Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is a bad idea.

It all started because her friends suggested it, and then a client brought it up to her. And at that point, it seemed like the universe was trying to tell her something, so she decided to listen.

So here Cady is, walking into the nearest strip club to her work. She’s never been to one of these places before. She barely goes anywhere besides work and hanging out with Janis and Damian, so this is definitely out of her comfort zone.

Her ID is checked at the door. No photos or videos. It’s not surprising they have to tell her because, of course, men ruin everything.

When Cady walks in, she’s immediately plunged into low light and lightly thumping music.

Oh fuck me. I can’t do this.

Cady looks around the room and picks a seat toward the back. She makes sure she has a clear view of the stage, but far enough back that she remains inconspicuous.

She’s not embarrassed to be seen here, but her eyes keep flicking toward the door and amongst the few people that are here, as if she’s making sure no one she knows is here. At this point, that seems like her worst nightmare.

Cady shifts around in the chair, loosening her tie.

“Can I get you anything?”

Cady jumps in her seat, quickly looking toward the voice.

Her fingers thrum against the table for a moment, then she straightens and says, “Can I get a vodka soda and a water? Please, thank you.”

The waitress hums and walks away, coming back a few moments later with Cady’s drinks. Cady thanks her and hands her a few twenties. The girl tries to give Cady the extra back, but she waves her off politely.

The girl raises her eyebrows, but walks away with a small smile.

Cady sips her drink slowly, her eyes darting around the club again. If this is something the universe wanted her to fucking do, where is the reason?

As if on mental cue alone, the music gets louder and the stage lights flick on. Cady downs the rest of her drink and starts drinking her water. Her attention focuses on the stage.

She puts her water down, and for a split second, it looks like she’s gonna bolt, but she stays seated.

Cady’s eyes go wide as a girl steps onto the stage. Her face turns red, and she immediately looks at the floor. She tries to draw her eyes up from the floor, but she can’t. Cady’s acting as if she’s a teenager having been caught somewhere she shouldn’t be.

She taps her foot on the floor and looks to the door one last time.

Either fucking watch or leave.

She flicks her eyes up to the girl on stage.

Pretty. Blonde. Perfect. Just the type to completely undo Cady without trying.

Cady drags a hand down her face and slides down into the chair, any fight left in her body gone, finally relaxing.

Her eyes follow every motion, the sway of her hips, the way her shoulders roll with ease. Her hair catches the light as she turns, the golden color shining brightly. Even when she tilts her chin up, it carries a confidence that makes Cady’s chest tighten and her stomach swoop. She wants to look away—be polite, but she can’t—every step, every glance, every little thing pulls her in deeper.

Her eyes track her movements, never lingering in a place that seems inappropriate—though that concept is a little different in a place like this.

Some of the men sitting closer to the stage whoop and holler. The girl is barely suppressing an eye roll that makes Cady stifle a laugh.

The girl's eyes scan the room, detached—until they stop. A suit and tie, quietly half-hidden in the back, sits low in the chair, barely looking at her. Her lips twitch before she can help it.

Regina smirks. This girl is about to become her favorite.

She watches Cady for the remainder of her dance, noticing how her eyes don’t linger on her body even though it’s practically on full display. She almost wishes for a second that they would.

Her music ends, and that’s her cue to wander into the crowd to collect her tips. She walks through the people, collecting her money along the way. She can feel their eyes linger like they always do. She tells herself not to care—it’s what she does for a living, for fuck’s sake—but the weight never sits quite right.

Across the room, Cady watches her completely entranced. As she gets closer, Cady reaches for her wallet, pulling out the stack of money without hesitation. She can easily afford it, and she wants to tip appropriately.

Cady shuffles to put her wallet back away and starts to hear the click of heels approach. Before she even looks up, she knows what she’s going to find. She swallows harshly and lifts her head.

She meets the girl's eyes and swallows.

Blue. Crystal blue. Ice blue.

Cady gets lost in her eyes for a moment, but quickly corrects herself and hands the girl the money.

Regina takes the bills, fingers brushing over Cady’s for a second longer than needed. Cady retracts her hand like it's been burned.

Cute. Nervous. And way too much for a Tuesday at 3.

Regina arches a brow, humming, “Thanks, cutie,” and walks away with a wink.

Cady lets out the breath she was holding and slides back down the chair. She hums lightly to herself as if deciding something. She stands, thanks the security and bouncer on the way out, and steps into the crisp fall air.

She gives herself a mental pat on the back… and a quick one to the universe for sending her a little nudge.

Cady returns to the club a week later. She can’t get the girl out of her head—it’s like she put a spell on her, and everything seems to be begging her to come back.

She’d only gone in the first place because she was told, “Your life is boring. You never go out, you rarely spend any money, your dating life is nonexistent, which makes your sex life nonexistent.” And so on. Her friends had said it, but then one of her closer clients admitted to visiting a club—and how much they’d enjoyed it.

Now, throughout her days, she sees flashes of blonde hair, hears the music from the club playing somewhere nearby. She drives past it every day, the light at the intersection turning red, almost like the universe is saying, “Hey, remember this place? Go back.”

That’s how she finds herself walking through the doors and sitting at the same table. Almost like cosmic fate, the same girl from last week walks on the stage as the music grows louder. Cady hums and sinks back in her seat.

She’s just as captivated as the first time, maybe even more so this time, if the smirk on the girl’s face is any indication.

Regina smirks at Cady, scrunching her nose a little. This time, she lets her eyes lazily trail over her—from the shined shoes on her feet to the costly watch peeking out of her suit sleeve, to the crisply knotted tie against her collar.

She bites her lip a little bit, earning a few noises from the crowd that she ignores. All her focus is on Cady. How reverently she watches her, and how much she seems to be enjoying this performance since her face floods a lovely shade of red.

Cady feels the heat rise under her skin. She knows she caught her attention and hopes it wasn’t because she was gawking.

A waitress approaches, setting down a vodka soda and a glass of water. She turns to leave, but Cady reaches out without thinking, snagging her wrist. The girl spins back, ready to snap, and Cady immediately pulls her hand away, holding out a stack of bills instead.

“Sorry for grabbing you like that,” Cady says quickly. “I didn’t want to yell at you, but I see how what I did was worse. I apologize.”

She blinks once and softens, “You’re okay. Just try not to grab me again. Security gets a little jumpy.”

Cady nods once, and her eyes flick back to the stage to Regina without missing a beat.

For a split second, Regina thinks that Cady might not be as perfect as she hopes when she grabs the waitress's wrist, but then she drops it just as quickly. Regina hums, her perfect idea of Cady still intact.

Such a gentleman and so pretty.

The sight of her again sends a jolt through Regina. She hadn’t realized how much she’d been hoping for it. With Cady watching, she feels like she can move more freely, like she’s not just putting on a performance—at least not more than usual.

She observes Cady for a little longer, noticing how relaxed she seems to be. Cady’s sitting back in her chair, her legs spread apart just a little, slowly sipping her drink.

Regina wonders how long Cady will stay this time, if she’ll watch anyone else dance. Something hot flashes through her blood at the thought of Cady watching someone else.

She’s allowed to watch whoever the fuck she wants.

Cady finishes off her drink, immediately picking up her glass of water. The music ends and transitions to a different song, now playing more softly. She digs for her wallet, pulling out even more money than the first time.

She wants to be a good consumer, and she has no frame of reference for what is appropriate, so she figures more is better. She puts her wallet away, counting the money to make sure she has the right amount.

Cady loses track as soon as she hears heels clicking against the floor. She looks up and sees those same blue eyes that got her attention the first time. She swallows and holds out the money. Regina’s eyebrows tick up before she takes the money.

Regina spreads the money apart briefly, then meets Cady’s eye. “You know this isn’t gonna get you a private dance?”

Cady mumbles, “I’m not looking for one.”

“You don’t seem like the type to be here,” Regina teases, biting back a smile as the flush spreads across Cady’s face. “But you tip well.”

Before Cady can even respond, Regina turns away. She reaches out, remembering what the waitress from earlier said, and only brushes her fingers against the back of her hand. Regina looks over her shoulder, surprised by the touch.

“What’s your name?” Cady quietly asks. “Or your stage name…whatever you wanna…”

“Regina.” She hums, then walks away.

“Regina,” Cady repeats.

She orders another drink, grabbing the same amount of money as last time to tip the waitress. She watches the other girls dance, ends up emptying her wallet watching them because she’s nothing if not polite, but nothing quite compares to Regina.

Cady wonders for a moment if Regina is going to come back on stage—but it never happens. So, she stands up and heads toward the door. Before she can leave, she’s stopped briefly by someone.

“You should come back tomorrow, or the next day. A little bit earlier than when you came today.”

Cady nods once. She’s a little uncomfortable with the fact that someone stopped her, but also appreciative of the suggestion.

So now Cady finds herself walking through the club doors the very next day, curious if Regina will be there. She couldn’t help but wonder if the tip would pay off.

She shows up a little earlier than the day before and sits down at her table. When the waitress comes around with her drinks, Cady already has the money out and sets it on her tray.

She smiles and says, “She’ll be on in a little bit. Maybe ten minutes.”

Cady nods and whispers her thanks for both the drinks and the information. She almost gets embarrassed that the waitress knows what she’s here for, but her desire to see Regina outweighs it.

Cady sips her drink, letting her mind relax and start to wander. She wonders how long Regina’s been dancing for or if she likes to dance. After a while, it starts to veer into what would be more personal questions, like if she’s dating anyone or if she’s into women. Which Cady would assume yes, but sometimes women just like to flirt, and after all, Regina’s salary is mostly based on how well she can work a crowd.

Before she knows it, the music gets louder, the spotlights turn on, and Regina walks onto the stage.

Regina’s eyes scan across the people in the audience quickly. She catches sight of Cady and smirks.

Well, aren’t you starting to get a little thirsty?

She didn’t expect to see Cady so soon, but she isn’t disappointed to see her. It’s quite the opposite. Maybe she’s even starting to get a little obsessed with her favorite customer.

Regina notices how Cady’s eyes stay on her face for the majority of the time, never lingering where people’s normally would. She almost wishes Cady would look more, so she could feel the caress of her eyes—the heat of her gaze.

Regina keeps her eyes on Cady, observing the way she never really moves in her seat. She always finishes her drink and then immediately drinks her water. That her eyes only flick away when a cheer is heard from the crowd, how they flash with something dangerous, then back to politeness.

She’s started to dance only for Cady, sending a wink her way in hopes that she knows.

Cady flushes and looks down at the floor, a small smile quickly appearing and then disappearing. She knows that was just for her, and it makes something hot flash through her body.

She doesn’t let her gaze linger on the floor for too long, fixing her eyes back on Regina just as quickly as they left. The music starts to lower again, and disappointment floods Cady's system until she starts to feel a little guilty for feeling that way.

Cady pulls out her money as Regina walks off the stage, an even larger amount in her hand than last time, and patiently waits. It seems like Regina is taking longer to get to her than usual. There are the usual seven to eight people there, so it makes Cady start to wonder if she’s just desperate for a little attention.

By the time that familiar sound of clicking heels reaches her ears, she’s relaxed in her chair even further, one hand on the money. Cady quietly hands it to Regina when she gets close enough, making sure to keep eye contact.

Regina takes the money, but instead of walking away, she moves behind Cady. She trails a hand up her arm onto her shoulder, leaving a blazing path in her wake. She sees Cady's finger twitch against the armrest.

Gotcha.

Regina waits in silence, her fingers thrumming once, impatiently. They stop as soon as the music gets louder again, and another girl walks out. She watches Cady for a moment, then leans down.

“You should tip all the girls you watch.”

Low, sultry, and teasing right next to Cady's ear. Regina sees the goosebumps rise on Cady's neck and keeps going.

“But you don’t really watch them, do you?”

She sees Cady's finger twitch again and smirks to herself.

“You only watch me. Desperate for just a glance.”

Regina can feel the heat coming off of Cady's body. The longer she talks, the more she can feel Cady react, and the more she feels herself react. She decides to put the nail in the coffin.

“Maybe one day, I’ll even let you touch.”

And Regina walks away, leaving Cady flushed and stuck in her own thoughts.

Cady swallows and releases a harsh breath. Regina was distracting from far away, but up close, she was intoxicating. Cady could still feel the heat of her hand on her shoulder. The way her lips accidentally brushed against her ear. How her words settled into Cady's chest.

Cady stands from her seat and walks out the door. The cool air hits her face as she takes a deep breath. Her body settles, the excess heat leaving and returning to normal. She thinks of next time and the thought that Regina wants to dance just for her.

Chapter Text

Cady returns almost a week after Regina called her desperate. It bothered her only briefly because it was the truth, and Cady couldn’t argue with something like that.

She walks in and sits down at her table, a waitress trailing behind her slightly with her drinks. She smiles and hands her a handful of bills.

“You know you don’t have to tip like this?”

Cady clears her throat and shrugs, “I want to be a good customer.”

“Be a good customer to the girls; you don’t have to tip me this much,” she says, frustration lacing her tone.

Cady sits up, quickly apologizing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel a certain way. I just wanted to be polite.”

The waitress smiles and shakes her head. “No wonder Regina likes you so much.” And walks away.

Cady awkwardly shuffles around in the seat, not sure if she was forgiven for her misstep or not. It doesn’t normally bother her, but she wants to be better than the typical crowd that comes into this place.

She doesn’t dwell on it for long as the music starts to get louder. Like a Pavlovian response, her attention turns to the stage, and everything else in the world disappears.

Cady picks up her drink to take a sip and practically chokes on it.

Regina.

On stage. Short skirt, button-up tied in a knot, very Brittany Spears except no knee-high socks, just a tall pair of pleasers. Glasses, messy bun.

Shit, I’m gonna die.

She clears her throat quickly, taking a sip of water to try to combat whatever heat is inevitably rushing to her face. She knows it’s not working, though. She can feel it and see that satisfied little smirk on Regina’s face.

Regina struts across the stage with the most confidence. Cady's reactions seem to be directly tied to her ego, and watching Cady choke on nothing and flush has it rapidly expanding.

Regina didn’t think much of the outfit when she chose it today. One of the girls had jokingly suggested it because Cady's reactions are so limited sometimes. Regina had rolled her eyes, but of course, put on the outfit because she wanted to know what made Cady tick. Apparently, a very short skirt does the trick.

She trails her hands up her torso, making a show of untying her shirt. Slow and deliberate. Then tosses it somewhere on the stage, leaving herself in a lacy bra.

Her eyes lift to focus back on Cady’s, but she finds for the first time, they’re not on her face. They’re trailing over her torso, landing on her chest, only for them to meet Regina’s. She watches as a blush colors Cady’s face.

Caught you.

Regina moves to the music, slow and sensual, turning her back to the audience. She feels everyone’s eyes trailing down her back, making a chill run up her spine. Sometimes she hates when people watch—today is one of those days—except when it’s Cady.

Regina unbuttons the skirt, slowly bending over and sliding it down her legs. She hears the whoops and allows herself to roll her eyes once, allows the frustrations to flood through her for a moment, and then gathers herself before standing up.

She feels the pin pricks of eyes along her back, her ass, down her legs. It almost makes something uncomfortable settle into her chest until she feels those eyes.

Cady’s.

They’re delicate, slow, and caressing. They make Regina feel wanted, but not because she’s half-naked, but because she’s herself up there. Like Cady sees past everything superficial, she sees more of her.

Cady quickly downs the rest of her drink before Regina turns back around. She can’t fight the heat that starts to spread down her chest and her arms. She unbuttons her cuffs and rolls her sleeves up her forearms. She'd left her suit jacket at home this morning; no point in bringing it when it’s nearly eighty degrees out and sunny.

Cady lets out a harsh breath as Regina turns around, slowly dancing as the music fades quietly again. She grabs the money, pulling out more than she originally was going to, and sets it on the table.

She can’t keep her eyes off Regina as she moves through the crowd. She watches her collect her money and ignore the advances of several men. Cady almost gets up to tell them off, but Regina’s already standing in front of her.

“Put your hands behind the chair and grab onto the back.”

Cady complies instantly, holding the bars on the back of the chair. Regina sets a hand on Cady's shoulder, straddles her lap, and sits down. Cady's eyes bug out of her head, and her brain short-circuits.

“Did you like it?” Regina asks.

Cady doesn’t know whether to say yes or no; she's at a loss.

“I think you did,” Regina supplies, tilting her head.

Cady swallows and barely nods, but Regina catches it.

“You liked the short skirt, the glasses, the bun. Everything your little heart desires.”

Cady sits there like a fucking idiot, not knowing what to say or do. Whether she should respond or just let Regina keep teasing her. She can’t deny any of it. Regina wouldn’t be doing any of this if it weren’t true.

“I already know you’re desperate, you don’t have to hide anything from me,” Regina teases, leaning closer so their chests barely brush.

Cady's eyes flick down to her cleavage and back up. Regina’s eyes flash with amusement.

“Maybe I’ll do this all again for you someday.”

And Regina gets off Cady's lap, turning to walk away.

“Wait,” Cady says, her voice scratchy, throat dry.

She holds out the stack of money. Regina looks at it and raises an eyebrow.

“We need to talk about your tipping habits next time, cutie.”

“Cady,” she says.

Regina just looks at her with a blank expression.

“My name is Cady. You don’t have to remember it, but since I know yours…”

Regina hums and walks away, making sure to repeat her name so she doesn’t forget it.

As soon as Regina is out of view, Cady leaves. The guilt is already starting to set in. She looked at Regina like she was an attraction, like she was a…thing. She feels awful; it probably made Regina feel awful.

Fuck, I didn’t want to treat her like that.

It’s been two weeks. Cady hasn’t been back in two weeks. She feels awful about how she treated Regina. And she’s second-guessing the amount she’s been tipping. One person is telling her it’s too much, and then another is telling her it’s not enough.

She drives home from work one day and stops at the intersection outside the club. On autopilot, she flicks on her blinker and turns into the parking lot.

By the time Cady parks, she realizes what she’d done. She knows she doesn’t have to go inside, but she’s already here, and something’s almost pulling her inside. She grabs the money from her glove box, which she’s starting to habitually keep in her car—it’s way more than any of the previous times.

She folds it up and puts it in her pocket, barely getting it to fit. For a split second, she thinks that maybe she’s being absurd about the money, but she doesn’t spend it on anything else, and she feels really bad about how she treated Regina last time.

When Cady walks in, she doesn’t immediately go to sit down; she heads over to the bar in the back. The same waitress who has given her drinks before is behind the bar. She reaches to get Cady's drinks, but Cady stops her.

“I don’t want anything today, thank you, though.” And hands her a few bills.

The girl looks incredulously at the money and laughs. “I did nothing for you; keep your money.”

Cady opens her mouth to protest, but thinks better of it. She’d accidentally insulted the girl once with money; she’s not going to do it again.

Cady walks over to her table and sits down. She drops her face in her hand, almost dreading the next few minutes. Before the guilt can spiral again, the music turns up and spotlights flick on. Cady knows before she even sees her that it’s Regina.

That would be just her luck.

Cady can’t even really bring herself to watch. She just looks at the floor or messes with her fingers. She looks up once, only to see frustration in Regina’s eyes, and immediately looks away.

Regina’s happy to see Cady sitting in the audience again. The two weeks she wasn’t here were the most boring weeks of Regina’s life. It was just disgusting men sitting in the audience that she wanted nothing to do with. And Regina is truly happy to see Cady until she realizes that she hasn’t even looked at her a single time since she got on stage.

I’m dancing for you!

She lets the frustrations show when Cady finally looks up, only for her to look away again. Regina’s tempted to walk into the audience right now and give Cady a piece of her mind, but she’ll wait. She’ll wait until she can collect her money, and then she’ll force Cady to acknowledge her presence.

Cady hears the music fade off and breathes a sigh of relief. It’s rather short-lived as she hears Regina’s shoes clicking against the floor faster than usual. She looks up, only to see a rather angry-looking Regina.

“Hands.” She snaps.

Cady’s hands shoot to the back of the chair and grab the back. As Regina slides into her lap, she looks past her shoulder, trying not to be disrespectful. She hears Regina growl in displeasure, and her eyes snap to hers.

“What’s your problem, hmm?! You don’t show up for two weeks and then come in here today and look at the floor.”

Cady doesn’t know what to say and looks away in shame.

Regina grabs Cady’s jaw and digs in her acrylics, forcing Cady to look at her.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you. Do I not fit your perfect idea anymore? You can’t sexualize me the way you want anymore, huh? Is that it? I’m not fulfilling your fantasy anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I get why you’re mad. I was trying to be more respectful this time. I didn’t mean to stare so much last time. It was like you just said, I sexualized you, I didn’t mean to. I’m really sorry,” Cady explains.

It’s Regina's turn for confusion as she releases the grip she has on Cady’s face, rubbing the spots where there are little crescent moons. She sits back a little, her eyes searching Cady's face for an explanation.

So she was feeling bad about sexualizing her? What?!

“I want you to look. That’s the whole point of you being here.”

Cady nods and slowly moves her hand from behind the chair. She keeps her palm open, facing Regina, so she knows she’s not going to do anything. She picks up the money and puts it with the ones Regina had put down on the table.

Cady puts her hand back behind the chair and blurts, “I looked up the average rent price and doubled it, er, maybe tripled it.”

Regina studies her face, looking for any sign that she’s playing her, but all she sees is sincerity and honesty. She lets out a little laugh, then quickly collects herself.

“You don’t need to tip this much money. I love taking it, don’t get me wrong, and I really appreciate it, but twenty bucks is okay, too.”

Regina pauses for a minute. She knows what she told Cady before, but she decides maybe there can be an exception for her.

“If you really want to spend your money, you can buy a private dance.”

Cady quickly shakes her head. “I like watching you on stage.”

Regina hums and stands up, grabbing her money. She walks away from Cady without a second look.

Cady collapses forward and puts her hands on her knees. Regina isn’t mad at her. She rubs at the indents on her face, finding she doesn’t mind them being there. They feel like proof that she mattered enough for Regina to get mad.

