hopeful that made her heart ache? Ivy had not known Nicola for long, but she felt a connection there that was worth exploring, in spite of the events that transpired tonight. Which meant that Ivy didn’t have a problem with Nicola’s request. She nodded. “Yes, sure,” Ivy agreed softly then she started shifting in the bed. She moved closer to Nicola in order to become the big spoon in the equation. Ivy got comfortable; nestled against Nicola’s warm body from behind, she wrapped an arm around the other woman, holding her close.

Ivy hadn’t thought about what she would sleep in until Nicola mentioned it. “Thanks,” taking the tank top and shorts from her, she disappeared into the bathroom and emerged a while later. Ivy set her folded up date outfit down on an armchair and padded over to the bed, her feet bare. On the opposite side to where Nicola had settled, she climbed into the bed and tried to get comfortable. The exhaustion finally hit her the moment she slipped into the comfort of the cool sheets.

Once Ivy had settled into the sheets next to her, Nicola was suddenly overcome by a sense of uncertainty. Was she allowed to move closer? Would Ivy even want her to? All she wanted was to be held by the woman, to fall asleep in her arms. She wasn't sure whether after tomorrow Ivy would still want to see her again after everything that had happened tonight. She knew that this wasn't something everyone could handle and she wouldn't blame Ivy if she wasn't willing to go further with someone who was... well, damaged in a way. She glanced over at the other, swallowing. If this was the last time Ivy was ever here, she might as well take the chance. "Will you hold me?" she asked nervously, biting the inside of her lip.

“Very,” Laughing, she shook her head at the situation they found themselves in. Reprimanded as if they were teenagers. Thankfully the woman who brought the couple back to reality was nice about it. Had it not been for her, Ivy would have kept kissing Nicola without a care in the world. Yes, she had gotten that wrapped up in the other woman that everything in the background faded away. Looking out at the view of London she sighed contentedly. Tonight had been such a success, that she didn’t want it to end just yet. “This restaurant just keeps getting better, the view from up here is amazing!”

“Paradise?” she questioned, a slight scoff escaping her lips. “When was is ever paradise with Roy? He’s always just a low key dick head, pardon my French.” She let out a breath through her nose, moving some hair from her eyes. “I just know how to handle him, and frankly, I just don’t want to tonight.”

“Fair enough,” she said with a chuckle. She closed the door behind the other woman once she came inside. “Wine?” she asked simply as she slowly walked into the kitchen part of her studio, taking two wine glasses out of the cabinet. “You’re actually lucky I’m here tonight. Had you come around yesterday I wouldn’t have been around.”

With her suspicions confirmed, she began to understand more about Nicola’s struggle. While her writing entertains millions, it was an outlet for the writer to come to terms with the tragic events of her life. A blush warmed her cheeks in response. “I’m n-…thanks?” she smiled, her speech a bit jumbled, not knowing exactly how to take the compliment. 

Biting into her pizza slice, she polished it off and ate another then washed it down with juice before having more slices till she was filled. Companionable silence, and light conversation accompanied their dining for the rest of the night. It was getting quite late, and Ivy offered to clean up and pack away the leftovers in preparation for bed. She didn’t even realize how tired she was before. “Are you ready to go to bed?”

The blush that reddened the other woman’s cheeks just made her that much more endearing. There was a smile on Nicola’s face that just stayed in place the longer she watched her. The truth was, she could barely take her eyes off her. Not only was she incredibly beautiful, but she was also so wonderful with everything she had done for her tonight.