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Chapter Text

"Is that the best you can do?" the woman shouted over the blaring music in the car, her voice loud and reckless. She had already downed four beers and was well into her fifth, her energy rising with every sip.

Maya took a swig from her third can, feeling the familiar warmth spread through her body but she was still sharp, thanks to her high alcohol tolerance. She grinned at the pretty woman beside her, her eyes glinting with mischief. Without a second thought, she slammed her foot on the accelerator, feeling the engine growl as they shot forward on the highway, the wind whipping past them.

"Whooooo!" the woman screamed, pumping her arm into the air with exhilaration. In one fluid motion, she finished the rest of her drink and cracked open another, the excitement clearly taking over.

"Slow down there," Maya warned, shooting her a look. "I’m taking that away for a week!"

But the woman ignored her, as she tipped the can back to chug more as the car roared down the highway.

In her drunken state, she lifted the hem of her top, flashing Maya her huge titties. Maya only grinned, her foot pressing harder on the accelerator as the car's speed increased causing a bounce to her boobs. 

For a heartbeat, Maya allowed her gaze on the motions, enjoying the reckless energy of the situation. But she shifted her focus back to the road when she felt she had had her fill, and gripped the wheel with steady hands. Tities were not going to get her killed today. 

The woman leaned toward the door on her side, her movements sloppy and uncoordinated as she fumbled for the window button. With a triumphant push, the window slid down, causing the wind to roar in, whipping her hair around wildly as she laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos of the moment.

She leaned further out of the open window, letting half her body dangle outside as the midday sun warmed her skin and the wind whipped through her wild red hair. She tilted her face up to the sky, and screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice cutting through the noise of passing cars. She laughed uncontrollably, revelling in the thrill of the joyride, carefree, completely drunk and lost.

Maya glanced over briefly, a grin tugging at her lips. She didn’t mind the chaos—it was hard not to enjoy how genuinely happy the woman seemed. She stretched an arm over the consoles and pulled at the woman's pants, dragging the waist down to expose her buttcheeks and her tiny elastic thong, which adoringly divided her ass. Maya slapped and squeezed her cheeks and she felt the woman scream into the open air with pleasure.

She turned her focus on the road, whilst her fingers worked on tugging the lady's thong out of her ass. When she successfully moved it, she inserted a finger inside the woman's cunt, and pulled out, to lick her slick off her fingers.

She took a swig of her beer to wash the taste down her throat and when she placed the beer in the cup holder, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her grin wide. She pulled at the lady's waist to draw her ass closer to the console where she kissed her buttcheeks with ease. The lady couldn't help but moan when Maya's fingers sneaked into her cunt again. She grinded against it, not being able to keep still and quiet. Maya continued to pump into her using only one had to drive carelessly.

Other cars honked at them while she made crazy maneuvers but that didn't stop her from multitasking. She was Maya Bishop! She pulled her hand out of the woman's pussy, changed a gear and plucked her fingers inside again. She was going over 200mph now and could feel the woman getting wetter and writhing now. When she pulled her hand out again to change gear, the force tugged the lady back into her seat, as she shook and shivered. She wanted Maya badly. Maya spared a glance at her and her cheeks were flushed. 

"Can we get into the woods so you can fuck me now?" She pleaded, her voice needy as she quickly pulled her pants down to step out of them, exposing her full thighs and glistening cunt.

Maya didn't need to be told twice when she spared a glance at her handy work. She took a sharp curve as she narrowly avoided a crash with an oncoming car. The blare of a horn pierced the air but she didn't flinch, her focus locked on getting them a place to fuck. She got onto a dusty path, lined with towering oaks and firs and ventured deeper and deeper until she made sure they were in a secluded area. They came to a screeching halt, making the girl jerk forward in her seat. She giggled when Maya began unbuckling the belt on her jeans to release her hard on from its confines.

"Out! Now!" Maya commanded her, causing the girl to fumble with the locks but finally opening the door to exit. Maya looked after her and downed the last of her beer. She turned off her engine, hopped down from her truck and moved over to the lady. Her wearing no pants made Maya's task easier. Maya didn't hesitate as she bent her over the side of her truck and inserted her cock into her wet cunt. They both moaned in unison. She started plummeting into her like the whore that she was.