She’ll be back. Next time, she'll do it right. She’ll watch.

Chapter Text

Cady shows up the very next day—money in hand, or pocket rather, a smile on her face, and a little more confidence.

She walks up to the bar and asks for her drinks. She still tips heavily and heads over to her table. She sits down and starts sipping on her drink, excited to watch Regina. She said she’d do it right, so she’s going to watch.

As Cady finishes her drink, the lights turn on, and her attention is pulled to the stage.

Regina.

Cady watches her move, her attention sufficiently captured. It’s enchanting, really. Cady understands that it’s supposed to be sexual, and it doesn’t completely go over her head, but there’s something more to Regina, and she doesn’t want to reduce her to just something sexual.

Regina knows Cady is here before she even steps out on stage. A girl had told her the minute Cady walked in, “her girlfriend” was back. Regina had shoved her away and rolled her eyes. So when Regina sees Cady, she shouldn’t get as excited as she does, but it courses through her.

She watches Cady’s reactions. The way she leans back, the way her chest rises and falls more quickly, how her face flushes that lovely shade of red Regina has grown to love.

Cady makes her feel so hot.

And when Cady watches her the entire time, Regina can’t help the satisfied smile that spreads across her face for a moment.

That’s my girl.

Regina ends her performance, barely looking at the people she passes on her way to Cady. She has one goal in mind, and it has nothing to do with the sleazy men behind her.

As Regina walks up to Cady, her hands move behind the chair, already expecting something.

Regina smirks, “Thirsty.”

And sits down on Cady’s lap.

Cady wants to put her arms around Regina’s waist, pull her closer, but she does what she’s been told. She watches emotions flicker across Regina’s face until she speaks up.

“You seem…better today. More relaxed.”

Cady hums, a little confused as to why Regina wants to talk about this.

“Maybe it’s because you actually watched me this time.”

Cady deserves that, so she remains silent as Regina continues.

“You’re becoming a crowd favorite around here. Winning everyone over with your deep pockets.”

Cady laughs, “I just want to be polite.”

Regina rolls her eyes and flashes Cady a rare smile. “You always are.”

Regina almost lets it slip that it’s slowly winning her over, too. Cady's slowly stealing her heart straight from her chest, but she bites her tongue, pushing those thoughts away.

“You won’t believe the amount of grief I got yesterday after I went backstage. They wouldn’t let me hear the end of it.”

A brief feeling of worry hits Cady. “I hope I didn’t get you in trouble with your boss.”

“No, absolutely not. I’m talking about the other girls,” Regina says, shaking her head. “I like you, and they can tell, so they won’t let me hear the end of it.”

Cady frowns, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, ba—”

“Hey, can I get a private dance?”

Cady and Regina both look toward the voice. Cady remains silent; this isn’t her place to speak, and it certainly isn’t her livelihood.

“No,” Regina states as she barely contains her disgust for the man.

She looks back at Cady, all irritation with him disappearing in an instant. She brushes her thumb over Cady’s cheekbone, gently scratching with her acrylic, causing Cady to flush again.

“Well, why the fuck not?” He snaps.

Cady's hands twitch against the back of the chair. She can see and feel Regina becoming uncomfortable. She doesn’t like it.

“Because I said no,” Regina firmly states. “You can leave now with your dignity still intact.”

The guy scoffs, “Come on. I’ll pay.”

Regina gets off Cady's lap, getting ready to walk away. It will end her time with Cady, but she doesn’t want to deal with some guy who won’t take no for an answer. He steps forward to grab her, and Cady shoots out the chair between them.

She smiles politely at him. “I believe she said no.”

The guy rolls his eyes to try to get past her to Regina, but Cady moves to stay in front of him.

“You know it’s not polite to grab people either.”

“Cady…” Regina quietly says.

“What's your problem? You don’t have anything to do with this,” He says. “I want a dance from her.”

“And I said no,” Regina says, over Cady's shoulder.

He scoffs, “It’s the same thing you were just doing with her. Is it just cause you're some dy—”

“Careful. That’s not a word you wanna use in front of me,” Cady says, cutting him off. “It won’t end well for you, and it will wrinkle my suit.”

“The fuck are you gonna do about it?” he replies.

Cady just stares him down, not providing him the satisfaction of a response.

“Yeah, okay, what fucking ever,” he mumbles as he walks away.

Cady clears her throat once he’s far enough away and turns to face Regina. “I’m sorry for interrupting. I just didn’t like him trying to grab you.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Regina says. “I appreciate what you did.”

Cady smiles and reaches into her pocket for the money, handing it to Regina. Regina shakes her head, but takes it anyway.

“Come back soon, okay?”

“Are you dancing again later?” Cady asks, hoping in her voice.

Regina tilts her head. “I am, but not until late, when I know you don’t want to be here.”

“No, I’ll stay,” Cady is quick to correct. “I just need to go get more money.”

Regina laughs, and Cady’s chest fills with the sound. She wants to hear it over and over again. It’s the prettiest thing she’s ever heard.

“Leave. I’ll be dancing on other days. Always during the week and during the day,” Regina states.

Cady nods as Regina walks away. She doesn’t even know her—who she is, how she acts, whether she’d rescue a puppy from a river. But she wants to know everything. She wants to hear her laugh again, see her smile.

Chapter Text

Cady’s out to dinner with her friends, and she knows she won’t be able to lie to them, but it’s not like she needs to actively tell them in the first place.

“So, what’s your deal?” Janis asks.

Cady looks up from her bowl of ramen, emotions plain as day on her face. “What do you mean?”

Janis looks at Damian and shrugs. “You seem a little…lighter? I don’t know, but something's going on.”

Cady cringes internally, hating the direction this conversation is going. She starts mindlessly tapping her chopsticks on the edge of her bowl.

“I’m just doing what I normally do.”

Not a complete lie. Going to the club had become pretty normal for Cady; her friends just didn’t know that yet.

Damian squinted his eyes, and Cady collapsed under his gaze. “There’s something else.”

He pauses for a minute to think, looks her up and down, and then his face lights up. “You finally got a girlfriend!”

“What?!” Janis yells, nearly choking on her broth.

Cady flinches at the volume and sits up. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

She can tell Damian doesn’t believe her, but that is the truth. Cady doesn’t have a girlfriend. She has a stripper. The thought settles into her chest, uncomfortable and stifling. Regina is not just a stripper, but what else could she really call her? Call their… relationship.

Her expression must have given something away, because Janis leans forward with a grin. “You went to a club.”

Cady tries to keep her face neutral, but makes the mistake of looking down at the table.

“AAAHHHHH!” Janis yells. “I was fucking right.”

Cady immediately shushes the pair of them as they barrage her with a million questions, none suitable for a public setting.

“Stop,” Cady snaps.

Janis and Damian immediately stop. Cady is rarely anything but polite—anything but a gentleman, so when a little attitude pops out, the pair know they’ve gone too far.

“We’re just excited, Cads,” Damian explains.

“Yeah,” Janis agrees. “We know you don’t get out of your comfort zone a lot.”

Cady nods and straightens up. She takes another bite of her noodles to try and think of some way to explain what’s been going on. She looks at the pair and puts her chopsticks down.

“I did go to a club–”

“Of the stripper variety?” Janis interrupts.

Damian smacks her arm, shaking his head once.

“I just wanted to check,” Janis mumbles.

Cady starts again. “I did go to a club—yes, a strip club.”

She watches the pair vibrate in their seats and then calm themselves.

“I went…a few times and…watched. And that’s all there is to say about.”

“That’s it? That’s all we’re gonna get?” Janis asks. “There’s gotta be more. Please, I beg.”

Cady smiles, some of the tension leaving her body. These are her friends after all.

“Did you watch the same person? Do you go at the same time? Details, details.” Damian agrees.

She looks at them, her eyes darting between the two. Their curiosity is harmless, truly, but she doesn’t want her friends to have a preconceived notion of Regina just because she’s a stripper.

“I watch the same girl, yeah. At basically the same time every day, er–every time.”

Janis squints, “Every day you say? So this is a daily occurrence of yours?”

Cady rolls her eyes and huffs, a little smile on her face. “Sometimes. I go a few times a week.”

“Okay, and this girl you watch? Your type or…” Damian says, trailing off.

“You guys don’t even know what my type is,” Cady claims.

Janis scoffs, “Blonde.”

“Taller than you,” Damian adds.

“Hot.”

“Bossy.”

“But! With a sweet side.”

“Likes animals.”

“A woman.”

“Can hold a conversation.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Cady says, cutting the pair off.

Janis leans back, smirking. “Basically, what I’m hearing is, mystery stripper checks all the boxes and you’ve fallen in love.”

Cady nearly chokes on her noodles, glaring at Janis over her bowl. “That’s a little far.”

“But you’re not denying it,” Damian points out. “So you at least like her.”

Cady sighs, almost like it's painful, “Yes, I like her.”

Dmaina frowns, “And you sound like that because she’s dating someone?”

“Because how am I supposed to ask her out, when it’s gonna feel like I just wanna have sex with her?” Cady asks.

Janis quirks an eyebrow. “Cady, do you act like any of the other people in that club?”

She shakes her head.

“I don’t think she’s gonna think you’re just asking her out for sex,” Janis replies.

“But how can you be so sure?” Cady groans, dropping her head onto the table.

“Because you’re such a gentleman, Cady. She’s not going to think for even a second that you just wanna have sex with her,” Damian states.

--------------------------------------------

“Gi, you’re back again today?” Gretchen asks as Regina walks into the dressing room.

Regina sighs, but smiles. “Gretch, you make the schedule, babe. You know when I request to work and when I actually work.”

Gretchen smiles anxiously. “Right, of course. My mind is in a million places.”

Regina smiles and opens her arms. Gretchen immediately falls into them. Regina is one of her top two comfort people; she’s so confident it’s soothing.

“Books due soon?” Regina quietly asks, holding the girl tightly.

Regina feels her nod against her and smiles. “They’re gonna be perfect, like always. Karen works today?”

Gretchen pulls away, taking a step back. “Not today, she’s sleeping in at home right now.”

“That’s where you should be, too,” Regina laughs. “In bed with your girlfriend.”

“Fiancée,” Gretchen corrects.

Regina mentally face palms. “Right, fiancée. I swear I know that, I literally helped her propose.”

Gretchen sighs wistfully. “It was a great proposal.”

Regina walks over to her station, mumbling, “Love birds.”

“Wait, but why are you here?” Gretchen asks, following after her.

Regina sits down in her chair, getting ready to do her makeup. “Because I work today, babe.”

Gretchen shakes her head and smiles. “No, I know that. But why are you working during the day again? For like, the hundredth week in a row or something.”

Regina shrugs, not entirely willing to give away the reason. Although anybody could guess at it if they truly tried hard enough.

“Her girlfriend comes in during the day,” a voice says behind them.

Regina rolls her eyes. “She’s not my girlfriend, Jules.”

“Maybe not, but she is paying your rent,” she replies.

Gretchens eyes bug out of her head. “She’s paying your rent?! Is that even legal? I mean, it’s tips, there isn’t a set amount, but oh my god, how is she paying your rent?”

Regina’s lips twitch, like they want to form a smile at the idea of Cady. “She tips generously.”

“Bitch, she tips you like three grand a visit,” Jules says. “And you like seeing her.”

“What?!” Gretchen shrieks.

Regina flinches, and Gretchen immediately apologizes. “You’re okay, don’t worry about it.”

“No, but seriously. Is she actually tipping you that much?” Gretchen asks.

Regina moves her head side to side. “Let’s just say it’s a lot more than what she should be tipping. Like, a lot more.”

Gretchen laughs incredulously. “She’s insane. And you actually like a customer for once?”

“Oh, please don’t make it seem like a big deal,” Regina says, rolling her eyes.

“Gi, it is a big deal. You hate everyone that comes in here,” Gretchen says. “I’m surprised you still even work here with how much you hate them.”

Regina shivers at the thought of the men oogling her day in and day out. “She’s different. And I like working here, I liked working here before Cady started coming in, and I’ll like it after she stops. What I don’t like is the way that men can so easily create a version of me in their heads that makes me seem like the most superficial version of myself, all because I like to walk around the stage in lingerie.”

“Period,” Jules mumbles from across the room.

“So, Cady is your…girlfriend? Or friend! You guys are probably just friends, right?” Gretchen asks, already thinking about the nightmare it would be to deal with if their best performer quit because her girlfriend is rich.

“I’m not sure I would even qualify us as friends, let alone her being close enough to be my girlfriend,” Regina mumbles, focusing more on her makeup.

Gretchen nods once, not really believing her. “But you wouldn’t be like, opposed to the idea of going out on a date with her? Or something like that…”

Regina raises an eyebrow and looks at Gretchen. “I don’t know. Why do you ask, Gretch?”

Gretchen snaps her mouth shut, thinking she may have tiptoed on the line of too far. She remains silent for a few seconds as Regina stares at her expectantly.

“Well, it’s just been so long since you’ve been with someone…And maybe it would be good to get back out there! Y’know, go on a date–”

Regina flinches at the word.

“with someone you seem to like. Maybe a few dates, have se–”

“Nope!” Regina says, cutting her off, her body already starting to heat up, and her foot tapping. “We are not talking about that before I have to work.”

“Gi, you are like cranked to one hundred all the time. It might be nice to just let off a little steam,” Gretchen explains. “You don’t have to be in love with her or anything.”

Regina pushes away every single sexual thought that comes to her mind that involves Cady. Sitting in her lap, kissing her, grinding onto her–

Nope. Too early. Those are later thoughts.

She doesn’t need that before she has to work all day, suppressing the shiver that wants to break out. It takes her longer to relax than it should, but she gets there eventually.

Regina picks up her makeup brush, focusing on something physical—real.

“I appreciate what you’re saying and what you’re trying to do, but I don’t think she’s gonna be all that interested when she realizes that she actually has to deal with the fact that her girlfriend is practically naked every day for other people,” Regina says.

Gretchen sighs. She knows how Regina is; they've certainly known each other long enough for her to know. She’ll get the idea stuck in her head that somebody won’t like that she’s a stripper and will leave with a swiftness.

“You've got to give her the benefit of the doubt, Gi. It seems like she’s not like everybody else, so maybe she won’t get freaked by everything else.”

A few more of the girls start filtering in, putting a semi-effective end to their conversation.

“Maybe you should think about it,” Gretchen says.

“Gretch, I love you, babe, and you know I’ve thought about it too much already,” Regina says.

Gretchen nervously rubs her hands together. She knows that Regina is probably already dialed to two hundred around Cady, but really, she’s just trying to help and give her the final push!

“But I mean…Regina, you need something–someone! Anyone!” Gretchen desperately pleads.

Regina stifles a laugh at the pleading in her tone. “You sound more desperate than I am.”

“I’m just trying to be supportive,” Gretchen says. “But I see that’s not working, so I’ll leave you with your thoughts.”

Regina groans. Her mind flips through images of Cady so rapidly she doesn’t even register what half of them are.

“You did that on purpose, you little bitch,” Regina says.

Gretchen cheekily smiles and walks away. “I would never do that!”

Chapter Text

Cady returns to the club shortly after her conversation with Janis and Damian. She still doesn’t know how to ask Regina out, but that’s not going to stop her from visiting in the meantime.

She settles into her chair and politely declines a drink. She’s starting to feel like she doesn’t really need them anymore to feel comfortable. Regina’s had that effect on her.

And, as always, Regina walks out onto the stage as the music grows louder. She has glasses and a bun today, but it doesn’t seem to be part of a costume, just a matter of convenience. Cady’s face scrunches briefly, wondering if Regina is sick.

Before she knows it, Regina is off stage collecting her money. She almost makes a direct beeline to Cady, but forces herself to stop and head toward the other people first. Once she does get to Cady, she settles into her lap and momentarily drops her head onto Cady’s shoulder.

Now Cady’s really worried. Regina is always so put together, and today she seems a little…off.

“Are you okay, Regina?” Cady quietly asks, tilting her head toward her ear.

Regina picks up her head and smiles. “Yeah, allergies are making me suffer.”

She runs her fingers through Cady’s hair briefly and then drops her hand, almost like she caught herself doing something far too intimate.

“Thanks for caring, though.”

Cady smiles. “Of course. Did you take any medication or anything? Or not really the type…”

Regina finds Cady’s concern flattering. It’s nice that somebody seemed to care enough to make sure she’s taking care of herself, even if it’s something as small as seasonal allergies.

“I don’t really take medications if I don’t have to; it’s a whole thing. Besides, I’ve gotten through things a lot worse than allergies.”

Cady's curious to ask more, but she can tell Regina’s purposely keeping that information close to the chest.

“You don’t wanna talk about that, though,” Regina says.

Cady won’t push Regina if she doesn’t want to talk about it, so she takes the topic change for what it is and continues to listen to her regardless.

“I was talking to my friend about you the other day.”

Cady smiles and sits up straighter. A little proud that she made the list of things to talk about.

Regina was talking about me.

“And I was telling her how much you tip me, and she almost had a heart attack. She keeps all the books in order, so hearing that was basically telling her the money could get messed up.”

Cady nods. She knows a thing or two about money not being in the places it’s supposed to be.

“Have you known her for long?” Cady asks. “Your friend?”

Regina hums. There’s a part of her that flashes in panic about Cady wanting to know more about her, about her relationships. She wants to get up and leave and never look at Cady again. That crippling feeling that Cady will never like her for being herself comes creeping in.

But Cady waits patiently, looking at Regina with genuine curiosity. Like she really wants to get to know her.

“I’ve known her since, uh, college,” Regina hesitantly answers.

“Did you guys start working here together during college?” Cady follows up.

Regina knows that Cady is just curious, but it still makes her prickly and defensive.

“Why? Is it gonna bother you that I’ve been doing this since then?!”

Cady sees a flash of hurt go across Regina’s face before it’s covered by that beautifully defensive mask she uses on all the other customers. Cady shakes her head without a second thought.

“It would never bother me. This is your job. What I do for work wouldn’t bother you,” Cady explains, like it’s the easiest thing to understand.

Time and time again, Cady continues to surprise Regina. Every time she gets defensive and snaps, Cady is there being so polite and treating her with so much damn respect. It’s infuriating…the way she wiggles her way under her skin, into her heart, and makes a home.

“What do you do for work?” Regina asks, taking the chance to flip the conversation away from herself.

Cady smiles brightly. “I’m an accountant.”

Regina unconsciously matches her smile. “And why does that make the biggest smile show up on your face?”

“Because I get to do math all day and that’s the easiest thing ever,” Cady replies.

Regina jokingly gags. “Oh my god, you’re such a nerd.”

Cady blushes and laughs, causing Regina to laugh alongside her. Cady’s eyes go all sparkly, and her stomach swoops. Regina’s laugh will be Cady’s undoing.

“Is that how you make all your money?” Regina asks, a smile still on her face.

Cady shrugs. Regina raises an eyebrow, but takes it for what it is.

I guess you can be defensive, too.

“So since you’re an accountant and a math nerd, you clearly did mathletes in high school,” she states. “And I wanna know if you won. Or whatever you guys do.”

Cady narrows her eyes accusingly. “How do you know about mathletes? Unless you were a little high school nerd, too.”

Regina rolls her eyes. “As if, baby. My ex-boyfriend at the time was in it. He sucked at it, though.”

Cady loses all sense of thought when it registers that Regina called her baby. It was so sweet and delicate and habitual, like it was always meant to be directed toward her.

“Hold up,” Cady says, pulling her thoughts back together. “Boyfriend? But you like, hate men.”

Regina groans. “I know. Just ignore my high school years of dating men. It was so much better in college when I started fucking women.”

Cady clears her throat at the bluntness of Regina’s statement. Regina giggles at her reaction.

“What? Can’t handle the truth?” She coos.

Cady blushes, rolling her eyes. “I just wasn’t expecting to talk about your sex life.”

Regina’s breath hitches.

God fuck! I brought this up; I’m the only one to blame.

Those beautiful thoughts of Cady between her legs only become amplified now that Cady is literally between her legs. Her nails dig into Cady’s shoulders, and her cheeks get a little pink. Regina knows she should get up and leave now before she completely loses it, but Cady is looking at her with so much care and wonder that she can’t bring herself to walk away. And if she keeps looking at her like that, she’s gonna say something she’s gonna regret.

Regina closes her eyes briefly and pushes those thoughts away. She doesn’t want to disrespect Cady while Cady is treating her with so much more respect than she may deserve.

“I’m sorry,” Cady says, pulling Regina out of her head.

Regina smiles and places a hand on the side of Cady’s neck. “For what, baby?”

“Well, I seemed to have offended you, maybe? I know you brought up your ex, but I suppose it wasn’t appropriate for me to comment on that,” Cady explains.

Regina lets out a deep breath. “You are literally so polite it’s painful.”

Cady flushes and looks away for a moment. She knows how polite she is, and she knows it’s something women seek, but when one points it out? It makes her feel all giddy.

“You didn’t offend me. What just offended me was bringing up a man again,” Regina jokes.

Cady smiles and looks back at her. “Hey, you brought him up first. Not my fault you regret your straight phase.”

Regina gasps in mock offense. “How dare you?”

But Regina can’t keep the charade up for long and eventually dissolves into giggles, followed closely by Cady.

“What about you, suit and tie? Do you have a regrettable straight phase? Or maybe just a man you regret dating?” Regina asks with a smile.

Cady smiles back. “I don’t know if it’s regrettable that I still like men.”

Regina’s face drops. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to assume.”

Cady watches the guilt take over Regina’s face, and it’s so different from what she’s used to. She’s used to everyone, men and women, assuming she’s a lesbian just because she likes to dress and feel a little more masculine. It’s the bi-erasure of it all, and people just telling her she’s a lesbian that really gets to her, but Regina corrected herself. She didn’t choose to continue to erase her identity.

So Cady shakes her head. “I’m bisexual and you’re completely okay. You wouldn’t have known.”

