Lines That Blur
The restaurant was buzzing with life, the warmth of conversation and laughter filling the space. The entire team had gathered, packed around a long wooden table, plates being passed around, drinks clinking against one another in casual toasts. The dinner had been organized as a way to celebrate their recent run of good form, a well-earned break from the intensity of training and matches.
Beth had arrived with Steph, sliding into her seat next to Jen and Katie, while Leah and a few others were scattered further down the table. The energy was high—everyone still riding the momentum of their recent wins, the team feeling more connected than ever.
Beth knew Viv was coming—she had mentioned she had something to do before, though Beth wasn’t exactly sure what.
As she settled into her seat, laughing at something Caitlin was saying about how she had nearly been run over by an overenthusiastic fan on a scooter, Katie leaned closer, nudging Beth’s arm.
“Oi, where’s our Dutchie?”
Beth rolled her eyes at the phrasing but smirked. “She’s coming.”
“She better,” Katie huffed, taking a sip from her drink. “It’s not a team dinner without her sitting there all awkward for the first twenty minutes.”
Beth chuckled, shaking her head, but before she could say anything else, the door to the restaurant swung open, and Viv stepped inside.
She was on the phone, speaking Dutch, her voice low and measured, her expression serious but calm as she made her way past some teammates noticed her and waved, and she gave a small nod back, still listening intently to whoever was on the other end of the call.
Beth’s eyes followed her, almost instinctively.
It wasn’t often she saw Viv like this—so focused, so businesslike. She wasn’t in her usual hoodie-and-sweats combo either. Instead, she had on more formal fit, her hair neatly pulled back into a low bun, looking effortlessly put together without even trying.
Katie, catching Beth staring, smirked. “That sounded painfully professional.”
Jen chuckled. “Yeah, I half expected her to start speaking another language just to really make us feel left out.”
Beth shook her head, amused, but she couldn’t ignore the small flicker of curiosity—who was Viv even talking to?
Finally, Viv reached their table, slipping into the empty seat beside Beth. She still had her phone in hand, nodding slightly as the person on the other end finished speaking. “Ja, laten we dat volgende week bespreken. Goed.” Then, she hung up, slipping her phone into her pocket.
“Hey,” she said, her voice softer now, as she turned to Beth.
Beth barely had time to nod back before Katie grinned, tilting her head. “That sounded serious.”
Viv let out a quiet laugh, finally reaching for the menu. “It was my agent.”
That caught Leah’s attention. “Oh? About your contract?”
Viv nodded, flipping the menu open as if the topic wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah.”
Katie whistled, leaning back in her seat. “Well, Barcelona are all over you.”
Viv smirked, shaking her head. “I guess.”
Beth stayed quiet, not because she wasn’t interested, but because she wasn’t sure what to say.
She knew Viv’s contract was running out. She knew other clubs wanted her. But hearing it being talked about so casually—like it was just a given that she might leave—made something twist slightly in Beth’s stomach.
Viv, however, seemed unbothered. Under the table, her hand found Beth’s leg, her fingers brushing lightly over the fabric of her jeans before giving her thigh a small, absentminded squeeze.
Beth’s breath hitched slightly, but when she turned to look at Viv, she was still casually engaged in the conversation, as if she hadn’t just done that.
“Well,” Viv finally said, exhaling slightly, “nothing is decided.”
That seemed to settle the discussion, and soon, the conversation naturally shifted to other things—talking about upcoming matches, reminiscing on Leah’s most ridiculous dog stories, and debating whether or not Steph actually cheated at their last team card game night.
“Oh, come on,” Steph protested, laughing. “I did not cheat.”
Leah snorted. “You were way too good at reading people’s hands. Either you’re a card shark or a liar.”
“Maybe both,” Jen added playfully.
The conversation around the table kept moving—talks of contracts, upcoming matches, inside jokes that had everyone laughing at different moments. Drinks were refilled, plates were passed around, and despite the occasional teasing remark, the mood was light.
Beth had mostly been listening, chiming in here and there, but her mind was still stuck on a few things.