"How far along are you?" She asked as she pumped into her.

"8 weeks." The lady whimpered, Maya was fucking her so good.

"So I can come in you yh?" Maya panted as she fucked her,

"Yeah, yeah."

"Your pussy feels so good. Too bad your husband can't, fuck, you, like, this!" Maya breathed on each of her last words as she slammed into her. Making sure she felt every stroke deeply. Now when they were almost climaxing, Maya heard sirens in the distance.

"Oh shit!" the woman shrieked, pushing Maya away from her.

"What the fuck Allie?! I was almost cumming!" Maya furiously held her cock and vigorously shook it as cum spewed onto the ground.

"It's the sirens."

"What about the sirens?!" Maya shouted, "They don't even know we're here."

"They do know, Maya!"

"They know what? I was just speeding on the highway like any normal person!" Maya snapped, her voice rising.

"My husband is a cop! I forgot to take off my smartwatch."

Maya whipped her head around, wide-eyed. Her hand shot up in frustration. "WTF, Allie?!"

"I told him I was going for a massage," Allie admitted sheepishly. "He's smart, Maya. And I have an airtag. Also, we're literally in the middle of nowhere! And my heart rate has been connected to his alerts ever since he found out I was pregnant. It's our first, you know. He’s just really excited about it!"

"I don’t want to hear shit about your happy family! You could have told me that!" Maya barked, her nerves fraying. "Now, what’s the catch? Does he think you’ve been kidnapped or something?"

Allie winced, avoiding eye contact.

Maya groaned and rubbed her temples. This was not how she wanted her day to go. Not with cops. Definitely not with the cops. She had just wanted to fuck! Taking a deep breath, she did a quick mental reset, then turned back to Allie.

"Alright, fine," she said, exhaling sharply. "Let’s take you back home, okay? Before this spirals even further."

Allie nodded sheepishly and climbed back into the truck. Maya was just about to start the car when the sound of the sirens grew deafening. In less than thirty seconds, their truck was completely surrounded.

"Hands on the wheel!" a cop barked, stepping out of his patrol car with his weapon drawn.

Maya froze, her hands instinctively gripping the wheel.

"Allie, are you okay?" another officer shouted from behind a cruiser.

"I'm good, babe!" Allie called out, climbing out of the truck, hiccupping and butt naked.

"Are you seriously drunk with our baby?!"

"No," she giggled, swaying a little.

The officer sighed, holstered his weapon, and signalled to the others to stand down. He rushed over to Allie, taking off his jacket to cover her up.

"Take her home," he told one of his officers. Then his gaze cut to Maya.

Another young cop had approached Maya and had run a quick field sobriety test on her. Moments later, he frowned and turned back to his superior.

"She’s under the influence," he reported.

"You’re under arrest," the young officer said, stepping forward to cuff her.

"But I’m not drunk!" Maya protested, her voice rising with indignation.

Allie's husband quickly rushed over, drawn by the commotion. As he approached the car, his eyes fell on Maya, slouched casually in the driver’s seat, her jeans flyer open and the hint of a bulge visible through her clothes and beer cans glinted in the truck's footwell. 

"You fucked my wife, didn’t you," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"Yup!" Maya replied shamelessly, popping the “p” with a smirk."You found her butt naked, pretty sure you can tell."

The punch landed square on her face. Her head snapped sideways. But she didn’t falter. Slowly, she turned back, spat blood onto the ground, and grinned. "You hit like a girl," she sneered. "Guess that’s why she wanted a real man." She gestured crudely toward her crotch, her thickness prominent, and she let out a mocking laugh.

Allie's husband bristled, his fists clenching as the chief intervened. "That’s enough!" the chief barked, holding him back. "Get her in cuffs". 