Regina still feels bad even after Cady waves her off. She shouldn’t have assumed—she knows better than that.

God, how stupid am I?

Regina clears her throat awkwardly. “Still sorry about that. However, let’s move to the next question. Is the suit and tie because of work specifically, or…”

“Oh, for work, but I wear suits outside of work, too. And I do like to dress more masculine, it feels a little more like me, y'know," Cady says.

Regina nods. She does know. It’s like how she feels her best dressed when she’s fully feminine. Dresses, short skirts, makeup. That’s her comfort zone.

“I’m not trying to offend you, but I know what you wear for work, too, so is that for work only or…” Cady asks, mimicking the trail off like Regina.

Regina smirks. “Why? You wanna know if you can see it sometime outside of my working hours?”

She really couldn’t stop herself from teasing Cady if she wanted to. It was right there, and the way Cady flushed when Regina teased her. Top tier.

“You know what I mean, flirt,” Cady teases right back.

Regina smiles. Cady finally clocked that she’s flirting with her.

Only took her a handful of visits.

“The lace is a permanent fixture, as for everything else. I’m a girly girl all the way, the most feminine lesbian you’ll ever meet. You probably could’ve assumed as much, though,” Regina replies.

“Hey, you never know, maybe you like to pop out in a suit and tie, too,” Cady says.

Regina grimaces and shakes her head. “I’m more of a short, tight dress kinda girl. Maybe red or black, only worn with one person in mind…”

Now, Regina is getting the pair of them worked up, so this is indeed her cue to leave before she decides to drag Cady somewhere that no one will bother them for a long, long time.

“Alright, baby,” Regina says, standing up. “I have to leave you, and I know you’ll probably be very sad, but you have your imagination.”

Cady shakes her head and laughs, handing her money. “Here, it’s all yours.”

Regina hums. “Thank you, cutie.” And walks away.

Cady sits back in her chair and sighs. Oh, she is so far gone for this girl, it’s not even funny. Which she realizes is insane because they don’t even know each other…yet.

Chapter Text

Cady is out shopping for her weekly groceries, mindlessly walking up and down the aisles. Humming to herself, not paying attention to anything or anyone around her.

She picks something from the shelf and turns to walk away. She takes one step before she walks directly into the person standing beside her.

“Oh, shit, sorr–”

Cady looks up and stops talking when she sees her. It’s fucking Regina.

Oh my god, I am going to pass away.

She’s in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Only a little bit of makeup on, so her freckles are peeking out.

I didn’t know she had freckles.

By the time Cady collects herself to process anything, Regina is smiling down at her.

Shit, she’s still taller than me without heels. I’m so fucked.

“Hi, baby.”

Cady blushes and manages a small smile. She mumbles a hi, but by the time it reaches the air, Regina is already walking away.

Well fuck me then.

Cady swings her arms in frustration as she watches Regina leave.

Regina walks away with a smirk. She hoped to mess with Cady a little bit once she saw her, but what Cady managed was somehow even better. The shitty day Regina is having suddenly gotten much better.

She was just thinking about Cady, too. How much she missed her…at the club, of course. Not just in general or anything.

And the fact that Regina ran into her was a little like, ‘speak of the devil and he shall appear.’ A little freaky, but a sign from the universe that maybe Cady thinks about her, too.

“Holy shit, what the fuck is wrong with me? I mean, seriously, Cady, why the fuck do you just not know how to speak English or act like a normal person around her?” Cady mumbles to herself as she walks out of the store.

“Fucking idiot!”

She grumbles the entire time she loads the car. The first time she sees Regina since they were a little vulnerable with each other, and she can’t even fucking speak.

Cady gets into her car and shuts the door. She drops her head to the steering wheel and groans.

“How fucking old are you?! You have been flirting with women since you were fucking 17. Why is it that suddenly you meet one more blonde and you can’t fucking function!”

She takes a deep breath and picks her head up.

“Okay, breathe. It’s not that deep, you’ll see her again, and then you’ll act completely normal.”

Although she knows it is that deep. Regina is that deep to her; she cares about her…a lot.

--------------------------------

Cady is sitting in the club, sipping on a glass of water. She’d arrived earlier than normal simply because she was antsy. She wants to see Regina.

Cady's eyes flick to the stage when the lights turn on. Regina struts out with utter confidence and maybe even a little…joy? She appears to feel different than when she normally dances.

Cady's enraptured. Regina is stunning today, absolutely breathtaking.

The longer she dances, the more Cady gets sucked in. Cady expects it to end when she subconsciously reaches for the money, but Regina keeps dancing.

Regina is dancing like she feels more today. She feels calm and relaxed. And when she sees Cady in the crowd today, she wants to convey the happiness that Cady brings her. Regina’s never been good with feelings, so she wants Cady to know from this dance how she feels about her without having to tell her.

And when Regina walks into the crowd a bit later, she’s breathing a little heavier, a glisten to her. She sinks into Cady's lap with a smile and all those emotions all over her face.

“Hey,” Regina says.

“Hi,” Cady replies.

They stare at each other for a little bit. Cady notices how much lighter she seems.

“You’re very pretty when you dance,” Cady says and immediately cringes.

“I didn’t mean—” she tries to correct herself.

Regina laughs. “I know what you meant, baby.”

For once, Regina felt like someone actually saw more than just her body when she danced. It was like Cady saw the emotions, saw Regina relaxing, and that was the part she found pretty about it. It was…refreshing.

Cady hums, a little pink still coloring her face. Regina brushes her fingers across Cady's cheeks, feeling the heat simmering beneath the surface. She wants to put her own cheek to Cady's to feel it on her face for herself.

She leans forward just a bit, but stops herself. It feels a little too intimate, a little too much like something people with feelings for each other would do.

Regina shakes her head and starts talking about her day instead. “Do you know how fucking cold it is in the morning now? I have to wear full fucking sweats and a jacket just to feel a little warm. You probably go into work at like 4 am, though, and it’s probably even colder then.”

Cady laughs. “Not that early. I do some work from home sometimes, so that helps a bit. I also have insomnia, so y'know when I can’t sleep I just…”

“Work?” Regina supplies with an incredulous look.

Cady nods and offers a small smile. “And it is cold in the mornings, but I run a little hot. I’m typically good in my suit and an overcoat.”

“Maybe I’ll just have to be closer to you sometimes, then, cause I swear I’m always cold. And I don’t know what I would do if I can’t sleep. Probably be a bitch,” Regina states.

Cady laughs. “And you aren’t already like that?”

Regina’s jaw drops open, and she smacks Cady's arm lightly. “How dare you?!”

Cady smiles when one makes its way onto Regina’s face.

“You’re such a dick, Cady,” Regina says as she barely suppresses her laugh.

This only makes Cady smile bigger and makes Regina start laughing.

“I’m just saying!” Cady says, defending herself. “The only person I’ve ever seen you not be rude to is me.”

Regina hums and rolls her eyes. She’s only nice to Cady because Cady’s her favorite, but she doesn’t need to know that.

Cady’s arm moves, and Regina doesn’t feel the need to run or watch her closely. She trusts that Cady will be polite. And even if she wasn’t polite, Regina doesn’t think it would really bother her all that much. Although Cady hasn’t shown her anything different, it’s done wonders for the amount of trust Regina places in her.

“I can get more money. You were up there a while. I just don’t have it right now,” Cady says, sliding the money toward Regina.

“You don’t need to bring me more. I was just trying to relax a bit more today,” Regina explains.

Cady's face scrunches. “Oh, is everything okay?”

Cady can feel Regina prickle in her lap and become uncomfortable. She’s giving Regina the option to answer, to open up a bit more, but she also understands that they don’t know each other that well, and it’s hard to be vulnerable sometimes. She wants Regina to be vulnerable, but she’s never going to force her.

Cady watches Regina debate with herself for a while, so she gives her an easy opt-out and brings up something else.

“I’m sorry for running into you at the store the other day,” she apologizes.

Regina huffs out a laugh. “Don’t worry about that. I see people from the club all the time in public.”

“Wait, really?”

“Oh, yeah,” Regina nods. “Some of them, well, most of them are pretty crass when they run into me, but you were polite…for the most part.”

Cady blushes and mumbles, “Yeah, I didn’t mean to walk into you. I just…wasn’t looking where I was going clearly. And I’m sorry that people are so rude to you.”

Regina shakes her head. “It’s not your fault, don’t apologize for things that aren’t your fault.”

“Somebody has to apologize,” Cady says. “And it certainly isn’t going to be the people who made the comments.”

Regina smiles. “How chivalrous of you, but really, it’s not a big deal. You are aware of what I do for work, yes?”

Cady rolls her eyes and huffs. Regina can be so combative sometimes. Like she wants to get her way, but she’s going to point out everything that’s in her path blocking her from getting her way.

“I am aware,” Cady says.

Regina smirks. “I would hope so, baby. I dance for you.”

And Regina stands, walks away, and leaves Cady with that comment.

Dance for me?

Cady stares as she walks away. Her heart is telling her that maybe Regina has some sort of feelings for her, and that’s what's driving the attention she’s getting, but then her brain is logically thinking about how much money she’s been giving her and how that’s probably helping her a lot.

It’s a battle between what Cady wants to be happening and what’s probably happening in reality. And that reality hits Cady in the chest like a ton of bricks.

What if Regina is just keeping me happy so I keep giving her the same amount of money?

Chapter Text

“When are we going to meet your stripper?” Janis practically begs. “You’ve been going to that club for what feels like forever, and we still haven’t been introduced.”

Cady pushes at Janis’s shoulder, then settles back into the couch. They are having a movie night at Cady’s apartment, but clearly, instead of watching the movie, the most interesting thing is discussing Regina.

“Okay, first of all,” Cady corrects. “She is not my stripper or just a stripper. Her name is Regina, and she is an actual person, not an object, and I expect you to treat her as a person if you ever meet her.”

Cady is looking pointedly at the pair and making it perfectly well known that Regina is not to be disrespected just because she is a sex worker.

Damian nodded. “Of course, Cady. We would never be disrespectful.”

Cady raises an eyebrow as she looks toward Janis.

Her hands shot up in disapproval. “What are you looking at me for? I’m perfectly respectful.”

“Sure you are,” Damian placates.

Cady scoffs out a laugh, quickly stifling it when Janis sends a glare her way. She looks up at the ceiling, dropping her head on the back of the couch. It’s not like the pair of them couldn’t figure out where Regina was for herself. And it was probably better if Cady introduced them so they don’t say something that ruins her relationship with Regina forever.

“Okay,” Cady concedes, picking her head up. “Next time I’m there, I’ll ask her about bringing you guys in.”

Janis and Damian share a smirk and high-five. They are getting their way after all.

A few days after the conversation takes place, Cady’s back at the club, sitting down at her table, watching Regina dance. It’s become almost a daily thing at this point.

Cady watches her and thinks she gets prettier every time. Not because she is wearing skimpy, pink, lace lingerie. Even though Cady can certainly appreciate that for what it is, because Regina seems to show her feelings when she’s dancing a lot more recently. She watches her scan the crowd and sits up a little more when her eyes meet hers.

Regina looks out into the crowd and immediately spots Cady. She smiles and throws a wink over her shoulder as she drops down. Her favorite thing has been to catch Cady’s eye and do something she knows will make her flush bright red.

It makes a giggle form in her chest that she has to suppress. Cady has become so reactive since the very first time she visited, which makes Regina a little giddy.

Regina stands back up and struts into the crowd as her song ends. She has one goal in mind, and that is to be with Cady as soon as possible.

“Hi, baby,” Regina says, trying to contain her excitement.

“Hey,” Cady replies, much smoother than what Regina expects.

Regina slides into her lap and wraps her arms around Cady’s neck, pushing her up against Cady. It makes Cady’s heart beat faster, and all her thoughts start turning to mush.

It also brings her face a bit closer to Regina’s chest. Cady immediately pops her head up to look at Regina rather than the exposed skin of her collarbones. Cady is extremely tempted to just brush her lips against Regina’s skin.

“How are you?” Regina asks, paying no mind to the conflict waging in Cady’s head.

Cady smiles. “I’m good. How are you? You looked pretty today.”

It is so cheeseball of Cady to tell her she’s pretty, but her flirting is always kind of awkward like that. It seems to do the trick on Regina, though, cause a little pink starts to spread across her cheeks.

“Thanks,” she mumbles.

Regina doesn’t get embarrassed or flustered or anything very easily, but when Cady says something so sweet and awkward? It just makes her heart flutter a million miles an hour, and she wants Cady to whisper things like that into her ear forever.

She shakes her head, ridding herself of any thoughts about Cady. Especially ones that are more than friendly.

“I’m okay. I missed you,” Regina says, training into a whisper.

“So did I,” Cady replies.

She gets lost looking at Regina’s eyes. She sees all the flecks of color that aren’t blue. She’s so mesmerized and distracted by Regina. She’s stunning, and Cady would never see her any other way.

Regina watches Cady observe her. It’s different than when she’s on stage. This seems much more like she’s looking for the pieces that Regina keeps purposely hidden. It makes Regina want to cower and hide, but it also makes her want to lean in and kiss–

She stops herself from leaning forward anymore and says, “What have you been up to, baby?”

A distraction. That’s what I need.

Cady shrugs. “I don’t really do much. I was with my friends the other day.”

Regina hums. “And what were you doing with these friends?”

“Movie night,” Cady smiles. “Every month. Or twice a month, whenever we want, really.”

Regina laughs and puts her temple against Cady’s. Cady flushes bright red. Her hands are still behind the chair, she’s pressed against Regina, and yet she cannot physically reach out to be with her. She feels Regina nuzzle her temple once, and she wants to be much less of a gentleman than she has ever thought before.

I could get away with touching her right now, right?

“So, you guys just watched a movie?” Regina hums.

Cady feels it vibrate against her head. It makes a warmth spread throughout her chest that she never wants to leave.

“They asked about you,” Cady mumbles, not wanting to break the moment.

Regina pulls away to scan Cady’s face. She’s looking for any signs that she’s joking or they were talking badly about her, but it’s just Cady with a soft smile and a whole lot of something in her eyes.

“What were they asking about me for?” Regina quietly asks.

She prepares herself for the worst. For her friends to have told her to stop visiting or telling her that what Regina is doing isn’t sustainable long-term.

Cady smiles and confidently says. “They want to meet you.”

Regina’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Meet me?”

“Yeah,” Cady replies. “They say I’m all like, starry-eyed and distracted. And you’re the only addition to my life. Cause we’re friends? I hope.”

Cady feels Regina go stiff, and she sees how that defensive mask slips into place.

Well, there goes that, I guess.

But then Regina surprises her. “We’re friends,” she manages to choke out.

It makes her feel vulnerable and naked saying it out loud, but also a feeling of satisfaction fills her. Cady and her are friends.

“Cool,” Cady says, nodding.

Regina nods along, a small smile gracing her face. She likes that Cady is happy about being friends.

Maybe this can work after all.

“Uh, your friends can come in whenever,” Regina says. “It is a public club.”

When Regina says that it makes something uncomfortable spread throughout her body, but Regina’s right. It is a public club, not their own private space to form a relationship that seems to be based on…Cady doesn’t even know what.

It makes her think she’s being placated again—-being kept happy just so Regina can make money. But then again, she would just say no to being friends with Cady if she just wants money. She could just keep Cady as the customer, but she didn’t and that gives Cady just a little bit of hope.

She walks into the club a week later with her friends in tow. They’ve been properly briefed about the situation, and Cady practically threatened them within an inch of their life if they weren’t respectful to Regina.

Cady leads them to her table and sits down. She ushers the other two to do the same. They sit down, and Cady gives them a very pointed look as a waitress brings over her drinks. The waitress brings the other two what they want as well. Cady tips her generously on her way back to the bar.

Janis stifles a laugh. “Cady, how often are you coming here?”

Cady flushes to the tips of her ears. “Often.”

Janis doesn’t try to stop her laugh this time, at least not until Damian elbows her to get her to stop. She clears her throat and stops.

“You’re gonna tell us which one she is?” Damian asks.

Cady hums, still sipping on her drink.

The pair of them start guessing which one Regina is. They start trying to guess what she looks like, how she acts, quite literally anything about her. Cady doesn’t give them much of anything because they’re gonna see her soon anyway.

The music lowers, and Cady’s eyes flick to the stage. She thinks it's going to be Regina, well, really, she knows it's going to be Regina, but schedules can change sometimes.

And when it’s confirmed that it is Regina, she smiles to herself and relaxes in her chair to watch. She’s all happy to watch her girl—er, her friend.

Damian is about to ask if that’s her, but she sends a wink Cady’s way and blows her a kiss.

“Holy shit, Cady,” Janis whispers. “That’s her?!”

Cady barely hums. All her attention is on Regina.

Ooo, Cady brought her friends.

Regina watches them as she dances—mostly Cady, but she occasionally looks at the others. They seem polite. She lets a little smirk show at the thought of Cady telling her friends to be respectful.

My perfect gentleman, er—what a perfect gentleman.

She hums along to the music, letting a little joy flow through her for once. Whenever Cady is here, she just feels more. It’s like Cady’s emotional maturity makes Regina want to be more open, and then it translates into her dancing, and then she just feels more.

She can feel Cady’s eyes tracking her movements. They’re delicate. They sweep and appreciate, and they’re so respectful. It makes a chill run down her spine. Cady’s respect has really been doing something to her recently.

“You have zero game. There is literally no possible way you got her,” Janis says.

Cady doesn’t say anything; she just keeps watching Regina. Janis looks at Damian, shakes her head, and scoffs.

“She is stunning,” Damian states. “Cady’s been with some stunners before.”

“None like her, though,” Cady mumbles.

It’s the first time she’s spoken to them since Regina got on stage. Janis eyes Damian, and they both nod in agreement that Cady is definitely hypnotized and a thousand percent in love with Regina.

“Oh, shit, she’s coming this way. Fuck, Cady, what do we do?” Janis asks.

She’s not one to tread lightly, but this is Cady’s girl. She doesn’t want to do anything to mess up the already fragile relationship they have.

She looks over at Cady, who’s completely calm and leaning back in her chair, her arms behind it. She’s got this calm, confident energy about her that just seems to be pulling Regina in.

What the fuck?!

Janis watches Regina approach and slide into Cady’s lap. She hears Regina say something, but it wasn’t loud enough for her to catch.

“Hey, baby,” Regina whispers as she runs her fingers through her hair. “You brought your friends.”

Cady nods and whispers, “Yeah.”

“Should I talk to them, or do you just want my attention?” Regina teases.

“I always want your attention,” Cady says. “But you can talk to them if you want. I made them promise they would be respectful.”

Regina blushes lightly, not expecting Cady to say something so truthful. It makes her heart flutter and her stomach flip. She’s used to being the person doing the flustering, not being flustered.

She collects herself quickly and says, “Thanks, baby.”

She looks over at Damian. She’s got a harsh gaze that makes him squirm in his seat. She clicks her tongue in her mouth and tilts her head.

“We’re not gonna have a problem, right?”

Damian shakes his head. “No, definitely not. Uh, if it helps, I’m gay.”

Regina relaxes in Cady’s lap and apologizes, “Sorry. Men aren’t my favorite.”

“They’re not my favorite either, but here I am cursed with falling in love with them over and over,” Damian retorts.

Regina lets out a short laugh, and Cady smiles up at her.

One friend passed the test.

Regina looks over at Janis, drags her eyes up and down. Janis’ eyes narrow just as Regina’s do. Cady prepares for the worst. Janis can be blunt, unfiltered, maybe even rude to those she doesn’t know or doesn’t like, so this is either going to go really well or not at all.

“So…” Regina trails.

“So…” Janis copies and then falls silent.

She looks at the acrylics on Regina’s fingers, the lace, the blonde hair, the makeup. She’s got a million alarms going off in her head. Cady cares hard when she falls for someone; she doesn’t need another person jerking her around.

“Are you a lesbian, Regina?” Janis asks.

“Janis!” Cady scolds, turning her head to look at her.

She then turns her head to Regina, an apology on the tip of her tongue. But Regina is smiling. She has a full smile on her face, and Cady is completely dazzled.

“I’m a lesbian,” Regina confirms. “A very proud one at that, so there’s no need to worry about your precious Cady.”

She looks down at Cady and trails those acrylics down her cheek and neck, then snags it in the collar where her tie is.

“She’s in very good hands.”

Janis gags next to them, but has to stifle a smile. She’s glad Cady has a uh…person. Another friend, if anything.

Regina looks back at Janis and says, “How long are you gonna stay? Cause there’s a girl back there that’s been eyeing you since you walked in.”

Janis scoffs. “Yeah, whatever. You don’t know me well enough to fuck with me.”

Regina laughs. “I’m not fucking with you. I don’t get paid to fuck with you. I get paid to look good and shake my ass on stage. Which Cady happens to enjoy, isn’t that right?”

Cady nods, eyes still stuck to Regina’s face.

“Well, you just have our girl wrapped around your finger?” Damian says.

“She’s very sweet,” Regina compliments. “It makes me feel…”

And Regina cuts herself off there. These two, and Cady, don’t need to know that Regina is falling a little bit more every time she sees Cady. And not to mention how much she fell for her the first time.

Regina watches Janis and Damian look at each other, exchange a look, and then look at her. Their dynamic is clearly one that has been established over and over again. Like they’ve known each other for years and years.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Regina?” Janis asks.

Regina shakes her head. Cady perks up in excitement, and Regina shoots her a wink.

“Are you emotionally available?” Damian follows.

“I’m not hung up on an ex, if that’s what you mean,” Regina replies.

“Right…and what would you say is your type?” Janis follows.

Regina laughs and smirks. “You don’t get to know that. I get to ask the questions now. How long have you guys known Cady?”

“High school. She transferred junior year,” Domain says.

“From Kenya,” Janis adds.

“Kenya?” Regina asks and looks at Cady. “You never told me that.”

“You never asked about that stuff,” Cady says.

