This Time, Together
Vi woke to a faint, tingling numbness in her left arm. She shifted slightly, only to feel a warm weight against her side. Blinking her eyes open, she was met with the sight of Caitlyn’s head resting on her shoulder, her dark hair spilling across Vi’s neck. Caitlyn’s soft breath tickled Vi’s skin, steady and rhythmic, lulling in a way that made Vi want to stay perfectly still and not disturb the moment.
Her lips curled into a small smile as she took in the sight. Caitlyn’s features were relaxed in sleep, her long lashes resting against her pale cheeks. She looked peaceful, her usually sharp and attentive demeanor replaced with a softness that made Vi’s chest tighten.
Carefully, Vi tried to shift her right arm, only to realize it was resting on Caitlyn’s thigh, which was draped casually over Vi’s legs. The realization sent a jolt of warmth through her, and Vi froze, her fingers brushing against Caitlyn’s bare skin. The soft fabric of Caitlyn’s shorts had ridden up slightly, exposing more of her toned leg. Vi swallowed hard, her mind racing.
You’re playing with fire, Vi. Get it together.
But she didn’t move her hand right away. Instead, she found herself tracing the curve of Caitlyn’s leg with her eyes, her fingers brushing lightly against her thigh. It wasn’t intentional—at least, that’s what Vi told herself. But something about the casual intimacy of the moment made her heart pound louder than she cared to admit.
The quiet was broken by the faint sound of barking. Vi’s head snapped up as she recognized Chip’s high-pitched yaps, followed by the distinct creak of the apartment door opening. Panic surged through her when she heard Jinx’s voice.
“Vi? You home? I need your jacket!”
Vi stiffened, her mind scrambling as Jinx’s footsteps grew louder. She gently nudged Caitlyn’s shoulder. “Cait… Cait, wake up,” she whispered, her voice low and urgent.
Caitlyn stirred, letting out a soft groan as her brows knitted together. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, her expression shifting from groggy confusion to sudden alertness when she registered her surroundings—and their proximity.
“What’s going on?” Caitlyn murmured, her voice still husky from sleep.
Before Vi could answer, the bedroom door swung open, and Jinx stood there, her mouth already forming a question. “Hey, Vi, can I borrow your jac—” She froze, her eyes going wide as she took in the scene before her.
Vi and Caitlyn stared back, equally frozen. Jinx’s gaze darted between the two of them, her mouth falling open in shock. “Yikes,” she muttered dramatically, then quickly backed out of the room, closing the door with an audible click.
Caitlyn sighed, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. Her cheeks were faintly pink, but her voice remained composed. “I’m so sorry about this,” she said softly, swinging her legs off the bed.
Vi shook her head, still trying to process the chaos. “Don’t be. This is on Jinx, not you.” She stood as well, raking a hand through her own hair. “I’ll deal with her.”
Caitlyn offered a small, apologetic smile as she began gathering her things. “I should probably head home anyway.”
Vi hesitated, watching her for a moment before nodding. “Yeah… I’ll be right back.”
When Vi stepped into the living room, she found Jinx leaning against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed and an enormous grin plastered across her face.
“Well, well, well,” Jinx drawled, her tone dripping with amusement. “Didn’t think I’d be walking in on that this morning.”
Vi groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Jinx, seriously. What do you want?”
Jinx’s grin only widened. “Oh, nothing. Just my favorite jacket. But honestly, this? Way better than I expected my morning to go.”
“Jinx.” Vi’s tone was a warning, though it lacked any real heat.
“Fine, fine,” Jinx said, waving her hand dismissively. “The jacket with the red lining. You know the one.”
“That's my jacket, not yours. Anyway, I’ll get it for you later,” Vi replied flatly. “Just… leave.”
Jinx raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. “Sure thing, big sis. But you might want to check on your guest before she sneaks out.”
As if on cue, Caitlyn stepped into the living room, her purse slung over her shoulder. She greeted Jinx with a polite smile. “Morning, Jinx.”
“Morning, Cait,” Jinx replied, her grin mischievous. “Hope you slept well.”
Caitlyn sighed softly, shaking her head but not losing her composure. “I’ll see you around, Jinx.”
Turning to Vi, Caitlyn offered a small, grateful smile. “Thanks for letting me stay.”
Vi frowned slightly. “You sure you don’t want breakfast first? I can whip something up.
