Chapter 4
Rio grew up in the backseat of arguments. Her parents’ fights were the kind that rattled walls and slammed doors. She’d sit in the corner, knees pulled to her chest, pretending not to hear when things broke: plates, glasses, whatever was in reach. Her dad was the first to hit the brakes, her mom not long after, and Rio found herself in the foster system, tossed between strangers who rarely stayed long enough to become anything more.
Maybe that’s why she liked driving. Just her, the road, and a bunch of people who let their guards down when they thought no one was paying attention. With this, Rio had seen love in all its messy, pulse-racing, and sometimes downright ridiculous glory.
Like the time a runaway bride hopped into her car, still in her wedding dress, only to ask Rio to drive her to a small apartment, where another woman was already waiting barefoot at the door. The bride barely hesitated before jumping out and ran straight into her arms.
Or that night Rio’s car accidentally became an ambulance, speeding to the hospital with a pregnant woman in labor in her passenger seat. They made it just in time for the woman’s wife to come sprinting in, still in her scrubs from a shift she barely escaped. Rio saw how the panic melted off her face the second she saw her, and whatever frustration and fear the pregnant woman had disappeared as their hands found each other.
Then there was Rio’s personal favorite: a sweet old lady who asked her to pick up another old woman from the airport. “Just a friend,” she had told Rio. But the second they laid eyes on each other, Rio knew it was actually a love story that had been paused for decades. Rio wasn’t the sentimental type, but even she had to look away, pretending she wasn’t blinking back tears. Some people waited a lifetime for a moment like that.
The thing is, Rio might not have been in the front seat of love herself, but damn, she’d chauffeured enough of it to know the real thing when she saw it.
And this time was no different. Lying beside Agatha, Rio felt something she couldn’t quite put a name to. Something she wasn’t sure she wanted to figure out. She reached out, gently tucking a few loose strands of hair behind Agatha’s ear. The woman wrinkled her nose at the touch but didn’t wake, and Rio couldn’t help but smile.
Asleep, Agatha looked nothing like her usual smug, confident self. Every so often, she let out a tiny snore, and Rio found it unfairly cute. Before she could stop herself, she whispered, “You’re making it real hard for me not to kiss you right now.”
The words had barely left Rio’s mouth when panic hit her. She sat up slowly, dragging the blanket over her bare chest like it could take back what she’d just admitted. Her eyes drifted back to Agatha, half her face buried in the pillow. For a moment, Rio just watched her. Then, pressing her lips together, she carefully got out of bed, gathered her clothes, and walked back to her own hotel room.
As Rio shoved another shirt into her suitcase, a knock came at the door. She barely had time to turn before Alice walked in like she always did. “So, how’s the packing going?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Rio had only been back in New York for a day, and her apartment was already a disaster: boxes piled against the walls, clothes all over the bed, and half-packed suitcases dumped on the floor. She never held onto things, so it surprised her that there was still so much stuff left to pack before the rest got shipped off to London.
With a heavy sigh, Rio grabbed a handful of shirts, crammed them into the last suitcase, and yanked the zipper shut. “Slow. Annoying. I didn’t realize I owned this much crap.”
Alice laughed, stepping further into the room. “That’s what happens when you put off packing until the last minute.” She nudged a half-filled box with her foot, glancing around at the mess. “Are you sure three days is enough? I can help if you want, I really don’t mind. Maybe I’ll get Jen to tag along too. She’s weirdly into this kind of thing. She loves organizing and all that.”
“No, it’s fine. I brought this inconvenience upon myself.” Rio sat on the edge of her bed, drumming her fingers against her knee. “Wouldn’t be the first time, anyway.”
Alice sensed there was more to that last sentence, so she sat down on the bed beside Rio, and crossed her arms. After a moment, she glanced over. “So…how was Seattle?”
Rio froze for half a second, her mind immediately drifting back to Agatha, and the way she just left her there without saying even half of what she should have.
Alice raised a brow at Rio’s silence. She remembered that early morning call: Rio, hungover and ranting about how, of all people, Agatha just happened to be in fucking Seattle and ended up babysitting her drunken ass the night before. Then, as if reading Rio’s mind, she added, “I meant the research trip.”
Rio blinked, snapping back to the present. “Oh. Right.” She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “It was fine. Eventually got all the data I needed, sent it to the team, and wrapped up everything I had to before leaving.”
Alice gave her a look. “Uh-huh. And how was the part of Seattle that wasn’t work?”
Rio didn’t answer. Instead, she patted her knees, stood up, and wandered over to her suitcases and boxes. “Speaking of Jen, weren’t you supposed to go on a date with her?” she said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
Alice shook her head but let it slide. “I am. Later.” She leaned against Rio’s desk, watching as she fidgeted with a half-packed box. “But unlike you, I can multitask.”
"Oh, so interrogating me is just your pre-date entertainment?” Rio scoffed.
“Something like that,” Alice grinned. “But if you really wanna get rid of me right now, you could just answer the question.”
Rio sighed, pressing her lips together. She hated how easily Alice saw through her. “Like I said, Seattle was fine,” she insisted, zipping up another suitcase. “It’s just –” She hesitated, then shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Alice studied her for a moment, then said, “Agatha?”
Rio froze again, and Alice shot her another knowing look. “Are you gonna keep dodging this, or are you actually gonna tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”
The other woman immediately slumped onto her bed, sinking into the pile of clothes. “Alice, I’m moving to another continent in a few days,” she answered, throwing an arm over her face. “I literally don’t have time to sit around overanalyzing feelings when there’s actual work to do.”