It makes pain rush through Regina’s chest. She is aware that she doesn’t know Cady that well, but for the first time, it seems to actually be causing her pain that she doesn’t know her better. She pushes it away to deal with later…or never.

“Do you guys frequent clubs?”

They both shake their heads.

Regina hums, tuning the pair out unintentionally. Her attention starts to focus back on Cady. It’s easy for her to fall back into Cady—into the comfort of her. Cady makes it so easy for Regina to just take down her walls and exist.

Regina doesn’t care about the other two. She just really wants Cady to keep looking at her like that for the rest of her life. She’s smiling at her with shining eyes. She’s looking at her like she’s the only girl in the room—like Regina’s the only one that matters to her. And that thought makes Regina run.

She gets off of Cady’s lap and says, “I have to leave you guys now, but thanks for coming in…”

“Janis and Damian,” Damian supplies.

“Right,” Regina nods. “Maybe I’ll see you guys again.”

She looks down at Cady and winks. “And I know I’ll see you again, cutie.”

Cady grabs Regina’s money and hands it to her. “I’ll see you.”

Regina hums and struts away. Cady watches her go until Janis interrupts her thoughts.

“You are so fucked.”

Cady rolls her eyes and stands up. “Shut the fuck up. Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

“What else have you been withholding from me?” Regina asks as she settles in Cady’s lap.

“Hi, Cady, it’s nice to see you. Hey, Regina, it’s nice to see you, too,” Cady jokes.

Regina rolls her eyes with a smile and corrects herself. “Hi, baby. It’s nice to see you.”

“Hi, Regina. It’s nice to see you, too,” Cady replies. “And to answer your question, I wasn’t withholding anything; you just didn’t ask me about it.”

Regina scoffs and falls silent. Cady sits patiently as Regina acts like a petulant child. If she were standing, Cady is sure she would have stomped her foot. Cady will wait Regina out. She wants her to be interested enough to ask the question.

“Okay, fine,” Regina relents. “Your friends said you grew up in Kenya. Tell me about it?”

Cady smirked in satisfaction and started her long-winded explanation of Kenya. The food, her friends, the family she has there, well, chosen family, not biological. How scary it was moving to the States in the middle of high school, and how she became friends with Janis and Damian.

“They were the only two people who would talk to me, and we just stuck together since the first day,” Cady explains. “We got into a little bit of trouble because I was so naive in the beginning, but it wasn’t anything too bad.”

“Do tell,” Regina says.

Cady blushes. “There was a guy I was interested in my calc class, but he had a girlfriend that I never saw, by the way. So Janis, Damian, and I came up with this insane plan, which we never really enacted, to try to get me to date him. It was so convoluted, and we never really even did anything.”

She pauses for a moment, taking a breath. “And then I saw his girlfriend for the first time. I guess she went to a different school, and I couldn’t speak. I ran into a door frame, almost got hit by a bus; it was bad. My world stopped spinning when I saw her.”

“And that’s when you knew you were bi?” Regina asks.

Cady hums. “Yep! And then I started trying to get with her, which was a mess, too. They both graduated a year before me, and I never saw them again. Then the guy I actually dated in high school transferred…”

Regina listens. She listens as intently as she’s ever listened in her life. She wants to learn about Cady, get to know her, and be a better friend. And not to mention how badly Regina wants Cady in every possible way. Cady is simply perfect to Regina. She hasn’t run into a single flaw.

“Am I boring you?” Cady whispers.

Regina threads her fingers through Cady’s hair. She wants Cady to thread her fingers through her hair and tug–

“Not at all, baby,” Regina smiles, clearing her head. “You were just telling me about your golden retriever ex-boyfriend. And that makes us even by the way, on talking about exs.”

“It does. I won’t talk about another one,” Cady replies.

The music starts to get louder again, and Cady curses. “Shit, I didn’t mean to keep you this long.”

“No, it’s all good, baby,” Regina replies.

She turns around in Cady’s lap to face the stage. She slips only for a moment, but Cady’s hands shoot out and wrap around her. She immediately pulls her hands away and drops them to her sides.

Oh, fuck, I didn’t mean to do that.

“I’m so sorry, Regina,” Cady apologizes. “I just didn’t want you to fall.”

Regina takes Cady’s wrists and tugs her hands back around her stomach. She typically wants to die when people touch her, especially in the club. But with Cady, she feels like she might die if she doesn’t touch her.

When she first did it, Regina should have pushed her away and left. It should’ve sent shivers down her spine and made her feel disgusted—it did the opposite. It lit a fire in her stomach, made her blood start pumping, and her face flushed.

It would be so easy for Cady to just slide her hand down and–

Stop. Focus.

“You’re okay,” Regina replies.

“Oh,” Cady whispers.

She tightens her arms just a little bit and moves Regina, pulling her back further. Regina leans back against Cady’s chest, getting comfortable.

The next girl has already been on stage for a few minutes by the time both of their attention is on her. Cady watches Regina, and Regina watches the girl. Regina turns her head slightly for Cady to hear, and Cady hooks her chin on her shoulder to get closer.

It causes Regina to shiver and tighten her grip on Cady’s arms. Cady smiles and squeezes lightly, then releases. She hears Regina’s breath hitch and smirks, just a little. She squeezes again, just to feel Regina shiver and shift in her lap.

Regina is barely suppressing the urge to squirm in Cady’s lap. Cady is being a menace with no remorse.

I’m gonna die with her hands on me for the first time.

“The girl on stage,” Regina starts. “She’s new. I’m helping her learn the ropes and stuff.”

Cady smiles. “She’s like your daughter!”

Regina laughs. “Sort of.”

They watch the rest of her dance and as she walks through the crowd. Regina waves the girl over.

“You got more money, baby?” Regina asks.

Cady nods and fishes out another few hundred dollars from her wallet. She tries to hand it to Regina, but Regina rejects it. Cady’s face scrunches up, but she realizes Regina wants her to give it to the girl.

She walks over and says, “Hey, Gi.”

“Hey, Kylie,” Regina replies. “A customer has something for you.”

Cady hands her the money and smiles. “Here you go.”

Kylie’s eyes bug out of her head as she takes the money. “Thanks,” she mumbles.

“Don’t look so freaked out,” Regina teases. “You’ll learn to love how much she tips.”

She turns her head back to Cady and says, “Tell her how pretty she is.”

Cady swallows. “You’re really pretty.”

Kylis blushes and looks at the floor. “Thanks.”

Regina takes this as her cue for the pair of them to leave. She stands up and shoots Cady a wink.

“Bye, baby.”

“Bye,” Cady mumbles.

Regina and Kylie make it backstage when Kylie says, “You didn't have to make her do all that stuff.”

Regina smirks as she pushes open the door to the changing room. “She would do it anyway, don’t worry about it.”

Kylie hums as she follows her.

“And just to be perfectly clear, Cady is mine,” Regina states.

Kylie's face flushes red. “I didn’t think anything else.”

Regina nods her head once. “Good.”

She wonders for just a moment if Cady will ever ask her out. Dating is not Regina’s strong suit, and the fact that she wants Cady. She wants to date her, get to know her, maybe even fall in love with her. Actually wanting to be with her is scary for Regina, but the idea of a date makes her stomach flutter.

--------------------------------------------

“When are you gonna ask out Regina?” Janis asks.

Cady looks up from her plate to see two pairs of eyes already looking at her. She swallows and puts her fork down.

“Um, I don’t know,” she replies.

Janis shakes her head. “What do you mean by ‘I don’t know’?”

Cady shrugs and mumbles, “I mean that I don’t know.”

“Cady, with all the love in my heart, you’re an idiot,” Janis remarks.

Cady’s mildly offended as she looks at her.

That’s when Damian jumps in, “She’s very clearly interested in you. I don’t think it would go poorly for you.”

Cady shakes her head. “I don’t know. She’s… hesitant a lot of the time when it comes to talking about herself. I know we talk in the middle of a strip club, but I can tell she’s really closed off. And I don’t mind that! Everybody has been through things, and they react differently; it’s just that if I ask, she might close off entirely, and I won’t get what little openness I have now back.”

“Dating is about breaking down people’s walls, it’s about trust,” Damian says. “Cady, you’ve been a perfect gentleman. She already trusts you!”

Cady shrugs and takes another bite of her food.

“You cannot wimp out now,” Janis says. “You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t lose your mind if you found out someone beat you to the punch.”

“She’s gorgeous, she likes you, and even if you guys just end up being close friends, then at least you tried,” Damian adds.

Cady looks at the pair of them. She drops her head to the table briefly.

I don’t want to lose Regina just cause I feel a certain way and she doesn’t.

“It’s not worth it,” Cady says.

“So you’re just gonna live in your club bubble with Regina forever?” Janis asks. “Just gonna let your relationship stunt and stay at the place it is forever?”

“Janis–” Damian starts.

“No! Cady deserves to be happy, and Regina likes you. Cady, please!” Janis begs.

“Stop! I get it, okay? But you’re not the one who's gotta risk their heart and feelings all over again,” Cady explains. “Regina feels safe in the club with me, which is better than her feeling awkward outside of the club with me.”

“Cady…”

Cady stands up to put her dishes in the sink and move to the living room.

“No,” she says. “I don’t want to get into this with you guys.”

Damian follows her and sits down next to her. “I know you’ve been burned, but you gotta try again.”

Cady huffs and sinks further into the couch. She is quite aware of her own situation.

“You gotta at least be a little interested in what blondie is like outside of the club,” he teases.

Cady rolls her eyes and cracks a smile. “Of course I am, but–”

“No buts. Just ask her out for like, coffee, or something,” Damian states.

“Yeah, and when coffee goes good, you can bring her back to your apartment and see what she’s like in bed,” Janis teases.

Cady chucks a throw pillow at her and glares.

Janis laughs as she catches the pillow. Cady looks at Damian, who just rolls his eyes.

“You are horrible,” Cady says to Janis.

Janis smirks, “Maybe, but I know you wanna know.”

Cady blushes and looks at the floor. “Maybe I want to know, but that’s not my goal here. And everybody in this room knows she probably already gets sexualized and used for that specific purpose because of what she does for work. I’m not gonna do that.”

“See, gentleman. If she doesn’t already love you, she’ll fall for you soon enough,” Damian says.

Cady rolls her eyes, but the thought sticks with her even as she walks through the club doors a few days later. All she can think about is asking Regina out, that is, until Regina actually comes walking over and all of Cady’s thoughts disappear.

“Hey,” Regina greets as she sits down in Cady’s lap.

“Hi,” Cady replies with a smile.

“So, I was thinking the other day,” Regina says as she awkwardly shifts in Cady’s lap. “You told me about your childhood and growing up a little bit, and if you’re interested, I thought I could maybe talk about mine?”

Regina ends the statement with a question mark. Like she isn’t sure Cady is interested. Maybe she doesn’t want to know, and this is where Cady draws the line and bolts. She knows that’s probably just her projecting, but she can’t help but think just maybe.

“Sure,” Cady says with a smile.

And all Regina can do is shake her head, because, of course, Cady wants to know.

I’m freaked out for no reason.

“I grew up dancing, like, technically trained. Ballet-type situation, so you can only imagine the trauma and scars I have from that,” Regina jokes. “I did that until I graduated high school, and I thought I wanted to major in dance in college, but I got there and I couldn’t do it.”

Cady nods, urging Regina to continue.

Regina swallows and takes a deep breath. “Yeah, I couldn’t do it for a handful of reasons, so I switched majors and did something else, but that’s whatever. I was a little menace in high school. Always had to have the best clothes, the hottest boyfriend, and had to be the most popular. That, too, kinda lost all its fun when I got to college.”

“RIP straight Regina,” Cady interjects to lighten the mood.

Regina laughs, “RIP straight Regina for real. The last time she was alive, if you could really ever consider her alive.”

She pauses for a beat, organizing her thoughts into something easily described.

“I grew up wealthy. My family had–has money. Both my parents are living very extravagant retirement lives on cruises and tropical vacations. Rich, white, perfect, suburban family. That was until I came out. Then it was a rich, white, suburban family with a lesbian daughter. And to be perfectly clear, my parents already knew by the time I came out and were completely supportive. It was the neighborhood that was a little more…unwelcoming.”

Cady frowns, “I’m sorry that happened. I had a similar thing happen with my mom; she said she knew as well. I guess I wasn’t good at hiding it.”

Regina smiles and trails her fingers across Cady’s shoulder.

“It’s whatever. And, see, I thought I was. I had been away at college, and I dressed really femininely. Apparently, I had talked about one of the girls I hooked up with a little too much, and all of a sudden, they were like, ‘Oh, Regina is a lesbian.’ Which is a big jump, but it made sense in their heads, and they weren’t wrong. So, that’s kinda the cliff notes of everything. I breezed past some pretty big things in there, but that’s the quick version.”

“Do you wanna tell me the longer version over coffee?” Cady asks.

Regina’s face slowly draws into a smirk. “Are you asking me out?”

Cady smiles. “Well, we could just go as friends, y’know, hang out outside of the club, wasn’t my initial intent to go as friends.”

Regina side eyes Cady. “Are you messing with me?”

“I’m serious about wanting to get coffee,” Cady replies. “I might be messing with you a little bit with the friend's comment.”

Regina shoves Cady’s shoulder and rolls her eyes. “So irritating, but I think I can get coffee.”

“Cool,” Cady says.

Regina laughs and drops her head on Cady’s shoulder.

I can’t believe I’m gonna go out with this nerd and enjoy it.

“Give me your phone,” Regina says against Cady’s neck.

Cady pulls out her phone and hands it to Regina. She turns her head to be against Cady’s neck and takes the phone. She types in her phone number and texts herself. She hands it back to Cady, all while still curled up against Cady’s chest and neck.

Cady puts her phone back in her blazer and sits back in the chair. She gently places her hand on the back of Regina’s head. Cady feels Regina smile and nuzzles against her neck further.

Regina never wants to leave Cady’s lap. She feels safe and comfortable. And she treats her like she’s delicate, and Regina eats it up every time.

Regina stays cuddled up against Cady for so long that she starts to fall asleep. Even through the noise of the club, Regina trusts her enough that she’ll take care of her even when she’s asleep. Right before she falls asleep, Cady wraps her other arm around her waist to keep her in place.

Regina hums against Cady’s throat, causing Cady to smile.

“You’re gonna make me fall asleep if you hold me like that,” Regina mumbles.

“Don’t feel obligated to stay,” Cady quietly replies.

“Mmm,” Regina hums and slowly stands up.

She takes her money from the table and shoots Cady a wink. “Text me a time and place for our date, baby.”

“I will,” Cady says with a smile.

Chapter Text

Hey it’s Cady

Hi, baby

Are you texting me to tell me where and when
to meet you

Yes! So coffee at this place?

*sent a pin*

Sure

What is my dress code

Whatever you want!

I need more than that, baby

Jeans, sweats, skirt

What?

I’ll be in jeans and a sweatshirt

You could show up in sweatpants and a baseball
cap and you’d look great

Hmm, okay

What time and what day

Well you and i both work during the day,
so maybe saturday?

At noon

In case you wanna sleep in

Okay, saturday at noon

Cool

How was work?

Regina laughs behind her phone. Cady has the subtlety of a Led Zeppelin.

Work was good

I missed my favorite customer

I had to work late

Someone's account was fucked, but you don't
wanna know about that

Maybe not

I do wanna know how your day was though

Oh it was really good

Im ready to go to bed

Insomnia

Right?

Yeah, you remembered

Course i did

I just havent been sleeping well

Hopefully tonight is the night that breaks
the cycle

I hope it breaks too

Go to sleep, baby

I’ll see you saturday?

Couldn’t pay me not to go

Good night

Night

Saturday rolls around, and Regina is running around her apartment looking for something to wear.

“She fucking told me to wear whatever and somehow I can’t find anything,” she says.

She sifts through her jeans again, looking for a pair that she can sit in for an extended period of time. After the sixth pair she tosses behind her, she looks at the state of her room and says,

“Fuck it. I'm wearing sweats.”

Reigna pulls on a pair of socks and puts on a baggy pair of sweatpants right after. She looks at her phone for the time.

11:11

Cady

“Oh my fucking god…”

She rushes to grab a shirt from her dresser and trips over a pair of pants on the way. After she catches herself and stands straight up, she shoots a glare at those pants and promises to burn them later.

“Okay, okay, okay. Shirt, shirt…”

Regina yanks open a drawer and does the same thing with her shirts, throwing them over her shoulder, trying to find one. After the first drawer is entirely empty, she stops herself.

“You know what, I was told I could wear sweats and a sweatshirt. I’m doing that.”

She stomps over to her closet again, yanking out her favorite college sweatshirt and putting it on.

“Let’s hope Cady is having as many problems as I am getting ready.”

“I like these jeans, I’ll go with these,” Cady says.

She’d chosen two pairs the night before and decided on one this morning. She was a planner and didn’t want to be focused on that instead of other important things.

She pulls a white t-shirt out and throws it on. She grabs her favorite crewneck from her bedpost and puts it on.

Cady walks into the bathroom, fixing her hair and making sure she looks good. She checks her phone on the way out.

11:11

Regina

“Perfect. Plenty of time before I have to leave.”

Cady walks into the coffee shop ten minutes early. She knows it's insane, but she’s excited to see Regina outside of the club and not run directly into her. She finds a table by the window, sits down facing the door, and turns her head to watch out the window.

Her eyes catch on a little kid jumping around. It reminds her of how much energy she had running around the savannah. The little kid starts tugging his mom to start walking, pulling her up the street. She can see the mother smile and act like she’s dragging her feet just to mess with her kid.

“Hey.”

Cady broke out of her thoughts to see Regina standing across from her. A smile quickly breaks out on her face as she stands up.

“Hey,” she says.

She gets up to pull the chair opposite her out for Regian to sit. Regina raises her eyebrows, but takes a seat, accepting the gesture. Cady sits back down across from Regina.

“You look pretty,” Cady compliments.

Regina scoffs, but a little blush dusts her cheeks. “Out of all the times you see me, you still call me pretty now.”

Cady smiles. “Of course. You’re always pretty.”

“I’m in sweatpants and an old college sweatshirt,” Regina comments.

“I’m not much better,” Cady replies. “What do you want? I’ll go order.”

Regina looks over the menu quickly. “Caramel Macchiato, please.”

“Any food? Did you have breakfast?”

Regina smiles. “I had breakfast, but I wouldn’t mind something else. If you’re offering? I can give you money, too.”

Cady shakes her head. “No, I’ll pay. What else do you want? You can get whatever.”

“Do a breakfast sandwich and a blueberry muffin. Or just one if it's–”

“You got it. Be right back,” Cady states.

Regina laughs as Cady walks away with a smile. She watches her order, pays, and hands a very large tip to the cashier. She patiently waits at the end of the counter for their stuff and brings it all over to the table when it’s done.

Regina grabs her drink from Cady before disaster occurs and helps her put down the bag. Cady sits down and separates the food into two piles.

Two sandwiches for Cady, one sandwich for Regina and a muffin.

Cady bites into her sandwich as Regina unwraps her muffin.

“We can also get lunch after if you’re interested,” Cady says after she swallows. “I can pay for that as well, and you can choose the place.”

Regina laughs as she takes a bite. “How about we see how the first date goes before heading straight into the second one.”

Cady laughs and takes a sip of her coffee. “Mmm, of course. I don’t mean to pressure you.”

Regina smiles. “You’re not, baby. And I’m really just messing with you.”

Cady rolls her eyes, but she’s got a smile on her face.

“What’s your last name?” she asks.

Regina huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess you don’t know. It’s George. Regina George. What about you?”

“Mmm, preppy,” Cady teases. “Heron. Cady Heron.”

Regina nods. “Alright, Cady Heron.”

“I just realized, you actually told me your real name when I asked you at the club,” she says.

Regina shrugs. “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d abuse it or try and like, stalk me or something. And really, we don’t use fake names, unless you want to, of course. It’s one of those things that gets perpetuated in movies and shit that we have absurd or fake names, we don’t, that just does the heavy lifting for us.”

Cady nods as they fall into silence. They eat for a bit, just enjoying each other’s company.

Cady’s eyes finally catch on the college logo across the front of Regina’s sweatshirt, and her eyes widen.

“You went to Juilliard?”

Regina blushes. “Not exactly. I told you I originally went to college for dance. Well, I got into Juilliard, got there, and realized I was not going to succeed like the other people in the program. So I switched to a school closer to home, which is Evanston.”

Cady nods. “Did you go to Northwestern?”

“Loyola in Chicago.”

“Wow,” Cady says. “That’s really impressive.”

Regina waves her off. “It’s nothing. I wimped out of dance anyway.”

“No, whatever the reason was, it was good,” Cady replies.

“You don’t even know what the reason is,” Regina slowly says.

Cady shrugs. “I’m interested, but if it’s something personal, I’d understand if you’re unwilling to share right now.”

Regina shakes her head and smiles. She drops her head slightly and picks it back up.

“You are so polite.”

Cady smiles and shoots her a wink. “I aim to please.”

Regina shakes her head and laughs. “I’m not used to it at all, but anyway, I transferred at the end of the fall semester because every dance teacher I had told me that I wasn’t going to do well in the dance world.”

“Why?” Cady asks.

She’s seen Regina dance, and while it’s not typical dance, Cady knows she can do more. There’s no way that Regina wouldn’t do well. She knows she’d have a good career.

Regina sighs. “This is not me trauma dumping, you asked, it’s just going to seem like that, okay?”

Cady nods. “Okay.”

“I’m 5’8, and I’m not exactly petite. They all said I would have to be under 115 pounds to compensate for being so tall.”

Cady’s face drops. “That’s insane.”

Regina scoffs. “Oh, yeah, and I don’t fuck with how I interact with food. I tried it for a semester and transferred after. It was my dream—my dream school, dream career—and everyone in my life who was supposed to support me wasn’t, so I gave up…sort of.”

“I wouldn’t say you gave up, you were just protecting yourself,” Cady replies.

