#hitcritical

maybe he gets it. maybe he knows what it’s like to feel like nothing you do will every be good enough. maybe he gets that, even when she's got two belts over her shoulders, she can still feel like such a loser. maybe he gets it, but liv doesn't think to ask. puts a BIG ASS SMILE on her face like she's on top of the world ! ( she really should feel that way, and deep down she does, but there's the looming dread of never enough ) ellis is the first person she sees when she gets backstage, and really, she's relieved it's him and not anyone else, " how'd i do ? " tell her she did good, tell her she did good, tell her she did good !!

Three long months. Three long months of dealing with the most horrendous ordeal of her entire life. Three long months of sitting back and watching the person she knew had done this to her, replace her, and walk around with the title she’d never lost, around her waist, and ultimately losing it in the blink of an eye. Three long months of building up a rage and fire inside herself, that had finally been released, because all that attack had truly done was unleash a beast inside of Jade Cargill that the world, and no woman in that locker room, was truly ready for, because she was back, and revenge was all she had on her mind. Getting her lick back that night, while it was great, still didn’t feel like enough, because the women she felt like was her sister, had stabbed her right in the back, and tried to take everything away from her, and Jade felt like the ass kicking she’d just bestowed upon her, just wasn’t enough.

making the bed - olivia rodrigo

solo’s   voice   is   a   warm   murmur    that   breaks   through    the    evening    quiet   of   my    home      ,       carrying    a    comfort    that    eases    the   knots   of    tension    in   my    shoulders.      i    glance   over   at   him      ,       taking   in   the    gentle   concern    etched    across   his    features.      his    suggestion      ,       delivered   with    a   soft   tease      ,       invites   me    to    relinquish    the    reins    for    once      —      a   rarity    for   someone   who’s    often   in   control.

  "         just    lean    back      ,       pretty    boy.      let   me    take   care    of    you      …      "

his    words    linger    in   the    air      ,      thick    with    an    intimacy   that    makes   my    heart    skip   a   beat.       i    nod      ,       my    usual    quick    retorts   mellowing    into   a    quiet   acceptance.       “     alright   ,     ”       i    say      ,       the    corners    of   my   lips    lifting   in    a    tentative   smile.       watching   him    move    around   my   space      ,      preparing   a    bath    as   if   he    belongs   here      —      as    if   this   is   just   another   ordinary    evening      —      stirs    something   profoundly    tender   within   me.

the   sound   of   running   water   from    the   bathroom   calls   to   me      ,      and    i    follow    it      ,       finding    solo   testing   the    temperature   with      a   dipped    elbow      ,       his    brow   furrowed   in   concentration.      the    steam    fogs    up    the    mirror      ,       blurring   the   edges   of   our    reflection      —      a    metaphor      ,      perhaps      ,      for   how   we   blend    into   each   other’s    lives.

i    watched    as   he   began   adding   a    few   drops   of    my    favorite    lavender    oil   into    the    water.      the   scent    fills   the    air      ,      a    calming   presence.       he    turns      ,       catching   me   in    the    doorway      ,      and   his    face   softens.      “     come   here.     ”       i    obey      ,      the   tiles    cool   under    my    feet   as   i    approach.       he    takes    my    hand      ,      pulling    me   gently   toward   the    large      ,       inviting   tub. 

stepping   into    the    warm   water      ,       i    feel   the    heat   seep    into      my   muscles      ,       unknotting    the    day’s   stress.      solo    follows      ,       settling   behind   me   in    the    tub.       his   legs    frame    either   side   of    mine      ,       a   grounding    presence.      his    arms   encircle    me      ,       hands   resting    lightly    on    my    stomach      ,      as   he   pulls   me   back    against   his    chest.      the   heat    from    his   body    adds    another    layer    of   warmth      ,      and    i   lean   back      ,       my   head    finding    the    crook    of   his    neck.

for   a   few   moments      ,      we    just    sit    in    silence      ,       the   only    sounds   are   the   gentle    lapping   of   water   and    our   synchronized    breathing.       i   close   my    eyes      ,      allowing   myself    to   fully   lean    into   him      ,      into   this   moment   of    peaceful   surrender.       “    you      know   how   to   make   a   guy   feel   cared   for      ,      don’t   you     ?      ”       i    murmur      ,      my   voice    low      ,       thick    with    emotion.

it’s    in   these   quiet      ,      unguarded   moments    that   i    find    myself      marveling    at   how    natural   this   feels      ,       how    natural    he    feels.       it’s   a    stark    contrast    to   the   solo   acts   we    both   play   in   our    professional   lives      —      here      ,       together      ,      we   form   a   duet   that   speaks   of   deeper   promises   and    shared    futures.

“      i    didn’t   know    how    much    i    needed    this   ,      ”      i   admit      ,       my   voice    barely    above   a    whisper      ,      afraid   to   break   the   spell    of   serenity   enveloping    us.      “     thank   you      ,      my   love      ,       for    taking   care   of   me.      ”