~

One thing Maya was undeniably good at, was messing with people's wives. She was every husband's worst nightmare. She had the charms, was undeniably stunning and had the stamina of a freaking horse. Now getting a pregnant woman, was the cherry on top! Those posed a low risk of pregnancy as she relished the thrill of going in raw. She could say it was the adrenaline that came with almost getting caught or just the idea of getting caught. For someone whose mantra was to fuck as many wives as possible, she was fiercely protective of her own girlfriend.

But as the saying goes, if you fuck people's wives, you always get trouble. 

Maya was no stranger to jail cells. She had spent more than her fair share of time behind bars, her history of petty crimes stretching from her reckless youth to her adult years. It wasn’t a future she’d ever chosen for herself, but it was one that seemed to follow her wherever she went. Not only was that a problem, she had been fired from countless jobs, each one a failed attempt at building some semblance of stability. But through it all, she had a girlfriend who remained her one constant—always there to pull her out of the messes she kept creating.

Now here she was, counting the slow ticks of the second hand on the clock mounted high on the wall of King County Jail. Maya's body was sprawled lazily across the cold, hard metal bench, her arm draped over her eyes to block out the harsh fluorescent light above. Her free hand idly traced invisible patterns on the unforgiving surface beneath her, a futile attempt to distract herself from the ache in her back and the slow crawl of time.

She had been arrested over seven hours ago, the events of the day spiraling far beyond what she’d planned. Now, she was playing the waiting game, carefully calculating the perfect time to make her call. Too early, and her girlfriend would realize she hadn’t gone to work today; too late, and she might already be in bed.

When the clock struck 10:00 p.m., Maya sprang up as if jolted by electricity. Her instincts kicked in; this was the sweet spot, late enough to seem plausible but not too early to cause suspicion. She called over to the officer on duty, flashing her best "I'm harmless" smile. "Hey, can I get a quarter to make my call now?" she asked, her voice laced with casual charm.

"You know the rules, Maya. You’re allowed to call one person, and only one," the officer, a calm Black woman with a no-nonsense attitude, said as she looked up from her desk. She reached into a drawer to grab a quarter and threw it with accuracy to hit the metal bars, landing right in front of Maya. 

Maya chuckled, flashing a mischievous grin behind the heavy iron bars. "Thanks, Denise," she said casually, bending to pick it up before making her way over to the cell's phone booth to place the call. She placed the receiver to her ear, feeling the cool metal of the phone against her skin and dialled the only number on her emergency contacts list.

Fortunately for her, the cell was empty. So she could soften her voice and lay her vulnerability bare.

First ring. Second ring. Then, her girlfriend's voice crackled through the phone, filled with concern.

"Are you okay, babe? Why are you calling from a different number? What happened to your phone? Did it get stolen?" Her girlfriend fired off question after question, the worry clear in her voice.

Maya sighed, leaning back against the cold wall of her cell. "I kinda got arrested."

Maya could hear her girlfriend's sharp inhale on the other end of the line. "So, you went out with Andy and Vic and got arrested?"

"Yeah," Maya muttered.

"Okay, are they with you? Can I speak with them?"

Maya hesitated. "Uhh... no. They got bailed out by their boyfriends."

"They're not in any relationship, Maya."

Maya cursed under her breath. She had let her best friends get too close to her girlfriend. Now, the lies were stacking up, and it wasn’t going to be easy to untangle this mess.

"Okay, they left earlier from the bar, and I... got into a fight," Maya said, trying to sound as casual as possible. It was a reasonable excuse, considering her face was swollen from the punch Allie's husband had thrown. The pain throbbed behind her eyes, but she wasn’t about to admit that part.

"I'm coming to get you, alright?" her girlfriend said, her voice steady but soft, the promise clear.

Maya let out a long, contented sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Alright. Thank you," she murmured, the weight of the situation lightening just a little with the knowledge that her girlfriend would be there.

Denise glanced up at Maya through her reading glasses. She shook her head with a look that was equal parts amused and disapproving, her pen pausing on the clipboard. "I wonder what she sees in you," Denise said with a wry smile.

Maya chuckled lightly, leaning back against the cell wall. "Bet you wonder about what's down here too."

Denise snorted, shaking her head again before returning to her paperwork.

