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Chapter Text

“Bridgeyboo, what happened?” Joey’s concerned voice rang in Ruby’s ear and piqued her interest. She looked up from her finished prep list - Who’s fucking with Bridgette this early, we’re not even open yet, she thought - and locked eyes with a Bridgette she hardly recognized. Bridgette’s makeup was haphazardly done and her, typically unnoticeable, concealer was streaked with mascara and tear stains. If that hadn’t made it obvious enough she cried for the entirety of her commute to work, her eyes were red, her cheeks were puffy, and her eyelashes glistened in the unforgiving overhead fluorescent light. She looked pitiful.

Shit, Ruby thought, I’ve never seen her like this.

“Bridgette, what’s wrong?” Pickles chimed in as Bridgette broke eye contact with Ruby.

“I don’t-” Bridgette barely choked back her tears, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to talk about it.” Ruby’s eyes followed Bridgette as she ran past the line and through to the break room. Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat. Before she could process why she felt this awful for Bridgette, Nicole appeared.

“Hey guys,” she sighed.

“Nicole, what the hell happened to Bridgette?” Nico beat everyone to the punch.

“Whose ass do we have to kick?” Joey followed.

“Yeah, whose ass do we have to kick?” Pickles repeated as if that question had any business coming out of his mouth. It was endearing, though, how readily he jumped to that sweet girl’s defense. Any other day, Ruby would have laughed at the thought of Pickles in a fight with… well, anyone, but she was too distracted by her attempt to figure out why, at that moment, her heart broke for Bridgette.

“Bridgette’s asshole boyfriend broke up with her,” Nicole explained. Ruby felt her heart skip a beat. There were butterflies in her stomach.

Where the fuck did that come from?

“Oh, shit.” “Damn.” Nico and Joey reacted simultaneously. Pickles just stood there with his mouth agape, eyebrows furrowed in sadness and confusion.

Oh shit, indeed, Ruby thought to herself, concerned about how she felt and what she was getting herself into.

“She’s better off without him, honestly, he was useless.” Nicole rolled her eyes, “He was a piece of shit.” Nicole made no efforts to hide her disdain for Bridgette’s choice of consistently unworthy men, but it was clear that she felt terrible for her best friend.

“Do you think she wants some candy? Will that make her feel better?” Pickles asked as he dumped a handful of Skittles into his mouth and offered the open, half-empty bag to Nicole.

“No, sweetie,” she sighed again, “I have to go make sure she’s okay.”

“I have a full baggie, would that help?” Pickles asked as Nicole hurried off. “Pickles, get back to work,” Joey groaned. Ruby cleared her throat and avoided eye contact with her coworkers.

It better be fucking busy tonight, she thought, I don’t have time to deal with this shit.

Chapter Text

Service was steady, but nowhere near busy enough to allow Ruby to successfully bury her feelings.  Bridgette was a rockstar, as per usual, with mistakes to a minimum throughout her fast and efficient service.  Everyone who knew about the breakup was impressed.  She was as desperate as Ruby for a distraction and for her, work seemed to do the trick.

Ruby, inclined to keep an eye on Bridgette, couldn’t seem to help but look up every time the kitchen door opened in case she appeared.  At one point, Ruby looked up from the grill in front of her and turned around just as Bridgette crossed the barrier between front and back of house.  Her eyes were brighter and she was smiling.  Ruby felt her heart leap in her chest, this was the first time she’d seen Bridgette’s smile since their shifts started.

Fuck, she’s so pretty. Fuck. Ruby cleared her throat again. What the fuck is wrong with you. Pull yourself together . Fuck.

It didn’t last. Once Bridgette was safe from the gaze of the restaurant’s patrons, her face fell and her bubbly, adorable personality faded behind a veil of hurt. 

“Two burgers with fries, two Santa Fe chicken for table twenty,” Bridgette mumbled to herself as she rushed to the expo line and focused on the ticket next to the plates in front of her. Ruby couldn’t avert her eyes. 

“I need hands to follow, please!” Bridgette called out.

In a shocking turn of events, Nicole walked into the kitchen.  She never ran food for anyone else, but she was there in a hurry as soon as she heard Bridgette’s request.  Ruby didn’t realize that she was staring at Bridgette until she felt someone’s eyes on the side of her face.  When she turned her head, she made eye contact with Nicole who - for fuck’s sake - gave Ruby a knowing look and a smirk.

Fuck. God damn it. Shit.  Ruby’s eyes darted around the kitchen to make sure that no one else noticed.  She didn’t need to worry about Pickles, it was likely that he would remain oblivious, but the last thing she needed was shit from Joey or Nico.  She felt ridiculous.  She couldn’t think of the last time sudden, onset feelings for a woman so severely affected her that she couldn’t hide them with her cool, tough, matter-of-fact demeanor.  She felt nothing like herself, and the fact that Nicole had looked right through her made her feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.  

It was no secret that Ruby was gay; she was out and proud and couldn’t care less that all of her coworkers knew.  She couldn’t care less if the entire world knew.  That wasn’t the problem.  The problem was that she had a schoolgirl crush on a heartbroken, and undeniably straight, woman. Ruby shook her head slightly, in a dire attempt to clear it, and returned to her work. 

Perfect medium rare, beautiful sear, she thought as she pressed her finger into the filet in front of her. As long as she didn’t screw up any orders, she could fly under the radar and keep Joey off her back. Get your fucking shit together .  She cleared her throat yet again. 

“Are you getting sick?” Pickles asked as the same concerned look he gave Bridgette earlier crept over his face.  Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin.

“No, I’m fine,” Ruby lied, but not about the fact that she felt ill. 

“Oh yay, okay,” Pickles said, through a smile, in his usual drawn-out manner. Ruby sighed and began to plate the orders on the next ticket. Filet, medium rare, side baked potato, side seasonal veg. Ribeye special, well done (get absolutely fucked) . She’d scribbled that last bit on the ticket when it came through as if it could be cathartic. If nothing else, it made Nico laugh when he saw it.

Chapter Text

Near the end of her shift, Ruby ran into Nicole in the break room. Ruby, out of embarrassment, had hoped to avoid Nicole as much as possible for the foreseeable future. That was a pipe dream. Nicole looked up from her phone and smirked.

“Hey,” she said. 

“Hey,” Ruby replied.

“You scheduled to close?” 

