Chapter 2
It was a normal day at the precinct—paperwork piling up, Peralta being loud, Holt staring judgmentally at everyone. Maddy was in the breakroom, absentmindedly stirring sugar into her coffee, when she noticed Rosa step up beside her. She didn’t think much of it at first. The breakroom wasn’t exactly a rare place to run into someone, and Rosa had a habit of making her coffee and leaving without a word. But then Rosa cleared her throat.
“Hey.” Maddy turned, raising an eyebrow. Rosa shifted slightly, crossing her arms.
“Uh… can I ask you something?” Maddy frowned slightly at the uncharacteristic hesitation but nodded.
“Yeah, sure. What’s up?” Rosa opened her mouth to speak—only for the moment to be ruined by the door swinging open. Scully. The man barely acknowledged them as he waddled to the vending machine, grunting as he scanned the snack options. Maddy and Rosa both stood in silence, waiting, watching as he took an eternity to choose between two different flavors of chips. When he finally grabbed his bag of snacks and shuffled back out, Rosa let out a sharp exhale, rubbing her face with both hands. Maddy leaned against the counter.
“Okay, that was painful. Continue?” Rosa hesitated, then dropped her hands.
“I really don’t wanna ask this, but…” She scratched the back of her neck. “Pimento’s going to the facility tomorrow, and we agreed it’d probably be best if I—well, it would be easier for him to go without me, that doesn't make sense um, I-” Maddy caught on immediately, her expression softening.
“It’s okay, I understand. Of course you can stay at mine.” She said it so casually, as if it wasn’t a big deal at all. Rosa let out a breath, nodding.
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Saves me from finding a hotel last minute.”
“Do you need to drop by your place to grab some stuff?” Maddy asked, tilting her head. “I can come with if it’s… I dunno, weird or awkward.” Rosa shook her head.
“Nah, it’s okay. I packed a bag this morning, left it in my car.”
“Prepared. I like it.” Maddy smiled, nudging Rosa’s shoulder lightly. Rosa rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Well,” Maddy continued, taking a sip of her coffee, “it’s Friday. We can make a whole night of it.” Rosa huffed a quiet laugh.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it, Mads.”
“Too late. We’re getting takeout. Probably making fun of a bad movie. Maybe even face masks.” Rosa gave her a deadpan look.
“I’m not doing a face mask.”
“You say that now…” Maddy smirked, bumping her hip against Rosa’s. Rosa sighed, shaking her head, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.
-
The precinct had been chaotic all day, so when Peralta suggested drinks at Shaw’s after shift, no one argued. It was almost a ritual at this point—wrapping up a long week with beers, bad bar food, and Boyle inevitably oversharing something no one wanted to hear. The squad had already claimed their usual booth when they walked in. Peralta was dramatically retelling a story about an undercover case that somehow involved a parrot, while Amy sat beside him, rolling her eyes but smiling anyway. Boyle was nodding enthusiastically, Holt was sipping a whiskey with his usual unreadable expression, and Terry—already halfway through a protein shake despite the fact they were at a bar—looked deeply invested in whatever was happening.
“Ah, our final arrivals!” Jake announced, waving Maddy and Rosa over. “Pull up a seat. I assume you’ve both had long, crime-filled days?”
“Yeah,” Maddy said, sliding into the booth. “I had to listen to Scully chew a donut with his mouth open for ten straight minutes.”
“God,” Rosa muttered, sitting beside her. “That’s worse than crime.” Charles chuckled as he slid a drink over to Rosa.
“Whiskey, neat. Got it for you when I saw you walk in.” Rosa nodded in thanks and took a sip, letting the burn settle her nerves. As conversation flowed, Maddy leaned back, letting the usual chaos wash over her. Jake was going on about some ridiculous theory, Amy was trying to counter it with logic, and Charles was somehow making everything about food.
“Okay,” Terry said at one point, leaning forward. “Serious question. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Maddy hummed, pretending to think about it.