~

Thirty minutes later, Maya had been bailed out and was now sitting in the passenger seat of her girlfriend's car, heading back to their apartment. The silence between them hung thick in the air, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the occasional turn of the wheel.

Her girlfriend stole quick glances at Maya, but Maya was focused on the road ahead, her mind lost in thought. She stared out the window, her brow furrowed as she replayed the events of the day and tried to push away the anxiety that seemed to cloud every decision she had made.

She pulled out her phone, its screen lighting up with a barrage of constant notifications. She dared not open any of them. They were always the same: thirst traps from other women, nudes, and explicit messages that felt more like a burden than a temptation.

Her girlfriend glanced her way, noticing the shift in Maya’s demeanor. In response, Maya quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket, avoiding eye contact as they continued their drive in silence.

When they finally arrived home, Maya followed her girlfriend into their cosy apartment, the soft thud of the closing door breaking the silence. The space was a mix of modern practicality and subtle charm, a reflection of her girlfriend's meticulous touch. Warm, earthy tones dominated the living room, with a deep brown leather couch facing a sleek black TV mounted on the wall. A knitted throw blanket, slightly askew, with half a glass of wine, hinting she had fallen asleep there before Maya's call came through.

The kitchen, where they now stood, was equally inviting but more minimalistic. White cabinets with matte black handles lined the walls, and a smooth marble countertop topped the kitchen island where Maya now stood. A small vase of fresh flowers—Alexis's touch—sat at the center of the island, their soft pastel hues contrasting with the sharp lines of the space. 

Maya leaned against the island, running her fingers over the cold, smooth surface as her girlfriend opened the fridge. She pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to Maya without a word. 

Maya accepted the bottle with a quiet nod, the chill of it sharp against her warm palms. Her mind was still racing, the events of the night replaying in a chaotic loop. The hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of a wall clock filled the silence between them, an almost oppressive quiet that hung heavy in the air.

"I know what you're thinking," Maya said, her voice low but certain.

"And what's that, Maya?" Her girlfriend's voice was tight with frustration, the words barely masking her concern.

Maya hesitated for a moment, her eyes dropping to the floor. "I know you think I'm messed up, that my childhood has something to do with this, and maybe you're right. You think I need therapy or whatever, but babe, I'm sorry. I swear, I’ll never drink on a weekday again."

She pulled out her guilt card, the weight of her past traumas hanging heavy between them. It almost seemed to get to her girlfriend, who stiffened slightly, torn between her concern and the growing frustration she had yet to fully voice.

"It's not about you drinking on a weekday! You’re cheating again, Maya," her girlfriend said, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and disbelief.

Maya’s heart sank. She didn’t expect it to come out like that. "No, I’m not," she countered quickly, but the lie tasted bitter in her mouth.

"Explain the stains on your jeans," her girlfriend said, her finger pointed accusingly at the spots on Maya's jeans. "And the lipstick marks! And your hair—what’s all that about? You fucking lie and tell me you went out with your girls???"

Maya froze, her mind racing for a believable answer. "Okay, you got me," she muttered, the guilt heavy in her voice. "I swear, I helped rescue a cat after work today. It belonged to a woman, and she hugged me and kissed me, that's all. I swear, Alexis, I’m not cheating on you...again."

She looked at her girlfriend desperately, her voice softening as she tried to make her point. "Can’t you see? You’re it for me. Please, believe me."

"I’m a lawyer for christ's sake, Maya! I’m not dumb! Don't lie to me!" her girlfriend snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.

Maya’s face dropped, the weight of the accusation hitting her hard. "Babe, I’m not lying. I swear, believe me." She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "I’ve never downplayed your intelligence, okay? I saved a cat after work, then went to the bar with Andy and Vic. We messed around, and then some guy threatened Vic, so I stepped up. I got hit in the process, but that’s it, I swear."

Her voice softened, desperate for her girlfriend to understand. "Please, believe me. It was nothing."

That seemed to cool Alexis down. She glanced at Maya, her blue eyes boring into her grey ones, who was waiting for a response and tried to steady herself. She knew Maya had lost her job—Andy had told her that—but she wasn’t going to bring it up. She needed Maya to be honest with her, after all this time.