Like how casually Viv had talked about her contract. How Barcelona was apparently “all over her” and how she had just brushed it off like it wasn’t a big deal.
Like how Viv’s hand was still resting on her leg, absentminded but firm, fingers occasionally shifting as if to remind Beth she was there.
And then, as if sensing Beth’s thoughts drifting, Viv turned to her.
“You’re quiet,” she murmured, low enough that only Beth could hear.
Beth blinked, snapping out of it. “Huh?”
Viv smirked slightly. “You’ve barely said anything in the last ten minutes. Just wondering if I’ve lost you.”
Beth scoffed, shaking her head. “I’m right here.”
Viv hummed, clearly unconvinced. “You sure?”
Beth rolled her eyes but nudged Viv’s thigh lightly with her own under the table. “Yes.”
The restaurant was alive with conversation, laughter, and the occasional clink of glasses as the team celebrated their recent streak of good games. The entire squad was spread across the long wooden table, voices overlapping as drinks were passed around and food arrived at an easy pace.
Beth had been enjoying herself, mostly listening as the others talked, occasionally chiming in. But the waitress—a blonde in her mid-twenties with a bright, interested smile—had become a recurring presence, and Beth couldn’t help but notice.
And more specifically, she noticed how much attention the waitress kept giving Viv.
Beth had already clocked it earlier when the waitress had brought Viv a drink she hadn’t even asked for, her smile just a little too warm. But now, just as the conversation at the table had shifted to something else, the girl was back again.
She stopped by Viv’s side, lingering just slightly, and smiled.
“Sorry, I have to ask—are you Dutch?”
Viv blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Uh… yeah?”
The waitress's smile widened, tilting her head. “I thought so! I could tell from your accent—it’s really nice.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, voice taking on that subtle, playful edge again. “I used to have a Dutch friend, she taught me a few words, but I doubt I’d say them right.”
Viv chuckled, ever polite. “Well, you can try.”
The girl laughed a little too enthusiastically, resting her hand lightly on the back of Viv’s chair. “I think I’d embarrass myself.”
Beth bit the inside of her cheek, taking a slow sip of her drink.
Katie, sitting across from them, grinned, clearly entertained. She leaned toward Beth and stage-whispered, “That’s not subtle at all.”
Leah, further down the table, let out a small snort. “She’s practically writing her number on Viv’s arm at this point.”
Viv, somehow, still didn’t seem to pick up on it. She just offered a polite smile, nodding at the girl. “Well, Dutch isn’t the easiest to learn, so I get it.”
Beth could not believe what she was hearing.
The waitress lingered for another second before flashing Viv another too-friendly smile. “Well, if you need anything else, you know who to ask.”
Then, with a final glance, she walked away.
Beth exhaled sharply through her nose, picking up her drink and taking a longer sip than necessary.
Katie turned to Viv, laughing outright. “Oh my god, Viv. You have to see it now.”
Viv frowned, confused. “See what?”
Leah grinned. “That girl is so flirting with you.”
Viv blinked. “She was just being nice.”
Beth, who had been biting her tongue up until now, let out an incredulous laugh, shaking her head. “Viv.”
Viv turned to her, eyebrows raised. “What?”
Beth sighed, tilting her head slightly. “Do you think everyone gets that kind of treatment? The lingering smiles, the free drinks, the excuse to strike up a conversation twice?”
Viv hesitated, as if considering it for the first time. “I mean… I guess she was a bit friendly.”
Katie snorted. “A bit?”
Beth just shook her head, muttering under her breath, “You’re unbelievable.”
The conversation moved on, but Beth was still feeling weirdly off.
She wasn’t sure why exactly. It wasn’t like Viv had flirted back—if anything, she’d been completely oblivious—but that almost made it worse.
The fact that Viv didn’t even realize when someone was clearly hitting on her. That she had no idea how people looked at her sometimes. That Beth had noticed before Viv did.
And then, the waitress was back again.
This time, she wasn’t even carrying drinks for the whole table—just another one for Viv.
Beth exhaled slowly, watching as the fresh glass was placed down in front of Viv.