Alice let out a short, humorless laugh. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
Rio’s eyes snapped to hers. “It’s reality,” she said before shifting her gaze to the ceiling, like the answers might be up there. “Agatha and I…whatever this is, or whatever it was three years ago, it doesn’t fit into my life right now. And I’m not going to –” She stopped short, shaking her head. “I just know it’s better this way, okay? Let’s leave it at that.”
“Okay,” Alice said, knowing Rio well enough to trust she’d figure things out in her own time. “But just so you know, love isn’t some kind of liability you make it out to be. And you’ll never really get that if you’re too afraid to even try.”
Rio shot her a look, letting the almost-random piece of wisdom settle before turning away. “I don’t know what Jen’s been feeding you, but you’re starting to sound like a self-help book,” she muttered, pretending to focus on the half-packed box in front of her.
Alice smirked. “Oh, trust me, you’d definitely want what Jen’s been feeding me.” She sighed theatrically, shaking her head. “But sadly, even though Jen’s got some very generous..servings. I cannot afford to share.”
Rio groaned, scrunching up her face. “Jesus, Alice!” She grabbed a stray shirt from the bed and chucked it at her. “Can you not?”
Alice caught the shirt without missing a beat, “What? I’m just saying, the woman is very giving.” She tossed it back onto the bed, then shot Rio a teasing look. “And from what I hear, the same goes for her roommate.”
Rio instantly turned red. “What?”
“I mean, you might feel like crap on the inside, but you’ve been glowing like a goddamn flower since you got back,” Alice said, squinting at Rio. She then crossed her arms and leaned in a little. “Don’t even try to lie about it.”
“Alice.” Rio felt her face heat up even more.
“I’m just saying. I’m your friend. I can tell when someone’s been thoroughly –”
“Oh my God.”
“– ravished.”
“Jesus Christ.” Rio tried to hold back a laugh but failed miserably
Alice’s grin only widened. “Well, Jen did say the woman had a reputation. ”
“You are the absolute worst kind of friend,” Rio groaned, grabbing the nearest pillow and throwing it at Alice. “Now, kindly get the fuck out of here. I need to finish packing.”
Alice dodged effortlessly, still laughing as she backed toward the door. “Fine, I’ll let you get back to it.” She lingered for a second, her grin turning just a little smug. “But seriously, you should really see it for yourself.” And with that, she pulled the door shut behind her.
Once Alice was out of sight, Rio couldn’t help but rush to the mirror. She cupped her face with both hands, staring at her reflection. After a beat, all she could say was, “Fuck, I am glowing.”
Rio was nearly three-quarters done packing when she eventually noticed it was already nighttime. She’d been too caught up taping boxes, folding clothes, and sorting through the mess she had somehow accumulated to realize she hadn’t eaten since this morning. After throwing a bunch of books to the last box, she finally decided to drag herself to the kitchen.
After landing a job in the Bronx, Rio, albeit reluctantly, moved into a place within walking distance to save money. It meant leaving Lilia’s apartment behind, but her kooky old landlady still sent her casseroles every few weeks, as if she knew Rio would forget to take care of herself. And this time, there was a box of freshly baked cookies waiting for her on the counter.
Unfortunately for Rio, the first person she thought of was Agatha.
She could still remember the way Agatha’s lips moved as she savored every bite of the cookies she’d found sitting in Rio’s car that night – the second time she’d somehow, coincidentally, ended up there. Rio had driven countless passengers before, most of them easily forgettable. But Agatha (coincidence after coincidence aside) got stuck in her mind without even trying.
The smug curve of her smile that night was still clear in Rio’s mind even now, but it was the softness in those blue eyes that lingered the most. Staring at those cookies, Rio felt her mind do a little rewind on a moment she didn’t realize she had memorized even after all this time.
Agatha’s eyes.
Every time she looked at Rio. It wasn’t like the way Agatha looked at her dates with all that charm and well-rehearsed flirtation. And it definitely wasn’t the usual hunger Rio had grown used to from others. With Agatha, it was different.
It was like she wasn’t just being looked at but truly seen: past the kid who never let herself want love because she never had parents around to teach her what it felt like, past the teen who kept her distance because the people who once cared for her decided she wasn’t worth keeping, and past the woman who stopped trying because failure had followed her for so long, she convinced herself she wasn’t just good enough.
And yet, somehow, without a single word, Agatha had looked at her and found something worth seeing – even the parts Rio wasn’t sure were worth anything at all.
Rio leaned against the kitchen counter and, out of nowhere, started hearing Alice’s words in her head again: “Love isn’t some kind of liability you make it out to be. And you’ll never really get that if you’re too afraid to even try.”
She exhaled, staring at the ceiling like it might have some answers. And like earlier, it didn’t. It never did. But the problem was, Rio already had the answer. She just didn’t want to deal with it.
Her fingers drummed against the countertop. Every rational part of her was yelling at her to let it go. To stop overthinking. To just finish packing and move on.
It was the smartest, most logical choice. The kind Rio had always made. It wasn’t supposed to be this complicated. She’d spent her whole life staying in her lane, following the rules of the road, keeping her speed in check. But this time, something in her gut was begging her, screaming at her, to just fucking floor it.
Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
The call barely had a chance to ring before the other person picked up.