Years of dating Maya had been nothing short of hell. Alexis had watched as Maya barely contributed to their finances, constantly lied, and used her childhood traumas as a guilt trap. Maya gaslighted her at every turn, making her question her own feelings and sanity.

But still... Maya was beautiful and unfailingly kind. And deep down, Alexis believed she had a good heart. She just didn’t understand why Maya kept doing this to her. It was like she was stuck in a cycle, and Alexis didn’t know how much longer she could endure it.

Maya didn’t know what was going on in her girlfriend’s mind as she stood there, silently watching her. And honestly, she didn’t bother to find out. Instead, she did what she did best—closed the distance between them and pulled Alexis into a hug.

"I'm sorry," Maya mumbled into Alexis's neck, her words almost lost in the quiet of the room. "I promise I’ll change. Just... can we make love and forget about tonight? You smell so nice... I could bask in you forever."

Alexis sighed, her breath shaky, as if the weight of the evening had finally caught up with her. She gave in to Maya's antics, allowing herself to be swept away in the moment. Without a word, Maya lifted her, carrying her upstairs, the tension between them still lingering in the air, unspoken.

~

Around 4 a.m., Maya woke up, disoriented and naked, the sheets tangled around her. She quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Alexis- who looked so beautiful with her dark hair splayed on her pillow, and made her way to the bathroom with her phone.Once inside, she unlocked it, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened her messages.

Another lady friend had sent her naked pictures, the same kind of messages she always received.

She clicked a picture of her morning wood and captioned, "When can we meet?" She typed quickly, her eyes scanning the photos again before hitting send, the excitement of it all dulling her conscience. She knew what she was doing, but it felt like an escape—like something she needed.

Chapter Text

Maya stood in front of their bathroom mirror and rolled her neck around, savouring the faint traces of tension in her muscles. She should have gone on her morning run to stretch it out. Driving miles just to screw someone in the countryside, getting caught, spending hours in jail, and then coming home to fuck her girlfriend, it was enough to break her, but here she was, her phone vibrating incessantly on the counter. She ignored it, assuming the new woman she had sent dicks pics to had finally sent her address.

Right now, she had to tend to her black eye. A part of her liked that Alexis hadn’t asked about it, but another part of her hated that she didn’t. Maybe Alexis was too tired to notice, or maybe she had just stopped worrying the way she used to.

Sighing, Maya dabbed ointment onto the bruise, her mind already drifting to how she’d pass the time today. It was easier to lie to Alexis than to let her stress over Maya’s choices. With another quiet exhale, she applied just enough concealer to dull the discolouration before stepping back into the bedroom.

Alexis was still deeply asleep, clutching Maya’s pillow to her chest. She loved Maya—Maya knew that. But did she love her back just as much?

She sighed again and turned to her neatly organised closet, rifling through it for a shirt.

Maya tugged the shirt over her head as she stepped out of the bedroom into the dark apartment. Flicking on a light, she made her way to the kitchen, her bare feet silent against the cool hardwood floor. Her mind was a mess, but she needed to do something—anything—to make it up to Alexis. She knew Alexis wouldn’t entirely believe the lie, but at the very least, she could try to placate her.  

She pulled the fridge open, grabbing a carton of orange juice and a few ingredients for breakfast. With practised ease, she whisked eggs, pouring them into the pan to make omelettes, and set slices of bread to soak for French toast. The scent of cinnamon and butter filled the kitchen as she plated everything neatly, adding a small dish of fresh fruit with a fork resting beside it.

Once she was done, she meticulously cleaned the kitchen, putting everything back in its place before balancing the tray carefully in her hands. She padded back to the bedroom, using her foot to nudge the door open wider.

Alexis was still fast asleep, and the blanket that draped over her bare body had now slipped, revealing one of the two mounds Maya loved so much, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Maya set the tray down on the nightstand before settling onto the bed beside her, watching her in the dim morning light. A soft smile tugged at her lips. For all the chaos swirling inside her, watching Alexis sleep like this—peaceful, unaware—it almost made her feel steady. Almost.