“I figured you might want another,” the waitress said smoothly, flashing that same warm, lingering smile.
Viv hesitated this time, glancing at Beth briefly before looking back up at the girl. “Uh… thanks.”
The waitress just grinned. “Like I said, just ask if you need anything.”
And then, once again, she disappeared.
Beth stared after her before turning back to Viv, waiting.
Viv sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Okay, fine,” she admitted, finally giving in. “Maybe she’s a little too friendly.”
Beth let out a dry laugh. “Wow, look who’s finally catching up.”
Viv smirked, shaking her head. “I just don’t think too much about that kind of stuff.”
Beth hummed, still not looking at her. “Clearly.”
Viv nudged her knee lightly under the table. “You jealous or something?” she teased, half-smiling.
Beth rolled her eyes. “Oh my god, Viv.”
Viv chuckled, but after a second, something playful but careful flickered in her expression. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough for only Beth to hear.
“Should I tell her I’m taken or something?” she asked, still half-smiling.
Beth felt her entire body go tight at that.
The question shouldn’t have made something flare up inside her—but it did.
It wasn’t just what Viv had said. It was the way she had said it—light, teasing, as if it wasn’t important, as if it was just another joke.
Beth knew Viv didn’t mean anything by it.
But suddenly, she was annoyed.
She didn’t even stop to think before the words tumbled out, sharp and a little too fast.
“You aren’t, so do whatever you want.”
She could hear the edge in her own voice, felt the heat rise to her face before she could pull it back.
Viv’s expression shifted immediately.
The teasing faded. The easy smile dropped.
Beth saw the way Viv straightened, how her shoulders tensed just slightly before she nodded once, looking away.
For a beat too long, she just stared at her drink, fingers wrapped around the glass in a way that suddenly felt too careful.
Beth regretted it immediately.
She hadn’t meant to snap like that. Hadn’t meant to let whatever this feeling was come spilling out so obviously.
She hadn’t meant for it to come out that way—so sharp, so dismissive, like Viv was nothing to her. But that’s exactly how it had sounded, and the moment it did, she saw Viv’s expression shift.
The teasing was gone.
Her posture straightened, her smirk faded, and she simply nodded once before looking down at her drink.
Beth felt her stomach twist.
And then—Steph caught her eye from across the table.
Sitting a few seats away, Steph had clearly heard the whole exchange. She wasn’t even trying to hide the look she was giving Beth—a mixture of disbelief and judgment, her eyebrows raised as if to say: Are you serious right now?
Beth exhaled, suddenly feeling too warm, the weight of her own irritation pressing against her ribs.
She needed a moment to breathe.
She pushed her chair back. “I’ll be right back,” she muttered to no one in particular, standing up and making her way toward the bathroom.
A few seconds later, Steph followed.
Beth had barely turned on the sink, splashing cool water onto her face, when she heard the bathroom door swing open behind her.
“Beth.”
Beth sighed, gripping the edge of the sink, already knowing what was coming. “Steph, I don’t need—”
“Oh, I think you do.”
Beth groaned, glancing at her in the mirror. “Can we not do this in a public bathroom?”
Steph crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. “Do you want to go outside? Because I will take you outside.”
Beth rolled her eyes, reaching for a paper towel. “It’s not a big deal.”
Steph scoffed. “You’re joking, right?”
Beth exhaled, pressing the paper towel to her face. “It wasn’t that serious.”
Steph let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “Beth, you just shut her down so fast I think I got secondhand whiplash.”
Beth tossed the paper towel aside, gripping the sink again. “I wasn’t trying to.”
Steph arched an eyebrow. “Okay. So what were you trying to do?”
Beth opened her mouth, then closed it, her jaw clenching.
Steph waited.
Beth finally shook her head, turning to fully face her. “I don’t know.”
Steph sighed, tilting her head. “No, see, that’s not gonna work. Because you do know, you just don’t want to say it out loud.”
Beth looked at her, frustrated. “Steph.”
Steph didn’t budge. “Beth.”
Beth groaned, running a hand through her hair. “It just—it annoyed me, okay?”