“Oh, easy. Pizza. It has all the food groups.”
“Spoken like a true ex-cheerleader,” Rosa murmured beside her, just loud enough for Maddy to hear. Maddy smirked.
“And what about you, Miss ‘Too Cool for Face Masks’?”
“Steak,” Rosa said immediately, then took a sip of her drink before adding, “With whiskey.”
“Terry would obviously pick yogurt,” Jake said. Terry scoffed.
“Incorrect. It would be grilled chicken. With a side of yogurt.” Charles gasped.
“Mine would be duck confit with a raspberry glaze—”
“No one asked, Boyle,” Rosa deadpanned. The group erupted into laughter, and for a moment, Rosa allowed herself to enjoy it. The easy camaraderie, the familiarity of the squad, the normalcy of it all. But then her phone vibrated in her pocket. She hesitated before pulling it out, stomach twisting when she saw the name on the screen.
Adrian. She inhaled sharply, tilting her phone slightly so Maddy—who had glanced down—couldn’t see the name. She quickly read the message.
“Miss you already. Love you. Call me later?”
Rosa clenched her jaw. She wasn’t sure how to respond. She wasn’t sure if she even wanted to respond. Before she could think too much about it, Maddy nudged her gently.
“You okay?” she asked, voice quiet enough that only Rosa could hear. Rosa blinked, locking her phone and slipping it back into her pocket.
“Yeah,” she said quickly. “All good.” Maddy didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push. Instead, she leaned in just a little closer, her shoulder brushing against Rosa’s. It was subtle, but grounding. And for now, that was enough.
-
Back at Maddy’s apartment, the two of them were sprawled on the couch, buried under blankets with a half-eaten pizza on the coffee table. The scent of pepperoni and melted cheese filled the air, mixing with the faint lavender of their face masks—something Maddy had painstakingly convinced Rosa to try. A romcom played on the TV, another thing Rosa had resisted before giving in with an exaggerated eye roll. It was the perfect Friday night. For a while, they just sat in comfortable silence, sipping wine and watching the movie. Maddy kept sneaking glances at Rosa, who, despite her initial reluctance, seemed oddly relaxed—her legs stretched out, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. And then Maddy, in a moment of wine-induced impulse, blurted out,
“So, I’m guessing you and Adrian are done then?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze. Oh my god.
“I—shit, I’m so sorry. You don’t have to answer that. I think the wine just caught up to me—” But Rosa just shook her head, taking a slow sip of her wine before leaning back into the couch.
“Nah, it’s fine. Don’t stress. I probably owe you an explanation anyway, considering I’m crashing at your place.”
“No! No, you don’t owe me anything,” Maddy said quickly, shaking her head. “But I do want you to know that if you ever—”
“Mads,” Rosa cut in, placing a hand on Maddy’s knee. “It’s fine.” Maddy shut her mouth, watching as Rosa inhaled deeply before speaking again.
“I mean… it’s probably for the best,” Rosa admitted. “I love him, and I know he loves me, but he’s just got so much going on mentally, you know? And it’s hard to deal with.” She exhaled sharply. “Wait, fuck. That was a really shitty thing to say.”
“No, it’s not,” Maddy said immediately. “I get it. It is hard to deal with. Especially when you’ve got your own shit going on—it just adds to it. And like, you wanna help them, so you do, but then you forget to take care of yourself and you just break. It’s a hard thing to balance.” Maddy leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
“My girlfriend in high school was similar. Came from a shitty home, always in a rough mindset. And I was there for her, through everything. But then I got diagnosed with ADHD, and it was like—my whole view on life shattered in front of me. And I wanted to process it, to focus on it, but I couldn’t. Because she was going through something so much worse, and I felt guilty for even wanting her to ask me if I was okay.” She turned her head to look at Rosa.