“Please tell me you didn’t accidentally pack yourself into one of your own moving boxes.”
Rio rolled her eyes but completely ignored that.
“Hey, quick question. Is Jen with you right now?”
A pause. She could practically hear Alice’s interest piquing, and Jen’s footsteps approaching in the background. “Yeah, we’re about to head out. Why?”
“I…” Rio hesitated, her pulse literally roaring in her ears.
This was a bad idea, like speeding through a red light with no brakes.
Impulsive. Reckless. Just plain stupid.
But so was Agatha’s fucking smile. And her fucking nose. And her fucking lips. And those stupid, perfect fucking blue eyes. And the way Rio could still fucking feel her.
Then somewhere in the stop-and-go of her thoughts, the light turned green.
“Can I speak to her?” Rio finally said, gripping the counter like it was the only thing keeping her from floating away. “Please.”
Rio shifted into park but didn’t move, her fingers still wrapped tight around the wheel. She reached for her phone and checked it once, then twice, half-hoping the letters and numbers would rearrange themselves and give her an excuse to bail.
“This is so fucking stupid,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “What the hell am I even doing? What the hell am I supposed to say?” She let her head fall against the steering wheel, her hands dropping to her lap. “Jesus, I’m such an idiot.”
She sat there for a second longer, before finally shutting off the engine with a quick twist of the key. Without another word, Rio finally opened the door and stepped out of the car.
The moment her feet touched the pavement, something nagged at her memory. She’d driven all over the city for countless passengers, but this neighborhood – it wasn’t just familiar. It felt like she’d been here before. And not just in passing.
When Rio stepped inside, the front desk attendant barely spared her a glance, too busy scrolling through their phone. Fine by her. She wasn’t in the right headspace to deal with anyone anyway. Except, of course, the person she came here for.
Rio strode straight to the elevator and jabbed the button. The numbers above the door barely moved. It was still making its sluggish descent, nowhere near her floor, and the longer she stood there, the more restless she felt.
Her fingers tapped against her thigh, her knee bouncing slightly. Rio was pretty sure she was going to pass out before the elevator even reached the ground floor.
Then her eyes landed on the stairwell, and suddenly, a light bulb went off above her head, like she’d just switched on her high beams.
Eight floors. Right. Taking the stairs would give her time: to think, to second-guess, maybe even talk herself out of whatever the hell she was about to do and turn back. It was stupid, probably torturous, but somehow, she convinced herself it was the most logical choice.
And before she could overanalyze it, she pushed open the door and started climbing.
Halfway up, Rio started to regret her stupid, impulsive decision. The burn in her legs was getting way too real, and the climb way longer than she’d thought. The voice in her head wasn’t helping either. It was practically yelling at her to turn around, and somehow, she was saying it out loud as she dragged herself up with each step.
“You’re making a fool of yourself,” she muttered to herself, taking another step.
“You’ve got a degree in botany, for god’s sake,” another step. “Which, by the way, has already been paid off,” she added through gritted teeth, her foot slamming down on the next.
“You’re smart,” step.
“You’re extremely hot,” step.
“You’re charming,” step.
“You’ve got an incredible sense of humor,” step.
“You drive like a pro,” step.
“People would kill for your legs,” step.
“You’re outstandingly great in bed,” step.
“London’s full of pretty British girls who’d be lining up for you,” step. “You could literally charm the pants off anyone,” step. “And some of them probably have sexy accents, which, I mean, come on...” she finished, but she didn’t stop.
Rio kept climbing, her mind making up numerous excuses to turn around, but somehow, the higher she went, the more impossible it felt to back out.
She didn’t even realize how out of breath she was until she reached the top. The next thing she knew, her hand was already raised to knock. Her fist hovered above the wood, just an inch away, as if the smallest hesitation might stop her from doing this.
Then, with a deep breath, she knocked. And immediately regretted it when the door opened.
“You’re not my pizza,” Agatha greeted, frowning, looking more annoyed than surprised. She stood in the doorway wearing a worn-out button-down shirt, loose gray shorts, and mismatched socks. Her hair was slightly messy, like she’d been lying down before Rio knocked.
Rio, for her part, was standing there awkwardly, forcing a smile that was a little too wide, like she was showing off every tooth she had. “What are you doing here?” Agatha asked again, crossing her arms and arching a skeptical eyebrow at her unexpected visitor.
“Hi,” Rio managed after a beat, still breathless from the climb. “I, uh, got your address from Jen,” she added, as though it made more sense that way.
Agatha stared at her. “That's not even what I asked,” she quipped, eyes scanning Rio from head to toe, noting the disheveled hair, flushed cheeks, and uneven breathing. “Have you been running?” Agatha continued, the question unexpectedly gentle.
Rio let out a breath, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
“I took the stairs,” she said, “I fucking hate stairs.”
Agatha gave her a look of disbelief, eyes narrowing as she glanced back toward the elevator. “Why would you use the stairs when the elevator is right there?”
Rio shrugged, finally meeting Agatha’s gaze. “Because I'm stupid,” she muttered. “And because I probably deserve it.” She hesitated, her eyes darting away before she sighed. “I’m sorry I left without saying anything. I didn’t even know what the hell I was doing.”
Agatha kept her arms crossed, her expression blank for a second before she scoffed. “Why would you be sorry? I would have done the same thing,” she said flatly. “You just happened to race me to it first.” The way she said it hit Rio right in the chest, like a tiny stab to the heart.