She ran her fingers along Alexis’ cheek, 

"Alexis, wake up," she murmured, placing a tender kiss on her forehead.

"It's almost time for work, babe."

Alexis' eyes fluttered open, her sleepy gaze finding Maya’s. She let out a muffled yawn behind one hand, blinking groggily.

"I made you breakfast," Maya said softly, leaning in to press a lingering kiss against her lips, savouring the warmth of her.

Alexis pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing in mild suspicion. "You did?" She was more alert now, her grogginess fading.

"Yeah," Maya nodded, standing to retrieve the tray.

Alexis sat up, the sheets slipping down to her waist, exposing her bare torso. Her nipples were perky from the cool morning air, and Maya froze in place, heat rushing south. She swallowed hard as her dick stirred beneath her shirt, pressing against the fabric. Alexis’ eyes flickered down, catching the movement, her expression unreadable as she carefully took the tray from Maya’s hands. 

"You don't usually....cook."

Maya forced a smile. "Thought I'd surprise you."

For a moment, there was silence—thick, charged. Alexis toyed with the fork, her gaze slowly lifting back to meet Maya’s.

She couldn’t help but feel conflicted—Maya was loving, attentive, and sometimes even selfless in her care. But at the same time, there were cracks, deep ones she couldn’t ignore. Every stolen kiss, every moment of intimacy, felt genuine, yet... could it really make up for what Maya was hiding?

The tenderness that Maya had shown the previous night in their lovemaking and was showing just now—making her breakfast, caring for her like this—was a rare gift. Alexis couldn't deny it stirred something in her and made her feel valued in a way words never could. But those rare moments weren’t enough to erase the hurt of all the other times. The lies, the distance, the silence when Alexis needed the truth.

She shifted her gaze to the food and forced herself to take a bite, the food tasting heavier than it should.

Maybe... maybe I should just let it go for now, she thought, her heart aching at the thought of confronting Maya about everything. She didn’t want to ruin this fleeting peace, didn’t want to risk making things worse.

~

Years ago....

"Come on, Mase!" Seven-year-old Maya Bishop called out to her little brother, Mason, as he stumbled getting off the school bus. Their mom had told them this morning that their cool aunt was visiting from Oklahoma, and she might be bringing someone special.

"Hurry up!" she urged again, but when Mason didn’t move fast enough, she let out a frustrated sigh and rushed to his side. She grabbed his bag, slinging it over her shoulder, and pulled him along as they hurried toward home.

As soon as Maya and Mason reached their front steps, Maya flung the door open and bolted inside, her backpack bouncing wildly.

“Emm!” she shouted, launching herself into her cousin’s arms for a bone-crushing hug in their hallway.

Emma, just three years older and nearly as excitable, squealed as the two girls hugged tightly, spinning in place.

“You’re finally here!” Maya cried, grinning from ear to ear.

“I missed you so much!” Emma said, just as breathless. “I thought I wasn’t gonna see you this summer.” She gave Maya another squeeze, and Maya melted in her arms.

To Maya, Emma was the prettiest person she’d ever seen. Her father's side of the family was all blond hair and steely blue eyes — but not Emma. Emma had soft, ginger curls and stormy grey eyes that shimmered with a hint of blue when the sunlight hit them just right. Of course, Maya had a little crush on her cousin.

Emm called over shy Mase when they parted and hugged him too. "You're growing so big now!" she tickled him. And Mase let out a loud laugh. Now through all the chaos, Aunt Harper stepped through their dining room doorway with their mom in tow and with a warm smile. “Now hold on, you two. Let me get a hello in before you vanish.”

Maya ran over to hug her. “Hi, Aunt Harper! I’m so glad you’re here. We cleaned the whole house just for you!”

Aunt Harper laughed. “I can tell — it smells like lemon and effort.” She bent down and pulled out a large wrapped box. “I thought this might be a good surprise for someone.”

Maya gasped. “Is that the dollhouse? The big one? With the mini fridge and the tiny pillows?!”