Steph blinked. “What did?”
Beth exhaled, jaw tight. “The waitress. The way she kept pushing it, the way she just—” She made a frustrated motion with her hands. “It was too much.”
Steph studied her, then shrugged. “Okay, yeah, she was laying it on thick. But that’s not Viv’s fault.”
Beth opened her mouth, then hesitated.
Steph narrowed her eyes, her voice more pointed now. “And yet, somehow, you took it out on Viv.”
Beth sighed heavily, dragging a hand down her face. “I wasn’t—” She stopped, groaning. “I don’t know, I just… hated watching it.”
Steph arched an eyebrow. “Watching what, exactly?”
Beth hesitated, frustrated with herself. “Just—Viv sitting there, not even noticing it. Like it wasn’t even happening.”
Steph tilted her head. “And why did that bother you?”
Beth exhaled sharply, looking away. “Because she didn’t even think about shutting it down.”
Steph gave her a pointed look. “And did she need to?”
Beth clenched her jaw. “I just—” She shook her head. “It was annoying.”
Steph let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Beth.”
Beth groaned, knowing what was coming.
Steph smirked slightly. “You do realize you just described jealousy, right?”
Beth rolled her eyes, pushing away from the sink. “Oh my god, Steph.”
Steph grinned, crossing her arms. “You’re mad at Viv for not reacting, but the truth is, you just didn’t like seeing someone else hit on her.”
Beth stayed silent, arms crossed, staring at the tiled floor.
Steph softened slightly, watching her. “Look, I get it you like her, then maybe don’t act like she’s replaceable when she’s sitting right next to you.”
Beth exhaled, running a hand through her hair again. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Steph nodded. “Yeah, well. She doesn’t know that.”
Beth pressed her lips together, feeling the weight of that sentence.
Steph’s voice softened, but there was something firm beneath it. “Viv looked hurt, Beth.”
Beth froze at that.
Steph continued. “She wasn’t just quiet because you snapped at her. She looked like she actually felt what you said. Like it meant something.”
Beth inhaled sharply, her throat tightening.
Steph sighed, shaking her head. “She doesn’t deserve to be treated like she’s disposable just because you’re figuring out whatever this is.”
Beth swallowed hard, looking down at her hands.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then, finally, Steph nudged her arm lightly. “So what are you gonna do about it?”
Beth swallowed, looking down at her hands. “I don’t know.”
Steph tilted her head. “Well, you better figure it out.”
Beth let that sink in, really sink in, before finally exhaling, her chest feeling heavier than before.
She knew Steph was right.
Beth and Steph returned to the table, sliding back into their seats as conversation carried on around them.
Viv was quiet. She wasn’t ignoring anyone, but she wasn’t really there either. She had shut down in a way that Beth hadn’t seen before—like a switch had flipped, like she was present in body but not in mind.
Beth felt it immediately.
She exchanged a glance with Steph, who gave her a pointed look, as if silently saying: See what I mean?
Beth swallowed, her fingers tapping idly against her glass. She wanted to say something—anything—but what was she supposed to do? Apologize here, in front of everyone?
So she sat with it, the guilt simmering as the night continued.
As plates were cleared and drinks slowed down, the conversation shifted toward plans for the night.
Katie leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. “Alright, so who’s coming out? Few of us are heading to the bar.”
A few murmured agreements, Leah, Jen, Caitlin—most of the usual ones.
Katie turned to Viv, casually throwing out, “You coming?”
Viv’s answer was immediate, almost automatic. “No.”
She barely even looked up. “Not in the mood.”
Beth knew exactly why.
She felt Steph’s eyes flicker toward her again, but Beth didn’t need the reminder. She already knew she was the reason.
She sat there, hands curled into fists beneath the table, watching Viv carefully, but Viv didn’t look at her once.
Soon, everyone was getting up to pay, splitting the check between them.
Beth found herself near Viv as they waited in line at the front of the restaurant, Steph and Jen beside her, casual conversation filling the space.
Viv stepped forward to pay, handing over her card.
And then, the waitress was back.
Beth bristled immediately.