“So yeah, I get it. It fucking sucks. But you’re allowed to want someone who treats you the way you treat them. Don’t forget that.” Rosa was quiet for a moment, staring down at her glass. Then she smiled, small but genuine.
“Yeah. Thanks.” She paused, swirling the wine in her glass. “I guess… it also gives me time to, you know, figure some stuff out about myself, too.” Maddy hummed in understanding, catching onto what Rosa wasn’t saying but deciding not to push.
“Yeah. Who knows? Maybe you guys will get back together when he gets better. Or—” she wiggled her eyebrows, smirking—“maybe some other guy will walk into the precinct who’s into all that weird licking and rough shit you like.” Rosa let out a loud laugh, shaking her head.
“Jesus, Mads.” Maddy just grinned.
“I’m just saying! You never know.” But as Rosa’s laughter faded, her expression shifted. She stared down at her wine glass again, fingers tracing the rim. Maddy immediately picked up on the change.
“You okay?” she asked gently. Rosa looked up quickly, nodding.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” Maddy didn’t entirely believe her, but she also knew Rosa. If there was something on her mind, she’d talk about it when she was ready. Pushing wouldn’t help.
“Well,” Maddy said, leaning back again, “just so you know, you can tell me anything. Even if you think it’s weird. Because I guarantee Jake has told me something weirder.” That got a small chuckle out of Rosa. Maddy just smiled. A beat passed before Rosa set down her glass.
“Hey, uh… can I use your shower?” she asked, voice quieter than before.
“Of course!” Maddy replied immediately. “You know where everything is. But let me know if you need anything.” Rosa just nodded, peeling off her face mask before grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom. Maddy watched her go, her smile fading slightly. Something was on Rosa’s mind. And whatever it was… Maddy hoped she’d let her in.
-
The hot water ran down Rosa’s back, washing away the stress of the day, but it did nothing to clear her mind. She braced her hands against the cool tiles, letting her head hang forward, eyes closed. Maddy’s words kept echoing in her head.
"You are allowed to want someone who treats you like you treat them."
It wasn’t that she had never thought about it before. She had. She knew something had felt off for a long time with Adrian—hell, maybe even before him. But every time those thoughts crept in, she shoved them down, locked them away, told herself she was fine. But then Maddy had gone and said it. Out loud.
And now? Now Rosa couldn’t stop thinking about it.
She exhaled sharply, pressing her forehead against the shower wall. The steam curled around her, making everything feel hazy, almost surreal. What was she supposed to do? She could talk to Maddy about it. Maddy was… Maddy. She wouldn’t judge. If anything, she’d probably say something overly supportive and then throw in a dumb joke to lighten the mood. But saying it out loud? Acknowledging that maybe the reason her past relationships never felt quite right wasn’t because she was just bad at them? That was terrifying. Still… she wanted to tell her. The thought startled her.
She had spent so long keeping things to herself, staying guarded, pretending she had it all figured out. But with Maddy, it was different. Being around her made Rosa feel like maybe—just maybe—it would be okay to let someone in. She reached up, running a hand through her wet hair, sighing. She wasn’t sure she was ready. But she was getting closer. And maybe, for now, that was enough. Taking a deep breath, Rosa turned off the water and grabbed a towel.
-
Maddy sat on the couch for a moment after Rosa disappeared into the bathroom, staring at the flickering TV screen but not really watching. She could hear the faint sound of water running, followed by the soft creak of the pipes as Rosa adjusted the temperature. Something was definitely on Rosa’s mind. Maddy wasn’t sure what, but she had a feeling it wasn’t just about Pimento. The way Rosa hesitated earlier, the way her voice softened when she mentioned figuring things out about herself—Maddy had picked up on it. But she wasn’t going to push. Rosa would talk when she was ready.
Letting out a breath, Maddy stood up, stretching before grabbing their empty wine glasses and carrying them to the kitchen. She rinsed them in the sink, then absentmindedly wiped down the counter, letting herself get lost in the simple motion. The romcom was still playing in the background, some over-the-top dramatic confession scene that she would usually comment on, but her mind was too preoccupied. She knew what it was like to hold things in. She just hoped Rosa didn’t feel like she had to.