Regina smiles and brushes her fingers over the back of Cady’s hand. “I know. I have no regrets or issues with what I did. And I’m still dancing, just in a different way.”

“You’re very good at it, too,” Cady comments.

Regina laughs and pulls her hand back to finish off her sandwich.

“I know I am.”

Cady laughs and sits back in her seat. She watches Regina finish her food and eye the other one of Cady’s. Cady pushes it toward her a little and doesn’t say anything. Regina eyes it again, but doesn’t immediately take it.

So maybe she lied about eating breakfast. Maybe she woke up a little late and didn’t have time to make herself something before she had to leave. Regina knows she is perpetually late to everything, and this date was the one thing she didn’t want to be late to. So she skipped breakfast.

“Where did you go to college?” Regina asks.

“MIT,” Cady states.

Regina chokes on air and balks. “MIT?!”

Cady blushes and nods. “Yeah, I had good test scores. I’m really good at math.”

“Holy shit, Cady. Yeah, you fucking are,” Regina responds as she snags the sandwich from the middle of the table. “You have any girlfriends, or boyfriends, in college, nerd?”

Cady hums, her face scrunching up in pain. “A few. A boy and a girl or two…”

“And why do you look like you’re reliving the worst moments of your life right now?” Regina follows.

Cady sighs and puts her head back for a moment. She brings it back down to look at Regina with a smile.

“It’s my turn to tell you I’m not trauma dumping, you asked.”

Regina laughs. “Of course, baby.”

“I had a girlfriend in college that I dated for a year or so. Maybe more. I thought everything was good, I was even considering proposing when we graduated, but then I found her in our bed with some fucking dude.”

“Oh, shit,” Regina mumbles as she finishes her sandwich.

“She cheated, broke my heart, ripped it straight out of my chest, and I had to put all the pieces back together. And I haven’t dated since. Which maybe you don't need to know, but it's the truth.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t dated since I started working at the club,” Regina replies.

“What?” Cady asks. “You weren’t interested in anyone?”

Regina taps her fingers against the table and asks, “Cady, what do I do for work?”

Cady blankly stares at Regina. She feels like she’s being led into a trap.

“Uh, you’re a stripper?”

Regina hums and nods. “Right, and what do I wear at work?”

Again, Cady feels as if she is being led into a trap and into her inevitable death.

“Um, clothing?”

Regina giggles, a smile breaking out on her face. “I wear lingerie around at work. Most people aren’t interested in their girlfriend being basically undressed for a bunch of people.”

“Oh,” Cady says.

Regina shakes her head. “Sometimes I feel like you–I don’t know, sometimes you just ignore the obvious parts of my job that would bother people. I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered…I don’t know.”

“I don’t mind it,” Cady replies. “You’re still coming home to me, so what does it matter?”

Regina smiles and teasingly says, “Oh, is that right? You seem pretty confident that I’m gonna come home to you.”

Cady tilts her head. “I think after the first time you’ll keep coming back.”

“So bold…” Regina murmurs. “You gonna be able to back that up?”

“Maybe not today, but eventually,” Cady replies. “I can keep up pretty well.”

Regina hums, her eyes flicking down to Cady’s fingers briefly. “I bet you can.”

They fall into a comfortable silence, Regina retreating into her head, and Cady watching her.
She smiles and taps her fingers on the table once, breaking the silence. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but uh, how old are you? I don’t really know a more polite way to ask that.”

“I’m 25, baby. How old are you?” Regina asks.

“24,” Cady replies.

“And you got a fortune big enough to tip me thousands of dollars? Must be really good at your job,” Regina teases.

Cady shrugs and shoots her a smile. She has a lot of money from being an accountant, but she also has tons from investments and a trust. She doesn’t really mention that early on in dating, though.

Regina finishes her coffee and sets the empty cup down.

“You’re so easy to talk to,” she says.

Cady perks up. “So, I did a good job today?”

Regina laughs and sits back in her chair. “You did a good job, nerd.”

“So…lunch?”

Regina tilts her head and smiles, her nose scrunches up, and her eyes shine. “Let’s get lunch, baby.”

Chapter Text

Cady practically skips into the club on Monday morning after her date with Regina.

Well, their first date merged into a second date. Regina refused to acknowledge that it was a second date, claiming that it was just one extended date. Which, in lesbian time, is accurate for first dates—they never end. Cady insisted it was two, but she didn’t win that battle.

Cady settles into her usual chair and waits. She looks around, a small smile on her face, and all the patience in the world for Regina.

The lights turn up on the stage, and Cady perks up in her seat. She’s expecting Regina, and when she doesn’t walk out, she’s a little disappointed. Cady figures Regina won’t dance for a little while longer, but then she sees Regina walk out from backstage and make a break toward Cady.

Cady sits up and smiles again.

“Hey,” she says.

Regina smiles halfheartedly and sits down in her lap.

Cady scans Regina’s face and asks, “Are you okay?”

Regina nods. “Yeah, I just uh. It’s been two days since I talked to you about…things, and, in another piece of vulnerability, I am feeling very…self-conscious about what I told you.”

Cady nods. She’s not entirely sure how to comfort Regina. She’s never shown Regina that what she tells her isn’t safe with her or that Cady will use it against her, but vulnerability is scary. She gets it.

“I understand,” Cady says. “I can tell you that you don’t need to be self-conscious, but that won’t do much. So, what can I do to make you more comfortable?”

Regina shrugs and mumbles, “Can you just hold me? It’s not gonna do anything, but I–”

“Of course,” Cady states without a second thought.

Regina tucks her head into Cady’s shoulder and wraps her arms under Cady’s shoulders. Cady gently places a hand on the back of Regina’s hand and wraps her other arm around her waist.

They sit in silence for a while, Cady remaining solid and Regina thinking.

You don’t need to be freaked out.

She’s always been delicate with you. That’s not gonna change.

“I’m sorry I’m being so weird about this,” she says.

“It’s okay,” Cady replies.

Regina sighs and snuggles closer to Cady. She’s so warm and strong.

“I really like you, and that’s scary for me because I have a jaded view of the world. And I feel like we’re gonna start whatever this is and you’re gonna start recognizing all the parts of my life that people typically hate and start hating them.”

Cady holds Regina closer.

“Regina, truly, there is no reason to worry. I am never going to feel a certain way about your job. It’s what you do for work! Lots of people have alternative types of jobs. There’s a world of influencers for fuck’s sake,” Cady jokes.

Regina laughs, the sound bouncing off Cady’s skin and inside her head.

“You’re so beautiful,” Cady states.

Regina pulls back and looks at her. She’s got a little pink dusted across her, and Cady cups her cheek.

“So pretty,” Cady coos.

It causes Regina to blush more as she leans into Cady’s hand.

“I want you to know I’m not usually like this,” Regina mumbles.

Cady smiles and drops her hand to her waist. “You could never be like this or always be like this, and it wouldn’t matter to me.”

Regina rolls her eyes and pushes at Cady’s shoulder. “Stop making me blush.”

Warmth fills Cady’s chest. Regina is so effortlessly adorable that it makes Cady want to do it more, but she doesn’t. She stops.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

Regina hums. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Cool,” Cady says.

Regina starts laughing, leaning her head against Cady’s.

“You are such a nerd,” Regina says between giggles.

Cady shrugs and sits back in her chair. A small smile sits on her face as she looks at Regina. A smile grows on Regina’s face like she’s remembering something.

“When are we going out again?”

“Excited, are we?” Cady asks.

Regina catches the tone in her voice. Almost like Cady’s…gloating. She’s gloating that Regina had a good time!

She smacks Cady’s shoulder lightly. “Are you gloating right now?”

“Maybe, but I have been thinking about the next one, too,” Cady says. “You wanna hear it?”

“No, I only brought it up cause I wanted to suggest something,” Regina teases. “Of course I wanna hear it.”

Cady laughs and squeezes Regina’s waist. Regina’s breath hitches, and her mind floods with thoughts.

Cady holding my waist as I ride–No

But Cady gripping my thighs as she–No

Wait, though, Cady’s thumbs touching across my lower back as she’s behind–No

“So I was thinking I could take you out somewhere nice for dinner? Maybe Friday night?” Cady suggests.

Regina nods as she slowly starts to focus back on the conversation.

“I’ll pick you up so you can drink a little. I’ll pay. We’ll get all dressed up.”

Regina’s nodding more now because she’s liking this idea. Dressed up, a little tipsy, with Cady in a perfectly tailored suit? Yes, please.

“Okay, fuck yes,” she states.

Cady laughs, her hand unconsciously slipping down Regina’s back. Heat spirals in Regina’s stomach, and yet, for as uncomposed as Regina feels, Cady is the opposite. Just picture perfect composure, not a dent in it.

“That sounds amazing,” Regina says. “Seriously.”

Cady smiles. A little pride runs through her at the victory.

“And you don’t work Friday evening? Around, like, 7 o’clock maybe? Or earlier if you wanna get to bed early,” Cady asks.

Regina shakes her head. It’s incredibly endearing how considerate Cady is of Regina’s time. Even before the prospect of going out, Cady was always considerate of when Regina had to go back to work, never pressuring her to stay.

“I can text you details later in the week. A place, an official time. All that stuff,” Cady states.

Regina hums and traces her finger along Cady's jaw. Regina stopped paying attention to what Cady was saying when she started talking about plans. Regina knew Cady would make the plan; she’s…efficient like that. Maybe even a little domineering, but that’s not something that Regina minds.

Instead, Regina is imagining the endless scenarios of Friday night ending with Cady in her bed. She knows it won’t happen. Both because Regina isn’t going to allow it, but Cady certainly won’t. So, she’s letting her thoughts form into pictures and fantasies of things she won’t get at the end of this week.

Regina’s painfully aware of Cady's hand on her lower back, her fingers in the dip of her spine. The way she feels between her thighs. How Cady's looking up at her in awe and reverence.

I’m in so deep.

“You okay?” Cady quietly asks. “You just retreated into your head a little bit.”

Regina smirks just a little. Her lip ticks up only slightly.

“I’m good, baby. Just…thinking,” she says after a pause.

“Anything important?” Cady says.

She’s smiling at Regina, and it looks so genuine that Regina almost spills everything. Every single thing she wants Cady to do to her, but she doesn’t. She bites her tongue and smiles cheekily.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Regina teases, her nose scrunching up a little.

“Oh, so they’re secretive thoughts?” Cady jokes. “I see how it is. I’ll know eventually, make no mistake.”

And Regina should feel threatened or uncomfortable, but Cady is such a goofball that Regina just giggles. She giggles at the lack of seriousness anywhere in Cady's statement.

Regina stands up, watching Cady as she does it. Her eyes catch the shine of Cady's watch, and she runs her fingers over it. Then slowly trails them over the inside of her wrist.

“Are you dancing later?” Cady asks.

Regina smiles, warm and soft. “I’m not. I danced early today, sorry for not telling you.”

Cady waves her off. “You have no obligation. I’ll come back sometime this week.”

She tries to hand Regina money, but she refuses.

“I didn’t dance. Pay me when I dance, baby.”

Cady stuffs it back into her pocket in acceptance. “I’ll text you later today or tomorrow about Friday?”

“Text me whenever you want,” Regina states. “Could be all day, every day, and I wouldn’t mind.”

And Regina walks away. Cady sighs and mumbles, “Was I supposed to be doing that already?”

Fuck.

Cady is sitting on her couch later in the evening, turning her phone over in her hand. Her foot taps against the wood of her floor before she tucks it under her other leg.

Fuck it, I’m texting her.

Hey

Regina hears her phone buzz and walks over to grab it. She sees Cady’s name on the screen, and a smile immediately breaks out on her face. She takes her phone, walks into her room, and flops onto her bed on her stomach.

She bites her lips, trying to suppress a bigger smile from breaking out, and throws her feet up behind her as she types out a response.

Hey, baby

I thought I could tell you the restaurant and
time

Get all those details sorted out

Sure

*sent a pin*

That’s where it is

I know it’s a bit of a drive for me, idk
where you live, so if it's a problem, let me know

Fuck cady

That place has like 80-dollar entrees

Yeah, it's not a problem

I’ll pay, sweetheart

Sweetheart?

Regina’s face flushes as she giggles to herself.

Sweetheart

I’ll be your sweetheart. Whisper in my ear, calling me that as I take back—And that’s enough of that

Are you sure?

You paid on Saturday, too

For breakfast and lunch

I have too much money and idk what to do with
it

I can survive a few dates

Only if you’re sure

I’m sure

Alright

7 pm?

Yep! Unless you wanna do earlier or later

7 is good, baby

I’m assuming my dress code is like, black tie
or something

Umm, I’m not really sure

Let me look if they have a dress code

Cady pulls up a browser and types in the restaurant. She looks everywhere on the website and doesn’t see a single thing about dress code.

No way there isn’t a dress code. Let me call them

Cady dials their number and finds out within thirty seconds that they do have a dress code.

Dress code is formal

So a dress?

A dress it is, baby

Are you gonna wear a suit?

You know it

Regina giggles again behind her phone. She longs for the day that she sees Cady in something more relaxed, even more relaxed than Saturday. But she does have a love for Cady in a suit and tie.

What color?

It’s Cady’s turn to smile and laugh behind her phone. Of course, Regina would wanna be a little matchy-matchy.

Tell me what color you’re gonna wear

I have colors of almost everything

If I say black, will you be mad?

Absolutely not

Do you need your nails done?

Regina’s face scrunches up. She looks at her nails and considers that she may need a fill-in.

Maybe

*sent $60*

Go get them done

I’ll match my tie to your nails, just tell me the
color

Damn, Cady

What are you? My sugar mommy?

Ha ha

Pink

My nail color is gonna be pink

Perfect

I love my pink tie; it’s one of my favorites

I’ll pick you up at 6? Depending on where you
live

Call it 6:30

*sent a pin*

Oh, shit

I make a little bit of money

And have a little bit of money

Regina lives in a significantly nicer area than Cady had assumed. Cady shakes her head, ridding herself of the assumption. She knew it wasn't right when she first thought it, but you never know, especially with how expensive living alone can be.

I wasn't trying to assume

I know, I'm messing with you

Okay, 6:30, Friday, and I’ll drive you home, too

Sounds like a plan, baby

After their dinner plans are confirmed, they started talking about anything else. Regina fell asleep to a goodnight text on her phone and a smile on her face. Dreams of Cady, Cady, Cady all night long.

Chapter Text

Cady sends Regina a text that she’s on her way to Regina’s apartment. It’s a half-hour drive, but Cady doesn’t care. Regina could live hours away, and she would drive every day to see her.

She hums along to the music playing, following her maps along the way. When Cady reaches her apartment, she parks her car and grabs the flowers from the passenger seat. Cady was a romantic, and she wanted to woo Regina properly.

Cady walks into the lobby, politely nodding as she walks past the security at the front desk. She gets in the elevator and heads up to Regina’s floor.

She nervously checks her watch once. She’s five minutes early and willing to wait however much longer Regina needs to get ready. Cady gets off the elevator and walks down the hall to Regina’s door. She knocks twice and takes a step back.

Cady can hear Regina moving around behind the door, complaining about something. Regina opens the door, fiddling with her cartilage piercings as it swings open.

“I don’t have time for whatever thing you wanna complain about. Deal with the fact that the music is–Cady.”

“Hi,” Cady says. “Do you have a nosy neighbor?”

Regina huffs and clicks her earring closed. She ushers Cady inside and shuts the door.

“I have a neighbor who complains about my music or TV, no matter what volume it is,” she replies.

Cady’s face scrunches in confusion. “You don’t even have anything playing.”

Regina laughs and steps in front of Cady fully. “She’s old as fuck and can’t hear for shit either.”

Cady laughs as she finally takes in what Regina’s wearing. A tight, black dress that hits mid-thigh and is off the shoulder. Cady’s eyes gently trail over Regina’s figure and the way all her curves are hugged perfectly.

Holy…oh my god. I might pass out right now.

“You look beautiful,” she says, taking a breath.

She looks so beyond beautiful. Sexy, pretty, hot, cute.

I could die between her thighs—okay, whoa, that was a bit far. The truth, though.

Regina blushes. “Thanks, baby. You look beautiful, too.”

She reaches out and adjusts Cady’s tie slightly, just so the knot sits perfectly in the center. Regina eyes Cady a little more subtly than she did. She can tell Cady’s shirt is fitted even if it’s under a suit jacket. Her pants are fitted so perfectly, a little loose, but tight in the right places, and her shoes are shined.

God, when did put together become so attractive?!

“And your tie matches perfectly.”

The things I would do to somehow get her to fuck me in this suit. Mmm, that’s a need.

Cady smiles. “Thank god, I was worried.”

Regina laughs and lightly touches the flower petals. “These for me?”

Cady hands them to her and nods. Regina takes them and grabs a vase from a cabinet. “They’re very pretty,” she comments.

“You’re pretty,” Cady mindlessly replies.

Regina pauses and looks up, and catches Cady’s face as it flushes. Cady fixes the watch on her wrist and clears her throat.

“Sorry. It just kinda slipped out.”

Regina sets down the vase on her island and walks toward Cady. She pats her cheek once and walks away. “It’s okay, baby. I appreciate the attention. I just need my shoes, and then we can leave.”

Cady hums and remains standing in the kitchen. She barely looks at anything, not wanting to invade Regina’s privacy in her own home.

Regina walks out of her bedroom with a pair of heels on and a clutch in her hand. She’s already taller than Cady, but with the heels, it adds another few inches. She looks at Cady expectantly, waiting for her to say something.

“You’re so stunning. Like, actually the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Cady says. “And I know you might think it’s all garbage because you’re dressed up, but I swear to everything Regina, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Regina rolls her eyes and intertwines her fingers with Cady’s. “Alright, charmer, let’s go.”

She acts like that’s not exactly what she wanted Cady to say when she walked out again.

Cady opens the door for Regina, holding it for her as she passes through. Regina drops Cady’s hand as she locks the door, and Cady puts her hand on Regina’s lower back. Regina blushes as she puts her keys in her bag. She’s so easy for Cady.

They step off the elevator, and the security guard at the front desk eyes Regina.

“You okay, Regina?”

Regina smiles at him. “I’m good, Cady is taking me out.”

He nods once. “And you chose this out of your own will? You’re not being forced?”

Regina laughs as Cady steps to her side. “My own will.”

He hums and eyes Cady. “You gonna return her in one piece?”

“Absolutely,” Cady replies.

“Alright,” he slowly drawls. “Should I make a report if you don’t return this evening?”

Regina rolls her eyes and walks away, tugging Cady along. “Goodnight.”

He laughs and waves them goodbye. “Have a good night, Regina.”

Cady opens her car door for Regina, holding a hand out to help her get in.

“Thank you,” Regina hums.

Cady smiles and gently shuts the door. She walks over to her side, turns on the car, and hands her phone to Regina.

“You can play whatever music.”

Regina takes her phone. It’s already unlocked, open on the home screen.

Damn, she’s trusting.

“You need directions, baby?” Regina asks.

“No,” Cady hums as she pulls away from Regina’s apartment.

Regina starts a song and puts Cady’s phone in her cup holder. “Am I just another conquest on your list, then, if you know where to go?”

Cady’s head jerks to look at Regina, but she sees a smile threatening to break out on her face and a glint in her eye.

“You’re messing with me,” Cady says.

Regina bites her lip and nods. “It’s really fun.”

Cady laughs and says, “No, you’re not just another conquest. I don’t have conquests. I go a lot with my mom.”

“I didn’t know your mom lived in the area,” Regina comments.

“She’s thirty minutes past the restaurant if we keep driving,” Cady explains.

Regina nods and looks out the window, watching the cars pass.

They finish the drive in silence. It’s not uncomfortable or forced; they’re just sitting in a little bubble of Regina and Cady.

“We’re here, sweetheart,” Cady says as she gently places a hand just above Regina’s knee.

Sweetheart

Regina smiles as Cady gets out of the car, hands her keys to the valet, gets a ticket in return, and opens Regina’s door. She holds a hand out, helping her out of the car.

Regina easily intertwines their fingers from there, following Cady inside. Regina hardly pays any attention to the people passing by, the hostess, or anybody. Her focus is on Cady. The confidence she has, the ease with which she interacts with this world, how it feels like she’s done this over and over.

Cady pulls out Regina’s chair and pushes it back in when she sits down. Cady sits down opposite Regina and smiles.

“You seem like a fish out of water,” she comments.

Regina meets Cady’s eyes and jokes, “I have no idea what you mean. I do this all the time. I go out with my friends to expensive as fuck places and get dressed up and do all that all the time.”

Cady laughs. She’s obsessed with Regina’s dry humor. She doesn’t try, and she keeps such a straight face. Regina does it so well.

The waiter walks up to the table and introduces himself, “Hey, I’m Tim. I’ll be taking care of you guys. What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have a water,” Cady says. “Regina, you want wine, beer?”

“Red wine, please.”

“Your best red, thank you, Tim,” Cady says.

He nods his head and smiles. “Far out, I’ll be right back.”

Regina waits until he leaves and then looks at Cady. “Far out? How old is that kid?”

Cady shakes her head and shrugs. “I have no idea. Far out is somehow old slang, but also he looks like he’s barely 18.”

Tim returns with a glass of water and another person holding a bottle of wine. Cady eyes Regina like, there’s our answer. They pour a taste into a glass and hand it to Regina. She approves, and they fill up the glass.

“Do you guys want the bottle?” Tim asks.

“Yes, please,” Cady replies.

“Schweet,” he says. “You guys know what you want to eat? Or should I return in a bit?”

Cady looks at Regina, seeking her confirmation.

“I’m ready, baby.”

“Go ahead then, sweetheart.”

Regina looks at Tim and says, “Filet mignon, please. Medium rare.”

“Only way to go. Everything good with it?”

“Yes, please.”

“Alrighty, what for you?” He asks, looking at Cady.

“I’ll have the lobster tail, please. Everything is good with it and an extra side of butter,” Cady states.