The blonde smiled as she handed Viv the card machine, her voice smooth, too friendly. “I hope you had a good time tonight.”
Viv barely reacted, just nodded as she went through the transaction.
But the waitress wasn’t finished.
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough to make it sound personal.
“Listen,” she said, smiling, “I don’t usually do this, but—do you think I could get your number?”
Beth froze.
Jen, standing beside her, let out a quiet snort, like she could not believe this girl was still trying.
Steph, meanwhile, barely moved—probably just waiting to see what Beth would do.
Beth’s heart hammered, but Viv’s reaction was instantaneous.
She shut it down immediately.
“Uh, no, thanks.”
No hesitation. No confusion this time. Just a simple, direct rejection.
But the waitress still wasn’t done.
She tilted her head, still smiling. “Oh. Fair enough—are you dating someone?”
Beth held her breath.
Viv hesitated.
For the first time, her shoulders tensed, and something flickered across her face.
The silence stretched for a beat too long.
Then, finally, Viv exhaled, shook her head slightly, and muttered:
“I’m not sure. Probably not. But I’m not interested.”
And then—before anyone could react—she turned around and walked out of the restaurant.
Beth stared after her, her chest tight, her mind racing.
Jen blinked. “Well. That was a bit dramatic.”
Steph gave Beth a look, expecting her to move.
Beth didn’t even hesitate.
“I’m going after her,” she muttered to Steph, handing over her card to the cashier without even looking at the bill.
Steph just nodded. “Yeah. You should.”
Beth barely said goodbye to the rest of the team—just a quick “See you later” before hurrying out onto the street.
Viv walked briskly toward her car, her shoulders stiff, her posture tight, and Beth could see it—see the way she was trying to hold herself together. She wasn’t moving fast enough to be running, but there was a desperation in her steps, like she needed to get out of here before something cracked open completely.
Beth hesitated for a second, feeling the weight of everything she had done wrong, everything she had said wrong, but then she forced herself to move, jogging slightly to catch up.
She wasn’t about to let Viv leave like this.
“Viv—wait,” Beth called, soft but insistent, her voice breaking the quiet of the night.
Viv didn’t stop immediately, but Beth saw the way her steps faltered, just slightly, just enough for Beth to close the distance between them.
Beth reached her just as she stopped by her car, her hand gripping her keys too tightly, the muscles in her jaw tense, like she was gritting her teeth through whatever she was feeling.
Beth opened her mouth—about to say something, anything, but then Viv did something that made her heart drop completely.
She lifted her sleeve to her face and wiped away a tear.
Beth froze.
Viv was crying.
Not loudly, not in a way that most people would even notice. But Beth noticed.
She saw the way Viv wiped quickly, like she was trying to hide it, like she didn’t want Beth to see how much she had gotten to her.
Beth swallowed hard, stepping closer, her voice softer now, almost afraid to push too much.
“Hey,” she murmured. “Why are you crying?”
Viv let out a shaky breath, her hand dropping from her face as she sniffed quietly, quickly trying to compose herself, but Beth could see through it.
“I’m not,” Viv muttered, but her voice was rough, thick with emotion, betraying her attempt at indifference.
Beth huffed a small, breathless laugh—one that wasn’t amused at all. “Viv.”
At the sound of her name, Viv finally turned to face her.
Her eyes were red, her expression guarded but fragile, like she was holding herself together by a thread, and something in Beth’s chest twisted so painfully she almost winced.
Viv took a deep breath before speaking, her voice lower, heavier.
“What was that?” she asked, her tone flat, tired. “Back there. At the table. What the hell was that?”
Beth felt her stomach sink.
She swallowed hard, fingers twitching at her sides, her pulse loud in her ears. “Viv, I—”
“You what?” Viv cut in, shaking her head, her breath coming out shaky. “Because from where I was sitting, it felt like you wanted to make it really clear that I don’t mean anything to you.”
Beth’s breath caught, panic clawing at her chest.