After a while, the bathroom door opened, and Rosa stepped out. She was dressed in the oversized shirt Maddy had lent her, sleeves pushed up to her elbows, her damp hair falling in loose waves. She looked a little more relaxed, though there was still something lingering in her expression. Maddy caught her eye and smiled.
“Feel better?” Rosa nodded, running a hand through her hair.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Good. Now, come on, we have face masks to reapply—”
“Mads.” Maddy paused, turning to face her fully. Rosa was still standing near the hallway, shifting slightly, fingers tapping against her arm.
“Can we—uh. Can we talk?” Maddy’s stomach flipped slightly, but she kept her expression steady.
“Yeah, of course.” Rosa hesitated for a moment before walking back over to the couch, sitting down at the edge of the cushion. Maddy followed, sitting next to her but not too close—giving her space. For a moment, Rosa didn’t say anything. She just stared down at her hands, rubbing her thumb over her knuckles. Maddy stayed quiet, waiting. Finally, Rosa exhaled.
“I, uh… I think I stayed with Adrian for so long because it was easy.” Maddy frowned slightly.
“Easy?”
“Not easy easy,” Rosa clarified. “But like… I didn’t have to think too much about myself when I was with him. His whole life was chaos, and I was always focused on him—keeping him alive, keeping him stable. I never had to stop and think about what I wanted or—” She paused, taking a breath. “—or who I wanted.” Maddy’s heart skipped. She kept her face neutral, but inside, she knew exactly what Rosa was saying.
“And now?” Maddy asked carefully. Rosa let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Now I don’t have a distraction. And I’ve been thinking. A lot.” She shifted uncomfortably. “And I don’t know, Mads. It’s like… there are things I’ve ignored for a long time. Things I didn’t want to think about because it was easier not to.” Maddy’s chest ached, knowing how hard this must be for Rosa to admit. She reached out carefully, placing a hand over Rosa’s.
“Hey. It’s okay.” Rosa looked up, her eyes searching Maddy’s face.
“Is it?”
“Yeah. It is.” Maddy smiled, squeezing Rosa’s hand lightly. Rosa swallowed, nodding slowly. They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between them. But it wasn’t heavy—it wasn’t suffocating. It was something else. Something lighter, something hopeful. Maddy gave Rosa’s hand one more squeeze before pulling back and grinning.
“Now, do you want more wine, or should we switch to something stronger?” Rosa let out a breath, shaking her head with a small smirk.
“Jesus, Mads. I think that wine has really kicked in now.” Maddy just grinned. But as Rosa leaned back into the couch, some of the tension in her shoulders gone, Maddy knew—this was a step forward. Maddy let the conversation settle, watching Rosa out of the corner of her eye. She could see the way Rosa’s fingers still twitched slightly against her thigh, the way she rolled her shoulders like she was trying to shake off the weight of everything she’d just admitted. Maddy knew better than to push. Instead, she stood, stretching her arms above her head.
“Alright, I’m getting snacks. You want something?” Rosa smirked.
“We just had pizza.” Maddy scoffed.
“That was, like, an hour ago.” She made her way to the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards. “Plus, emotional conversations require emotional eating.” Rosa hummed, watching Maddy with something unreadable in her gaze. Maddy grabbed a bag of chips and tossed them onto the coffee table before plopping back down onto the couch. Rosa took one, but she was still quiet, still thinking. Maddy let her. The movie played on in the background, the characters having some ridiculous misunderstanding that would obviously get resolved in the next ten minutes. Maddy wasn’t paying attention to it, though. She just sat there, close enough to Rosa that she could offer support if she needed it, but not so close that it felt suffocating. After a while, Rosa finally spoke again.
“When did you know?” Maddy blinked, turning her head.
