save my money, don't save no bitches.

"what?" paloma shrugged as she noticed the other woman's outstretched hand. of course she had her recorder on her. when didn't she? it only took her a few seconds of charlie eyeing her for her to fish the small device out of her back pocket and hand it over. "here," she conceded. "talk to me." paloma was very work-minded, but that didn't mean she didn't have time for relationships.... even those with a detective. most of the time it also meant she got advance notice on things so she could report on them without being too conspicuous-- it was a win-win. the personal connection was there which she loved, and the working benefit of being privvy to most information was definitely a sweetener.

kyla's admission shouldn't have put her stomach in knots or sent chills down her spine, but charlotte had to literally snap herself out of a trance as she let the words sink in. "o-oh? that's...intriguing to know." not that she could, or would, do anything about it, not when she had a man now, so she simply had to brush the words off and pretend like she wasn't bothered by it. when kyla agreed on the bath first, she was about to go start it until her ex started stripping out of her clothes, and much like earlier, she found her eyes wandering over her body, still remembering every curve as she drank them in after 8 years. it wasn't until kyla spoke up again that she remembered kyla wasn't hers anymore, and she furrowed her brows at her. "tearing my shit up? no, ky, there won't be any of that. not in the house. i wouldn't do that to you, so i'll go to his place." char promised. "and i guess you won't be bringing any women back here either, right? especially not any of your prison baes as they leave prison?"

kyla could've teased charlotte, pushed her ex's buttons some more, done something else to get a reaction, but she didn't. she wasn't hers, and she still had to respect boundaries, even if she couldn't help her natural charm and flirtiness. watching her ex glued to one spot and staring at her, she giggled. "so...... the bath?" she hummed, the few new tattoos kyla had gotten in prison on full display over her body. "thank god," she stated. that was one thing she didn't need to see or hear, and if anything it would just drive her up the wall. "course not. i have more class than that," kyla shrugged. "and i haven't kept up with any of them, so that's unlikely. i don't even know if half of them are even from here. they could've gotten transferred from somewhere else."

⠀⠀ ⠀all she could do was stare in shock. when she'd opened the door the same time the sun was starting to set, she didn't expect to see them. and certainly not the child the child alongside. her lips parted, but her brain was still so frazzled, she didn't even know where to start. there were too many questions, but there was an order of priority. she stepped back a little, gripping her door tightly. she couldn't leave them outside, even if she was still processing. ❝ uh ⠀⠀ come in. ❞

with her ex having kicked her and their daughter out before leaving them high and dry, mya didn't really have anywhere else to go. out of options, she headed to her ex's place and sighed as she and her daughter stood on lia's doorstep. ringing the bell, she'd heard some movement before the door opened, and mya sucked in a breath as she saw her ex's face for the first time since they were teenagers. "hey, uh.... thank you," she usher her daughter, imani, inside then stepped in last, almost sort of dragging her feet as she stepped inside and shut the door. "i don't wanna burden you or anything, but.... we didn't have anywhere else to go," she sighed. "this is-- this is my daughter, imani." she stated, gesturing to the six year old girl currently clutching the hem of her shirt as she hid behind her mother.

it wasn't often that juliana found herself dumbstruck, but as jayla seemed to have made up her mind about how she wanted to move forward, she was sure that she had misheard her. "can you...repeat that?" she asked, her voice much lower than she'd intended, yet she didn't care in the moment. sure, she hadn't intended on doing what she'd done to her ex, but the dead former target should have outweighed everything else. "so what, are you just going to pretend that i'm not a criminal? and murdered? and you trust me enough to think that i won't steal from you again, or are you going to lock up your shit when i'm around?" she honestly wouldn't have blamed jayla for keeping her away from her money and valuables after what she'd done, but that would get exhausting for the woman after a while, right? "and even if we did this, i wouldn't be satisfied until bianca met the other side of my fist, so you know, you should think about that too."