The silence dragged on. Agatha shifted from one foot to the other, eyeing Rio as if waiting for her to explain herself further. Then, finally, she asked, “Why are you really here, Rio?”
Rio let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She glanced down at her feet, trying to find the right words before meeting Agatha’s eyes again.
“I honestly don’t know,” she admitted, “I don’t know why I’m here. But I’ve been…thinking. A lot. And like I said, I’m not built for whatever this is. Hell, I don’t even know what this is.”
Agatha stayed silent and just watched her.
“I climbed those goddamn stairs hoping that halfway through, some force would knock me out of my senses and convince me to turn back,” Rio confessed, eyes dropping to the floor.
“But the more I tried to stop myself, the more I realized that I don’t know what I want. And every time I think I’ve figured it out, your face pops into my head. And I hate it.” She met Agatha's gaze again, and their eyes held. “But also…I don’t. You make me want things I shouldn’t. And it’s so damn frustrating because I’m not supposed to care this much. But god, I do.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you. Hell, I can’t even enjoy a cookie without thinking of you,” Rio admitted, watching as the other woman tried hard not to show any reaction. “I shouldn’t have just left without saying anything. It was stupid, and I’m…”
“Stop,” Agatha cut her off, her patience finally snapping. “Just shut up, okay?”
Rio opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Agatha beat her to it.
“You had me the second you smiled and showed that stupid little gap in your teeth,” she said, and Rio held her breath. Agatha repeated, softer this time, “You had me the second you showed me that dumb little gap in your teeth.”
Rio barely had a moment to process it before she moved – no, lunged toward Agatha. Her hands found the other woman’s face, her lips crashing into hers, desperate, hungry, and all-consuming, like everything that had been building up had finally slammed the brakes. Agatha didn’t even hesitate. She pulled Rio in, kissing her back just as fiercely.
The door clicked shut behind them. With a low growl, Rio pushed Agatha against it, kissing her harder, more desperately, as if she was trying to breathe in Agatha’s lips.
Agatha’s hands were everywhere, fingers digging into the other woman’s hair, pulling her closer as her mouth opened to Rio’s. Rio kissed her way down Agatha’s neck, nibbling gently, then making a slow trail to her throat before returning to her lips. She caught Agatha’s lower lip between her teeth, biting softly, and then paused, her forehead resting against Agatha’s.
“Let me make it up to you,” Rio whispered, her hands sliding over Agatha’s waist. Agatha swallowed as Rio held her gaze for a moment before slowly sinking to her knees.
She hooked her fingers into Agatha’s waistband, slowly tugging her shorts down inch by inch. The fabric brushed against Agatha’s thighs before pooling at her feet, leaving her bare to Rio's warm, wandering hands. “You’ll let me, won’t you, Agatha?” Rio whispered, pressing soft, unhurried kisses along her thigh, each one slower and closer than the last.
Agatha’s fingers curled into fists at her sides. “I…yeah.”
"Yeah?" Rio teased, her teeth grazing Agatha’s inner thigh, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.
“Please, Rio,” Agatha breathed.
“Look at you, all polite and well-mannered.” Rio’s touch grew more insistent, her fingers gently kneading the soft flesh of Agatha’s thigh as her tongue slowly trailed higher and higher.
With a soft gasp, Agatha closed her eyes, giving in completely. “Fuck, Rio.” And then, finally, Rio’s lips reached their destination. Agatha moaned loudly, tangling her fingers in Rio's hair as she ground her hips against her eager mouth. “Oh fuck, just like that,” Agatha panted, her head thrown back. “Just like that, baby.”
Rio had heard Agatha call other women names before, but “baby” was sort of something only reserved for her. Hearing that, Rio doubled her efforts, sucking Agatha's clit between her lips and flicking it rapidly with her tongue. Her fingers also moved in and out of Agatha, curling just right to hit that certain spot deep inside, sending waves so intense that tears welled up in Agatha’s eyes.
“I swear to god, I’m going to find that little shit and poke his eyes out,” Agatha breathed out, her words turning into soft whimpers and then moans as the pleasure hit her hard. Her left leg instinctively found its way to Rio’s shoulders, pulling her in closer.
Rio paused and looked up at Agatha, sensing she might’ve misheard her. “Who exactly are we talking about now?” Rio’s brows furrowed, but Agatha was quick to firmly push her head back to her core, urging Rio to keep going with a desperate intensity.
“The kid who stole your number,” Agatha sputtered, eyes shut tight, and her back arching as she held onto Rio’s hair. “You should’ve been doing this to me three years ago if that piece of shit hadn’t taken my dollar.”
Rio chuckled softly at her words, the sound vibrating through Agatha’s body, causing her to arch her back even more. Agatha whimpered, too far gone to care about anything but the pleasure Rio was giving her. “Please,” she begged, her hips undulating. “Please, Rio.”
Rio sealed her lips around Agatha’s clit and sucked hard, at the same time plunging three fingers knuckle-deep into Agatha’s core. “Fuck.” Rio’s other hand then slid beneath Agatha’s shirt, her palm pressing firmly against the soft, unrestrained swell of her breast. Her fingers teased over the sensitive skin before capturing a stiff nipple between them, rolling and pinching with just the right amount of pressure that made Agatha’s eyes roll back in her head.