Caitlyn shook her head gently. “No, it’s alright. Thanks, though.”
She headed toward the door, but just as her hand reached the doorknob, Vi’s voice stopped her.
“Cait.”
Caitlyn turned, her eyes meeting Vi’s. There was something unspoken in Vi’s expression that made Caitlyn pause.
Vi hesitated, her hand twitching slightly at her side. “Can we… talk later?”
Caitlyn’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly, and she let out a soft sigh before nodding. “Alright. Later.”
Vi nodded, her lips pressing into a faint smile. “I’ll see you later today, okay?”
Caitlyn offered a small wave and a quiet “Okay” before stepping outside and closing the door behind her.
Vi stared at the door for a long moment, her thoughts a tangled mess. Jinx’s voice snapped her out of it.
“You’re screwed, you know that?”
Vi groaned, turning to glare at her sister. “Shut up, Jinx.”
Jinx laughed, sauntering toward the kitchen as she added, “Seriously, though. So screwed.”
Vi sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair as she turned back toward her room. Her morning had just started, and already, it felt like she was in over her head.
Caitlyn stepped into her home, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. She let out a deep sigh, leaning back against the door for a moment. The events of the morning replayed in her mind, and she groaned quietly, rubbing her temples.
“What were you thinking, Caitlyn?” she muttered under her breath. Shaking her head, she pushed off the door and made her way to the bathroom, determined to wash away the lingering unease.
The warm water cascaded over her as she stood in the shower, her thoughts swirling. She had no one to blame but herself for agreeing to stay at Vi’s place. You could’ve just gone home, Cait. You didn’t have to make things... complicated.
The image of Vi’s face that morning flashed in her mind—the closeness, the softness of the moment before Jinx barged in. Her cheeks flushed at the memory. And then, unbidden, another moment surfaced: the kiss from the night before. Vi’s lips, warm and hesitant, brushing against hers, had left Caitlyn stunned. It had been brief, tentative, but it lingered in her mind like a brand.
She had felt frozen in that moment, unsure of what to do or how to react. Part of her had wanted to kiss Vi back, to give in to the feelings she had buried for so long. But the other part—the cautious, rational side—had held her back. What does this mean? Why now?
Stepping out of the shower, Caitlyn wrapped herself in a towel and padded into her bedroom. She pulled on a comfortable pair of jeans and a fitted blue shirt, toweling her damp hair dry. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her expression growing somber.
Her chest tightened as her mind wandered to Vi. Two weeks apart had made it painfully clear to Caitlyn just how much she missed her. Vi had been a constant presence, grounding and warm, and Caitlyn couldn’t ignore the flutter in her chest every time Vi smiled at her. The realization that her feelings hadn’t changed—if anything, they’d deepened—hit her like a weight.
But what could she do about it? The friendship they had rebuilt after so many years was fragile, delicate. Caitlyn couldn’t bear the thought of losing Vi again. Better to keep her as a friend than risk ruining everything.
Her fingers brushed her lips absently, her mind drifting back to the kiss. The warmth, the sincerity—it had felt like Vi was trying to say something without words. Caitlyn couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward Vi, but she also couldn’t ignore the fear. What if it was a mistake? What if it changes everything for the worse?
With an exasperated sigh, Caitlyn threw herself onto her bed, pressing her palms against her face. She could feel the tug-of-war inside her—the want, the fear, the endless what-ifs. It wasn’t like her to be this uncertain, but Vi always had a way of throwing her off balance.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. She glanced at the screen, half-expecting a message from Vi, but it was just an update from her clinic. The reminder nudged her out of her haze.
Maybe work will help distract me. Caitlyn stood, grabbing her bag and keys. She didn’t have any appointments today, but she could check on lab results, review patient files—anything to keep her mind off the inevitable talk with Vi.
The walk to the clinic was brisk, the cool air biting at Caitlyn’s skin. Her thoughts still swirled as she approached the familiar building, but the routine of work gave her a sense of control. Pushing open the door, she greeted her assistant, Connie, with a small smile and headed straight for the lab.
She immersed herself in reviewing test results, double-checking reports, and organizing files. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting back to Vi—her voice, her laugh, the warmth in her eyes when she looked at Caitlyn.
“Stop it,” Caitlyn muttered to herself, shaking her head. She flipped through another file, trying to refocus. But the nagging thought remained: What is Vi going to say?