“Surf and turf for the couple,” Tim jokes. “It’ll be out as soon as possible.”

He walks away, and they look at each other incredulously.

“He’s at least under 21, but I mean, he’s very…”

“Frat bro,” Regina fills in.

Cady nods, “He’s nice, though.”

Regina agrees immediately. “He reminds me of one of my friends, Shane. You’d like him.”

“Maybe I can meet him sometime,” Cady suggests. “Or any of your friends?”

Regina tilts her head. Cady isn’t even digging for anything; she’s just interested in her life, and yet Regina wants to run. It’s not as big a feeling as it would be normally, but it’s still present. She wants to let Cady in, though, so she fights every instinct that tells her to run.

“Sometime, baby.”

“Cool,” Cady says, nodding.

Regina laughs and finishes off her glass of wine. Cady immediately reaches for the bottle and the glass, refilling it for Regina. Cady hands it back to Regina, fingers brushing as she takes it. She takes a sip as she watches Cady.

It’s the elegance, the confidence, that keeps pulling Regina in time and time again. She’s so different than when she’s at the club, but they both are. When they’re both in their comfort zones, they thrive, and those zones are just different.

Regina’s already feeling a bit warm, tipsy, so by the time she sets her glass down and says something. She simply cannot be held responsible for it.

“You’re so hot.”

Cady blushes, putting her napkin over her lap and setting her silverware. In Cady’s silence, Regina realizes what she says and groans.

“Fuck, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Cady laughs and shrugs. “Well, I appreciate your honesty.”

Regina messes with the stem of her wine glass as she looks at Cady.

Fuck, she really is hot. Like, in the way that I need her badly and right now.

“Get ready for more of it, cause I cannot be held responsible for what else I say.”

They start talking about anything and everything before their food arrives. And then, as they eat, they laugh and talk. It’s like Saturday all over again, but fancier, comfortable, warm. And Regina has had two, almost three glasses of wine, and she desperately wants to be closer to Cady.

Regina’s watching Cady eat, not really paying attention to what she’s saying. She wants to, but she’s focused on her hands, the veins running across the back.

“You want some?” Cady asks, breaking Regina out of her thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“You want some of the lobster?”

Regina smirks. “If you’re offering, baby.”

Cady cuts up a piece and dips it in butter. She holds out her fork for Regina, and Regina just reaches out and bites it straight off the fork. Regina sits back again, enjoying every bit of lobster and Cady’s reaction. Her flushed face, the way her mouth is parted slightly, staring at Regina with wide eyes.

“You want more, sweetheart?”

Regina shakes her head, continuing to eat her own dinner.

“You keep calling me that, and I might just tell you something you shouldn’t know.”

“You won’t get any complaints from me,” Cady says as she shoots her a wink.

Regina blushes a thousand times deeper than she ever has before. Cady flirting with her was not something she was expecting right now. And so bold, she just threw it out there like it wasn’t going to throw Regina’s whole world off.

Fuck, she’s so fine. I actually need to climb her like a pole, er, have her climb me like a pole? Whatever, I need her.

But Regina can’t do that right now. She can’t say all these things, can’t climb into Cady's lap right now, but she can figure out a solution for her physical touch problem.

She slips off her heel and extends her leg, searching for Cady’s leg. She bumps into her shin and starts rubbing up against her calf. Cady barely even flinches; she just smiles and extends her leg, so Regina can reach it more easily.

Regina finishes off her glass of wine, again. Cady eyes it and the bottle, then looks at Regina.

“No more, thank you.”

“I can have them cap the end, and you can take it home,” Cady says.

Regina hums and props her head in her hand. “You’ve been so polite.”

Cady sits back and sets her silverware on her plate. “I would hope you’d expect nothing less.”

Regina bites her lip and smirks. “I’d expect nothing less from you.”

“Can I take your plates from you?” Tim asks.

Cady hands hers over as she asks, “Can you cork off the wine, please?”

He collects Regina’s and says, “Yeah, I’ll get someone to do it. You guys want dessert? Or getting a sweet treat home?”

“Regina?”

“Sorry to disappoint, Tim, but we’re going home.”

“No worries, ladies. I’ll get someone to cork the bottle and bring the check out. Hope you enjoyed dining with us.”

The entire time they wait for the check, Regina is making eyes at Cady. Regina knows she’s doing it, she’s doing it on purpose, and yet Cady just has a teasing glint in her eye.

Someone corks the bottle and puts it in a bag for them. They hand the check to Cady, who barely even glances at them before handing her card and the check back. They return shortly, thanking them for coming in and walk away. Cady pulls out several hundred-dollar bills and sets them on the table.

“For Tim?” Regina asks.

“For our very young Gen Z waiter,” Cady remarks. “You ready?”

Regina nods and slips her heel back on. Cady stands up, pushes her chair in, and walks over, holding her hand out to Regina. Regina takes it and stands; she stumbles only once, Cady steadying her by a hand on her waist. Regina’s breath hitches, her pupils widening slightly.

Need those fingers somewhere else—okay, guess I can’t be drinking this much around her if all I could think about is her fucking me.

Regina slips her arm across Cady’s shoulder and grabs the wine. Cady gently leads her outside, handing the valet her ticket. Regina drops her arm to warm herself, and Cady pulls her closer. She wraps her arm around her stomach, holding her against her front.

The valet returns shortly, holding the door for Cady. Cady waves them off and hands over a couple of bills. She helps Regina into the car and moves to her own side swiftly.

As soon as Cady’s on the road, Regina grabs her hand and puts it on her thigh.

Want her to slip those fingers up my—STOP

Cady smiles and rubs her thumb across the top. Regina slips off her heels and looks out the window. The time passes before she knows it, and they’re back at her apartment.

“No,” Regina whines.

Cady laughs and pats Regina’s thigh twice. “Let’s get you inside.”

She gets out and opens the door for Regina. Regina takes her hand and steps out. Another stumble, but Cady is there to steady her.

“Put your hands on my shoulders real quick,” Cady says.

Regina does so as Cady reaches down and grabs her shoes and the wine.

“Alright, sweetheart. Let’s go.”

Cady watches the sidewalk, making sure Regina isn’t going to step on any rocks. They make it inside without a trip, stumble, or rock.

“Regina, you’ve been returned,” the officer at the desk says.

Regina smiles. “I have. Cady was a proper gentleman all night.”

He smiles and says, “Well, that’s good. I hope that continues as you take her upstairs.”

“Absolutely,” Cady states.

Regina giggles and starts walking to the elevator. “As if Cady would be any other way,” she calls.

They get upstairs, walking quietly down the hallway so as not to disturb her neighbors. Regina fumbles with the keys once, but gets it together quickly. Cady walks in with her and puts the wine on the counter and the shoes by the door.

Regina stumbles through the hallway to her bedroom, face planting on her bed when she gets there. Cady walks in after her, laughing to herself.

Regina rolls over with a groan and looks at her. “Don’t laugh.”

Cady smiles. “I apologize. Let’s get you ready for bed.”

Cady says the word bed and Regina’s mind lights up.

Bed? Oh, bed with Cady. Fuck, I need Cady in my bed right now.

Regina smirks. “We can get ready for bed.”

Cady delicately sits Regina up. “You can get ready for bed. I’m gonna drive home.”

Regina whines and pouts with her bottom lip.

“When you’re sober, sweetheart.”

Regina whines more and drops her head to Cady’s stomach.

“Let me unzip you, and you can do the rest?”

Regina nods. “Yeah, I can do the rest. I’ve gotten my way through drunk nights before.”

Cady runs her fingers up Regina’s spine, feeling for the zipper. She finds it at the top and pulls it down.

“You’re good from here?”

Regina pulls her head back and nods. “Can you lean down, though?”

Cady brings her head down to Regina’s. Regina lightly holds her face and kisses her cheek. “Thanks for dinner.”

Cady pulls away with a blush and a faint lipstick mark. “You’re welcome. It was a pleasure.”

“Get home safe? Text me when you’re home?”

“Of course,” Cady says.

Regina watches Cady walk away with disappointment. She wants her to stay. She really shouldn’t, but she does, so badly. She gets ready for bed, only fully settling when she gets a text from Cady saying she got home safely. She falls asleep that night with a smile, thinking all about Cady in that suit.

Chapter Text

I don’t wanna go to work

My back hurts

My life fucking sucks

Good morning, sweetheart

Do you have pain medication to take?

You know I don’t take meds

Worth a shot

You need me to come over

Ugh, no, I have to go to work

Gretchen is gonna pick me up cause I can’t
fucking move right now

Are you sure you should be going to work?

I’ll be fine

I’ve got a heating pad

I’ll survive

Okay

I can pick you up and take you home

If you need a ride?

That would be amazing

You are amazing

I try my best, sweetheart

I’ll be there by 3

Okay, baby

I’ll see you then

Cady walks into the club already on edge. Not because of anything going on with herself, because Regina was in pain. Cady just wanted her to be comfortable, and her being in pain is not on her list of things to make her comfortable.

Cady settles into her chair and politely rejects a drink. She’s driving Regina home later, so she has to be sober for that.

Cady watches Regina walk onto the stage, and she can tell immediately how much pain she’s in, or was in. Her movements are stiff, and small grimaces pass across her face from time to time. Regina dances for much less time than she normally would, but Cady understands why, and she doesn’t really come in for that anymore.

Regina walks through the crowd, collecting her money, and practically flops into Cady’s lap. She drapes her arms over Cady’s shoulders and tucks her head into her neck.

“Fuck, my back hurts,” Regina mumbles.

Cady hums and immediately presses her fingers into Regina’s lower back. Regina gasps but doesn’t shy away. Instead, she bites her lip to stop her moans and tucks her face further into Cady.

Cady massages for a few minutes before Regina lets out a barely there moan.

“You keep doing this and…” Regina trails off.

“And what, sweetheart?”

“And I can’t be blamed for grinding on you.”

Cady stops pressing her fingers into Regina’s back. She wraps her arm around Regina’s waist instead and pulls her up against her. She smirks and whispers, “Maybe another time for that.”

Regina groans at Cady's insinuation and the stiff pain that’s made a reappearance.

“Why don’t I take you home? Get you a bath and dinner.”

Regina moves her head back and teases, “Only if you bathe with me.”

She can’t help but laugh at herself until a twinge goes through her back.

“Fuck,” she whispers.

That’s when Cady decides for her. “I’m taking you home, sweetheart.”

Regina hums and stands up slowly. She grabs Cady's hand and leads her backstage.

Cady tries to stop her, even saying, “Am I supposed to be back here?”

“Don’t give a fuck,” Regina responds. “The girls will be fine with it.”

Cady hardly agrees, but Regina’s already dragging her into the dressing room. So Cady does what she does best and looks at the ground.

Regina calls out as she pushes the door open. “Cady’s with me.”

Cady hears them all hum in response, no protests. If there were, Cady would just wait outside the door. No big deal.

They walk over to Regina’s station, where she drops Cady's hand and leans onto the surface. Cady presses her fingers into Regina’s back again without a second thought. Regina chokes on a moan as she gives Cady an incredulous look through the mirror.

Cady smiles and presses a kiss to her shoulder. “You’re okay, just take your makeup off so we can leave.”

“But your hands…”

“It’s okay. Being a little horny never hurt anyone, sweetheart,” Cady whispers.

Regina blushes and reaches for a makeup wipe. She starts methodically taking off her makeup. Focusing on doing a good job here, so she doesn’t have to do it again when she gets home because she missed a spot.

Cady's making that difficult, though. With the way her hands are pressing into her back. It’s like her hands are a direct line to lighting the fire in the pit of her stomach. She barely contains a whimper as she backs her hips into Cady's.

“Too much?” Cady asks with a little smirk.

Regina blushes and says, "Nope.”

Little bitch is doing it on purpose.

Regina finishes taking her makeup off, but even when she’s done, Cady doesn’t take her hands off her. She actually starts pressing harder. And Regina really can’t help the moan that fully breaks free. Cady catches her eye, but doesn’t say anything. There’s no judgment in her gaze, no scrutiny.

“Damn, Regina,” a girl comments.

“I don’t wanna hear it,” Regina snaps.

“Hey, I’m not the one moaning like I’m getting fucked,” she jokes.

“What did I just say?!” Regina hisses.

That’s Cady's cue to drop her hands. “Let’s get you home.”

Regina nods and puts on her sweatpants and sweatshirt with just a little help from Cady. Regina slips her hand into Cady's and leads her out of the employee entrance. They walk around to the front of the building, where Cady's car is, and she helps Regina in. As soon as Cady gets it, she turns on the heat and her seat warmers.

“You have seat warmers?” Regina asks, pressing her back against the chair.

Cady hums as she pulls out onto the road to head to Regina’s apartment. Regina would never admit it, but the seat warmers are the only thing keeping her back from locking up while Cady drives her home.

“Everything about you is so fucking attractive,” Regina comments.

Cady smiles. “I could say the same about you.”

Regina rolls her eyes while a smile makes its way onto her face. “Don’t think I’m gonna be that easy.”

“I would never think that. You deserve romance and wooing.”

Regina laughs and mumbles, “Charmer.”

They finish the drive in relative silence. At some point, Cady had slipped her hand on Regina’s leg, and the amount of heat that pooled in Regina’s stomach made her want to crawl out of her own skin.

They make it into Regina’s apartment with no mishaps. No run-ins with neighbors, which Regina is extremely grateful for.

“Bath first, and then I can order or make you dinner?” Cady suggests.

Regina nods. “Definitely bath first.”

She moves into the bathroom to turn on the water, but can’t physically bend over to turn it on.

“Cady—” she starts to call.

But Cady is already there by her side, turning on the tap, she turns it all the way until Regina tells her to stop. She presses a hand to her cheek in thanks before Cady takes a step back.

“Do you need my help getting in or…”

Regina shrugs. “We’ll find out, won’t we? I’ll try, and you can help if I can’t.”

Cady nods and turns around. “Okay.”

Regina laughs as she looks over her shoulder to see why Cady's voice got quieter.

“You don’t have to do that, y'know?" she says.

“I wanna be respectful, so unless you need help, I will be facing this way,” Cady explains.

Regina huffs, but it’s not from annoyance; she just can’t believe she found someone like this. Someone who treats her like a person. Someone who took time from their day to take care of her, and Regina’s letting her.

“Can you at least turn off the water?”

“Oh, shit, yeah,” Cady says as she turns it off. “My bad.”

And Cady resumes her previous position.

Regina slowly strips her clothing. Even though it takes her a while, she manages to do that. She looks at the tub and imagines her imminent death as she takes one step in and can’t catch herself.

“Cady,” she whispers.

Cady hums in response, but doesn’t turn her head.

“I just need something to hold as I get in,” Regina says.

“Okay,” Cady replies, taking slow steps backward. “You want my hand, shoulder?”

“Umm, I’ll probably need your hand,” Regina replies. “And you’ll probably need to like, squat down as I do.”

Cady nods. “Okay, I’ll close my eyes, and you just put me where you need me.”

Regina hums as Cady turns around, eyes closed.

Gentleman

She moves Cady right to the edge and moves her hand. It takes them a little bit to figure out how to move together, but once they do, it’s smooth sailing, and Regina is comfortably sitting in the water.

“Okay, you’re dismissed, minion,” Regina jokes.

Cady laughs, but salutes and turns around to leave. “Want me to order dinner?”

“Only if you get me soup of some kind,” Regina replies.

“I can do that.”

Cady walks out and closes the door, so it’s only just cracked open. She sits down beside the door frame in case Regina needs her and scrolls through the restaurants nearby. There are a few options, but Cady doesn’t wanna just go ordering something without asking Regina.

“Sweetheart?”

“What’s up, baby?” Regina replies.

“You want egg drop soup, chicken noodle soup, pho? There are probably other options, too,” Cady says.

“Pho,” Regina replies. “It’s been so long. Get some for yourself, please. You’re gonna eat dinner with me, right?”

Cady smiles and places the order. “Course. I said I would take care of you.”

She sits outside the bathroom until Regina asks for help getting out. And then Cady shuts her eyes and helps her out and into her bathrobe. As Regina walks to her bedroom and Cady's watching over her, there’s a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it. You go get dressed,” Cady says.

Cady opens it, seeing their food outside it. She grabs it and unlocks her phone to leave an extra tip for the driver. She closes the door and sets the food on the island.

She takes off her blazer, folds it up, and sets it down. Next, she takes off her tie and unbuttons the top button of her shirt.

“And here I was thinking you couldn’t get any more attractive,” Regina jokes from the doorway.

Cady looks up and smiles. Regina’s in sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt.

“Don’t you look comfy?”

Regina blushes and waves her hand at Cady. She tries to duck her head and hide her blush, but it’s to no avail.

“Can we eat?” She asks.

Cady smiles and grabs the food. “Of course.”

They settle into Regina’s couch, turning on the TV and eating. Regina settles into Cady's side, leaning into her.

They laugh as they watch TV. Sometimes they talk or make jokes. By the time they finish eating, Regina has migrated into Cady's lap with Cady's arms around her. Regina starts falling asleep. Her breathing evens out, and her hands fisting Cady's shirt.

The latest episode on the TV finishes, and Cady shuts it off. She picks Regina up and carries her into her bedroom. Cady sets her down in bed, pulls back the sheets, then places them back over her.

She kisses Regina’s forehead and wishes her a good night. Regina whines and pulls Cady back in for a moment.

“Wait.”

Regina wraps her arms around Cady, hugging her and kisses her cheek as she pulls away.

“Text me when you get home?”

“Of course,” Cady replies. “Feel better, sweetheart.”

“Thanks for taking care of me,” Regina mumbles.

Cady smiles and says, “Always.”

But Regina doesn’t hear it; she’s already passed out, sleeping soundly. Cady smiles and presses another kiss to her forehead, Regina snuggling deeper into her bed.

Cady takes one last look at her sleeping form and wishes she could stay here forever. Taking care of Regina in every way possible and showing her how much care and love she deserves.

Chapter Text

Regina’s lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling, debating texting Cady. She opens the thread and types out a message, then deletes it. And she does that a few times before she actually manages to work up the nerve to send it.

Hi

Hey, how was your day?

Good

I missed my favorite customer, but it’s fine

I was hoping to see her sometime this week?

Halloween is on Friday, do you have plans?

I was going to go out and maybe party a little bit

Going as something sexy 😏

The only way to go, baby

Maybe you’ll get to see it when you come with
me

I dont want to impose

Youre not imposing when i literally just invited
you

True, true

What time do i need to be at your place or pick
you up?

Maybe 8 or 9

We can get ready together

Sure

That sounds like a plan

That’s good and everything. but that doesn’t
solve my current problem

Which is?

I miss you, and Friday is 3 days away

I miss you, too

We could get dinner Thursday

Earlier in the evening

Regina groans. “Fuck me for having plans with my friends then. Maybe I can cancel…no, I can’t be that friend who ditches people cause they get into a relationship.”

I can’t, going out with friends

Tomorrow?

My mom is coming over for dinner

You’re welcome to join us

I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind

Are you being for real?

Cady’s face scrunches up in confusion. She wouldn’t suggest it if it weren’t a legitimate option.

Of course, I can ask if you want

Idk, that sounds like a lot

Your mom is gonna ask questions

And I don’t wanna reflect badly on you

Sweetheart, you’re not gonna reflect badly on
me

The stripping tho

Cady doesn’t respond; instead just picks up the phone and calls Regina. Regina picks up immediately after the first ring.

“Baby?”

“Hey, my mom isn’t gonna care.”

“But what if she does? What if she opens your eyes to the very real idea that you might not like what I do for work in six months?”

“Then kick me to the curb and don’t look back,” Cady jokes. “But seriously, it’s not gonna bother me at all, now or ever. Trust me, please.”

Regina goes silent on the other side of the line, and Cady thinks for a split second that she said something wrong. But then she hears a shaky breath and continues to wait.

“Can I tell you something?” Regina whispers.

“Of course.”

“You are the only person who has been interested in me romantically, which I think is true–”

“It is.”

“That has ever treated me, or my job, like it’s not something to be sexualized. And I’ve said that before, I know I have, but it’s still true. And I’m worried you’re just living in a world of fantasy, or delusion, and somebody is gonna point out what I do, and you’re not gonna be interested anymore.”

“Regina–”

“No, I know I sound crazy. I just…”

“You don’t sound crazy, sweetheart. You sound like someone who has been hurt before, and that’s okay, but I’m never going to hurt you like that. I can’t promise I will always be perfect, and I won’t accidentally do something to hurt you, but I swear, I will never use your job as an excuse for something or make you feel bad.”

“Okay,” Regina whispers.

“Okay, so dinner with my mom tomorrow? My apartment?”

“Yeah, just tell me what to wear and where to go.”

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.”

“Bye, baby.”

“Bye.”

Regina hangs up the phone, already dreading dinner with Cady’s mom even though it was her choice. And a day later, she’s dreading it just the same as she’s looking for an outfit to pick out.

“Okay, gotta be like, jeans and a sweater, right? That’s very put-together girlfriend of me…even though I’m not actually her girlfriend.”

She pulls out a pair of baggy, black jeans and puts them on. She pauses.

“Wait, do I wanna be her girlfriend? Do I actually wanna be someone’s girlfriend for once?”

She shakes her head, getting rid of that thought. She’ll deal with it later; now is not the time to have a crisis.

Regina walks into her closet to pull out a maroon sweater. She checks herself in the mirror and hums. She throws on her leather jacket on the way out of the closet and grabs her phone and her keys.

Regina walks out of the elevator, shooting a quick message to Cady that she’s headed over.

“Going out again, Regina?” The security guard asks.

Regina hums. “Yep, I’m going to see Cady.”

“Cady seems to be a new and important addition in your life.”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, but I have hopes so far,” Regina comments.

“Well, then, I wish you luck.”

Regina throws a smile over her shoulder and walks out to her car. It’s about a thirty-minute drive, so she’s leaving an hour before she has to be there. She’s not trying to be late to meeting Cady’s mom for the first time. She needs every advantage she can get.