Agatha came with a loud, shameless cry, her walls clamping down around Rio’s digits as she rode out her release. The sound was so raw and wild that even she seemed shocked by it. Rio definitely was. Chest rising and falling, Agatha blinked at her, looking like she wanted to say something, maybe even ask how the hell Rio had just done that to her –
But then the doorbell rang, snapping them both out of it.
“Pizza delivery,” a voice called out from the other side of the door.
Agatha started to pull away, but Rio quickly stopped her.
“Stay, I got it. Let's make him wait a bit. I’m not done with you yet.”
That was all it took for Agatha to stay put.
Rio slowly dragged her tongue over Agatha one last time, drawing out every last bit of pleasure before finally pulling back. She stood, her lips still glistening, and locked eyes with Agatha, whose pupils were blown wide. “I think I like seeing you like this,” she said before leaning in and crashing their mouths together in a searing kiss, letting Agatha taste herself on her lips.
Breaking away, Rio smirked and wiped the rest of Agatha’s slick off on the back of her hand. Agatha, still speechless and breathless, stepped aside as Rio peeked through the peephole, then unlocked and opened the door.
“Sorry for the wait,” Rio said, barely looking at the delivery guy holding a steaming pizza. She grabbed the box, shoved some cash into his hand, and shut the door before he could even blink.
Locking eyes with Agatha again, Rio grinned wide, all teeth, looking smug, satisfied, and way too pleased with herself. Holding the pizza box like some prize, she tilted her head.
“Now, where were we?”
Agatha rolled her eyes, trying to hold back a smile. “I swear, I'm going to find that little shit, and when I do, he’s going to wish he was never born,” she growled, before grabbing Rio’s wrist and dragging her to the couch.
Both women were sprawled out on the couch, each taking over an opposite corner. Agatha, still in her button-down shirt and underwear, was lounging with her legs stretched out, munching on her third slice of pizza. Rio, in nothing but her underwear, wore one of Agatha’s old band shirts like a makeshift sheet, the fabric falling off her shoulders as she lazily sipped from a can of beer.
Their legs casually met in the middle, with Agatha’s sock-covered feet playfully nudging Rio’s bare ones. “What?” she asked when she noticed Rio staring.
Rio didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she simply smiled, and stood up, her eyes never leaving the other woman as she effortlessly slipped on Agatha’s shirt before walking towards the large glass window.
“Really nice place you’ve got here. Definitely suits you,” she said, glancing back at Agatha before turning her attention to the city lights outside, taking in the view.
“It better be. More than a quarter of my paycheck goes to this place,” Agatha joked, tossing the last slice of pizza crust back into the box. “Honestly, it's probably the only thing keeping me motivated to keep earning that paycheck.”
Rio raised an eyebrow. “And what made you pick this?”
Agatha paused, her eyes scanning the room as she considered her response. She was about to say something else but shrugged it off. “It’s close to work. Mine and Jen's. Undeniably convenient. Plus, the view’s pretty hard to beat. That’s enough of a reason right there.”
Rio surveyed the apartment, taking in the mismatched furniture that somehow worked together, the colorful artwork on the walls, and the shelves filled with quirky knick-knacks. Agatha wasn’t exactly the minimalist Rio was. “Yeah, you’ve really made this place your own,” she mumbled. “Except for the egregious amount of skincare products in the bathroom. Alice mentioned Jen’s basically a skincare expert.”
“She sure is,” replied Agatha. “And mainly because I only left the bathroom for her to decorate.”
Rio let out a chuckle, and took another glance around. “But yeah, you're right. The view’s worth the paycheck, for sure.”
Before Agatha could respond, Rio added, “And I bet a handful of girls start swooning the second they see it.” The words had a hint of jealousy that Rio didn’t mean to let slip, but she knew Agatha caught it instantly. She could practically feel the smirk forming behind her.
Agatha propped her elbow on the arm of the couch, eyeing Rio with a lazy smirk. “Wouldn’t say that’s how it goes around here,” she mused. “Jen and I have strict house rules. No bringing of dates home. No random sleepovers. No inviting anyone over. You can screw around all you want, just not under this roof.” She stood, making her way over to Rio. “Unless, of course, they’re someone worth breaking the rules for.”
Rio clicked her tongue, fighting the smile tugging at her lips.
“So, is this the first time you’ve brought someone ‘worth breaking the rules for’?”
Agatha let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes. “Don’t get too cocky. If we’re being real, you pretty much invited yourself over,” she teased. But when she saw the slightest frown cross Rio’s face, she quickly added, “But yeah, this might be the first.”
Their eyes met, both hovering in the moment, until Rio looked away first, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. But as soon as she turned, her eyes landed on a certain spot outside. She paused. “Isn’t that…?” she asked, pointing toward the bar just down the street. “Isn’t that the same bar where we–?”
She turned to look at Agatha, who was already staring at the spot with a knowing look on her face. Silence fell between them, and after a beat, Rio’s eyes widened slightly in realization.
“Agatha,” Rio called, as if the other woman already knew the question on her mind.
Agatha clicked her tongue, running a hand through her hair as her eyes remained fixed on the bar in the distance. “The thing is, I sort of chose this place as soon as I realized I had a very clear view of that old bar,” she said, almost laughing at how ridiculous it sounded. “I don’t know…something in me kept hoping that maybe, just maybe, I’d see you there one night.”
She finally turned to look at Rio. “What I’m trying to say is, I really did want to see you again, Rio…even though I knew the chances weren’t exactly on my side.”
Rio stepped closer and gently held Agatha’s face.