The fear of what their talk might bring loomed large. Caitlyn couldn’t shake the feeling that the delicate balance they had found was on the verge of tipping. And the thought of losing Vi—not just as a friend, but as someone who had become so deeply intertwined in her life—was almost too much to bear.
“Just get through the day,” Caitlyn told herself, taking a steadying breath. For now, she’d focus on work. The rest... she’d deal with later.
Vi pushed open the door to the bar, the familiar clang echoing in the quiet space. It wasn’t open yet, and the absence of patrons gave the room an emptiness that matched the turmoil in her chest. She had left the apartment shortly after Caitlyn had gone, partly to escape Jinx’s relentless teasing, but mostly to find a distraction.
“Inventory,” Vi muttered to herself, heading to the storage room. “Just count the bottles and stop thinking.”
She grabbed the clipboard from the shelf and started her rounds, checking labels and tallying supplies. But her focus wavered, her eyes glossing over the bottles without really seeing them. Her mind, no matter how hard she tried, kept drifting back to Caitlyn.
Ever since she came back...
Vi set the clipboard down with a frustrated sigh, leaning her hands against the edge of the counter. The truth was, Caitlyn’s return had flipped her world upside down. At first, she’d told herself it was just old memories stirring up feelings best left buried. They were friends now, and Vi had convinced herself that was enough.
But it wasn’t. Not anymore.
She thought back to the past few months—the easy conversations, the laughter, the quiet moments when it felt like the world outside didn’t exist. Caitlyn was a part of her life again, and it was more than Vi had ever dared to hope for. But it wasn’t enough. Being with Caitlyn again had made her realize something she had tried so hard to ignore for years: She wanted her.
Vi ran a hand through her hair, tugging lightly at the strands in frustration. For so long, she had tried to bury her feelings, to tell herself that Caitlyn deserved better than someone like her. Someone rough around the edges, someone who didn’t have their life figured out. Caitlyn deserved someone polished, someone who fit into her world seamlessly.
But Caitlyn hadn’t left. She had stayed. She had come back.
Vi sank onto a nearby stool, her elbows resting on her knees, her head hanging low. Why does this scare me so much?
Every time she had met someone new, every time she had tried to move on, it was Caitlyn who lingered in her mind. Caitlyn’s laugh, her wit, the way she had looked at Vi back when they were young—like she was someone worth believing in.
And that kiss last night...
Vi’s hand went to her lips unconsciously. She hadn’t planned it, hadn’t even thought it through. It had just happened—natural and unguarded, like everything with Caitlyn always was. But the way Caitlyn had looked at her afterward, stunned but not angry, had stirred something deep inside her.
She thought of all the women she had been with over the years, the ones who had come and gone. They were nice, sure. But none of them had ever made her feel the way Caitlyn did. And for the longest time, Vi had convinced herself that it was her fault. That she was too closed off, too broken, too afraid to let anyone in.
But the truth was simpler.
It’s always been Cait.
“Shit,” Vi muttered, rubbing her face with both hands.
She was tired of being afraid. Tired of running from what she felt, of pretending she didn’t care when every fiber of her being was drawn to Caitlyn.
What if Caitlyn left again? The thought terrified her. What if Vi wasn’t enough? That scared her even more.
But fuck it. She couldn’t live in fear anymore.
Vi stood, grabbing the clipboard again, though her mind was far from the task at hand. She couldn’t wait for the talk with Caitlyn. Whatever happened, she needed to say what she felt, to put everything out there, even if it scared her.
Because for once, she wasn’t going to run.
It was 6 PM, and Caitlyn was just stepping out of the shower, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She felt refreshed, her simple cotton pajamas—an oversized gray T-shirt and plaid pants—clinging comfortably to her skin. The shower had done little to quiet her restless thoughts, and as she toweled her hair dry, a soft knock at the door pulled her from her reverie.
Her heart skipped a beat. There was only one person it could be. Dropping the towel, Caitlyn quickly tied her damp hair into a loose bun and made her way to the door.
When she opened it, there stood Vi, leaning casually against the frame. She wore her usual white crew neck t-shirt and high-waisted, wide-leg brown trousers, her pink hair slightly tousled, her lips curled into a familiar crooked smile.
“Hey, Cupcake,” Vi greeted, her voice soft and warm.
“Hey, Vi,” Caitlyn replied, her own lips twitching into a small smile. She stepped aside, gesturing for Vi to come in.
