#heirloomeds

"hey, can you save your number on my phone? look, i know we've been talking for a few weeks now but i'm gonna be straight up with you, i did not see things going on this long, so i haven't actually saved your number and well... there are too many unsaved numbers for me to make that call with confidence." that's a bold admission to make when he's flown out to accommodate her schedule, as she's just getting started on her final year at university. even bolder to make said admission naked on her bed after chugging half a water bottle because they've been fucking like animals for the better part of a day. but seree figures she oughta get the awkward shit out of the way as soon as possible, so things between them don't continue to snowball into an even more confusing situation. besides, considering his ego could withstand this amount of chasing and waiting for this long, seree is curious to see how well he can handle the reality check that she's never been the kind of girl to take anyone she's fucking too seriously. "hurry up, please. i'm hungry and i need to text my assistant to drop off dinner for us and i have a quiz due before midnight, i wasn't kidding when i said we couldn't spend the entire time you're here fucking like last time. mmm!" another messy swallow, pink tongue lapping at the droplets of water left on her lips from her rushed sipping as a hand dries the water that dripped on her tit. "while you've got my phone, will you pull up doordash and pick a place that looks good? i'll let you know if it's actually worth it. i can't really like, walk to most of the good spots to eat around campus but i've asked demtri to pick up from every single so i can try them!" she smiling like she's proud because truth be told, seree is. at this point in her life, the burned-out starlet is sometimes so disconnected from her own reality she doesn't quite seem to understand when she blurts out something terribly sad about the restraints put in place for her own protection. a necessary safety net when her every move has been notoriously stalked and talked about for years instead of the exciting tidbit of information seree feels like she's acquired.

"yes, no! i mean, i don't think this baby is yours. i know it's yours, jack! i have two children under three as it is and i'm pursuing a degree that you could essentially claim as my third child. fourth? nevermind. —do you really think i have time or energy to sleep with more than one person?" anali snapped. regretted immediately flooded her face along with the flush of color that settled in her cheeks. "—i'm sorry, i'm sorry. stress isn't an excuse to be a bitch." her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it beat in her ears, her chest felt like it was constricting tighter and tighter with every other breath. anali wanted more children, she knew this soon after giving birth to rafie and rori. but she also knew she wanted to be in one of those storybook relationships whenever that occurred; maybe with a ring on her finger and a baby daddy that wasn't a terrible human being. jack is a good person, a great father. at least, as far as anali knows. it's part of the reason she found herself so attracted to him. but then again, she's never been the most reliable judge of character, if her prior relationship is of any indication. the fact that he's married doesn't help her panic, not in the slightest. she didn't really care about the marriage. she's learned not to take a man's word at face value when they're already involved with someone. so anali could trust that their fling wasn't anything his wife wasn't aware of. her concern stems from the media storm she fears is inevitable. having one married baby daddy was a bad decision, two is a pattern. still, she has to voice the nagging thought that actually made her get her ass in her jeep to speed over. "i want this baby. i just... i don't want my name dragged through the mud again. i don't know if i can handle it. and my kids... they're so little now. but they're gonna learn how to read and use the internet and they don't deserve to deal with that shit, and i'm gonna be so fucked. so fucked. do you think medical schools let homewreckers in? i think i'm spiraling, i'm spiraling so bad."

Just drunk enough to be pathetically honest, Sterling leans back against the wall, sort of attempting to look cooler than he feels but mostly seeking support and stillness so he isn’t wobbling on his feet anymore and he can focus his eyes on her face a little better, study it closely even though there’s hardly anything unfamiliar there. “How I wish I’d move on quick but my mind keeps on coming back to you.” There’s nothing funny about that statement and he highly doubts there will be in whatever Athena’s reply is but he still finds himself smiling. One little truth is apparently all it takes for him to want to spill his guts out to her. “Every time I go out with someone new, all I can think about is you. It’s horrible. You’re ruining my life and you’re not even in it.”

arden bends down to give her daughter a hug goodbye, "you be good okay? i'll see you at the weekend". she was feeling a little awkward, arden wasn't used to co-parenting yet, "i'll leave you guys to it. she should have everything in her suitcase, let me know if not".

There is nothing to smile about in this situation, nothing nice about having to say goodbye. In fact, Marko’s feeling crushed and he’s sure he’s not doing a great job at not showing it but he valiantly tries anyway, forcing his usual silly grin on his lips. “Ah, well. I’ll miss you, I’ll miss what we have… Why don’t we remain friends, at least? Doesn’t that sound nice? Friends?” He doesn’t believe himself in the slightest, knows his heart will keep tugging him in their direction and is, stupidly enough, leaning in already, eyes glued to their lips.

“I’ve thought about us. Of course, I have.” Nervous and umoored, Yumiko starts fretting with her appearance—toying with her belt loop, smoothing her already smooth hair down. This isn’t exactly a conversation she was prepared to have today and it’s taking a while for the correct words to come to her, stomach doing cart-wheels. “You said it yourself, I think about everything so… it’s only natural that I’ve thought about that, too.”

"i don't know if i can do this." there's a pause, and a brief panic that the vagueness of her frustrations could be misinterpreted before she's fully explained herself. "i hate this stupid fucking state. i really do. i don't like how much planning and effort has to go into seeing each other. do you... would you..." god, her stomach is in knots. not because she's concerned about his response. but because she's still getting accustomed to accepting certain levels of vulnerability instead of running from them. "i want to live together. not here, i mean! god, never here. with you." she's told him what's perhaps the first real lie she's ever said in their relationship by keeping certain school applications to herself. a lie by omission. seree scoops up the letters from schools she didn't tell him about yet and crawls into bed to show him. where he's probably been pretending to mind his business while she deliberates on a massive life decision. "what... what do you think?"

“i can’t keep my eyes off you?” ivy chuckles, a teasing lilt in her voice. “in your dreams, baby.” he’s not entirely wrong, though — while they’ve always known each other through their families’ overlapping circles, he seems to have only gotten hotter since the last time their paths crossed, or maybe she was previously too preoccupied to notice it. “who’s trying to unlock the pandora’s box with you?” she teases, refusing to admit anything. “maybe i just glance at you occasionally because i don’t trust your driving.” it’s a lie, but both of them can spin their tales as much as they want. “… dressed like what?” her smile grows more mischievous, taking his words as an unspoken compliment. “i look good all the time. you already know that.” always the best dressed in every room, it’s hardly news to anyone who knows her.