“Fuck no,” Ruby laughed for the first time since she came into work.  She was relieved by the thought that she’d get out of there soon. “I guarantee Joey will cut me as soon as I walk back into that kitchen.” She looked over Nicole’s shoulder, in the direction of said kitchen, with a smile on her face. It was something she could do to skillfully avoid eye contact.

“Good.” That knowing look from earlier crept back onto Nicole’s face. Ruby’s smile faded.

Oh, fuck off, Nicole.

“Bridgette and I are both cut, I’m taking her out for drinks next door, you know, to get her mind off of the breakup,” Nicole explained, her smirk growing into a smile as she spoke. Without hesitation, she continued, “You should come.” 

“Anyone else going to be there?”

“Brad said he might come after close, but he’s spent a lot of time on Tinder for the last hour, so… I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Ha,” Ruby exhaled, relieved. If Brad saw Ruby around Bridgette, he’d probably have her pegged just as quickly as Nicole. 

“Seriously, though. Come out.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it,” Ruby said in an attempt to sound blasé. She didn’t think that an opportunity to spend any time with Bridgette, outside of work, would come up so quickly, if at all.  To a degree, she was excited.  Simultaneously, she felt incredibly nervous.

“Okay,” Nicole scoffed through her smile.  She and Ruby both knew that Ruby would show up to the bar.  There was no doubt in Nicole’s mind.  As for Ruby, she spent her walk back to the kitchen contemplating how the night would go.  If nothing else, it might be fun to hang out with Nicole. They could be friends outside of Bistro Huddy.  Their bickering was harmless and always work-related, they were just too similar for their own good.  They both have a hard edge, they take no shit, they speak their mind, they stand up for themselves, and in this moment, their most important similarity became increasingly clear: they both have a uniquely intense soft spot for Bridgette. 

Ruby imagined that she could… eventually become friends with Bridgette as well, but only after she got over these fraughtless feelings. She didn’t know how long that would take. She already felt herself pining. It was excruciating.

“Ruby, you’re cut,” Joey announced as soon as Ruby stepped into the kitchen. 

“Heard,” Ruby answered.  She hurried to her station, checked that everything was in order, and removed her chef’s coat as she stepped away with the knowledge that the three men left in the kitchen could handle any remaining closing duties.  At any rate, there was an hour left of service.  They didn’t need her.

“‘Night, boys,” she addressed Joey, Nico, and Pickles all at once and paired her goodbye with a two-fingered salute.

“Goodnight Ruby!” “Night Ruby.” “Goodnight.” Pickles, Nico, and Joey replied in a jumble of farewells.

Once Ruby found herself back in the breakroom, she gathered her belongings and dipped into the employee restroom to change.  Now in her street clothes, she stared at herself in the mirror, sweaty bangs glued to her forehead and hair tousled from her recently removed bandana.  It was atypical for her to care this much about her post-work appearance and she was almost annoyed.  She haphazardly ran her fingers through her thick, burgundy bob which, surprisingly, made a positive difference.  She swiped her purse off of the back of the sink and rummaged through it in search of a comb.  She found her tube of peppermint lip balm, lifted it to her mouth, and held it between her teeth as she continued to dig through her purse. 

Eureka, she laughed to herself as she uncovered the comb.  After a few quick passes through her hair, she looked more put together than she had in hours and smiled at the progress. Next came the lip balm, which she applied with two intentional swipes and a *pop * *pop* of her lips.  Into her purse went the comb and the lip balm, and out came a thick silver chain.  She hooked the jewelry, which fell perfectly against the black collar of her intentionally tattered t-shirt, around her neck.  She tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing her messily curated array of piercings.  She took one final look in the mirror and took a deep breath.

Good enough.

Chapter Text

The bar was dead when Ruby walked through the doors, which made Nicole and Bridgette easy to find. They’d tucked themselves in a small booth in the corner and sat next to each other.  There was an open seat next to Nicole and two chairs across from them, one open and one on top of which they’d piled their purses and coats. Nicole was about halfway through a tequila soda and Bridgette’s beer had a couple of sips taken out of it.  There were two empty shot glasses on the table. 

Nicole, who saw Ruby first, smiled that same knowing smile and waved at Ruby. Bridgette turned her head.

“Oh my god, hey!” she called across the bar as her eyes lit up. Ruby told herself that didn’t mean anything special.  Bridgette loved all of her coworkers. She’d react that way if any of them walked through the door. Still, it affected Ruby and she felt heat rush to her cheeks.  Was she blushing? Could they tell? Certainly not from across the room in the soft, dim yellow light.

“Hey,” Ruby smiled softly and waved back.  Her first stop was the bar.  Dan, a heavily tattooed, beefy motorcycle dude with a bald head, a long gray beard, and a heart of gold stood behind the beer taps. His bandana was tied haphazardly around his head and his black tank top was splattered with bleach stains. Two bar rags draped the back pockets of his dark wash jeans and his silver bar key reflected the rainbow twinkle lights strung above the bar.

“How’s it going, Ruby?” he asked as he poured a beer for her.  He was well acquainted with most of the Bistro Huddy staff.

“All good, Dan, how are you?”

“I’m always good, no matter what anyone tells ya,” his usual line fell out of his mouth as he placed a Blue Moon in front of Ruby. He reached for the bottle of Jameson and poured her a shot. Without being asked if she wanted to start a tab, Ruby placed her credit card next to her pint as Dan put her shot down. . 

“One for you, too,” she said, with a glance at the whiskey. “On me.”

“Hell yeah, thanks Ruby.” He poured himself a shot with no intent to charge her for it. “Cheers.” With a clink of glass and a tap of the bar top, they each downed their shot with ease. 

“Thanks, man,” Ruby said as she sipped her beer and stepped away from the bar. 

“I’m so glad she’s here,” Bridgette remarked to Nicole, with her eyes locked on Ruby.  She liked Ruby from the moment they’d met and always hoped they could be friends. Her face flooded with gratitude as she turned to Nicole.  “I think this night is going to be… really good for me.” 

“That’s what I’m here for, babe,” Nicole said, and Bridgette beamed. She felt safe, looked after, and beyond thrilled that she didn’t have to go home any time soon.