Aunt Harper winked. “That’s the one, only the best for my favourite niece.”

Mason, who had been lingering by the door in his shyness, suddenly perked up.

“And for my favourite little guy,” Aunt Harper added, reaching into a second bag. “One supersoaker, extra tank included.

Mason lit up. “Daddy wouldn't get me that one. Thank you, Aunty Harper!"

~

At around 7 p.m., there was chaos—so much noise and laughter that when a glass suddenly shattered on the kitchen floor, the entire room went still. Everyone turned to look. But then came the collective relief and laughter when they saw no one was hurt. It was only their mischievous cat, Atticus, who had knocked it off the counter while chasing a shadow.

Dinner had been wonderful—the kind of night when their father smiled more than he frowned. His older sister, Aunt Harper, had a way of bringing out the best in him. When she visited, rules relaxed, and the kids were allowed to eat what they wanted and talk freely at the table.

After the plates were cleared and dessert had been devoured, Emma tugged Maya upstairs, both still giddy with energy. They rushed into Maya’s room and opened the box for her brand-new dollhouse.

“I’m gonna be the princess and you’re gonna be the knight!” Emma announced with a dramatic flair, spinning in place like she was already in a gown.

Maya frowned. “Why do you always get to be the princess? I’m a girl too!”

Emma paused, then said with a tilt of her head, “Yeah, but… not really. Not with what you have.”

“What do I have?” Maya asked, confused.

Emma hesitated, then whispered like it was a secret, “You have a weiner.”

Maya blinked. “Does that mean people with weiners can’t be princesses?”

Emma didn’t reply, but the words had already done their damage. Maya’s bottom lip quivered. Her eyes welled up, and within seconds she was crying hard, calling for her mom.

Instead, Aunt Harper was the one who came upstairs, entering the room with concern etched across her face. “What’s going on, girls? Your mom’s still cleaning up downstairs.”

Maya, through tears, pointed at her sister. “She said I couldn’t be a princess!”

Aunt Harper walked over gently and knelt beside Maya. “You can be a princess,” she said softly, wiping a tear from her cheek. “You can be anything you want to be. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Then she turned to Emma. “Emma, sweetheart, I know you might not mean it in a bad way, but words like that can really hurt. Can you apologize?”

Emma looked down, suddenly small and unsure. “I’m sorry, Maya.”

Maya gave a little nod and wiped her nose with her sleeve.

“Hey,” Aunt Harper said, trying to bring back a smile. “How about a little candy in the guest room to make it better?”

Maya followed her quietly, sniffling but curious. In the guest room, Aunt Harper pulled a pack of gummy bears from her suitcase and handed it to her.

“You doing okay now?” she asked.

Maya nodded, chewing. “Can I go back and play?”

“You recover quickly,” her aunt said with a chuckle. Then she leaned in. “And just so you know—princesses come in all shapes, sizes, and bodies. What makes someone royal isn’t what they have, it’s how big their heart is.”

Maya smiled, a gummy bear stuck in her cheek. “Thanks.”

~

"Yes, there, right there!" The woman's head is bent back as she clings to Maya's shoulders, nails making indents that burn a need in Maya for teeth on skin. "F-fuck me right-right-Ah!

Maya couldn't control the way her hips were rocking and thrusting as she pounded the woman. The movements were desperate and deep as the sounds both of them were making. The woman was so tight, so wet, and her everything was soft, and it felt amazing. 

Maya gritted her teeth together, growling into the woman's shoulder as she felt her clenching around her, so tight Maya could hardly move. This was the thrill that always came with fucking someone new.

The woman came with a shrill noise that faded out, a hand clapping to her mouth as the other fisted into her bedsheets. Maya still rocked her hips, slower, her last shred of awareness trying to hold off her own orgasm until she could pull out, but wanting this to last as long as it could for the woman. She kissed along her breasts, flicked her tongue across her nipples, kissed her breastbone where she could feel the woman's pounding heart murmuring.

"Don't you wanna cum in her?" A handsome man in his 40s was sitting, his dick pulled out as he masturbated, watching Maya fuck his wife. "She told me you cum in pregnant women, and I'm so close."