“I hate you,” she said, her eyes close to tearing up.
Agatha stared at her, not sure what to think.
“I hate you for losing that damn dollar.”
Without missing a beat, Rio and Agatha leaned in to kiss each other almost at the same time. But this kiss was different from the first ones. It was gentler, softer, and slower, with both of them taking their time, fully feeling each other’s touch.
Agatha guided Rio toward the bedroom, their kiss never breaking as they moved. When they reached the doorway, Agatha slowly tugged off Rio’s shirt, her lips trailing soft kisses from behind her ear to her neck. There was no need for words, just the sound of their breathing and soft moans were enough to fill the space.
But as soon as they fell onto the bed, Rio fumbled with the buttons on Agatha’s shirt, cursing under her breath when one refused to budge. But even as she struggled, her eyes stayed locked on her.
Agatha smirked, breathless. “Are you planning to fight my shirt all night, or?”
Rio shot her a look. “Why the hell does this thing have so many buttons?”
Agatha laughed, reaching to help, but Rio swatted her hands away. “No. I got it.”
Agatha arched a brow, amused. “Oh yeah? Because it looks like the shirt’s winning.”
Rio huffed, yanking at the stubborn button. “I swear to God, if this thing doesn’t –” The button finally popped free, and Rio smiled triumphantly. “Ha. Told you.”
Agatha laughed softly, her heart warming at how adorable Rio looked on top of her. “You know exactly what you’re doing. And I hate that it’s working,” she muttered, then pulled Rio into another, even sweeter kiss.
Agatha lay on her back, one arm tucked behind her head. Her other hand rested on Rio’s lower back, occasionally drifting up and down, tracing abstract lines. Rio was half on top of her, one leg thrown over Agatha’s thigh, her arm draped across Agatha’s stomach. Her head rested against Agatha’s shoulder, lips close enough that every breath brushed against her skin.
“We should probably sleep,” Rio mumbled, but there was no weight behind the suggestion.
Agatha tilted her chin slightly to brush her lips against Rio’s temple. “Probably,” she agreed, though the way her hand slid lower Rio’s spine, said otherwise.
Rio shifted closer, her knee sliding between Agatha’s legs. Then, with a lazy smile, she lifted herself just enough to hover over Agatha. Her blonde hair, slightly messy from their earlier rounds, fell forward, brushing against the other woman’s face.
“What are you doing?” asked Agatha, tilting her head back slightly against the pillow.
Rio didn’t answer. Not with words, anyway. Instead, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Agatha’s lips, just enough to make her chase it when Rio pulled away.
Then another kiss to her cheek. Then the other.
Agatha let out a breathy chuckle, biting down a smile.
“Didn’t you just say we should get some sleep?”
But Rio ignored her, and just smiled as she placed another kiss on the tip of Agatha’s nose, then her forehead, then the corner of her jaw. She moved very slowly, placing little pecks down the curve of Agatha’s neck. She stayed there for a moment, her warm breath ghosting over Agatha’s skin before pressing a deep, lingering kiss just below her ear.
Agatha’s fingers flinched against Rio’s back.
Rio smirked, tilting her head to steal another quick kiss from Agatha’s lips. “You know, bees leave little footprints on flowers when they land on them.” Then another kiss, this time Rio’s lips pressing firmly against the hollow of Agatha’s throat, sucking gently.
“It’s how other bees know someone’s already been there.” Then another just above her collarbone, taking her time like she was planting something permanent.
“Kinda like a little claim…” Rio continued, her lips moving lower, pressing soft, warm kisses along Agatha’s skin between every word. “And now, I am doing the exact same thing.”
Agatha let out a soft laugh before smoothly rolling them over, pinning Rio beneath her.
She slowly trailed her fingers lightly down Rio’s side before leaning in, “Figured it was my turn to leave some tiny marks,” she whispered against her skin, her lips drifting lower.
Rio hummed, fingers tracing idle circles against Agatha’s back.
“Thought you like it when I take the wheel.”
Agatha smirked against her collarbone. “I do.”
She then lifted her head, locking eyes with Rio. Agatha had never felt a pull like that before. Not toward anyone’s eyes. She could get lost in them, drown in them, and still feel like she’d never have enough.
“But this time, I want you to just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Morning light slipped through the curtains. Unlike before, when she’d wake up to cold sheets and an empty bed, Agatha woke up with Rio still beside her. The other woman was on her stomach, the blanket barely covering her back, blonde hair a mess, one arm tucked under the pillow, and the other draped across Agatha’s waist.
Agatha usually wanted to slip out before the morning came, to avoid the awkwardness. But now, lying here with Rio still tangled up in her, she didn’t want to move at all. She just lay there, staring, taking it in. She couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to wake up to this every day.
As if sensing she was being watched, Rio stirred and blinked awake. She squinted up at Agatha, smiling a little but still groggy. “You’re staring.”
Agatha snorted, rolling onto her side. “You drool.”
Rio groaned, shoving her face into the pillow before mumbling, “Shut up.”
Agatha simply smiled, reaching out to smooth her fingers through Rio’s messy hair, tucking a few stray strands behind her ear. She lingered for a moment before finally speaking.
“Just curious,” she mused, tilting her head slightly. “Did you dye your hair because I once told you I was into blondes?”
Rio, still half-buried in the pillow, blinked, then scoffed. “Seriously?”
Agatha smirked. “What? Just seems like a funny coincidence.”