Vi entered, her shoes clinking faintly against the wooden floor as she made her way to the sofa. Caitlyn closed the door, leaning against it for a moment to steady herself. Taking a breath, she walked over and sat on the armrest of a chair opposite Vi.
“Have you eaten?” Caitlyn asked, her tone casual despite the nerves bubbling inside her.
“Yeah,” Vi replied, her voice calm but distant.
Silence settled between them like a weight, heavy and unspoken. Caitlyn fidgeted, her fingers pulling absently at the hem of her shirt. The stillness grew unbearable, and before she could stop herself, she stood and began pacing the room.
She muttered under her breath, the words tumbling out in a chaotic rush. “You probably think I’m stupid. Or silly. I mean, everything that happened yesterday—it doesn’t have to mean anything, right? We can just forget it. Move on. Pretend it never happened.”
Vi leaned back slightly, her brows furrowing as she watched Caitlyn with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Caitlyn’s pacing quickened, her hands gesturing wildly as she continued. “I just… I can’t lose what we’ve built, you know? I can’t lose you. Not again. I know how you are—you don’t do serious relationships, and that’s fine. I’m fine. But if that means losing you altogether, I… I can’t. I’d rather just be your friend, Vi. I’d rather have you in my life that way than risk losing you entirely.”
Her voice cracked slightly, and she stopped pacing, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “I like you, Vi. More than a friend. I have for a while. And I know that’s probably stupid, but I can’t help it. But if feeling this way means losing you, then… I can’t let that happen.”
Her eyes glistened as she let out a shaky breath, her words barely a whisper now. “God, this is so embarrassing.”
Vi stood, closing the distance between them in a few quick steps. She gently took Caitlyn’s hands in her own, pulling her to sit beside her on the sofa. Caitlyn sat stiffly, her cheeks flushed and her gaze fixed on the floor.
“Cait,” Vi said softly, her voice steady but carrying an edge of vulnerability.
Caitlyn didn’t look up, her fingers trembling slightly in Vi’s grasp.
“What if I don’t want to forget last night?” Vi asked quietly.
Caitlyn’s head snapped up, her wide eyes locking onto Vi’s. “Huh?”
Vi swallowed, her thumb brushing over Caitlyn’s knuckles. “I’ve been trying to push this down for so long. Telling myself it’s nothing, that it’ll go away. But it hasn’t.”
Caitlyn’s breath hitched, her chest rising and falling unevenly as Vi continued.
“I want to keep doing all of this,” Vi said, her voice growing softer. “The diner nights, the park meals, the late-night talks, even bathing that stinky dog, Chip. But I want more than that, Cait. I want to wake up next to you in the morning. I want to kiss you without wondering if it’s the last time. And I want to know you’re not going to leave again.”
Her grip on Caitlyn’s hands tightened slightly as her voice cracked. “Because every time I start to feel this, that question comes up—when will you leave again? And it scares the hell out of me. But I’m tired of being scared, Cait. I’m tired of pretending I don’t want this.”
Caitlyn sat frozen, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted as Vi’s words washed over her.
“So I need to know,” Vi said, her voice barely above a whisper now. “If you’re going to leave again...will you take me with you this time? Because I can’t go back to pretending I don’t feel this.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Caitlyn’s hands trembled in Vi’s, her heart pounding in her chest as her mind raced. Then, without a word, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Vi’s.
The kiss was soft and filled with all the unspoken emotions she hadn’t been able to voice. Vi froze for a moment, then melted into it, her hand coming up to cradle Caitlyn’s cheek.
When they finally pulled back, Caitlyn’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’m not leaving, Vi. Not without you.”
Vi smiled—a small, genuine smile that lit up her entire face. She leaned in and kissed Caitlyn again, this time with more fervor, her hand tangling gently in Caitlyn’s hair.
When they pulled apart, both were smiling, their foreheads resting against each other as the weight of their fears lifted, leaving only the quiet warmth of the moment.
Vi spoke softly, her voice tinged with both reassurance and sincerity. “We can take it slow, Cait. Whatever pace you want. Damn, as long as you’re with me, that’s all that matters.”
Caitlyn’s lips curved into a soft smile, her fingers brushing against Vi’s. “Slow works. As long as we’re together.”
Vi grinned, her thumb tracing gentle circles over Caitlyn’s hand. “Together, then.”
And for the first time in years, Vi felt like she could finally breathe.