“Know what?”
“That you were… y’know.” Rosa hesitated, clearing her throat. “Not straight.” Maddy took a second to answer, not wanting to overwhelm Rosa with something too deep, too soon.
“I think I always kind of knew,” she admitted. “But I didn’t realize it until high school. I mean, I had crushes on girls, but I convinced myself it didn’t mean anything.” She scoffed lightly. “Then I kissed my first girlfriend and—yeah. It definitely meant something.” Rosa was quiet, processing. Maddy didn’t push, just let her take her time. Finally, Rosa let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
“I don’t know why this is so hard.” Maddy’s expression softened.
“Because it’s a big deal.” Rosa nodded slowly, fingers picking at a loose thread on her borrowed shirt.
“I don’t even know if I’m—like, I’ve dated guys my whole life. It’s not like I hated it, y’know?”
“You don’t have to have all the answers right now,” Maddy said gently. “It’s not a test.” Rosa let out a breath, rubbing her face.
“Yeah.” She was quiet for a second before glancing at Maddy. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Maddy smiled, nudging Rosa’s knee with her own. Rosa sighed, then reached for the chips, grabbing a handful.
“Okay. I have to admit, this movie sucks but I did like doing the face masks.”
“See? I knew you’d come around.” Maddy grinned. Rosa rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched up. And Maddy knew—it wasn’t much, but it was a step forward. The rest of the movie played out in predictable fashion—big dramatic speech, passionate kiss in the rain, happily-ever-after. Rosa barely paid attention, letting the sounds of the TV fill the space as she mulled over everything in her head. She was still unsure. Still confused. But the one thing she knew? Sitting here, wrapped in Maddy’s oversized shirt, listening to her best friend crack jokes between handfuls of chips, she felt… safe. That wasn’t something she’d let herself feel in a long time. Maddy yawned, stretching her legs out over the couch and onto Rosa’s lap. Rosa gave her a look but didn’t bother pushing them off.
“Okay, so movie sucked, but I was right about the face masks. My skin is thriving right now.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Rosa huffed a laugh, shaking her head.
“I prefer charming,” Maddy said, smirking as she reached for the remote. She flicked through the options before settling on some random cooking show.
“Alright, I vote we fall asleep watching people make pastries we’ll never be able to recreate.” Rosa nodded, but something in her chest clenched. The night was winding down. She should feel more at ease, but instead, her thoughts were circling, looping over themselves in a way that felt exhausting. She glanced over at Maddy. She was leaning back against the couch, eyes already growing heavy, fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of her pajama shorts. Rosa hesitated before speaking.
“Mads?” Maddy hummed sleepily, shifting slightly.
“Yeah?” Rosa swallowed, heart thudding against her ribs.
“Can I tell you something?” Maddy sat up a little, blinking herself more awake.
“Of course.” Rosa licked her lips, trying to figure out how to say it. She felt ridiculous. This wasn’t some huge revelation—at least, it shouldn’t be. But it felt huge in her chest, pressing against her ribs like it was begging to be let out. Finally, she just said it.
“I think… I think I might like girls too.” The words felt foreign leaving her mouth, but at the same time, they felt right. Maddy didn’t react right away. She just looked at Rosa, eyes searching, making sure this was something Rosa wanted to say. Then, she smiled. Soft. Understanding.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Rosa let out a breath.
“That’s cool.” Maddy nodded, nudging Rosa’s leg with her foot. Rosa let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“That’s it?” Maddy tilted her head.
“What else were you expecting? Fireworks?” Rosa rolled her eyes, but there was no heat behind it.
“No, I just—” She exhaled, shaking her head. “It’s just… weird. Saying it out loud.” Maddy nodded like she understood—because, of course, she did.
“Well, for what it’s worth,” Maddy said, “I’m really glad you told me.” Rosa’s chest felt lighter at that. Maddy reached for the remote again, turning down the volume a little.