Ruby placed her beer down in front of the vacant chair, added her purse and coat to the existing pile, and sat down. She tucked her hair behind her ears again before she looked up at her company. Nicole smirked at her for what felt like the millionth time. Bridgette offered a small, sweet, sincere smile. Ruby tried not to let her eyes linger on Bridgette’s soft, plump lips, but she was powerless to stop herself from imagining what it would feel like to kiss her.  Ruby sat back in her chair and loosely crossed her legs, her right ankle resting on her left knee.  She returned to her beer and promised herself that she wouldn’t get drunk tonight, lest she reveal too much to Bridgette as a result.  Besides, the three of them needed a safe way to get home.  Ruby would offer to drive them home once they decided to leave, in what she correctly assumed would be hours. 

“I’m so happy you came out!” Bridgette exclaimed, her focus on Ruby and her smile as bright as ever. 

Oh, you angel , Ruby thought.  She grinned in acknowledgment, sipped her beer, and ignored the fact that she could feel Nicole’s eyes on her.

“You’re in much better spirits,” Ruby commented. “It’s nice.  Here’s to that.” Ruby raised her glass and Bridgette giggled.

“Cheers,” Bridgette said with a clink of their glasses.

Chapter Text

“I’m gonna grab another drink,” Nicole announced as she stood up, empty glass in hand, “Anyone want anything?” 

At that moment, Bridgette’s focus shifted towards Nicole and she was hit with the realization that she hadn’t stopped staring at Ruby for… how long?  A glance back at Ruby filled her heart with admiration.  Her chest was tight and she blushed with the hope that she could blame the color of her cheeks on the alcohol.  She knew what she was feeling, but until that moment these were feelings of which she did not realize she was capable.  A sudden pang of guilt hit her as she wondered if it was appropriate to move on from a relationship that ended within the last 24 hours. She looked back at Nicole and wondered how she would bring this up later.  

“I’m good, thanks,” Ruby’s voice rang through Bridgette’s thoughts.

“I would, actually,” Bridgette smiled, her attention brought back to the present. “I’ll come with you.”  Regret quickly followed her split decision, she yearned for a moment alone with Ruby, but she was nervous and overwhelmed, embarrassed by the thought that Ruby noticed how Bridgette looked at her.  She needed more time to sit with these feelings before she further revealed herself to Ruby.

Ruby noticed.  She swirled the ounce of beer she had left in her pint glass as she watched Bridgette and Nicole clear the empty glasses from the table and walk up to the bar.  She took a tiny sip of her drink - the beer had gone to room temperature, which made it easier to nurse - and sighed.  She recognized the way that Bridgette looked at her, she recognized the way Bridgette’s eyes sparkled as they spoke to one another.  However, to protect herself, she began to convince herself that she was wrong.

Bridgette’s tipsy, she’d never act this way if she was tipsy , she told herself. She’s sad, she’s lonely, she’s on the rebound.  Nothing is happening here . She pulled her gaze away from the back of Bridgette’s head, tucked her hair behind her ears, and took another sip of her beer.

Nicole also noticed, and that day’s everpresent, knowing smirk crept back onto her face as they walked to the bar.  Bridgette noticed after they ordered their drinks. 

“What?” Bridgette asked when her wide eyes met Nicole’s. 

“You’re twirling your hair,” Nicole noticed with a laugh, to playfully tease Bridgette for one of her most common nervous ticks.  Bridgette gasped as her hand shot to her side.

“Is it that obvious?” she whispered forcefully, with the knowledge that Nicole was onto her.

“You love her,” Nicole gently, and quietly, mocked her.  

“Shut up!” Bridgette tried not to shriek as she took glances at Dan and Ruby.  Ruby seemed unaware, and if Dan noticed, he pretended not to.  The tension in her shoulders disappeared.

“Is it that obvious?” she repeated herself with a sigh.

“We’ll talk later,” Nicole turned away from Bridgette as Dan placed their drinks in front of them.  They’d ordered another round of shots.  Bridgette took hers immediately and Nicole laughed. 

“Hey, lighten up,” she smiled at Bridgette as they stepped away from the bar. “We’re having fun.  She’s having fun.  We can worry about this later.” 

“You’re right,” Bridgette took a deep breath, smiled, and turned her eyes to Ruby.  Ruby looked up.  She gave Nicole and Bridgette a two-fingered salute as her gaze met Bridgette’s.  Ruby’s heart was racing, but she appeared calm and collected.  This put Bridgette at ease. 

“Welcome back,” Ruby crooned as Bridgette and Nicole returned to their seats.  

Did that sound like flirting? Does it matter? Oh, fuck . Ruby took one more insignificant sip of her beer.  It would be a relief to know that Bridgette was twitterpated and desperate to hide it, but Ruby could not let herself notice.

Chapter Text

Bridgette marked the end of the night with a yawn as she laid her head to rest on Nicole’s shoulder.  The physical contact between the two of them made Ruby ache. She wasn’t jealous, but she yearned for an intimate moment like that, with Bridgette. 

“Is it time to go, Bridgey?” Nicole asked with a soft laugh. 

“Yeah, I think so,” Bridgette said with a small smile.  Her eyelids appeared heavy and her cheeks were rosy with drink. If Ruby were Nicole, she’d plant a soft, gentle kiss on Bridgette’s forehead. 

“I’ll give you both a ride home,” Ruby offered as they stood and collected their belongings.

“Aw, thank you,” Bridgette beamed. “That’s so nice.”

“It’s no problem,” Ruby said as they stepped up to the bar.

“You girls gettin’ outta here?” Dan addressed them as he returned to his post. He’d clearly just returned from a smoke break.

“Yeah, it’s time,” Nicole answered as he gathered their cards.

“Hey, put a couple of their drinks on my tab,” Ruby caught him before he printed their tabs.

“Will do,” Dan responded without turning around.  Ruby, right after she made her offer, recalled how Nicole reacted when Terry implemented a FOH tip out to BOH and the tiff they had about their finances.  She all but shuttered at the thought of paying for ANYTHING that belonged to Nicole. Unfortunately, she felt led to buy Bridgette a drink and feared she would reveal too much of herself if she did not also pay for one of Nicole’s. This way, her intentions seemed more platonic. 

Nicole held back a laugh, she could see Ruby squirming.  Bridgette remained unaware and gazed at Ruby with such admiration that anyone who took the time to notice could see the stars in her eyes.  Nicole noticed, squeezed the arm of her smitten friend, and could not wait for the two of them to be alone together.

