it took me a while 'til i knew (but you knew from the start it was us, didn't you?)
"Hey, Rosa," Gina said as she entered the break room worriedly. Furrowing her brows, she made eyes at the woman in front of her and grabbed a mug to pour some coffee for herself. "You good?"
"I'm great! Life is amazing." Rosa raised her flushed face, bleary-eyed, her hand still digging a hole in the table with her sharp knife.
"Yeah, I can most definitely see that from the table you just murdered in a police precinct," she mocked, trying to temper the tension in the room with a banter and sat on the opposite chair. "What's going on?"
Rosa dropped the knife with a heavy exhale. Giving vent to her feelings wasn't really something she's great at, but she needed someone to help her out. Knowing very well she also owe an explanation for the giant hole she had carved; she rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes briefly. "My mom just called. They'll come to my place for dinner tomorrow night."
"Well, that's good news, right? I thought you guys haven't talked since you came out."
"No! I mean, yes, but that's the problem. They're only coming to meet my girlfriend, whom I broke up with two weeks ago!" She clenched her jaw and gritted her teeth to emphasize her words. "And I can't tell them that 'cause it'll only prove them right that I can't have an established relationship with a woman."
"Oh, damn." She took a long sip from her mug and averted her blue eyes for a second to think of a solution. "I mean, can't you just cancel the dinner?"
"No!" Rosa groaned in frustration. "That'll only make my mom suspicious," she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I panicked when she called me, I wasn't expecting to talk to her this soon and said I have no plans or whatsover."
"Alright, alright. Let's brainstorm." Gina squinted her eyes and put her elbows on the edge of the table before leaning in with a reliant smile, "You need a fake girlfriend!"
"Easier said than done. I've tried it with Holt once, the actress screwed it up!"
"Actress? What, no! Also, why'd you try it with Holt?" She tilted her head and made a grimace. How did she not hear of this before, she couldn't fathom. She looked at the brunette's straight face and rolled her eyes in disappointment before shrugging it off, pretending not to care. "Whatever, look, you need someone who already knows everything about you, so your parents won't notice a damn thing!" Her eyes shined with excitement, thinking she'd figured it all out.
"There's no one who knows everything about me," Rosa frowned, seemingly offended. "And who would agree on such a thing anyway?!"
"I would," Gina said casually, hiding her amusement.
"What?! Really?" She brought her eyebrows together and looked deep into Gina's eyes, as if she was trying to detect a lie. Her heart pounded, she stirred in her seat.
"Yeah, girl, I'm for realz. Realz with a 'z'" She grinned. "I mean, why not help a friend just by eating dinner with her parents and acting like I'm the love of her life? A hot friend, I must add." She smiled and looked at Rosa. And the way she did it made Rosa feel as if no one has ever really looked at her before.
Rosa breathed out with relief. "Thank you, Gina." Her lips twitched upwards, almost forming a smile. "You saved my ass." Though, it seemed like the auburn haired woman wanted her plan to work out more to get praise for herself than to save Rosa's ass, she was grateful. It warmed her whole heart nonetheless, she dropped her shoulders and let her muscles ease a little.
"Another flawless Linetti win." Gina smiled brightly, as if she'd gotten everything she'd ever wanted. She puffed her chest out proudly and held up her hands in exaggeration, then stopped in her tracks as she remembered something important. "Although, Imma need you to ask me out in a proper way cuz this isn't really my style--" waved her finger between the two of them, raising her eyebrows. Rosa looked at her sideways, a glare that spoke more than words. "Too much? Well, fine," she put her hand for the other to shake. "Lemme just shake on it then."
Rosa took her hand and shook it firmly. "Fine. I'll text you the details."
Gina nodded and got up to leave. As she was about to step out of the room, she turned around and pointed at the table, "you have to explain that to Holt, though. I can't help you with that."
Without catching a glimpse of the brunet, who was blushing and biting a smile back, she made her way out and yelled, "M'kay, bye Rosie!"
"Thanks again for doing this, dude," Rosa said while arranging the napkins. "I'm sweating my ass off here, I didn't sweat like this even when I was doing karate!"
"You did karate? Of course you did." Gina rolled her eyes and scoffed.
Rosa's parents were punctual and she knew they'd be there on time, so she'd asked Gina to come early and help her get ready.