Rio stretched, letting out a lazy groan before propping herself up on one elbow. “First of all,” she said, poking Agatha’s side, “I don’t even remember you saying that.”
Agatha raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you remember.”
Rio narrowed her eyes but couldn’t fight back a smirk. “Okay, maybe I do. But no, I didn’t dye my hair for you, Ms. Harkness.” She flopped back onto the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. “It was an impulse thing. Happened months after we met. Alice dared me, and I was bored.”
Agatha hummed, still playing with a lock of Rio’s hair. “Mmm. Convenient excuse.”
Rio turned her head, giving her a glare. “Would it kill you to just take the compliment?”
“So it is for me?” Agatha grinned.
Rio groaned, dragging the blanket over her head. “I hate you.”
Agatha chuckled, tugging the blanket down just enough to see Rio’s eyes.
“Says the girl who dyed her hair exactly how I like it.”
“Shut up,” Rio said from under the blanket, but Agatha could feel the slight twitch of her lips, like she was trying not to smile.
Agatha twirled another strand of Rio’s hair between her fingers, letting it slip through as she studied her. “For the record,” she continued, “the blonde is hot.”
“Obviously,” said Rio, finally peeking out.
Agatha smirked but then let her fingers trace down to Rio’s cheek. “But I do like your natural hair much better,” she admitted. “The brown suits you. Compliments your eyes just fine.”
Rio blinked, caught off guard for a second. She held Agatha’s gaze for a moment before scoffing lightly, “God, who would’ve thought you’d be such a sap in the morning.”
Agatha rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she slid an arm around Rio’s waist and pulled her in, pressing their bodies closer under the covers.
“Yeah, well, don’t go spreading that around. I still have a reputation to uphold.”
Rio huffed a laugh, fingers absentmindedly tracing circles against Agatha’s back.
“Hate to break it to you, but I think that reputation’s already ruined.”
Agatha hummed, pretending to consider. “Yeah? And why’s that?”
Rio didn’t bother answering. Instead, she leaned in and kissed her. Quick, simple, but with just enough feeling to make her point. When she pulled back, she gave Agatha a small smirk.
“That’s why,” she said before dropping her head onto Agatha’s chest.
Agatha just stared at the ceiling, her mind blank for once. She wasn’t used to being at a loss for words, but Rio had a way of throwing her off balance without even trying. The kiss still lingered, not just on her lips but in the space between them.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. What had been effortless and light now carried a weight. It was the kind of silence that reminded them they were on borrowed time.
Then Rio spoke. “Agatha,” she said, like she was about to say something that needed saying.
Agatha already knew. She knew exactly what Rio wanted to say, and could feel it pressing at the edges. But instead of sitting with it, she exhaled and stretched, pushing herself up. “I need a drink. Do you want coffee or tea? Pretty sure Jen has some fancy tea in there you might like.”
Rio didn’t answer right away, and Agatha could feel her watching. But then, after a beat, Rio just sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. “Yeah, sure. Tea sounds good.”
Agatha slid out of bed first, reaching for the shirt Rio had tossed aside last night. She pulled it on lazily, leaving most of the buttons undone, then headed for the door without looking back.
Agatha was leaning against the counter, waiting for the water to boil, when she heard footsteps behind her. She glanced over her shoulder just as Rio walked in, now back in her own clothes. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun, strands falling loose around her face.
“I thought you went back to sleep,” Agatha said, turning back to the stove.
“Yeah, no. Waking up alone in someone else’s bed isn’t really my thing.”
Rio leaned against the counter beside her.
Agatha chuckled, opening a cabinet to grab a mug. “It’s hardly someone else’s bed by now.”
The other woman didn’t argue. Instead, she glanced around the kitchen. It was cozy, slightly cluttered with things that made it feel lived-in: plants on the windowsill, mismatched mugs, a few dishes left in the sink. It really suited Agatha.
Rio stayed quiet, watching as Agatha poured the hot water into a mug. When Agatha handed it over, Rio took it, wrapping her hands around the warmth before taking a small sip.
“Do you want anything else?” Agatha asked, leaning against the counter.
Rio shook her head. “No, I’m good. Not much of a breakfast person anyway.”
Agatha didn’t push. She just hummed, grabbing her own coffee. “Alright.”
They stood there for a moment, the room quiet except for the distant sounds of the city outside. Morning light streamed through the window, making Rio’s blonde hair almost glow. Agatha didn’t mean to stare, but something about Rio standing there, barefoot in her kitchen, looking so at home, made her chest feel weird.
Rio caught her. “What?”
Agatha blinked, shaking her head as she set her coffee down. “Nothing.” She pushed off the counter and nodded toward the fridge. “You sure you don’t want anything? We’ve got some eggs, last night’s pizza, and maybe a lonely, slightly questionable banana hiding somewhere.”
Rio snorted, lifting her mug. “As tempting as that sounds, I’ll pass.”
They laughed softly, their eyes finding each other again, holding for just a second longer. The moment lingered until Rio finally set her mug down. “I'm leaving for Kew in two days,” she said. “Flight’s in the afternoon. Gonna be a mess with the time difference, though, since New York's what…six hours behind?”
“Five,” Agatha corrected, quicker than she meant to.
Rio blinked, slightly taken aback. Not just by the speed of Agatha’s answer, but by the fact that she even knew. Had she looked it up? Had she been thinking about it too?