“Can I stay at your place tonight, Nicole?” Bridgette asked as the three of them trekked to the side street on which Ruby’s car was parked.  Bridgette made it clear, at many points in their conversations from earlier, that she dreaded going home that evening.  Her apartment was vacant; Peter, her ex, vacated the apartment as soon as he broke things off. This particular arrangement was the result of a fight between the two, a shouting match on his part.  Through sobs, Bridgette insisted that he get out of her apartment unless he could choke up rent for the past two years.  He asked where he was supposed to go, and she told him that she did not care (when, in reality, she could not help but find it in her heart to feel for him), and he resigned himself to a life of couch surfing.  

“Most of Peter’s stuff is still there and I-”

“Of course,” Nicole said, “I thought that was the plan all along.” Bridgette smiled, accompanied by a flash of lights from Ruby’s now-unlocked car.  Nicole climbed into the back with the thought that Bridgette would take the passenger’s seat, but Bridgette did not take the hint and climbed in next to her. 

“Here,” Ruby said as she handed her phone to Nicole.  A navigation app was open, so Nicole typed her address in as Ruby started the car.  

The three of them stayed silent as Ruby's radio station selection (70's, 80's, and 90's classic hits) played softly in the background.  As they idled at a red light, minutes before they were expected to arrive at Nicole’s place, Ruby stole a glance at Bridgette through the rearview mirror.  She was leaning on Nicole’s shoulder again, her face lit up by her phone as she scrolled, oblivious to Ruby’s attention.  Nicole happened to look up from her phone and she and Ruby made eye contact through their reflections.  Ruby quickly averted her eyes as she blushed, caught in the act.  Nicole grinned, she could not help it. 

“Thank you so much, Ruby,” Bridgette beamed, once they arrived in front of Nicole’s apartment complex. 

“Anytime,” Ruby turned around and shot Bridgette a smile that made her weak in the knees. Nicole gave Bridgette’s arm another gentle squeeze.

“I had a really great time tonight,” Bridgette continued as she and Nicole got out of the car, “I’m so happy you came out.” 

“Me, too,” Ruby said.

“Bye, get home safe!” Bridgette said.  Ruby waved, watching over Bridgette and ignoring Nicole as they walked away and through the front doors of Nicole’s apartment building.  When they were safe inside, she drove away.  A pang in her chest hit her once she was about a block away and she pulled over in buried her face in her hands.  She missed Bridgette to the point that it was unbearable. 

God damn it.  You are so in over your head.

Chapter Text

Nicole practically barged into her house, threw her stuff down on the combination shoe and coat rack by her front door, and rushed into the kitchen.  Bridgette calmly stepped through the door that Nicole left open, closed and locked it behind her, placed her stuff down, and hung up both of their coats.  All the while, she looked after Nicole with slight confusion on her face.  

“Do you want a glass of wine?” Nicole asked as Bridgette stepped into the kitchen.  She had a mostly full bottle of ros é in her hand and two glasses in front of her, one of which she’d poured for herself in the time that it took Bridgette to catch up to her.  Bridgette considered, for a moment, her level of intoxication and decided she could handle another drink.  Plus, though she felt sleepy sitting at the bar, she knew she wanted to take this time to admit her feelings for Ruby to Nicole. 

“Sure,” she said. Nicole had already poured Bridgette half a glass. 

They took their wine into the living room and set the glasses on the coffee table. 

“Let’s get comfy,” Nicole said with a glance at their outfits. They were both still in their work uniforms. It went without saying that Bridgette could borrow Nicole’s clothes. “We have a lot to talk about.” 

When Bridgette blushed, Nicole smirked, then hurried to her bedroom.  She returned, an oversized t-shirt and pajama shorts in tow.  She handed them to Bridgette, who took them into the bathroom to change.  Once she was dressed, she looked in the mirror and noticed the color in her cheeks.  She splashed some cold water on her face.  As she dried herself off, she took a deep breath in a failed attempt to calm her nerves.  Her heart was pounding.  She knew she needed to speak to someone about what she was going through, and Nicole was a safe person to whom she could, so she could not pinpoint why she felt so nervous. 

When she returned to the living room, Nicole was already sitting on the couch, glass of rosé in hand. She’d changed into a cropped tank top and yoga pants and her hair, now in a braid, rested on her shoulder. Bridgette sat down on the available cushion, faced Nicole, and waited for her to say the first word.

“So-” Nicole started, her body still facing forward. 

“Oh my god, Nicole!” Bridgette exclaimed.  Nicole turned her whole body towards Bridgette with a huge grin on her face.

“I just- I’m- I can’t- She- oh my GOD.” Bridgette buried her face in her hands. 

“Hey, hey,” Nicole said softly, still smiling.  She put her wine glass down, took Bridgette’s hands in hers, and pulled them away from her face, “Bridgey, look at me.” Bridgette’s wide, glistening eyes met Nicole’s.

“Honey, breathe,” Nicole urged Bridgette.  They took a deep breath together.

“I didn’t think I- I mean, I had no idea that I…” Bridgette sighed, “like women.”  The relief that came with the admission was powerful.  Bridgette relaxed a bit.  Nicole, with a satisfied grin, grabbed both of their drinks, handed Bridgette her wine, and leaned back into her side of the couch. 

“I had a feeling,” Nicole admitted, “even before today.” 

“You did?” 

“Straight girls don’t look at other women the way you do,” Nicole explained, “and I think you’ve had a crush on Ruby for longer than you’ve realized.” Bridgette did not respond, she just stared at Nicole, eager for her to say more. 

“I’ve seen the way you look at her during staff meetings,” Nicole continued, “and I notice the way your eyes light up every time you mention that you love her.” She paused to take a sip. 

“I thought that was all platonic.” Bridgette pulled her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

“Until today,” they said at the same time. Bridgette blushed as her focus shifted to the memory of Ruby sitting across from her at the bar earlier that night.

“She’s so hot,” Bridgette buried her face in her kneecaps, for a moment.  Nicole let out a soft laugh.

“She’s just… so confident, and so smart, and so beautiful,” she swallowed a lump in her throat, “and her face , and her tattoos , and her VOICE, oh my god.” Her infatuation-induced yearning was unlike anything she’d felt in years.