They had begun with setting the table with delicious food and the brunette's finest tableware. She'd made a big bowl of salad, containing several vegetables, placed right in the middle of the table. She had served mashed potatoes and the famous locro she cooked with her mother's secret recipe as side dishes, her piece de resistance sitting hot in the pot. Gina'd brought some focaccia bread she baked at home, it was warm and fluffy. Rosa had raised her eyebrows as the older woman handed it to her, but her gaze quickly softened as she realized what a sweet gesture it actually was. Gina wasn't a great cook but she was half Italian, and she's always believed it was more than enough to bake some goods. Rosa didn't think Gina had planned it that way, but she was sure that her mother was going to be impressed by it.
Rosa then had gotten dressed up and made her make-up as Gina played with her dog, Arlo. The dog jumped on her as she first made her way to the apartment and stole Gina's heart immediately. She'd taken several photos of him while he was trying to lick the woman's cheeks and ruin her make-up, his tail wangling excitedly. He was adorable with his shiny eyes and glowing hair, Gina wanted to bite his small nose off of his face. "What kind of lunatic you are?" she'd flared between her games with the animal. Rosa had looked at her questioningly, her hand that was holding her eyeliner stopping mid-air. Gina handed her the phone, displaying her gallery. "How can you not post pictures of him, like, all the time? Look at him!" Rosa'd ignored her plea, and turned back to the mirror. "I know how cute he is. I just don't share it with the world."
They had spent an hour and a half like that. As the agreed hour was approaching, they got more and more restive. Gina even muted her phone that was buzzing with notifications.
Rosa wanted to go over the table once more, to make sure that everything was perfectly positioned.
"Everything'll be fine, relax." Gina said, watching the brunette walking around the table. She'd never seen the toughest person in the world this anxious before.
"And if we're gonna do this," she warned, "stop calling me 'dude'."
"You're right." Rosa stopped in her tracks, not really thrilled about the next thing that'll come out of her mouth. "Honey?"
Gina clapped her hands and smiled widely, "yes, dear?"
Rosa awkwardly stood there, blood splashing to her cheeks, she snorted, "alright, how do I look?"
Gina gave her a once-over in admiration, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. As she started to examine her, looking at her features and the way her black dress ending just above her knees embraces her curves; she was unable to move, nor take her eyes away from her. Her raven curls were slinging from her shoulders and collarbones, her claret red lipstick was finishing the look. "Uh-amazing!" She grumbled eventually.
She stepped closer to her and cupped Rosa's elbow with a delicate touch, "You look gorgeous, my sugary pumpkin."
"Okay," Rosa held up her finger, threatening, "don't call me that!"
"You're saying that but I can see you blushing, Diaz." She winked playfully, goading the already worn-down woman.
Rosa rolled her eyes in response, not because she was growing tired of the teasing, but because she was indeed blushing. She wiggled her way out of the shorter woman's warm and intense touch. It was all too much for her to handle. She appreciated Gina's attempts to calm her down, she really did. But, somehow, the red head's brushing was tickling her stomach even further, making her feel things that she can't quite put her finger on. She misregarded the goosebumps that appeared on her body as her legs were already trembling with anxiety. In return of the compliment, though, she smiled weakly and said, "you look very beautiful as well."
Gina was, for lack of a better word, shining with her voluminous wavy hair and maroon rouge. Her pencil skirt was swaddling her thighs, her sweater was hugging her wide shoulders and muscles. Her face brightened up and her smile grew further. "Thank you," she said as she petted Arlo's head once more, "my sweet, sweet scorpion."
"You're pushing your luck."
"This is the moment I've been waiting for, you screwed up big time. I mean, come on, I get to call Rosa fucking Diaz pet names? You bet I will!"
"Ha ha. I'm glad you're having fun. But FYI, once this is all done---" the doorbell interrupted her menace. The color drained from her face, her eyes widened. The game was just beginning.
She pressed the button to unlock the exterior door of her apartment, and exhaled loudly. While her parents were taking the elevator, Gina stepped behind her and placed a hand on her back, giving her a reassuring look. "It's gonna be fine." She said.
"I know," Rosa said. "It has to."
When her parents finally reached the door, Rosa smiled. "Welcome."
"Hi," her dad, Oscar Diaz, said. Her mother was busy taking her shoes off and getting her slippers from her purse.
Oscar stepped inside first, hugging his daughter tightly and burying his nose into her curly hair. "Ah, I missed you," he said.
"I missed you too," she said through her dad's shoulder.
He stepped back, taking one last glance at his daughter. His thumbs rubbed her shoulders, then moved aside. Julia looked at Rosa with weary eyes, biting her lips. She opened her arms and Rosa leaned in immediately.
"I am so glad you didn't turn me down," her mother said as she left her embrace, her eyes moist around the edges.