“No—Viv, that’s not—”
Viv let out a quiet, humorless laugh, lifting her sleeve again to wipe at another tear as she exhaled sharply. “You know what’s funny?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly. “I told myself I wasn’t expecting anything. That I wasn’t hoping for anything. That I was okay with just… figuring this out as we went.”
Beth felt her whole body go still, her throat tightening painfully.
Viv inhaled sharply, shaking her head. “But now?” she scoffed, her voice lowering, breaking just slightly on the last word. “Now, I don’t even know if you want me.”
Beth opened her mouth, but Viv wasn’t done.
Viv took a slow breath, looking past Beth for a moment, her fingers gripping her keys even tighter before she turned back.
“First, the museum a couple of weeks ago,” she continued, her voice trembling, but firm. “I tried to be close to you, and you acted like we couldn’t be seen together. Like it was something to hide.” She swallowed thickly, sniffling slightly, rubbing at her face again as more tears gathered in her lashes. “And now this? The idea of me being taken—by you, by anyone—is such a non-thing to you that you didn’t even care.”
Beth felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“I do care,” she said quickly, desperately, because she could feel Viv slipping away, shutting down, disappearing into that wall she built when she was hurt.
Viv let out a sharp, breathy laugh—this one bitter, not amused at all. “Really? Because it sure as hell didn’t seem like it.”
Beth inhaled shakily, her own voice breaking slightly as she finally let it out.
“I was jealous, okay?” she admitted, louder than she meant, but she didn’t care anymore.
Viv froze, her breath catching just slightly.
Beth swallowed, forcing herself to keep going, because if she didn’t say this now, she never would.
“I got jealous,” she repeated, softer this time, raw, like she was barely keeping it together herself. “I saw that girl flirting with you, and I—” She stopped, exhaling sharply, her hands tensing at her sides. “I hated it. I hated that she looked at you like she had a chance, I hated that you didn’t even notice because you never do, and I hated that she was getting to talk to you like that while I just sat there, saying nothing.”
Viv didn’t say anything, just kept staring at her, her expression carefully blank.
Beth sighed, her voice quieter now.
“And the contract thing” she added, shaking her head slightly. “That’s been bothering me too. Because I don’t know what you’re thinking, and I hate that I don’t know. I hate that you might leave, that you might decide to just go to Barcelona or wherever, and I won’t even—” She cut herself off, swallowing hard, voice dropping even lower. “I won’t even have a say in it.”
The silence that followed was thick, stretched so tight between them that Beth almost wished Viv would just yell at her, just give her something.
Viv let out a breath, shaking her head, sniffing lightly as she wiped at her eyes again.
“Well,” she muttered, voice softer now, but Beth could still hear the tension beneath it. “You don’t have to be worried.”
Beth blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Viv exhaled, shaking her head as if she was finally exhausted from all of it.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said simply, her voice clearer now, steadier. She let out a breathy chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “I signed my contract today. With Arsenal”
Beth’s stomach flipped, her pulse pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat.
Viv wiped at her face again, sniffling slightly before looking at Beth properly.
“That’s why I was late to dinner,” she said. “I was going to tell you first.”
Beth felt her breath catch, a sharp exhale escaping before she could stop it.
There was a long silence, the weight of it pressing down on them both.
Beth’s eyes burned suddenly, her throat tight, and before she could stop herself, a tear slid down her cheek.
She let out a shaky laugh, rubbing at her face.
“I’m such an idiot,” she murmured, her voice thick and uneven.
Viv let out a small, breathy chuckle—her first—as she shook her head, wiping at her own eyes again.
“Yeah,” she murmured, finally looking at Beth with something lighter, something closer to relief than anger. “You really are.”
For a moment, they just stood there, silent, breathing through everything, the night air cool against their too-warm skin.
The cool night air wrapped around them, grounding them in the moment, in the weight of everything they had just said, admitted, broken open.
Beth still felt raw, her throat thick, her breath a little shaky from everything she had just let out.
Viv still looked tired, her fingers curled around her car keys like she wasn’t quite sure whether she wanted to stay or leave.
Neither of them spoke at first, and maybe that was okay.
Maybe they just needed a second.