"i said i know there's more to you than the bad shit you've done," she pointed out. "you might do it.... a lot, but it doesn't define who you are." she offered. "this might surprise you, but i'm rich. i have friends who've committed crimes. i mean, it's not murder, but.... you know, tax evasion. money related crimes." she shrugged. should she have kept juliana away from the valuables? yes. was she going to? no. she'd just wear herself thin and then things between them would just erode further. "i trust you enough not to steal from me again. and.... i can turn a blind eye to the rest of it, just.... don't give me any details unless, like, someone's coming for me for some reason or someone comes here or something." she stated. as juliana mentioned she still planned on making bianca eat fist, she just sighed. "i know you hate her, but if anything i deserve that."

a laugh rumbled in the back of ilayda's throat as she began to shake her head in amusement, her gaze lowering to the table for a moment as she became a little flustered at the comment. "well, i am glad you think so," she spoke softly as she rose her gaze and offered cressida a smile. reaching out, she grabbed her wine glass, rose it up and took a small sip, just to give herself a little more time to compose herself. "hm," she hummed in thought at the question. "i absolutely love art, watching the sunrise and sunset, and i tend to get flustered by compliments a little too easily, especially when they come from extremely beautiful women," she answered the question as she kept eye contact with the other woman.

"you know, i'm an artist," cressida hummed in response. a struggling one, mind you, but she had the skills to go far. "i could paint you one day," she teased, and the compliment she'd received in return made her blush and lick her lips. taking a drink to stabilize and recompose herself, she smiled back over at ilayda. "i'm really nothing special, you know?" she joked. "have you seen you? you're the beautiful one."

"you're playing a very dangerous game right now, you know that, yeah?" bela spoke in a warning tone as her gaze flickered over to where some of her teammates sat in a booth in the bar they had decided to gather at. her eyes landing on one of them who was the ex of the very person who was currently and blatantly flirting with her right now. "i mean, you do know she's right over there," was continued as she looked back to them, but for some reason bela honestly couldn't pull herself away, the other's charm definitely drawing her in.

following bela's gaze over to the other woman's teammates, jordyn snickered softly. "so? it's not like i'm still dating her. i dumped her," she gave a slight smirk, holding bela's eye contact. "it's not dangerous if i'm a perfectly free single woman in a free country," she remarked playfully. "i can talk to whoever i want. and i wanted to talk to you."

"i'll take whiskey on ice," she replied a little too fast. her eyes wondered around her apartment wondering if she could catch a small glimpse of her ex, if that bitch purposely left anything behind to have a reason to come back. lowering herself down on her couch, evelyn couldn't help but make a smart ass remark. "god, i hope this isn't where the two of you decided to fuck." propping up her arm, her leaned her head against her hand before nodding her head slowly. she wasn't able to catch anything out of the ordinary, "oh yeah, i was supposed to notify you sooner but with everything that happened i didn't get the chance. i have to go away for a work trip soon and i already made the reservations in the mind set that i didn't need to bring my special assistant with me." turning her head towards jada she shrugged, "maybe that was a mistake. i think i need to have you by my side to watch you at all times," she said it with a small smile but was dead serious. "if you want, i can go ahead and book the trip for you."

it almost felt foreign having evelyn in her apartment, although she wasn't complaining. "whiskey on ice, coming right up," she grinned and headed to pour out a glass, then put some ice in, unfazed by the quickness of the response. things were going well... at least until evelyn chimed in about her ex again. "jesus christ, ev," she sighed and rolled her eyes at the remark, but didn't bother wasting any breath on it. jada had made sure her ex didn't ever leave a single thing in her apartment so she never had a reason to come back, she'd filed a restraining order, blocked her number, the works. "wait, what?" she blinked. "so you were just gonna go off on your trip and not tell me if we didn't make up?" she didn't blame evelyn for it, but knowing that the woman was her boss and it was her job to know these things so she could better serve evelyn while the woman had withheld that information mildly annoyed her, but she shrugged it off. "watching me like a hawk now, huh?" she snorted in mild disbelief. "well.. i mean, do you want me there? because i can just work from your office if... you know."

rolling her eyes evelyn groaned playfully, "well don't get used to it." she didn't need jada knowing a way around her, but she was sure they were past that now. all it took was that look in jada's eyes - a small plea for help that made evelyn feel a small ounce of guilt. "i am sorry, i don't know if i entirely believe you...i just know i'm sorry for fucking true." she was sorry that it hurt jada, but she wasn't entirely sorry that it happened. she knew she was hard to get by, but that was one of her ways to keep the people around her in check. "fuck the party," evelyn didn't need to go back in there. she knew if the two of them set foot inside, amber would be waiting for evelyn with hungry eyes. she found her extremely aggravating but she knew she'd be an easy target to blow off steam with. "do you want to go back to your place? it's been a while since i've stepped foot in there." without really waiting for an answer, evelyn pressed on the break and powered the car on. "i promise i won't try to fight you for the rest of the night," it was a slight tease. buckling herself up she glanced at jada before sighing.