Rosa knew this was the closest her mother could get to apologizing, and she had no choice but accept it. "So am I," she said, exhaling deeply.
Gina was sharing an awkward look with Rosa's father. He was looking at her expectedly; excited to be a part of his daughter's life that he'd just heard about, but also at a loss. Gina could see him giving her a small but a polite smile. She did the same before clearing her throat audibly, catching Rosa's attention as she intended.
Rosa stepped next to her, wishing they'd practiced this part beforehand. "Mom, dad..." she put her hand on Gina's back, "this is... Gina."
Julia was eying the redhead from head to foot, but Gina swiftly rang her chimes as she spoke: "Hi, I'm Gina Linetti. The woman who makes your daughter the happiest, Rosa's girlfriend," she grinned broadly, her cheeks definitely not hurting, and extended her hand.
Oscar reached out, and shook her hand, frowning. He didn't expect the woman in front of him to be as confident as he was.
Julia, on the other hand, gave her a light shake, didn't even bother to hold her hand properly. It obviously didn't escape anyone's notice, but they didn't mention it and Rosa took her parents' jackets as the others moved to the couches.
"How was your ride?" Gina asked.
"There was a lot of traffic," Oscar sighed. "We were worried we were gonna be late," he stated, then smiled at Gina.
"Well, we're glad you're on time. I can't wait to tattle on Rosa with you guys."
Oscar and Gina shared a laugh, Rosa joined them with a nervous chuckle as she sat next to her girlfriend. "So you're the funny one in the relationship," her father said, pointing to the smiling woman.
"Yeah," Rosa said, "she is." Gina tilted her head and they shared a look. Rosa could see that the other woman was willing to comply, and she didn't know how to show her gratitude.
"Well, tell us more about yourself, Gina" Julia put it out. "You were working together, right?"
"Yes, we do! Your memory is incredible," Gina laughed tautly.
"Gina is the civilian administrator of our precinct. We've been working together for um... eight years now?"
"Oh, that's... You must know each other very well then. How long have you been together?" Oscar asked.
They shared a quick look once again and blew raspberries as Gina made gestures with her hands that had absolutely no meaning. "We've only been together for---"
"Two months! It's been two months." Rosa jumped in.
"Yes! Time just flies with her, I couldn't remember." Gina said and leaned back against the brunette.
"Two months is nothing compared to eight years. What's changed?" Julia asked, she was genuinely curious.
Rosa started bouncing her leg, not sure how to answer that. She was on the verge of a breakdown at all times, waiting for something to reveal the scandal. She breathed through the mouth as Gina carefully placed her left hand on the other's knee to stop her from quivering, and simply replied, "You know, we've been friends for so long and there was so much built-up, we couldn't really bring ourselves to even talk about it." She rubbed Rosa's skin slowly, and felt like her hand was on fire. "Thankfully, we left those days in the past. We're not cowards anymore."
Rosa put an arm around Gina's waist to support her tale, and oddly enough, it really felt good to hold her like that. "Past is in the past," she shrugged in hopes of her parents letting this one go.
Julia flashed a glance over to the old man, it seemed like she wasn't convinced by their story. Rosa worriedly looked down to the warm fingers gently caressing her leg, and the feeling of it sat heavy on her stomach. She wanted to shove it off, but also get more, and more of it at the same time. Gina's long nails were faintly brushing over her flesh, her mind spaced out shortly. "I don't talk to my dad," she heard her saying at some point. She tried to turn her attention back to the conversation. "My mother is like my best friend, though." Her dad nodded, as he was thinking of his response, she spoke up.
"Should we sit down to the table before the food gets cold?"
Her parents got up and before she straightened herself, Gina gave her knee a light squeeze and whispered, "I think it's going pretty good!"
"Yes," she stood up and smoothed down her dress, "thanks," she blurted it out.
So far the dinner was going great. Rosa could see that her parents were in awe. They were watching the redhead with admiration, bending an ear and carefully listening whatever she was palavering about. She felt relieved, though she wasn't surprised. It was Gina, after all. The confidence in her voice and the arrogance smirk she wears in her lips could captivate and align anyone. Her rich smell would make your head spin, her words would speak to your soul. She would get inside your mind and enthral your whole being, and won't leave until the end of the day, or the week.
Even if Gina was fretting about making up stories during the dinner, she didn't show it in her face. She knew her stuff. She held her head up proudly, aware of her success, and smiled at Rosa. Her parents were just finishing a story from their dating phase. Rosa was sick of hearing it over and over again, but she nodded as if she was interested in it. Gina, though, got really carried away.
"And you've been together ever since?" She asked in surprise.