Realizing her slip-up, Agatha put her mug down a little too quickly, and added, “Two days from now. Well, those London girls have no idea how lucky they’re about to get.”
Rio’s smile faltered for just a second, so fast Agatha might've missed it if she wasn’t already watching her so closely. She didn’t call her out on it. Instead, she grabbed her coffee again, taking another sip as she leaned against the counter. “Excited?” Agatha asked.
“Yeah, of course. Not particularly about the girls, but, you know…it’s London,” Rio said, nodding as she reached for her tea.
Agatha watched Rio toy with her sleeve. She took a slow sip of her coffee before finally breaking the silence. “You’ve wanted this for a long time.”
Rio looked over her, brow pinching slightly. “Did I say that?”
“Not to me, really.” Agatha huffed a laugh. “But I might’ve overheard you talking to that old guy on our flight to Seattle.” She shrugged, eyes darting toward the window. “Kinda hard not to.”
Rio chuckled, shaking her head. “Didn’t think you were paying attention.”
Agatha smirked, meeting her eyes. “I wasn’t. You just talk too damn loud.”
Rio rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Well, yeah, I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t think it would catch up to me this fast.”
Agatha nodded, fingers drumming against her mug. “Well, time’s kind of an asshole like that.”
“Yeah,” Rio murmured. “It really is.”
Rio lifted her head slowly, eyes moving up from her tea.
There’s a hesitation in the way she looked at Agatha, like she was standing at the edge of something, like she was about to step over a line she wasn’t sure they should cross. But they were already this far in. So what was stopping them now?
Rio’s eyes searched Agatha’s face, like she was trying to decide if she should say whatever was sitting on the tip of her tongue. Agatha felt it too. They both took a step closer, close enough that they could feel the warmth of each other’s skin.
“Agatha,” Rio said, like she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear her own words out loud.
Agatha swallowed, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Yeah?”
Agatha also wanted to say it. She really did. But something was really holding them back. Maybe it was the timing. Maybe it was not knowing where they stood. Or maybe, deep down, she wasn’t sure if saying it would change anything at all now.
Rio exhaled through her nose, her brown orbs tracing Agatha’s face. Her eyes, then her lips, then back again. But before either of them could say anything, they heard the front door open.
“Ugh, you will not believe what just happened,” Jen called out from the living room, completely unaware she wasn’t just talking to Agatha. “Some guy proposed on the subway, like, full-on, down on one knee, ring and everything. Very romantic.”
At the sound of Jen’s voice, Rio instinctively took a step back from Agatha.
Jen kept going, “But his girlfriend, well, ex-girlfriend now, who, by the way, was insanely gorgeous, wasn’t having any of his crap. Turns out the guy was screwing around with her best friend. And get this...the man actually had the nerve to get mad when she walked off...”
Back in the kitchen, Agatha and Rio just stood there, mugs in hand, stuck in some weird in-between. Whatever that moment was, it was gone now.
“...like, are you kidding me? Men are unreal. Like, truly. They’ll set their own house on fire and then act shocked when they get fucking burned–”
Jen finally walked in mid-rant and stopped dead, eyes bouncing between the women. “Rio.” She blinked, realization dawning. “You're still here.”
“Jen,” Rio said first, then set her mug down. “Actually, no. I was just about to head out.”
Agatha shot Jen a look, one that clearly said read the room. Jen caught on fast. “You know, you don’t really have to rush off,” she offered. “Stay longer if you want.”
Rio shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. “It’s alright. I should head home anyway. Still got some packing to do and a few boxes to sort and ship out.”
Jen nodded, picking up on the cue. “Right. Well, I’ll just...leave you two to it.” And with that, she hurriedly slipped out of the kitchen, leaving Agatha and Rio alone again.
The silence that followed was heavy in a way neither of them knew what to do with. Agatha traced the rim of her mug, stealing a glance at Rio, who was staring at the counter.
“So,” Rio finally said, shifting on her feet. “I guess I should be going.”
Agatha nodded, even though something in her didn’t want to. “Yeah. You probably should.”
Rio took a small step back, then another, hesitating just for a second. And before Agatha could even think, Rio leaned in. Her lips barely brushed Agatha’s cheek. But she didn’t stop there. She lingered, just enough for Agatha to feel her warmth, hovering so close to the corner of her mouth that if either of them moved, even a little, it wouldn’t be by accident.
Agatha’s breath caught. Her lips parted so slightly, her fingers aching to move like they wanted to hold onto something. But she stayed still. Didn’t lean in. Didn’t pull away either.
When Rio finally pulled back, she lingered just a second longer, their noses almost brushing, her brown eyes searching Agatha’s face like she was waiting for something.
But Agatha didn’t say a word.
“Goodbye, Agatha,” Rio whispered, and it almost felt like she was asking her to stop her.
Agatha felt it. She felt everything all at once. And before Rio could fully step away, the words slipped out before she could stop them.
“Rio.”
Rio turned back, waiting, something like hope barely hanging in her eyes.
Agatha swallowed hard, then let out a breath. “We wouldn’t have worked out anyway.”
She regretted it the second it left her mouth.
Rio’s face fell, just a fraction, but enough. Enough for Agatha to see the disappointment, the way she bit the inside of her cheek like she was holding something back. And then Rio nodded, forcing a small, almost trembling smile.
“You’re right,” she murmured. “We wouldn’t have.”
And with that, she walked out of the kitchen.
A few seconds later, Agatha heard the front door open, then finally clicked shut.