“Do you wanna talk more about it? Or do you wanna let it sit for now?” Rosa hesitated.
“I think I just wanna sit with it.” Maddy nodded.
“Alright.” She didn’t push, didn’t pry. She just leaned back against the couch again, letting Rosa process at her own pace. And as the cooking show droned on in the background, Rosa realized that for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like she had to have all the answers. For now, it was enough just to be. Sometime past midnight, Maddy fell asleep. Rosa could tell the exact moment it happened. One second, Maddy was watching the TV with half-lidded eyes, fingers lazily tapping against her stomach. The next, her head lolled to the side, breath evening out. Rosa didn’t move at first. She just sat there, staring at the screen, not really watching. Her mind was too loud. The apartment was quiet, aside from the hum of the TV and the occasional sound of cars passing outside. The warmth of the blanket draped over them should have been comforting, but Rosa still felt restless. She shifted, careful not to wake Maddy, and let out a slow breath.
She’d said it. Finally. Out loud.
And it should’ve felt like some huge, defining moment. Like something in her had snapped into place. But instead, it just felt… real. No dramatic realization, no fireworks, just a quiet truth she had always known, buried somewhere deep, waiting for her to finally acknowledge it. And now that she had, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. It wasn’t like she’d never noticed women before. She had. Of course she had. But she’d always shoved those thoughts away, made excuses, convinced herself it was nothing.
But it wasn’t nothing.
She glanced over at Maddy. Maddy, who hadn’t even blinked when Rosa told her. Who hadn’t made a big deal of it, hadn’t tried to dissect it, hadn’t made her feel like she was admitting to something shameful. She had just been there. Like she always was. Rosa swallowed, something tight in her throat. God, she was so fucking tired of pushing things down. Of pretending things weren’t there just because it was easier. She shifted again, letting her head rest against the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling. What did this mean for her? For everything? She had no idea. But for the first time, she wasn’t as scared to find out.
-
Rosa woke up to the smell of coffee. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The weight of the blanket over her, the distant hum of the city outside, the faint sound of someone moving around—it was unfamiliar but not in a bad way. Then, as the events of last night filtered back into her mind, she let out a slow breath. Maddy’s apartment. She pushed herself up, rubbing a hand over her face before glancing at the clock on the wall. It was early. Well, early for a Saturday—especially considering how late they stayed up. She ran a hand through her hair before finally dragging herself off the couch. Maddy was in the kitchen, still in her pajamas—an old NYPD t-shirt and loose sweatpants—mug in hand as she scrolled through something on her phone. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, and the sight of it almost made Rosa forget the way her stomach twisted with nerves. Almost. Maddy looked up as Rosa stepped inside, smiling.
“Morning. Coffee?” Rosa nodded, taking the mug Maddy handed her.
“Thanks.” She took a sip, letting the warmth settle her slightly. Maddy leaned against the counter, waiting, and Rosa knew she had to say something before she lost her nerve.
“Hey, um.” She cleared her throat, shifting her weight. “About last night.” Maddy immediately softened, putting her phone down.
“Yeah?” Rosa hesitated.
“Could you… not tell anyone? About what I said?” Maddy’s brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t look surprised.
“Of course, Rosa. I wouldn’t tell anyone unless you wanted me to.” Rosa nodded, exhaling.
“Thanks. I just—I don’t know what I’m doing with all of this yet, and I don’t want people asking questions I don’t have answers to.”
“I get it. No pressure, no rush. This is yours to figure out, on your own time.” Maddy smiled, leaning forward slightly. Rosa looked down at her coffee, fingers wrapping tighter around the mug. There was a pause before Maddy spoke again, her voice softer.
“But just so you know—if you ever do want to talk about it, or if you want advice, or just… I don’t know, someone to listen—I’m here. No judgment, no expectations.” Something in Rosa’s chest eased at that. She wasn’t used to this. People who didn’t push, who didn’t expect her to have everything figured out. Who just let her be, without making it a big deal. She looked up at Maddy, meeting her gaze.