“She likes you, too,” Nicole said, smug. Bridgette’s face lit up.

“She does ?”

“Oh my god, babe, it’s so obvious,” Nicole laughed, “and I think you knew, on some subconscious level, or it would have taken you forever to realize that you’re into her.” 

“I guess you’re right,” Bridgette said. They were both silent for a moment, and then Bridgette looked sad again.  Nicole’s eyes widened at the realization.

“Do…” Bridgette began, “Do you think it’s okay if I move on this quickly?  Is this just a rebound?  I don’t want this to be just a rebound.”  With that last sentence, Bridgette choked back a sob. 

“No, sweetie,” Nicole said.  Bridgette sat in contemplation with that answer.  She took a big sip of wine before she spoke again. 

“I think…” she took a deep breath, surprised by what she was about to say, “I think… I haven’t loved Peter for a long time.  Long enough… to get over him before the relationship ended.” 

“I think you’re right,” Nicole agreed, “and thank fucking god for that.”

“Ha,” Bridgette laughed, embarrassed that she’d let that relationship go on for as long as she had. Nicole was proud of herself for successfully lightening the mood. 

“He was awful to you,” Nicole said.  Bridgette wanted to repeat Nicole, to show that she agreed with her, but that felt too mean. 

“He took advantage of you, he’s a low-life fuck up, and you’re better off,” Nicole continued.

“And…” Bridgette began, nervously, “You’re okay with… I mean, it’s alright with you that I like Ruby?  I know you two don’t always get along.” 

“She’s only a bitch when she’s at work,” Nicole said, “I liked hanging out with her tonight.  And anyway, you like her, that’s all that matters.  And I think she can make you happy.  She’d take good care of you.”  Bridgette looked like she could cry tears of joy. 

“No one deserves you, babe.  But I think she comes close.” Bridgette hugged Nicole as a few happy tears flowed down her cheeks. 

“Also,” Nicole piped up after their sweet moment passed, “I bet she’ll give you the best sex of your life.  She looks like she’s great in bed.” 

“NiCOLE!” Bridgette exclaimed, out of embarrassment and as a result of the fact that she was not quite ready to have that conversation.  Nicole laughed, observant of the fact that Bridgette did not make the effort to deny that claim.

Chapter Text

It had been a little over an hour since Bridgette and Nicole tucked themselves into Nicole’s queen size bed.  Bridgette had yet to fall asleep.  She felt exhausted, wished with every fiber of her being that she could shut her mind off, but all she could think about was Ruby.

She likes you, too , Nicole’s voice echoed in Bridgette’s mind between visions of her and Ruby together.  She turned onto her side and felt herself sink into the mattress as she imagined herself melting into Ruby’s arms.  She wondered how, and when, and if the two of them would admit their feelings to one another.

Nicole stirred as Bridgette picked her phone up off the nightstand and Bridgette froze.  A moment of silence, followed by the sound of Nicole’s deep, rhythmic breaths, assured Bridgette that Nicole remained asleep.  Bridgette unlocked her phone, opened her contacts, and scrolled down to the newest addition to the list.  Her finger hovered over Ruby’s name for what felt like an eternity.  With a deep breath and a couple of taps on her phone screen, she opened a new message. Her thumbs flew frantically over the keyboard as she typed out everything she wished she could say to Ruby in person.

Her eyes flicked back and forth from the unsent paragraph and the “2:43 [A.M.]” on the upper corner of her screen.  The thought of Ruby waking up to this message, and the thought of the two of them working together afterwards, caused her chest to tighten.  She took another deep breath in an attempt to calm her anxiety, copy and pasted the text into her Notes app, and put her phone down. She decided that she’d look over the message later that morning, once she’d slept - if she slept at all - and sobered up.  

Ruby, miles away in her apartment, also lay awake fantasizing about Bridgette. 

You’re fucking ridiculous , she huffed and laughed at herself once she realized she was absentmindedly stroking the empty spot on the bed next to her.  She grabbed an extra pillow and held it to her chest, desperate for the comfort and regretting the fact that she did not hug Bridgette goodnight when she dropped her off at Nicole's.  She yearned to know what it felt like to hold Bridgette and her heart raced at the thought. 

She let out a small gasp when her phone buzzed.  She swiped her phone out from under her pillow and sighed when she saw the random notification that lit up her phone screen.  Of course, it wasn’t a message from Bridgette.  Once she recovered from the disappointment, she unlocked her phone and opened her Homebase app to check when next they worked together.  Her 11am start time blazed at her while she yawned.  

Bridgette , she read from the list of server names and smiled. She confirmed that her alarm was set for the right time, put her phone back under her pillow, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

The desire to look beautiful for Ruby meant that Bridgette gave herself extra time to get ready for work.  She had fifteen minutes left before leaving the house, ten of which she spent inspecting every detail of her appearance.  After a little refresh that morning, her curls were bouncy, but more frizzy than she would have liked.  She spent more time on her makeup application than she had in ages, and she hoped it paid off.  Her winged eyeliner looked symmetrical, her mascara wasn’t clumpy, she applied blush that perfectly enhanced the natural color of her cheeks, and she chose a gloss that matched the color of her lips.  The look was clean, simple, and effective.

The longer she stared at herself, the more she worried she’d wasted her time, she didn’t look pretty enough.  The only thought that brought her any comfort was the fact that Ruby saw her yesterday, at her worst.  

Bridgette checked the time on her phone and, with five minutes left before she had to leave the house, took one last look in the mirror.

This is… definitely an improvement from yesterday , she thought to herself. 

Once she grabbed her purse, her water bottle, and her apron, and put on her coat and shoes, habit led her to turn her head towards the living room to say goodbye to Peter.  Her gaze was met with an empty chair, a black TV screen, and a blank space on the TV bench where Peter’s Xbox used to be.  She sighed, with relief, and smiled a bit when she realized she did not miss him.

“Bridgette, you look so pretty!” Pickles was the first to greet her when she walked into the kitchen at the start of her shift.  Ruby looked up from the half-diced tomato in front of her and it took everything in her not to stand there with her mouth agape.  Bridgette was a beautiful human, she always looked pretty, but today… today there was something about her.  She was glowing.

“Aw, thank you,” Bridgette replied bashfully as she gave her hair a little toss.  Ruby could not contain how adorable that was. 