Regina arrives at Cady’s apartment complex twenty minutes early. She sends her a message asking if she can come up. Cady tells her yes, and she can park in the garage. Cady will pay for it. Regina pulls into the garage and parks on Cady’s floor.

Am I gonna need something to get into the building?

The ticket will scan you in

It’s a weird ass building

Regina just shrugs and goes with. Lo and behold, the ticket scans her in, and she walks down the hall to Cady’s door. She knocks twice, her nerves only spiking a little.

Cady swings open the door with a smile.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she says a little breathlessly.

“Hi,” Regina replies.

Cady ushers her inside, helping her take off her jacket and hang it up. Regina looks around Cady’s apartment.

It’s huge with expensive furniture and countertops. It absolutely feels like her, though. There are candles everywhere, pictures of Cady, her friends, and her mom. There’s even a humidifier sitting on the counter, pumping out a lavender scent.

Cady takes her hand and leads her through the kitchen to her dining room.

“This is the dining room, we’ll be eating here. You’re more than welcome to sit in here or wander around the apartment.”

Regina smiles and tugs Cady in closer. Regina sets her hands on Cady’s shoulders as she wraps her arms around her waist.

“I missed you,” Regina whispers as she rubs her thumb against Cady’s neck.

Cady smiles. “I missed you, too.”

They stand there and look at each other for what could’ve been hours. Regina soaks in every aspect of Cady for as long as she can, until there’s another knock at the door.

Cady smiles. “My mom is here.”

Reigna’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit.”

Cady pulls away and laces her fingers with Regina’s.

She walks back through the kitchen and says, “No, it’ll be good. She’s super sweet, I promise.”

Regina stops in the kitchen. “What if she hates me?”

Cady stops and turns with a smile. “She won’t, but if it takes the pressure off, just sit right here and look pretty.”

Regina blushes and pushes at Cady’s shoulder. Cady laughs and lifts Regina onto the counter.

“Be right back.”

Regina sits there in shock. She’s absolutely floored. She knew Cady had carried her to bed the other night, but the ease with which she just lifted her onto the counter. That was one of the most impressive things she’s ever experienced.

She hears Cady and her mom from the other room and turns her head when they come around the corner.

Regina hops off the counter and stands up straight. She’s bracing for impact, even though Cady’s mom, so far, probably knows nothing about who she is.

“Mom, this is Regina. Regina, this is my mom, Betsy,” Cady says, introducing the two.

“Hi,” Regina says. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Betsy smiles at her. “Nice to meet you, too. Are you a hugger? Do you hug?”

Regina looks at Cady, and Cady nods. “Uh, yeah. I’m a hugger.”

Betsy hugs Regina tightly, the type of hug that only a mother would give. Betsy pulls back and looks Regina up and down.

“You’re stunning. Absolutely beautiful,” she compliments.

Regina shrugs, but thanks her anyway. Regina looks Cady’s way to find a smile on her face. And Regina just crumbles. She knows. Regina knows in this moment that Cady is her everything. There’s never going to be anybody else but Cady.

Betsy turns back to Cady, “So, dinner? I’m starving, and you cooked, so it’s bound to be good.”

Cady laughs. “As always. You guys can go sit down, and I’ll bring the plates over.”

Betsy loops her arm through Regina's and walks her to the table.

“So, I was informed by my daughter yesterday that you were joining us for dinner,” she says. “And I love talking with Cady’s friends, but you seem a bit more than a friend.”

“Oh, well…” Regina stutters.

Betsy smiles and gestures to a chair for Regina to sit down. She sits down across from Betsy, feeling more comfortable as time goes on.

“Cady wouldn’t tell me if you guys were dating, just that you’ve been on a few dates. And I thought you could clear this up for me.”

“Mom, what did I say about asking her about that?” Cady asks, setting the plates down in front of them.

Betsy sighs, “I know, I know. I apologize, Regina. Cady just doesn’t tell me anything.”

Regina smiles. “It’s okay, really. I just don’t really have an answer for you, to be honest.”

“And don’t ask her about it again,” Cady says, eyeing her mom as she grabs her own plate.

She sits down on Regina’s right, digging in immediately. They eat in relative, comfortable silence. Cady watches Regina closely, and when she sees her leg start bouncing, she delicately sets her hand on it. Regina smiles over at her and continues eating.

“So, Regina, what do you do for work?” Betsy asks.

Cady did not brief her mom on anything. So all the questions she’s asking are of her own free will. Regina swallows her food and looks at Cady, who smiles and nods at her to go ahead.

“I dance,” she answers.

Cady gives her a look like, That’s not all you do, and you don’t have to lie.

“You dance?” Betsy asks. “That’s very impressive. Professionally, like ballet or…”

Regina eyes Cady again and starts, “Well, uh…”

“May I?” Cady asks.

“Go for it, it’ll be bad either way,” Regina mumbles.

“Regina works at a strip club. She dances at a strip club,” Cady explains.

Betsy searches their faces for any sense that they’re joking, but they both seem pretty serious. She looks at Cady. Regina seems like a nice girl; nothing wrong with being a sex worker. She seems like she’s got a good head on her shoulders; she’d take care of herself.

“That’s impressive,” she says.

“What the fuck?” Regina says, and then slaps a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, that was inappropriate.”

“No, it’s okay,” Betsy says.

Regina clears her throat. “I’m just not used to people reacting like that.”

Betsy shrugs. “No reason to react in any sort of way. Lots of people do lots of things for work, like the people on uh…Tiktok? They do that for work.”

Regina can't help the laugh that escapes her. “That’s exactly what Cady said,” she says.

Betsy smiles. “Like mother, like daughter, I guess. How long have you been working at your club?”

“6 years,” Regina says.

“Do you like it?” Betsy asks.

Regina nods and smiles. “Yeah, I work with some of my friends, and security is really good about keeping creeps away.”

Betsy hums and smiles. “That’s good. Is that where you met Cady?”

Cady blushes. Of course, her mom would ask that; it’s a normal line of questioning.

Regina laughs. “I did meet Cady there. She’s different than everyone else in there. It drew me in.”

“Leave it to Cady to charm a stripper,” Betsy says. “Is it okay that I call you that? Or do you prefer a different term?”

Regina shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. It’s the truth.”

They finish up dinner, taking and laughing. By the end of the night, Regina is perfectly comfortable around Betsy. She’s extremely nice and seems to hold no prejudice against Regina.

Betsy calls it a night earlier than Regina, and Cady walks her out. Regina grabs whatever dishes are left and puts them in the sink. She’ll clean up a little bit if she can help it.

“You wanna watch a movie?” Cady asks, walking back into the kitchen.

Regina shrugs. “Sure. You don’t mind if I stay a little bit longer?”

Cady smiles and takes Regina, tugging her into the living room. “Absolutely not.”

Cady leads her over to the couch, gesturing for her to sit as she grabs the remote. Regina sits down and immediately sinks.

“Holy shit, your couch is comfortable,” she comments.

Cady smiles and sits down next to her. Regina snuggles up beside her, throwing her legs over her lap and putting her head against her chest. She can hear Cady's heart beating loud and rhythmic, and it puts a smile on her face.

“What do you wanna watch?” Cady asks, pulling up a streaming service.

Regina sighs as her eyes slip closed. “Whatever you want, baby.”

Cady hums and turns on the first thing she finds. She grabs a blanket off the back of the couch and throws it over both of them. Regina hums and tucks herself closer.

Twenty minutes in, Cady looks over, and Regina is sound asleep on her chest. She lets her sleep until the clock hits 8 and she gently wakes her up.

“Hey.”

Regina hums. “Hey, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

Cady smiles. “It’s okay. You’re more than welcome to stay—”

“I can’t,” Regina politely cuts her off.

“No problem. Another time.”

Regina hums and stands up. She stretches her arms above her head, groaning.

“I think it’s time for me to go, baby.”

Cady gets up and folds the blanket, putting it back. “Let me get you money for the parking.”

“I got it. And don’t try to pay me anyway,” Regina says.

Cady wouldn’t normally give up so easily, but Regina’s looking rather serious, so she drops it. She walks Regina to the door, grabbing her jacket and helping her put it on.

Regina throws her arms around Cady's shoulder and tucks her head into her neck.

“I’ll see you on Friday?" she asks.

“Couldn’t pay me not to go,” Cady responds.

Regina laughs and pulls away to kiss Cady's cheek.

“Text me when you get home?”

Regina hums. “I will.”

Cady opens the door, holding it for Regina to walk out.

“Bye, baby.”

“Bye,” Cady says, closing the door.

Regina walks away with a huge smile on her face, and Cady leans her back against the door, happy that the night went well.

Chapter Text

Cady knocks on the door to Regina’s apartment, her smile growing as she hears shuffling grow louder on the other side. The door swings open to show Regina in her bathrobe.

“Hi.”

“Hey,” Cady responds. “I like your costume.”

Regina rolls her eyes and steps aside to let Cady in. “You are such a weirdo.”

Cady laughs and puts her bags down. She’d tried to ask Regina if she wanted to match or if they were just doing their own thing—Regina was not helpful. She said to do whatever, and Regina didn’t tell her what her costume was.

“I will have you know,” Regina starts. “I cleared space on my bathroom countertop specifically for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Cady responds.

Regina steps forward and throws her arms over Cady’s shoulder. She runs her fingers through Cady’s hair, scratching along her scalp lightly. “I was going to no matter what. Now tell me, baby, what are you going as?”

Cady smiles and gently steps out of Regina’s arms. “You’ll see, sweetheart.”

Regina eyes her, but walks back into the bathroom. She immediately went back to curling her hair. It was only about halfway done by the time. She watches Cady walk into the bathroom through the mirror, a slight smile forming on her face.

They get ready in comfortable silence. After Regina’s done with her, she starts putting on a light layer of makeup. Cady does the same. She rarely does her makeup, but it’s Halloween, so she’s making an exception.

If Regina stares at the way the eyeliner makes Cady’s eyes pop, well then, Cady did a decent job. She shoots Regina a wink in the mirror, and Regina blushes, looking away. Cady laughs lightly to herself and earns a light smack on the arm from Regina.

Cady finishes up her makeup as Regina walks out of the bathroom. She assumes it’s to change into her costume, so Cady goes to grab hers from her bag. As she turns to head back, Regina is walking out of her bedroom in a Playboy bunny costume. It’s a black and red bodysuit, paired with bunny ears and cuffs around her wrists.

Cady kinda chokes on nothing as Regina spins in place.

“What do you think, baby?” Regina asks, already knowing the answer based on Cady’s reaction.

Cady nods. “You look good, very sexy. Little Playboy Bunny.”

Regina hums and smirks. It’s so rare that she will do something like this outside of work because it makes her feel like she’s working. With Cady, though? It’s an entirely different story. She just feels like Regina, dressing up to seduce her very hot date.

“Go change so I can see your costume,” Regina says with a smile.

Cady heads back into the bathroom, Regina sitting on her countertop, facing the hallway.

Habit tells Regina that Cady is going to dress in something masculine, but the makeup Cady was doing tells a different story. Now, Regina is debating whether or not she can handle Cady in a semi-slutty Halloween costume or if it’s gonna break her brain more than usual. She gets her answer soon, though, as the door to the bathroom swings open.

Cady walks out in a very similar bodysuit to Regina—completely accidental by the way—with little devil horns on her head. She has red fishnets underneath and red heels. And Regina’s brain is broken.

She swallows harshly and eventually brings her gaze up to Cady’s. She blushes at the immediate realization that she was quite literally staring directly at Cady’s legs.

“You look…you look good,” she manages.

Cady smiles and cockily says. “I know.”

Regina keeps staring rather unashamedly and eventually hops off the counter. She clears her throat once. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Cady shrugs and pulls Regina in by her waist. “Maybe get you to sin a little.”

Regina giggles and says, “Did you just make a religious joke?”

Cady laughs, a little pink dusting her cheeks. This just gets Regina to laugh a little harder until they’re both clutching their stomachs.

“I’m sorry, that was just really cheesy,” Regina eventually says.

“I know, I hated it the minute it left my mouth,” Cady replies, cringing a little at herself.

Regina shakes her head and takes Cady’s hand. “Let’s go, party.”

---------------------------------------------------------

“And this is Shane’s party?” Cady asks as they walk through the doors of a mini mansion.

Regina hums and leads Cady through the entryway into the kitchen. She grabs a new solo cup and looks at Cady.

“I’m driving you back home,” she says.

Regina smiles. “Of course, how could I forget that the devil is actually gonna be my angel tonight.”

Cady laughs as she watches Regina pour vodka and Sprite into the cup. She looks around only briefly for water, seeing a case of them in the corner and making sure to remember they are there before they leave. She sees Regina down the drink like nothing and pours another one.

Damn, that’s kinda hot.

“Reggie!”

Cady hears the voice come from behind her and turns to see a shirtless guy barreling toward Regina. She’s about half a second from stopping him when Regina meets him for a hug.

“Hi, Shaney.”

He pulls away and whistles lowly. “You look very sexy.”

Regina smirks and turns in a circle. “Oh, I know.”

“It’s a shame you’re a lesbian, we would’ve made very hot babies,” Shane jokes.

Regina rolls her eyes and pushes at his shoulder. “Shane, this is Cady. Cady, this is Shane.”

Cady holds her hand out, and Shane takes it with a toothy grin.

“Are you Regina’s girl?”

Cady's eyes flick to Regina’s and then back to Shane. “Something like that.”

Shane wiggles his eyebrows as he turns to Regina. “Very interesting, Reggie.”

Regina rolls her eyes again and huffs. “You are so dramatic.”

“Hey, I’m just saying!” Shane replies, trying to defend himself. “Kinda hot that the devil and a Playboy bunny showed up together.”

This gets a little laugh out of Cady, and Regina smiles upon hearing it. Shane turns back to Cady and winks.

“If you ever need a third…”

“Shane!” Regina scolds.

He holds his hands up and laughs. “Just cause you’re allergic to men doesn’t mean she is, and I am very attractive.”

Cady shakes her head and says, “I’m not allergic to men, Shane, but you’re not really what I’m looking for.”

“No?” Shane jokingly asks. “Maybe looking for tall, blonde, very hot, kind, currently dressed as a Playboy bunny?”

Cady bites her lip and slowly trails her eyes up Regina.

And suddenly, Regina feels like her body is on fire. The look on Cady’s face, the way her eyes trace her figure, her in that damn costume. Her heart is pounding because of a look.

Shane’s mouth slowly lifts into a smirk, and Regina gives him the death glare. “She—“

“Shut the fuck up, Shane,” Regina snaps.

Shane giggles and starts slowly backing up. “She wants you so bad.”

“Shane!”

“And you want her even more,” Shane teases as he quickly runs out of the room.

Regina looks over at Cady, a little flushed because of what Shane said and because of the alcohol. Cady’s looking back at her with soft eyes and a little smile.

“You can’t blame him,” Cady says with a shrug. “It’s kinda true.”

Regina laughs, the tension leaving her body.

How is she so good at making everything seem okay?

“You wanna go dance, baby?” Regina asks, holding her hand out to Cady.

Cady takes it without a word and is led to the main source of the music. Without a pause, Regina backs into Cady, and Cady wraps her arms around Regina’s waist like it's nothing.

Cady’s fingers rub against the lace of Regina's bodysuit, and she starts dissociating just a little, just enough for her mind to start running. Her fingers keep running across Regina’s stomach. On one pass, they accidentally brush lower than they should, and Regina lets out a strangled gasp and backs into Cady, which in turn causes Cady to push her hips into Regina.

Cady immediately stills both of them and apologizes. “Sorry, sweetheart. Got a little distracted.”

“It’s okay,” Regina replies. “I don’t mind if you touch me.”

Cady smiles. “I’m sure you don’t.”

Regina turns in Cady’s arms, her hands going to Cady’s shoulders. She has a lazy smirk on her face, like she’s about to say something devastating. “You could touch me all day, every day, and it wouldn’t be enough.”

Cady runs her thumb across the top of Regina’s cheek. “Mmm, so thirsty.”

Regina has the decency to blush, but she keeps on talking. “I’m just making my desires known.”

Cady hums and nods her head. She knows what Regina’s desires are. Those have never been particularly hidden—or at least Regina hasn't really tried to hide them. And Cady knows that her own desires are starting to break through in her own mind.

Regina leans her head against Cady’s. The music is still pounding, making the floor vibrate, and yet the two of them are holding each other so delicately—the complete opposite of what would be found in this situation.

Regina stumbles forward a step, and Cady takes a half step back. She looks over Regina’s shoulder to find a guy eyeing Regina more than he should be.

“Hey, look somewhere else,” Cady snaps.

The dude gives a disgruntled noise, but walks away from the pair. Regina kisses the side of Cady’s head in thanks and then tucks her head into her shoulder.

“You ready to go, sweetheart?” Cady gently asks as she cards her fingers through Regina’s hair.

“Can we watch a movie when we get home?” Regina mumbles.

Cady smiles and pulls away just a little. “Of course.”

Regina breaks out into a big smile and practically runs out of the house with Cady in tow. Going out to a party, dressing in costumes is fun and all, but lying on her couch with Cady is even better.

They get back to Regina’s apartment safely. Regina is mostly sober now, walking straight into her bedroom to change. Cady changes out of her costume back into her sweats and t-shirt and starts taking off her makeup. Regina pops into the bathroom to do the same.

Cady presses a kiss to her temple and then walks into the kitchen to grab a water and turn on the TV. She settles into the couch, already scrolling through the TV looking for something. She’s not really sure what Regina wants to watch, but she’ll at least start the search.

Regina comes out into the living room in shorts and a sweatshirt. She has a blanket thrown over her shoulders, her face tucked into where it’s wrapped around her neck.

She stops in front of Cady, waiting in silence. Cady looks up and smiles. “Whatcha doing there?”

“Can you lie down?” Regina mumbles.

“Oh, sure,” Cady replies, moving to lie across the couch.

Regina quickly climbs on top of her. Her head rests on her chest, and she hums. Cady adjusts the blanket so it's properly covering Regina again.

“What do you wanna watch?”

“Anything you want,” Regina replies. “Just put on whatever.”

Cady lands on an old sitcom and hits play. She starts gently running her fingers through Regina’s hair. She can feel Regina’s breathing deepen and watches as her eyes fall closed.

Cady is truly impressed with how often and how easily Regina can fall asleep with her. Her own eyes start drooping closed, and she lets them. She doubts Regina will kick her out when she wakes up, and even if she does, she’ll leave without a fight. For now, though, she lets herself fall asleep to the sound of Regina’s breathing and her warmth lying on her chest.

Chapter Text

“Hey,” Regina greets as she opens her apartment door.

“Hey,” Cady responds

Regina ushers Cady inside and closes the door. “Feel free to watch TV or have a drink. I am very much not ready, even though I had plenty of time,” she mumbles.

“Take your time,” Cady replies with a smile. “It’s not like the club is gonna close anytime soon.”

Regina laughs as she walks out of the room back to her bedroom. She looks through her jeans, then her skirts, skips over the dresses, that’s too much.

“Baby?” she calls.

Cady comes walking into her bedroom. “What’s up?”

“What are you wearing?” Regina asks, still in her closet.

Cady looks down at her outfit and says, “Black slacks and a button-down shirt. And my leather jacket, I guess. ”

Regina pops her head out of her closet and hums. “You look good.”

“Thanks,” Cady replies.

Regina moves back into her closet, pulling a short black skirt off a hanger. She changes into it and immediately starts looking for a specific red tank top. It’s tight, a little cropped. Cady will love it. Regina finds it and changes into it quickly.

She walks out of her closet and looks at Cady. “Thoughts?” Regina asks.

Cady’s breath hitches as she looks Regina up and down. She really knows how to pull off a skirt—truly, it’s impressive.

“You look really good,” she says, clearing her throat.

Regina smirks. “I forgot you have a thing for skirts,” she teases.

Cady shakes her head and smiles. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Regina moves to her bathroom, taking Cady’s hand along the way. “The first time you ever reacted to me at the club was when I came out in a skirt. I can’t believe I forgot.”

Cady blushes as the memories come flooding in. “That was the first time I ever really looked at you.”

Regina starts doing her makeup as she watches the blush spread on Cady’s face. She does some concealer, eyeliner, lip liner, and lipstick. It’s nothing over the top, just enough. Cady patiently waits beside her as she finishes up the last part.

Regina puts down her lipstick and walks out of the bathroom, pulling Cady along again.

“Sorry for dragging you everywhere and for taking forever,” Regina says.

“It’s not a problem, sweetheart,” Cady replies.

Regina smiles as she pulls a pair of boots out. She moves to sit on her bed to put them on, but Cady beats her to the punch. She’s already kneeling on the floor, unzipping the first and sliding it on Regina’s foot. She does the same with the second, zipping them both up before she stands.

Cady holds out a hand for Regina. “Ready?”

Regina’s brain is a little broken at the fact that Cady takes care of her so easily, like it’s second nature for her. She pulls it together and smiles, taking Cady’s hand.

Cady leads Regina out of her building and to her car. It’s a quick drive, neither saying much. When they get there, there’s a line already out the door partway down the block, and Regina is dreading standing out in the cold.

They join the end of the line, behind forty other people trying to get in.

“Fuck, this sucks,” Regina complains.

Cady smiles. “You’re okay. It won’t be long.”

“But it’s co–”

Before Regina could even finish her statement, Cady was already slipping Regina’s arms into her jacket. Regina smiles and adjusts the jacket slightly. She turns and presses a kiss to Cady’s cheek in thanks.

Regina fixes Cady’s collar, then trails her fingers down her arms. “Are you gonna care if I roll these up?” she asks.

Cady shakes her head and holds both her arms out. Regina unbuttons her cuffs and starts neatly rolling them up her forearms. Regina shifts in place briefly in excitement.

“And I’m not even drunk yet…” She trails.