Julia nodded. She was more comfortable and talkative now. Thus, she wanted to know more about her daughter's partner, and this time it was not to pick on her flaws, but to enquire. "So, Gina," she started. "How did you realize your feelings for Rosa?"
It shouldn't have caught them by surprise since Rosa had faked a relationship to her parents before. This was an expected question, it should've been anyway. But even so, they were unprepared. Rosa's palms started to sweat, and Gina just took a deep breath.
"Ahh, this is my favorite story of us!" She cheered, and Rosa was all ears, looking down at her plate. "Well, as you may not know, when I lean back on my chair, Rosa's desk just peaks at me. And I watch her." As the words were rolling out of her mouth, she sensed Rosa's tension, and placed her hand on top of hers, which was nervously playing with the fork. Rosa turned her gaze to the woman next to her, and tried to understand how did that said woman manage to soothe her with a simple, naive touch. She could feel her parents' eyes on their hands, so she locked their fingers. Gina slightly raised her eyebrow, but she continued to her lie nonetheless.
"It was one morning that I just looked at her and realized that she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life." She moved her eyes to the brunette. "And my whole body was on fire, I felt those butterflies they always mention in movies. I was like, 'My goodness, I want this woman to be mine! I wanna hug her, but like, never leave her embrace.'"
Julia and Oscar chuckled, and Gina tightened her grip on Rosa's hand. "But I'm sure she had the exact same thoughts," she gave a warm smile, "right, babe?"
Rosa blankly looked at her, she was a little puzzled. The grip made her hands sweat more, and she surely didn't want Gina to hold her wet palm. Her breath quickened fleetingly, but then, she looked deep into the stormy eyes that were trying to encourage her, and she forced a smile. "Uh, yes. Of course. I was so... head over heels in love with her."
Gina pulled her hand to grab her spoon, and Rosa sighed in relief. She wiped her hands on her dress under the table.
"Don't get me wrong mi hija, but I never thought I'd see you fall so in love with someone, like this," Oscar said with a sincere smile.
"Me neither," Rosa scoffed, Gina followed her, beaming. "I'm irresistible!" She said. "Sure, you are," Rosa smiled at her for appearance sake, trying her best to look cute doing it.
As the four them were sharing a laughter, the doorbell rang. Arlo, who was sitting right next to Rosa's feet and trying to convince her to give him food from her plate that he was looking at with hunger, flinched to the sound and started barking.
"Were you expecting someone else?" Julia asked.
Rosa's smile faded, she and Gina shared a silent conversation as their faces fell.
"Today is... friday." The realization hit Gina like another bus, and as it did, uneasiness flew over her.
"Yeah," Rosa bit her lower lip, "yeah, it is."
"What happens on fridays?" Oscar chimed in.
"It's something I forgot to cancel." Rosa got up and Gina went after her. Diaz felt her heart splitting her ribs, and she cursed herself under her breath. They were doing good, but of course something had to interrupt.
"What the fuck are we gonna do?!" Rosa hissed angrily.
"I don't know! What do you want to do?"
Rosa looked back to the table, where her parents were smiling so innocently. The thought of them finding out that all of this was in fact a lie; a brutal, messy, stupid lie, wrenched her heart.
"I know it is a lot to ask," she looked desperate, "but can we please just--"
The doorbell rang again.
"It's okay," Gina said. She couldn't stand seeing Rosa like that, whimpering and blaming herself. She knew she had to finish what she'd started. "We'll find a way to tell them," she whispered.
Rosa's gaze softened, she mouthed a 'thank you' and held the door handle, took a big whiff and swinged it open.
"Yo!" Jake grinned widely. He was holding several bags of junk food in his hands.
The whole squad was there, even their spouses. Their heads were standing out behind the doorframe, all wearing an amiable smile, crowding the entire hallway.
"Mind if we come in?" He didn't wait for an answer and stepped inside as their coworkers followed him hurriedly. Each of them saluting to the two women's pale faces, were carrying their game boards and drinks.
Her parents got up as they heard the young man's familiar voice and Jake stopped in his tracks. "Hi, Gina! What are you doing here? I texted you a million times and thought you weren't coming. And--oh! Hi, Mr and Mrs Diaz, didn't you see there!" He chuckled. "Wait a minute--"
He knitted his brows, and the muscles in his forehead were flexing in plain view. "Why are your parents-- And Gina and you are dressed up, you both look very beautiful by the way-- And the table is set for four---" He dropped the bags down to the floor and gasped loudly. "Is this what I think it is?! OH MY GOD!!!"