“Yeah. I know.” Maddy just smiled, and for the first time in a long time, Rosa didn’t feel so alone. The smell of coffee and eggs filled the apartment as Maddy and Rosa sat across from each other at Maddy’s small dining table, their plates half-empty. The morning was slow and easy—comfortable in a way that Rosa hadn’t expected. Maddy was rambling about some ridiculous case she worked on years ago, gesturing with her fork as she spoke.
“And then, Jake—being Jake—somehow managed to get himself locked in the suspect’s pantry with the guy’s pet ferret, which, by the way, was terrifying. I swear, that thing had evil in its eyes.”
“Sounds about right.” Rosa smirked, shaking her head as she took another sip of her coffee. Before Maddy could continue, Rosa’s phone vibrated on the table. She glanced down, and whatever amusement was on her face slowly faded. Maddy noticed immediately. The energy in the room shifted. Rosa’s jaw tightened slightly, her fingers drumming against the side of her mug before she finally sighed and slid her phone across the table. Maddy picked it up, scanning the message.
Adrian:Heading to the facility now. Just wanted to say I’m thankful for the time we had, even if I wasn’t always the nicest back.
Maddy read it once, then again. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t this. She slid the phone back toward Rosa, watching carefully.
“Are you going to reply?”
“I don’t know. I mean, it would be rude not to, right? But then, like, the whole point of us not spending last night together was to prevent things from getting… complicated, y’know?” Rosa sighed, rubbing her face with one hand while the other hovered over her phone.
“Yeah, I get that. But you could keep it simple. Just say you’re proud of him—for accepting the help he needs. Let him know you’ll catch up when he gets out.” Maddy nodded, understanding. Rosa sighed, considering it before nodding.
“Yeah. Yeah, okay.” She typed up a quick response, then turned the phone toward Maddy.
“Check it?” Maddy read over the message.
Rosa:I’m glad you’re doing this, Adrian. I know it’s not easy, but I’m proud of you for taking this step. We’ll catch up when you get out. Take care.
“Looks good.” Maddy nodded. Rosa hesitated only a second longer before hitting send. Maddy reached across the table, grabbing Rosa’s phone along with her own. Rosa raised an eyebrow.
“Uh—what are you doing?” Maddy just grinned, standing and walking over to the kitchen. She opened a cabinet above the fridge, placing both their phones inside before shutting the door.
“Enough talk of stupid men,” Maddy announced, turning back around with a smug expression. “Time to focus on ourselves.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Rosa let out a small laugh, shaking her head as she stood up.
“I know,” Maddy said proudly, leading the way back to the couch. They flopped down, settling into the cushions, and for a moment, there was just comfortable silence. Then, Maddy turned to Rosa, her eyes full of mischief.
“So…” she started, drawing out the word. “Who was your gay awakening?”
“What?” Rosa laughed, caught off guard.
“Come on,” Maddy pressed. “There’s always someone. Who made you stop and go, ‘Oh. Oh.’”
“Lisa Turtle. Saved by the Bell.” Rosa smirked, leaning back. Maddy whistled, nodding in approval.
“Solid choice.”
“And yours?”
“Kate Hudson in Bride Wars.” Maddy grinned, Rosa raised an eyebrow, amused.
“Is that why you love that movie so much?” Maddy blushed slightly.
“It’s the blue hair, okay? Oh my God—don’t even get me started on when her dress wouldn’t fit and she put that see-through robe on.” Maddy let out a dramatic sigh, flopping back into the couch. “Sixteen-year-old Maddy was in love.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Rosa laughed, shaking her head. Maddy just smirked, nudging Rosa’s shoulder with her own.
“Yeah, yeah. But admit it, this is way better than moping over your ex.” Rosa exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Yeah… it is.” And for the first time in a long time, she actually meant it.