“Bridgey, holy shit,” fell out of Ruby’s mouth.  Bridgette nearly gasped as she looked up at Ruby.  The rest of the kitchen froze as they locked eyes.  It did not go unnoticed that this was the first time that Ruby referred to Bridgette by that particular pet name.

“Oh ho ho ,” Nico chuckled with an air of realization.  He looked to Joey and Pickles for affirmation.  Bridgette’s cheeks flushed when she broke eye contact with Ruby and she ran out of the kitchen.  

“Ruby and Bridgette ,” Nico laid into Ruby with a shit-eating grin as soon as he could see that she was blushing, “No fucking way! Holy shit, dude.”  Pickles gasped at the realization and beamed when he looked at Ruby.

“Ruby and Bridgey sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” he started to sing.

“Shut the fuck up,” Ruby growled as Pickles and Nico both started to make kissing noises at her.  Joey remained silent.  He thought of his feelings for one other particularly stunning front-of-house employee and knew he had no right to tease Ruby for hers.  He did think of one thing, however, that felt appropriate to bring up. 

“If you hurt her, I’ll fuck you up,” he said as Nico and Pickles started to simmer down.  This warning was genuine, and it shut them up. 

“You and everyone else in this restaurant,” Ruby shot back, angered by the implication that she would ever, intentionally, do anything to hurt Bridgette. 

“Yeah no, fair enough.” “That’s so true, we love her.”  Nico and Pickles remarked in unison as they all returned to their work.

After her shift ended, Ruby stood in the alleyway behind Bistro Huddy.  She leaned against the wall, cigarette in hand.  She didn’t smoke much these days, but the amount of teasing she endured from her coworkers throughout the night made her tense.  It was all in good fun, and she knew that, but even still.  The next long, deep drag of her cigarette was meant to help her relax, but she jumped out of her skin when the back door opened.

“Ruby?” The sound of Bridgette’s voice calmed Ruby immediately. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No worries, Bridge,” Ruby said as she stomped out her now-dropped cigarette, “Are you on break?”

“No,” Bridgette smiled as she closed the door behind her and stepped closer to Ruby, “I got cut.”

“Oh, hell yeah.” Ruby smiled as she unintentionally glanced back at the door.  She was thrilled to have their first moment alone since the start of Bridgette’s shift.  She feared it could be ruined at any moment. 

“Those guys don’t mean any harm,” Bridgette remarked, regarding the kitchen boys and reading Ruby’s mind.

“Oh, I know, I know,” Ruby said.  They both let out a small, quiet laugh followed by a moment of silence.

“Listen, I…” Bridgette was the one to break the silence, unsure of what she should say.  She looked up at Ruby, eyebrows slightly furrowed with nerves.  She yearned to spill every romantic thought she’d had about Ruby since the previous night.  Her eyes sparkled and Ruby could read it in her face: she was trying to admit her feelings.

Overwhelmed with confidence, Ruby took Bridgette’s hands in hers and pulled her closer.  She gave Bridgette’s hands a gentle, reassuring squeeze.  As Bridgette’s face relaxed, Ruby lifted her hand and tucked Bridgette’s hair behind her ear. 

“Can I kiss you?” Ruby asked as she caressed Bridgette’s face.

“Yes, please,” Bridgette beamed.

Ruby smiled and happily obliged.

Chapter Text

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, holy shit .  Ruby’s mind was reeling as she pulled her face away from Bridgette’s.  She could hardly believe what she’d done but was thrilled she had the gumption to do it.  Bridgette looked up at Ruby, doe-eyed.  Even in this dim alleyway, her eyes glistened.

“Oh,” Bridgette exhaled with a smile, “That’s what that’s supposed to feel like.”  She initiated another kiss.  Her body filled with warmth as she wrapped her arms around Ruby, who held her close with one hand at the small of her back and the other at the nape of her neck.  They held that position until Bridgette heard the doorknob click.  Bridgette swiftly turned around to see who’d caught them in the act while Ruby’s arm remained around her waste. 

There was no one there.  Bridgette was hearing things. 

“I don’t mean to be paranoid,” she explained, as she turned back around to look at Ruby, “I mean, I guess I don’t care if anyone sees, I’m really only worried about Terry, I just…” She didn’t finish her thought.  She didn’t have to.  Ruby knew they both could not bear any more teasing from their coworkers, lest it ruin this moment for them.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ruby said, then placed a kiss on Bridgette’s forehead.

“Yes, please.” 

“Come home with me?” Ruby paired her proposal with a kiss on Bridgette’s cheek.

“Okay!” Bridgette almost laughed, shocked by how quickly everything she’d wanted to happen came to fruition. Her body vibrated with excitement.  Her stomach filled with butterflies.  She felt overwhelmed, but not enough to refuse the invitation.  The thought of leaving Ruby made her ache. 

“Okay,” Ruby smiled, “let’s go.”  Ruby took Bridgette’s hand and, with their fingers intertwined, led her away from the restaurant.  

They stole glances at one another, both too elated to speak.  Each time they made eye contact, Ruby gave Bridgette’s hand a gentle squeeze and Bridgette would blush and giggle in spite of herself. 

Ruby parked relatively far away from work that night, enough for Bridgette to jump back into her arms and give her another kiss.  Ruby fell back against the passenger door of her car, which set off the car alarm.

“Oh!” Bridgette exclaimed as they jumped apart and fell into fits of laughter.  Ruby pulled out her keys to silence the alarm and unlock the doors.

“Careful, you,” Ruby teased as they got into the car.  Bridgette was already blushing.

Moments into the drive home, Bridgette rested her arm on the middle console.  Ruby saw, took the hint, and took Bridgette’s hand in hers.

“So this is really happening, huh?” Ruby said as her eyes shifted from Bridgette to the road, back to Bridgette, back to the road, and so on.  Bridgette was gazing at Ruby with such admiration.  It made her blush.

“I thought about you all night,” Bridgette admitted.  She became anxious at the thought that she was coming on too strong, but she could not help it.  She was comfortable around Ruby.

“I did, too,” Ruby admitted with a laugh.  Bridgette was relieved. 

“I felt ridiculous at the time,” Ruby continued. “I feel much less ridiculous now.”  She turned her head towards Bridgette as she slowed to a stop at a red light.  They leaned towards one another as if there was a magnetic pull between them and Bridgette stole another quick kiss. 