Cady laughs and steps forward slowly, so Regina steps back. Regina’s focused on rolling up Cady’s other sleeve, and she knows Cady will keep her safe, so she doesn’t even worry about what’s behind her. She finishes up just in time for them to show their IDs and walk into the club.

They’re plunged into the same darkness and pounding music as Regina’s club. Regina intertwines her fingers with Cady's and walks toward the bar. She pushes past the people dancing without a second thought.

Regina steps up to the bar, waiting patiently for a bartender to give her the go-ahead. Cady steps up directly behind her, watching the people around them.

Regina can feel her up against her back and leans toward her. Toward the heat that she wants near her at all times.

A guy steps up to Regina’s left, and Cady immediately catches him eyeing her. She steps over, putting her arm against the bar to separate the two of them. The guy acts like he’s not put off or deterred, but Cady can see the way he looks at her arm like it personally attacked him.

A bartender gets to Regina, and she orders two vodka lemonades. Cady asks them to make it three. They nod and set them in front of Regina. Cady hands over a couple of hundred-dollar bills and tells them to keep any extra. Regina grabs two of them, Cady the third.

Regina walks them toward a round booth in the corner. She sits down, sliding to the back, Cady following after her. Regina downs the first drink without a thought, stacking it under another one.

She drinks half the other before looking at Cady. Cady’s already looking at her, smiling.

“What?” Regina asks.

Cady shrugs. “Nothing.”

“Okay…” Regina says. “Tell me something?”

“Alright, what do you wanna know?”

“Something new, something you haven’t told me.”

Cady taps her fingers on the table and thinks for a moment. “I have a trust fund. That’s how I have all the money I have.”

“Ooo, trust fund baby,” Regina teases. “Gonna be my sugar mommy?”

“You’ve joked twice about that now. Should I be worried?” Cady jokes.

Regina smiles and scrunches her nose. “Absolutely not. I like you without it having to do anything with your money.”

“Yeah? What do you like about me?” Cady asks.

Regina blushes. “Ask me again after I finish my drinks.”

Cady nods. “I’ll ask you later, I won’t forget. Let’s see…I like video games.”

“Like, Fortnite? Or uh, what’s the other one? Madden something,” Regina replies.

“Yeah, Fortnite. I’m not much for Madden or 2k, football and basketball, but lots of people enjoy them,” Cady explains.

Regina nods, finishing off her second drink. Cady pushes the third towards her with a smile. Regina takes it, brushing her fingers against Cady’s as she does.

“Tell me something about you,” Cady says.

Regina hums as she sips her drink. She’s already feeling a little warm, a little loose, a little like Cady’s forearms are looking extra good right now.

“I’ve never really had a proper girlfriend before,” Regina says.

“What do you mean?” Cady asks.

“All the dates, the hand holding, the taking our time,” Regina explains. “Most of the time I just get fucked into the bed and that’s kind of the end of it.”

Cady smiles and barely stifles her laugh at the bluntness of Regina’s statement. And almost immediately Regina realizes what she said and blushes.

“I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Say it however you wanna, I’m not gonna judge you,” Cady replies.

Regina sighs, her face still red. “And thank god for that.”

They talk away the night, giggling and moving closer. Regina practically ends up in Cady’s lap, her legs thrown over Cady's lap, an arm around her shoulders. Cady’s hand is on the outside of her thigh, her thumb making circles over and over.

Regina trails off into silence, staring at Cady’s hand. Cady follows Regina’s eyes to her hand and stops moving her thumb. Regina’s eyes flick to hers, and she smiles softly.

“You okay?” Cady asks.

Regina hums and shifts closer to Cady still. She feels Cady put her other hand on her lower back. Regina bites her lip and arches into Cady. She places her hand on Cady’s forearm and runs her fingers up and down it. She likes the way Cady’s subtly flexing it, how the muscles feel.

“You wanna go home?” Cady asks.

“No,” Regina mumbles, her hand shooting to Cady’s chest to push her back against the booth.

Cady laughs. “Don’t need to tell me twice. I won’t do something unless you ask.”

Regina knows she doesn’t mean it as a double entendre, but Regina takes it as such. The scenarios of Regina asking for whatever she wants and Cady providing for her quite thoroughly.

“Can I ask you something?” Regina blurts, then cringes, shaking her head. “Actually, never mind.”

“You sure?” Cady asks. “You know you can ask me anything.”

“I was gonna ask something more uh, personal.”

Cady smiles. “You can still ask, I’m pretty open.”

“No, no, I shouldn’t,” Regina replies.

“You know I’m not gonna judge you.”

“You just…you take care of me and it’s hot and I just–ugh, yeah,” Regina says, cutting herself off. “It just makes me think of how else you could take care of me.”

Cady smiles, laughing softly. “Caring comes very naturally to me.”

She pauses and meets Regina’s eyes. “And I can definitely take care of you in whatever way you want.”

Regina blushes and falls into silence, her head fills with thoughts of Cady. Every little thing is turning into something sexual in her head.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna go home?” Cady asks again.

Regina messes with a button on Cady’s shirt and looks at her. “If you take me home, you’ll leave. And I don’t wanna leave you yet.”

“Alright, well, tell me what you like about me then,” Cady says.

Regina smiles and says, “I like that you’re a gentleman, you treat me nicely, and my job doesn’t bother you. You’re very sweet and honest.”

Cady hums, “Anything else?”

Regina blushes and nods. “You’re really hot. Like, in the suits, but also probably without the suits. And I like your hands, which is so lesbian of me, but it’s true. Oh, and you’re super strong, like lift me up and fuck me against the wall strong.”

“I don’t know about that last one, but I’d try my best,” Cady teases. “I can definitely pin you against the wall and fuck you, but I don’t know about lifting you and doing it.”

Regina’s breath hitches as she presses her thighs together. Cady eyes the movement, but doesn’t say anything. She gives it a few more minutes before Regina is looking at her with blown pupils and breathing suspiciously close to panting.

“Okay, let’s go home, sweetheart,” Cady declares.

“No,” Regina whines.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll drive you home, and we can watch a movie, cuddle on the couch?”

Regina perks up at that. Cady in her apartment is one step closer to Cady being inside her. “Okay, let’s go.”

Cady laughs and helps Regina move off her lap and stand up. She slips her arm around her waist and walks out with her. Regina is highly compliant with Cady’s wishes to get her in the car and then up to her apartment.

“I’m gonna go change, but go sit on the couch and choose a movie,” Regina says.

Cady smiles and kicks off her shoes, putting them by the door. She sits down on the couch, getting comfortable. She turns on Regina’s TV, putting on the same show they watched a little bit ago when Regina’s back was bothering her.

Regina comes back out into the living room in a sweatshirt and sleep shorts. Cady smiles and opens her arms for Regina. She sits down next to her, immediately curling into her side.

“Thanks for staying for a bit,” Regina says.

“Course,” Cady replies, placing a kiss on her head.

Regina tries to watch the show, she really does, but with Cady pressed up against her, it’s the toughest thing she’s ever done. She stares at Cady’s other hand, the one not on her, and wants to get it on her body as soon as possible.

She uncurls herself a little and throws her legs over Cady’s lap, and without fail, Cady’s hand ends up on Regina’s thigh.

Yes

They finish watching an episode, and that’s when Regina really starts to get antsy—shaking her foot, messing with Cady’s fingers. She makes it ten more minutes before she tries to push herself against Cady further.

Cady isn’t bothered by Regina’s movements at all. She’s never bothered by Regina’s desire for touch or closeness; she actually kind of likes it. But when Regina starts getting a little more antsy, like she wants more from Cady that she can’t give her right now, she has to say something.

“Okay, sweetheart,” Cady says. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

Regina whines and clings to Cady tightly. Cady laughs and rubs her back lightly. “Your bed is gonna be nice and warm. You’ll get some nice, long sleep.”

“I don’t want you to go, though.”

“You’ll live, sweetheart. Let’s get you to bed.”

Regina’s pout is astronomical. Puppy dog eyes out in full force with her bottom lip pushed all the way out.

Cady pushes her bottom lip back in only for Regina to nip at it. It didn’t even hurt, but the look in Regina’s eye is doing something to her.

“You think you’re so clever,” Cady teases.

Regina laughs and curls up against Cady again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Cady shakes her head and stands up with Regina cradled in her arms. Regina’s mind starts reeling with the secret hope that Cady is going to stay over or that they are going to do something even better than sleep.

Regina is majorly disappointed when Cady lays her down in bed and tucks her in. And then the pout is back in full force.

Cady smiles at her and presses a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t pout.”

“You are cruel,” Regina replies.

Cady laughs and turns to walk away, but Regina quickly snags her wrist, though. “Text me when you get home?”

Cady smiles and runs her thumb over Regina’s fingers. “Of course, sleep tight.”

Regina hums as her eyes drift close. Cady shuts off her light and closes the door. She double-checks that Regina’s apartment door is locked when she leaves and walks out of the building. She gets home in less than half an hour, shooting Regina a text and receiving a heart in return.

Chapter Text

Cady's sitting in her chair at the club by the time Regina walks out on stage. Since the dates, Regina’s dancing has seemed like a conversation only Cady understands. When she quirks her eyebrows at a person, shoots Cady a wink, and trails her fingers down her side. It’s all a language that only Cady can decipher.

Not much has changed about their relationship at the club besides that. Except maybe they’re a bit touchier, but that has been gradually escalating over time inside and outside the club. So when Regina slides into Cady's lap and puts an arm around her neck, and Cady responds in kind by sliding a hand to rest along her back, neither of them really pays it any mind. It feels natural for them.

“Hey,” Cady says.

Regina smiles and settles against Cady further. “Hey.”

“Slow?” Cady asks, lightly rubbing Regina’s back.

“Always when you’re not here,” Regina easily replies.

Cady hums. “Maybe I can make it go fast now that I’m here.”

Regina smirks and scratches at the back of Cady's neck. “Yeah? What are you gonna make go fast? Cause I’m already a hair trigger, baby.”

Cady laughs and jerks Regina against her once. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.”

And just as quickly as Cady pulled her in, she lets Regina relax again. Their flirting has gotten a bit more…tactical since Regina has spilled a few things the last time she was drunk.

Flirting is Regina’s home base, so when Cady started flirting back, the game was on. Sometimes it was just a text message or a comment over the phone. Maybe it was Regina backing her ass into Cady while they were walking around one of their apartments, or Cady purposely pressing into Regina’s back in the places she knows make her go crazy. Whatever it was, it was theirs, and they both played to their comfort level.

Regina clears her throat as she adjusts herself in Cady's lap.

“So I was thinking,” she starts. “We could have a little friend meet up at a club this week? Or a bar, whichever you're more comfortable with.”

Cady hides her shock as best she can. Regina has been reluctant to introduce Cady to her friends or anyone in her life, whereas Cady is extremely open to it. Regina already met both her friends and her mom.

“I’m down,” Cady says. “I’ll text Janis and Damian, but I’m sure they’d be thrilled to see you again.”

She pauses and then adds, “They always ask about you.”

Regina smiles and lays her head on Cady's shoulder. “What do they ask about?” she says.

“They ask how you are, what you’ve been up to. They ask if you’re nice to me outside of the club, and my answer is always yes,” Cady says.

“At least they’re making sure you’re being treated right,” Regina comments.

Cady hums. “They asked how our date went, and I said good. Even though they think we just went out for coffee and don’t know we’ve been on a few.”

Regina laughs. “You’re withholding information from them, Cady. What are they gonna think when they find out?”

Cady shrugs and laughs. “I don’t know, let’s hope they’re not too upset,” she jokes.

They both go silent, comfortably sitting in the silence. Regina even starts to fall asleep. Cady's taken notice of that, too, the way Regina can fall asleep against her, no matter where they are or what the situation is. She takes it as the ultimate sign of trust, even if Regina doesn’t process it like that.

Cady runs her fingers through Regina’s hair. She barely hears a hum as she does it.

“You okay?” She asks.

“Yeah,” Regina responds, nuzzling Cady’s neck.

Cady doesn’t believe her entirely, but she also doesn’t think she’s lying. Some days are just harder than others, and if today is one of those days, then Cady isn’t going to judge.

“If you ever want to head back early,” Cady says. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Regina hums and tightens her arms around Cady’s neck. “I don’t want to miss being with you. Even if I’m overwhelmed or whatever, I just wanna be with you.”

Cady smiles and jokingly says, “Clingy.”

Regina pinches Cady’s neck, but knows it’s all in good fun with the way Cady squeezes her waist.

“You just make my mind calm,” Regina says after a bit of silence.

Cady smiles. “I’m glad.”

“So am I,” Regina replies. “It feels nice to have that for once.”

“If you ever wanna talk about it, or anything, I’ll listen,” Cady replies.

Regina smiles. “I appreciate that.”

Her face drops a little bit, and she barely sighs. “It’s just a lot with my back. I have nightmares sometimes, and they affect me during the day. They make me on edge and a little overwhelmed and freaked out.”

Cady hums. “I can’t say I understand in regards to your back, but I do understand getting freaked out by something from the past.”

“Yeah, and the nightmares are just so vivid. Like I'm remembering and feeling every single moment of being dropped all over again. And then I wake up with this god awful imaginary pain, and it just makes me acutely aware of my movements throughout the day.”

“Yeah, I can imagine that’s pretty awful.”

Regina sighs. “Truly, it is the worst. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that before…so, yeah, someone was lifting me in ballet, and he dropped me. I wasn’t prepared, so I landed kinda crumpled up, in a bad position, and hurt my back.”

Cady nods and rubs her back soothingly. “I’m sorry that happened.”

“Not your fault, don’t apologize for things that aren’t your fault.”

Cady lets them fall into silence, not wanting to push Regina into sharing more than what she’s willing. And after a while, Regina's eyes start to drift closed; maybe she even falls asleep—she’s not entirely sure. What she does know is that Cady is slowly trailing her fingers up her back and gently saying her name.

“Sweetheart,” Cady whispers.

Regina hums, but her eyes remain closed.

“I have to leave soon.”

Regina lifts her head, blinking slowly. She stands up, stretching just enough for her back to pop.

“I’ll text you details about going out with friends,” she says.

Cady nods, “Sounds good. I’ll make sure my friends are available. ”

Cady walks out of the club a while later, shooting a text to her friends. They both agree to go out, and she double-checks as soon as she knows when.

Cady says she’ll drive them, which leads to her already being in the club when she gets a text from Regina.

Are you here?

Yeah

Want me to come out and get you guys?

I got it, baby

See you soon

Cady puts her phone away and faces Janis and Damian. “They’re here,” she says.

Janis whoops and says, “Let’s go. Cady’s about to be flustered times one thousand!”

Damian laughs beside her as he sips his drink. Cady rolls her eyes and watches the door, looking for Regina to walk in.

Regina told her she was bringing two of her friends. No Shane tonight because he’s got to work, but Gretchen and Karen are coming. Gretchen is Regina’s best friend, and Karen is Gretchen’s girlfriend–no fiancée. Basically, it’s a tight-knit group of three.

Cady sees Regina walk in, flanked by her two friends.

Always gotta make an entrance.

“Damian!” Cady yells. “Put your hand up and wave Regina over.”

“Okay, shorty,” Damian jokes.

He sticks his hand up in the air and whistles once. Regina’s head snaps to him, and she smiles as she recognizes him. She grabs Gretchen’s hand, and she grabs Karen's. Regina tugs them through the crowd, straight to the group.

Cady reaches out her hand for Regina as soon as she can. Regina takes it with a smile as she pulls Gretchen beside her, then drops her hand.

“Hi,” Regina whispers, bringing her face close to Cadys.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Cady replies.

Regina watches Cady’s eyes sparkle for a moment, and then she turns to the group. “Okay, Gretchen, Karen, this is Janis and Damian. Janis, Damian, this Gretchen and Karen.”

Everybody goes through greetings and a brief getting to know how you’re related to the person who brought you. The music pounds in the background, making it a little impossible to hear, but they manage to get through it.

As soon as everybody seems to be getting along, Regina suggests a trip to the bar. Everyone immediately agrees and starts pushing their way through the crowd. They make it to the bar and patiently order their drinks one by one, except for Cady, who’s got to drive later.

Cady makes sure to leave a few hundred dollars and an apology. Big groups are a bartender's nightmare, especially when it’s this busy on a Friday night.

They stand off in a quieter corner, talking, giggling, and finishing off their drinks. Janis and Damian can’t help but tell stories of Cady in high school, which leads Gretchen and Karen to recount a few of their own about Regina.

And the girls would try to defend themselves, if they weren’t already so wrapped up in each other. Regina has her arms through over Cady’s shoulders, and Cady’s arms are wrapped around her waist.

“I hope the drive wasn’t too bad?” Cady says.

Regina shakes her head. “I didn’t drive; we took an Uber. I’m not trying to get plastered, but I didn’t wanna drive on the way home with these two drunk as hell in the back.”

Cady laughs and looks at Regina’s shoulder at Grecthen and Karen, who are just about as fused as she and Regina.

“That’s fair. I can drive you guys back home, if you want,” Cady suggests.

Regina’s face scrunches up. “Don’t you gotta take those two home?” she says, jerking her head in Janis and Damian’s direction.

Cady shakes her head. “No, they’re Ubering back to Janis’ place so they can watch horror movies and get high.”

“So what I’m hearing is…” Regian trails off.

“Is that I can drive you guys home,” Cady fills in.

Regina smirks. “You can drive me home. Those two are gonna get in an Uber if it’s the last thing I do.”

Cady smiles. “Cuddles and a movie?”

Regina nods excitedly. “Fuck yes.”

Cady laughs as Regina gives her the biggest smile. Regina can be such a homebody if she wants to, and Cady is more than willing to go along with that.

“Gi, can we go dance?” Gretchen asks, pulling Regina’s attention from Cady.

Regina nods and grabs Gretchens hand. “Absolutely, babe. Let’s go.”

Regina and Gretchen are the first out there, quickly followed by Karen and then Damian. Janis goes against her will as Damian drags her out. Regina turns to Cady and makes a come here motion with her finger, and Cady, like a sailor being led to their death by a siren, walks over to Regina.

They dance for hours, pressed up against each other. People periodically leave to go to the bar, then come back with drinks, and then rinse and repeat. Regina and Cady, though, stay pressed up against each other without a second thought.

Cady holds Regina tightly against her front, her hands splayed on her stomach. Regina grinds back into Cady, leaning her head back on her shoulder. Cady presses a kiss to her cheek and hooks her chin over her shoulder.

Regina smiles and puts her hand on Cady’s head, holding her in place. Cady smiles, her breath fanning across Regina’s neck, making goosebumps break out across her skin. Regina shivers, heat rushing through her body. She can only think about Cady's body pressed up against hers, how it would feel to be pressed up against her in bed, but she shakes her head.

Not a tonight activity.

Regina picks her head up to look at their group of friends, who seem just a little far gone for her taste. She pulls away from Cady and says, “I think some water might be in order.”

Cady smiles. “Okay, be right back.”

“I’ll come with,” Regina says.

“No, stay here. Make sure nobody wanders off,” Cady says.

Regina hums, “Smart.”

Cady shoots her a wink and heads toward the bar. She gets five water bottles and starts to push back through the crowd. She’s almost there, literally five feet away, when a girl steps in front of her.

“Hey, you’re cute,” she says.

Cady smiles. “Yeah, thanks, uh, mind if I get through?” She asks as she tries to step around her.

The girl moves back into her place.

Okay

“What, you’re not interested?” she asks.

“No, thank you,” Cady says, yet again trying to step beside her.

This time, she pushes past, but gets stopped by a hand on the back of her collar. Cady barely made eye contact with Regina before she spun around to face the opposite direction.

“What the fuck are you being so rude for?” she asks.

“I’m trying to get back to my friends and my girlfriend. Please, leave me alone. I’m not interested,” Cady explains, turning back around.

She turns around to see Regina a foot away from her. Regina’s got a soft smile on her face, but a glint in her eye.

“I’m fucking talking to you!” The girl yells behind her.

Cady grimaces at Regina, ready to turn around again. Regina’s eyes snap to the girl.

“But she’s done talking to you. Bye,” Regina says.

“Who the fuck are you?! She can talk for herself,” she yells.

Regina tilts her head and steps past Cady. “She’s not interested.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know that because she’s not interested in five-foot, fake blonde scum with an attitude to boot and an extreme lack of fashion sense or color theory,” Regina bites.

The girl’s face flushes and tries to stutter her way through a response, but Regina’s already at her again.

“Get the fuck outta here. She’s not going for the fake Gucci and pillow princess energy. Bye.”

The girl walks away without another word, and Regina walks back to the group with a satisfied smile. Cady balks at her as she opens each water and hands it to a person.

“Don’t look so shocked, baby. I told you I was a menace in high school,” Regina says, shooting her a wink.

Cady hums and smiles. “Well, then, I appreciate high school Regina coming out to play.”

“Every day of the week for you,” Regina says.

They manage to get everyone to drink their water and into Uber. It takes thirty minutes, but it’s all worth it the minute Regina and Cady fall onto Regina’s couch. They start the movie already curled up close, trying to get closer the longer it goes on.

They’re halfway through the movie when Regina gets up for the bathroom and then returns shortly. Before Cady can play it again, Regina stops her.

“I wanna ask you something,” she says.

Cady nods at her to go ahead.

“You called me your girlfriend at the club,” Regina starts. “And I don’t mind that, at all, actually, but I just wanted to clarify that point.”

“Well, I’m not interested in seeing anyone else, and I’d like you to be my girlfriend,” Cady states. “If that’s what you want.”

Regina blushes and nods. “I want that.”

Cady nods. “Okay…Regina George, will you be my girlfriend?”

Regina shoves Cady’s shoulder and laughs. “Yes, you weirdo.”

She settles back against Cady’s chest and hits play on the movie.

“And just for the record, I’m not interested in seeing anyone else either. Just my girlfriend,” Regina says.

Cady hums and presses a kiss to her head.

My girlfriend.