cash is just in the middle of telling some story about his shift at the daycare ( ‘—- i swear, there were six of them on me at once, i thought i was a goner right then and there —-’ ) when nicole finally makes her way down the stairs. holliday had seen nicole in her fair share of looks, ranging from business professional to just-out-of-the-shower, wet hair tied into a prim knot atop her head, but this was something else entirely.
“ —– ! ” it’s rare to render a gold-star gay speechless, but holliday can’t help it as she makes her way over to nicole, ruby lips lightly agape. “you sure do clean up nice, don’t you?” there’s a microscopic smear of lipstick at the corner of nicole’s mouth, and holliday takes it upon herself to smudge it out of existence with the side of her thumb. “you look even better in red lipstick than i do, nic.”
the fairy tale moment is cut short as the boys begin to stand, matt lightly reminding them all of their dinner reservations. she offers nicole a smile and an outstretched hand. “y’ready to go?”
a speechless holliday either meant she was really really sick or really really shocked , & luckily it’s the latter tonight . ❝ really ? you like it ? ❞ nicole beams , her hands involuntarily shooting up to attempt to pull the collar of the dress a little higher . she can’t help but feel like a kid playing dress up when her girlfriend smudges out an incongruous lipstick mark , but the giddy feeling remains nonetheless .
❝ aw , i’d hate to steal your thing , hols ... ❞ but her grin is brighter than the sun , & she gives holliday’s hand an excited squeeze . ❝ bye melody ! ❞ she calls over her shoulder .
melody waves from her perch at the top of the stairs . ❝ the spell wears off at midnight !! ❞
a few hours later they’re walking underneath the glowing fairy lights of uptown ; once they’d left the restaurant matt had practically begged them to follow him down to the new gardens at metropolitan park . it was such a matt thing to do that nicole couldn’t help but smile -- no matter how much happens , or how much time passes , some things really do never change .
the boys walk ahead of them , matt chattering about this & that , with cash humoring him with a lazy sort of smile . it was a little bit like how things were before , except she can tell that cash’s interest in what he’s saying is genuine .
❝ you know , it’s weird , ❞ nicole finally says with a small smile . ❝ if you’d asked us -- me & matt -- five years ago where we thought we’d end up , what we’d say would be far different from what actually happens . ❞
origamiaround
annaxmalina
andulkaphoto
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
gummygunk