But eventually, Beth inhaled slowly, gathering herself, blinking away the last of the tears clinging stubbornly to her lashes. She let out a shaky breath, rubbing at her face one last time before shifting her weight uneasily.
And then, without really thinking about it, she murmured, softer than she meant to,
“…Thanks for rejecting the girl.”
Viv blinked, her lips parting slightly like she hadn’t expected that at all.
Beth let out a small, uneven breath, glancing away for a second, embarrassed.
“I know I didn’t have a right to be pissed about it,” she admitted, her voice low, almost self-conscious now. “I didn’t— I didn’t mean to act like I didn’t care, because I do. I just… I didn’t know how to say it without—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I just didn’t know how to say it.”
Viv was quiet for a beat, her gaze steady, unreadable for a moment.
Then, finally, she let out a small, tired chuckle, shaking her head slightly.
“I didn’t reject her for you, Beth,” she murmured, but there was no edge to it, no bitterness—just something soft, something almost teasing.
Beth exhaled, biting back a small, exhausted laugh of her own. “I know,” she muttered. “But still.”
Viv tilted her head slightly, studying Beth carefully.
“…I would have,” she admitted after a second, her voice quieter now, more honest. “Even if you hadn’t said anything. Even if you never did.”
The air between them was still thick with emotion, heavy from everything they had just said, admitted, unraveled.
But Viv hadn’t left.
She was still standing there, still close enough to reach, still watching Beth like she was waiting for something—a choice, a decision, a step forward instead of another step back.
Beth could still feel the echo of her own heartbeat, her pulse loud in her ears, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t afraid of what it meant.
She inhaled slowly, steadying herself, then lifted her gaze to Viv’s, searching, hesitating for just a second before she let herself ask the question that had been sitting on the edge of her tongue for what felt like forever.
“…Can I kiss you?”
Viv blinked, just once, her lips parting slightly like she hadn’t expected Beth to ask at all.
For a second, Beth thought maybe she had misread everything—maybe it was too soon, maybe she had already done too much damage to take it back—but then Viv’s eyes softened, something shifting in them, and she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
Beth didn’t wait any longer.
She stepped closer, just enough that their bodies were almost touching, then she lifted a hand to Viv’s jaw, slow and careful, letting her fingers skim across her skin, tilting her face up slightly before she finally leaned in.
The first kiss was gentle, almost hesitant—Beth pressing her lips softly against Viv’s, breathing her in, feeling the warmth of her against her own.
And when Viv didn’t pull away—when she sighed softly into it, when she leaned in just slightly, when she kissed her back just enough to make Beth’s chest ache with something deep and unshakable—Beth kissed her again.
This time, firmer, deeper, like she wasn’t afraid of holding on this time.
Like she wasn’t afraid of showing her what she felt anymore.
When they finally broke apart, Beth exhaled shakily, her forehead almost resting against Viv’s as she blinked, taking a moment just to breathe, to settle, to let this be real.
And then, voice barely above a whisper, she asked, “…Are we okay?”
Viv nodded, just once, but it was enough.
Then, before Beth could say anything else, Viv wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a slow, warm hug, pressing her face into Beth’s shoulder.
Beth inhaled deeply, letting herself melt into it, wrapping her arms around Viv’s waist, holding her just as tight.
They stayed like that for a while, standing on the empty street, breathing each other in, letting the weight of everything settle between them, but in a way that didn’t feel unbearable anymore.
And then, after a long, quiet moment, Beth murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips,
“I’m really happy about the contract.”
Viv let out a soft breath of laughter, her arms tightening around Beth’s back for just a second before she pulled back enough to look at her properly.
“I figured,” she murmured, lips curving slightly, her voice lighter than before.
Beth grinned, shaking her head slightly. “No, I mean it. I’m really, really happy you’re staying.”
Viv hummed softly, her fingers curling around the fabric of Beth’s jacket, holding onto her for just a second longer before she tilted her head slightly, eyes warm as she murmured,
“I know.”
Beth let out a slow breath, smiling against Viv’s forehead as she pressed another soft, lingering kiss there.