As the light turned green, Ruby drove on.  Bridgette took a moment to check her phone for the first time since their departure.  She had two missed calls and one text message from Nicole. 

Nicole: Where’d you go??

Bridgette felt a pang of guilt and typed a reply.

Bridgette: I left with Ruby!!!

Nicole: (typing…)
Bridgette: (typing…)

Nicole: I knew it!! 

Nicole: You left without saying goodbye. I’m hurt lol

Bridgette: I’m so sorry I left without saying goodbye! 

Nicole: Bridgey, chill, I’m just teasing

Nicole: Tell me everything

Bridgette: (typing…)

Nicole: Tomorrow!! Have fun tonight ;) xoxoxo

Bridgette blushed and stuffed her phone into her purse as Ruby pulled into a shared driveway in front of a small three-story house.  

“You own a house?!” Bridgette blurted out as they gathered their belongings.

“No,” Ruby laughed, “Just the first floor.  And I don’t own, I rent.  My landlord renovated the house into three separate apartments right before I moved in.” 

“Oh.” That made more sense and was far less intimidating.

“Put your stuff anywhere you’d like,” Ruby said as she let Bridgette into her home, “The coat closet’s right there if you want to use it.” She pointed to a door next to the entrance to the living room as she took her shoes off. Bridgette followed suit. Ruby ended up taking her coat and hanging it up for her. Bridgette put her purse and water bottle on a small table in the foyer and stuck her phone into her back pocket.  Once Ruby’s hands were free, she took Bridgette by the hand and led her into the living room. Bridgette was met with a messily curated collection of new and vintage furniture. The room, while homey and lived-in, was clean and organized. Bridgette placed her phone on the coffee table and sat on the couch as Ruby turned on a collection of lamps throughout the room. The warm, golden light made the room feel quite cozy.

Ruby joined Bridgette on the couch as Bridgette’s heart sank to her stomach. Suddenly, more than anything, she felt insecure and nervous. She tried to ignore those feelings as Ruby kissed her.  Bridgette returned the kisses until she felt Ruby’s hands slide down her sides, over her hips, and onto her thighs.  When Ruby’s kisses moved to her neck, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Ruby, wait,” she said softly as she pulled herself away. Her breaths were quick and shallow and her heart was pounding. She could not bring herself to look at Ruby.

“I…” she swallowed the lump in her throat, eyes glued to her lap, “I don’t think I’m ready.” 

“Oh, angel,” Ruby sighed with a concerned look on her face. She felt guilty, she never meant to push Bridgette too far. All she’d done was read Bridgette's signals incorrectly. 

“I’m sorry,” Bridgette whispered. She looked like she was about to cry. She felt guilty for rejecting Ruby’s advances.

“Hey, hey,” Ruby crooned softly in an attempt to comfort her, “Absolutely not.  Don’t say that.” Ruby urged Bridgette to look at her. Bridgette lifted her head and locked eyes with Ruby, who did not look hurt or angry. Ruby offered Bridgette a small smile.  Relieved, Bridgette melted into the couch.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Ruby said as she offered her hands to Bridgette. Bridgette threw herself into Ruby’s arms, buried her face in Ruby’s shoulder, and squeezed her as tight as possible 

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to push you,” Ruby said softly into Bridgette’s ear as she rubbed her back. 

“You didn’t, it’s okay.”

“You don’t have to be ready. I can wait."

Bridgette pulled herself away from Ruby once again but kept her arms wrapped loosely around Ruby’s shoulders. Ruby caressed Bridgette’s face and gently rubbed her thumb back and forth across her cheek. Bridgette leaned in to offer Ruby a reassuring kiss.

“I still want to spend the night with you,” she said when she came up for air, her face close to Ruby’s, “if that’s okay.”

“I would love that,” Ruby smiled, relieved. They were both eager to spend the time together, no matter what that entailed.

Chapter Text

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Bridgette asked as she twirled her hair between her fingers. On the come down from the high that came from running away from work with Ruby, she realized how grimy she felt. She was slightly uncomfortable as a result. 

“I feel like I smell like the restaurant.” 

Ruby laughed. 

“No worries,” she said. She knew exactly what Bridgette meant. The air at Bistro Huddy, and anywhere else she’d worked, felt heavy. It clung to one’s hair, clothes, and skin, and after a busy shift, a shower felt like a godsend. They’d both worked particularly hard that night and if Bridgette hadn’t brought it up first, Ruby had the thought to mention her desire to shower.

“Just hold on one second,” Ruby said as she stood, “I’ll be right back.”

She disappeared into her bedroom, where she gathered some clean clothes for Bridgette to borrow.  A well-worn, soft, extra large heathered gray crew neck and a pair of blue plaid pajama pants made up her outfit of choice for Bridgette. 

She gathered an extra towel and a washcloth from the linen closet, stood in front of her bathroom, and caught Bridgette’s attention.

“Here,” she reached out to offer the pile of post-shower necessities. “Just leave your clothes on the floor, I’ll toss them in the laundry after I shower.” 

“Thanks,” Bridgette said as she hurried over to Ruby. She took the pile out of Ruby’s arms and placed a kiss on her cheek. Ruby took the opportunity to return the gesture of affection with a deep, passionate kiss on the lips. As Ruby returned to the couch, Bridgette tucked herself into the bathroom and leaned against the door. She turned the light on and caught herself in the mirror. She looked flustered. She was flustered. She took a deep breath, placed the towel and clothes on the toilet lid, and turned the water on.

While she waited for the water to warm up, she started to undress.  When she was left in nothing but her bra and underwear, she became keenly aware of Ruby’s presence in the next room.  The water from the bath faucet roared in her ears as she looked up and observed her reflection - the mirror still reflected clearly. She ran her fingers through her tousled curls. As she admired her figure, she could not help but imagine Ruby stripped down to her skivvies, to imagine her naked.  She felt Ruby’s hands on her body the way they had been earlier, but this time, she welcomed the touch. She lost herself in the thought of Ruby’s kisses starting on her neck, kisses that slowly traveled down her chest, her stomach, down her thighs, until-

Oh, god , she thought.

She buried her face in her hands. Her chest felt heavy with regret as she fantasized about Ruby.  Ruby, who was ready to fulfill all those fantasies. Bridgette was ready in theory, but not in practice, and in that moment, that killed her.