less than an hour later, there jada was tugging evelyn up to her apartment. the older woman had been right— it really had been a long time since she’d been to jada’s place, after all usually it was her summoning jada to her apartment next door instead. “i probably should’ve cleaned up a bit but i wasn’t expecting company.” she chuckled. her place wasn’t even that messy, at least until you got to the bedroom. her own clothes everywhere sprawled out over the floor. glancing back at evelyn as she locked up, jada shrugged. “do you want something to drink? i have tequila, wine, whiskey… i can’t stand beer so i don’t drink that shit.”

somehow they were able to flip a switch, the softness that evelyn had acquired for jada was slowly letting itself back in as she was reminded of the leaps she had taken for her. "you have to hate me even a tiny bit for my behavior," she knew any other woman in her life hated the way evelyn behaved. anything good in her life was destroyed by her possessiveness and her big ego, or evelyn simply didn't care about the individual. when jada apologized, she blankly stared at her. she knew an apology should have came from her as well but she held back on it. instead she decided to show it through actions. evelyn leaned in closer to jada before closing the gap between them. she hadn't kissed her in what felt like forever, the softness of her lips helped her melt into her seat. it brought her back to a place that felt comforting rather than painful. the kiss wasn't one that was filled with the need for more, it was sincere. pulling back just enough to rest her head against jada's she finally did something she normally didn't. "i'm sorry."

as her apology was met with a blank stare, jada had almost started thinking she’d messed up again somehow without even knowing it, and she was about to question evelyn when the next thing she knew they were melting into each other, lips pressed together in a soft, affectionate kiss. “i think that might be the one and only time i’ve ever heard you apologize, and i’ve known you for long enough and also worked for you for a little while now, both in and out of the office.” she observed, relishing the warmth of evelyn’s forehead against her own as she looked back into her eyes over the center console of the car. “so, um… are we staying for the rest of this party, or… what’s the plan?”

evelyn softly sighed, she did let silence fall between them because she was doing her best to hold back - to think before she spoke. "are you saying you like me?" tilting her head, her voice was much more soft. "you've seen it before, i like what's mine and i hate when people try to take it. seeing her...it caused a soft of rage i haven't felt in a long time." her possessive nature never shied from making an appearance, that was one thing she was never going to change.

at the question, she nodded. “of course i do. do i have to remind you i quit my job just to wait on you hand and foot basically?” she chuckled. “yeah, i have seen it. that’s one of the things i like most about you, actually.” she admitted. even if it had caused them problems, jada knew that was one side of evelyn she’d liked, long before now. the side that was willing to stand up to her ex on her behalf, among other things over the length of their time together. “but i’m sorry. i’ll do better. i promise.” she vowed.

"ohhh. babe, huh? i'm moving on up." a smirk plasters itself onto mateo's face. he's a bit too smug about the nickname for someone who couldn't remember her name. but he wasn't sure if she knew his either. "well, honey, are you staying other night?" mateo wouldn't say no if she wanted to. it had been nice to go to sleep with someone in his bed. it made him feel less alone. "i could order take out again. put on a movie. maybe try to keep our hands to ourselves for more than an hour."

"you just might be," catalina muses, giving him a playful shove at his smugness. "so i'm honey now, huh?" she teased back, deciding to challenge him a little, leaning in closer to him ever so slightly. "i'll stay. i don't have anything else better doing," she smirks, and at the mention of takeout, she beams. "definitely takeout, definitely a movie, and i doubt we can manage that but it might be fun to find out."

a loud, genuine laugh starts in zara's chest and comes out before they can stop it. due to their naturally bold, forward personality, they have absolutely no patience when it comes to expressing how they feel. what is the point of playing it safe and coy when the woman they want is right there, available, clearly unhappy in her boring heterosexual relationship? zara smirks as they come closer, free hand reaching to gently pull cressida in by her waist. "exactly. what the fuck is there to do in kansas? that's your anniversary gift? what a shithead." zara's completely mask off at this point. have literally never liked the dude, no matter how hard he tried to be friendly towards them. "i say you sell them online and use the money to come to the governers ball with me." an idea pops into their head. "wait – i have a spare ticket! my cousin was gonna come with me but i think something came up." they finish the rest of their beer and toss the can in the trash. "dump the idiot and come with me!"