With a deep breath and a turn away from the mirror, she disrobed entirely and stepped into the shower. As the warm water started to run down her back, she leaned into the stream and let the warm water engulf her hair. She had not initially intended to reset her curls, and without her own hair product and with the inability to complete her curl routine, her hair would likely look more unkempt than it normally did. That didn’t matter, though. She had the next day off from work, and the feeling of the water running over her head helped calm her. 

As she combed a bit of Ruby’s conditioner through her hair - she’d skipped the shampoo step - her mind remained on one thing.

You don’t have to be ready. I can wait. You don’t have to be ready. I can wait. You don’t have to be ready. I can wait, Ruby’s voice repeated in Bridgette’s head. Along with Ruby’s reassuring tone of voice, Bridgette recalled the genuine look on Ruby’s face and the complete lack of disappointment in her expression. She made Bridgette feel safe. Nothing else could have given her the desire to stay or the confidence to ask if she could spend the night. 

Once out of the shower and dried off, Bridgette dressed herself.  The sweatshirt was soft against her freshly cleaned skin.  It smelled freshly washed, which disappointed Bridgette.

“Hey,” Ruby greeted Bridgette as she emerged from the washroom. Ruby sat relaxed on the couch, a mostly empty beer in hand, and she’d turned on episodes of Law & Order: SVU .  Bridgette would later learn that Olivia Benson/Mariska Hargitay was an integral part of Ruby’s gay awakening. 

Damn, you look cute , Ruby kept to herself as she looked Bridgette up and down. She smirked, proud of herself. She knew the oversized, cozy look would suit Bridgette. Ruby stood as Bridgette made her way over to the couch, tossed back the final sip of her drink, and placed the empty can on the coffee table.

“Make yourself at home while I’m in the shower,” Ruby said as she wrapped her arms around Bridgette before she gave her a quick kiss. “There’s food if you’re hungry, more beer in the fridge, or, um… a random Blackberry white claw that I don’t remember buying, if you want to get rid of that.” They both laughed.

“Seriously though, what’s mine is yours,” she offered as she tucked Bridgette’s loose, damp curls behind her ears.

“That’s really sweet,” Bridgette smiled with a tilt of her head. After one more kiss, they were left to their own devices. 

What Ruby saw when she entered the bathroom, after she turned the light on, made her heart soar.  Drawn in the condensation, surrounding the initials “R+B”, was a heart. 

She’s too cute for her own good.

Chapter Text

The faint light blue of the early morning caused Bridgette to stir.  She rolled over to find Ruby, fast asleep, facing her.  She looked so soft and gentle. 

Bridgette recalled that they chose to go to bed after one more drink each - she took Ruby up on her offer of the blackberry hard seltzer and had one more beer with Ruby - and a few more episodes of Law & Order . She’d fought her sleepiness the night before, desperate to spend as many waking hours with Ruby as possible.  This morning, though, she felt well-rested and grateful for the sleep.

She reached out and gently tucked Ruby’s hair behind her ears and could not resist the opportunity to place a light kiss on her forehead.

“Mmm?” Ruby stirred.

“Good morning,” Bridgette whispered, surprised that her gestures of affection were enough to wake Ruby up.

“Bridge,” Ruby mumbled as she tucked herself deeper into the bedcovers, “what time is it?”

“I’m not sure,” Bridgette let out a soft, nervous laugh, fearful that she’d upset Ruby, “I didn’t mean to wake you.” 

“It’s fine,” Ruby yawned and smiled as she wrapped her arms around Bridgette, “Good morning.”  With a sigh of relief, Bridgette pressed her body against Ruby’s. Ruby ran her fingers up and down Bridgette’s back as Bridgette started to kiss her.

Ruby let Bridgette take the lead, to determine how far she wanted to go. If it was any further than they’d gone the night before, Ruby would be pleasantly surprised but, simultaneously, shocked. She held no expectations.  What mattered most was Bridgette’s enthusiastic consent.  Ruby couldn’t bear the thought of pushing her past her limit again, even though it would be unintentional if she did.

Their soft and sleepy kisses quickly increased in intensity. Ruby held Bridgette close with one arm and caressed the back of her head with her free hand, her fingers interwoven in Bridgette’s messy curls.

Fuck, Ruby thought to herself as Bridgette’s kisses traveled to her neck.  She snuck kisses onto the side of Bridgette’s head and breathed softly into her ear.  Before she could start to fantasize about where this would lead the two of them, however, Bridgette’s kisses returned to Ruby’s lips. 

Ruby relaxed, now that it was clear what Bridgette wanted.  Ruby yearned for intimacy so fiercely, but she was a woman of her word and thought Bridgette would be well worth the wait.

I’m all yours , she thought, with half a mind to say it out loud.

It took Bridgette ages to tire of the kisses. She relished the moment. She could not recall the last time that kissing someone, for her, felt so… correct.

“Bridge…” Ruby said softly and pulled away as the kisses slowed.  She yawned and Bridgette smiled.

“Do you want to go back to sleep?” Ruby nodded.

“How are you so awake?” Ruby murmured as she tucked herself back under the covers. Bridgette shrugged, then kissed Ruby’s forehead. 

“Do you have to work today?”

“I’ll call out,” Ruby said with a slight grin. That was the last thing she said before she drifted back to sleep. Bridgette watched her sleep for a few moments, elated by the knowledge that they’d get to spend the whole day together. 

She made her way into the kitchen, rummaged around for a bit, and found everything she needed to make a pot of coffee.  While the coffee brewed, she started scrolling on her phone.  A moment later, she had the thought to text Nicole with some sort of update.  As the smell of coffee filled the room, she brainstormed a few different ways to start the conversation.

Bridgette: Is it too soon for me to tell her that I love her?

She pressed send and pressed her phone to her chest.  The text was likely to remain unread for a couple of hours, Nicole was certainly still asleep. Maybe today was an anomaly. Maybe she would respond immediately.

The coffee pot beeped in place of a phone notification, and Bridgette put her phone down in order to pour herself a cup of coffee.  She recalled where the sugar was - she’d stumbled across it when she was looking for the coffee - and grabbed the carton of half and half out of Ruby’s fridge.  As she made her coffee light and sweet, she made a mental note to pay attention to how Ruby took her coffee. It was something about her she wanted to be able to remember.