had zara not been her closest friend, ordinarily the other's boldness and brashness would've taken her aback, but she'd gotten used to it since they'd known each other for as long as she could remember. she'd always admired their boldness. the next thing cressida knew, hand arrived at waist, and she was being reeled right in, and her arms looped around their neck instinctively. "the governors ball? how do you just have tickets to that on standby?" she giggles, her eyes instinctively breaking contact with theirs as her brown hues follow the beer can's arc through the air and into the trash. "i need a dress and whatever though, don't i? like, it's fancy stuff isn't it?"

sadie let out a quiet noise of disbelief at jada's surrender. knowing she was only staying out of necessity was worse than watching her quickly prepare to do the walk of shame. at least their current routine didn't make her feel like an obligation. sighing, sadie pushed herself out of bed. if she stayed there any longer she was going to fall into an overthinking spiral. "i have fruit, granola and honey if you still think scrambled eggs is too time consuming." she commented as she scanned the floor for her bra. "but i don't have a way to speed up making coffee , sorry about that."

at the sighing, jada winced slightly. she hadn’t meant to make the other woman feel like it was a business transaction— purely out of obligation. at the callback to her earlier words, jada sighed. it felt pointed, even if the tone lacked it. “you can make the eggs,” she shook her head. “and it’s not like that, you know?” she assured, attempting to get a read on sadie. “i wouldn’t be here if i wasn’t enjoying what we do.” she sat on the edge of the bed now, trying very hard (and failing) to avoid looking at sadie’s chest, which didn’t help that she was more or less eye to eye (or eye to nipple) with it now that she’d taken a seat. sure enough, her eyes found themselves glued there before she realized sadie was hunting down her bra. “oh, uh,” she cleared her throat awkwardly, “here. it’s on my side of the bed,” she reached down to pick it up and hand it to her, since she’d swiftly tossed it off the woman the night before. “my laptop’s on the living room couch, so can you grab it for me while you’re at it? i can continue working on your thing in the meantime.”

jules was never wrong as far as she was concerned, but she also understood that she could have explained everything from the jump and then perhaps they wouldn't be here. but the truth hadn't been easy to get out, not even when she'd finally revealed what happened, so it wasn't really her fault. "can you move past what you know now?" she asked, deciding to answer a question with a question since there wa sa lot more jayla had to accept than she did. it wasn't exactly a walk in the park, and her ex would have to forgive a lot in order for them to move on. "i told you i killed a man and have scammed countless. you think you can just accept that and move on like i'm not what i am?"

jayla had spent their time apart processing things, or at least attempting to come to terms with things. she'd liked to think she had done a decent job of it. "yeah," she nodded. "because i also know there's more to you than the bad shit you've done," she offered, and before she knew what she was doing, she hesitantly found herself holding out her non-drink-holding hand to her ex nervously. she was so nervous in fact, that her hand was shaking subtly. she just wanted things to stabilize, and go back to some semblance of normal. them waking up in bed together, jayla cooking jules breakfast and bringing it to her in bed after a long night of passionate fucking, and taking each other on dates. she'd missed that side of their relationship dearly, and it took the metaphorical hole in her heart jules left over their vacation to learn that first hand. but she wasn't about to make those mistakes again. she'd do better. she had to.

eyebrows flew slightly upwards in curiosity when cressida began to speak, but then they began to furrow as she tried to think of when and where she could have possibly of met her before. though that wonder was quickly cleared up with the other continued to talk to let her know and ilayda let out a soft chuckle. "ah," she began as she nodded her head slowly. "i do remember that date, and sadly, you spilling the drink all over me was definitely not the worst thing about it, in fact you actually gave me a lifeline to leave early. so, i guess i should say thank you," she spoke in amusement, this time her head shaking. "honestly, no need to apologise, it's in the past, and luckily for you, i tend to not hold grudges over a silly little mistake that you didn't mean," she reassured with a genuine smile. "i'm also glad you are having a nice time, too."

"well then i guess that worked out," cressida snickered playfully as ilayda put two and two together and remembered her. "yup, that's me." she cocked her head, "you're welcome then. and if it's any consolation, i think you looked just as pretty soaked in your drink." she teased. it certainly helped that the other's wet top had clung to her figure and accentuated her cleavage, but cressida wasn't going to mention that out loud. "oh, well good." she smiled, "i am. so, what else do i need to know about you, ilayda?" she questioned curiously as she looked into the woman's beautiful eyes.