Maya turned to look at him, "I want to blow my cum in you."

The man nearly fell off his chair.

~

Maya's cock was brimming hard now as she readied herself to slide into the man. She loved threesomes, but never was it on her imaginary bingo card to fuck a woman and her husband again. 

The man was lying on his back on top of his wife and her wifes hands were exploring his butthole, spreading lube. His head fell back as his wife slid inside him, she slid back out, stretching him. and when more weight hit their bedspread, he closed his eyes. Maya hummed and slid her dick into the man. She went deep, and the hottness met her dick. The lubricated wet muscles gripped her cock as she probed, searched and found the G-spot, and when the Man groaned, Maya could barely go 5 strokes, she released into him. Shuddering on top of him. The woman spared no seconds to grip Maya's face to kiss her hard.

~

She'd tried

Oh, she'd tried. But it was never enough. Alexis had been cold when she left for work and who was Maya to decline a request?

Living a doomed life as hers, Maya watched, sitting in the chair that was previously occupied by the man, as his wife licked Maya's cum from her husbands butthole...

Chapter Text

"Did you want to order something while you wait?"

It takes Alexis a moment for the words to turn from random sounds to meanings. She doesn't need to clear her throat to speak, but she does anyway and forces herself to look up at the waiter with a polite smile. Out of her eye, she still sneaks a glance at the restaurant's door. Closed.

"Just water, thank you. My girlfriend is on her way, I'm sure she'll be here quickly."

Once more, the pad of her thumb rubs her phone's screen, which lights up, showing the time to be 8pm. Maya had stood her up, and tears were welling in her eyes, but she quickly dabbed them with her thumb. The waiter doesn't notice, just nods with a bright smile and leaves to attend to other patrons. Alexis is ok with that. People don't usually notice. 

The door is still closed. Soft indie rock from the '90s plays in the background. Alexis checks her phone again. No new messages. 

The time is 8:24 pm.

Maya said she was on her way.

The door is still closed. She flicks another tear. Her water arrives. Maybe she’s drinking just to replace what she’s losing. She pours herself a glass and downs it in one gulp. She flicks another tear. She checks her phone again. The time is 8:26.

The door opens, and  Alexis stops breathing. A gaggle of noisy college girls, rain-soaked, pours in and Alexis grits her teeth, cursing them under her breath. and then berates herself. They have every right to be there, don't they? Alexis was once a noisy college girl too.

Maya said she was on her way.

Alexis checks her phone. The time is 8:30. In a blink, it's 8:31. Last message still reads, "I'm on my way, just starting the car" at 6:00. Her thumb flicks another tear and another and another.

The drive from their apartment to the restaurant was 30 minutes.

Her girlfriend said she was on her way. Their date at Le Pichet was for 6:30, and the time is now 8:31.  She can't hear the soft indie 90s song anymore. Her girlfriend, as fucked up as their relationship was, was never late. She was never late except for that one time she was late, which was when she was still a firefighter. She cannot be late. She has no job. 

Was she in another lady's arms?

She reached into her purse and pulled out a crumpled tissue, wiping away the tears now streaming freely down her cheeks.

Earlier that day, she had walked out of an important meeting with her boss, promising to make up for it with extra hours, just so she could meet Maya, talk about their future, and finally face the growing tension between them.

"You here all alone, gorgeous?"

She knew the voice.

~

Earlier in the day...

"We have to talk.”

The message lit up her screen, and Maya’s stomach sank. She hated those four words, especially when they came from her favourite person.

She was still in the apartment, watching the couple finish getting dressed. The woman gave her a warm nod, the man handed her a folded cheque, and both offered the usual praise.

“Damn, you’re good.”

Maya flashed her easy, detached smile, the kind she saved for exits. She never did it for the money, not really. But this guy had mentioned he might post clips online, no faces, he promised, and sharing the profit felt like the least he could do.

Once the door shut behind them, Maya grabbed her phone and fired off a reply.

"Meet me at Le Pichet?"

It was their spot. Familiar. Neutral ground. If they were about to have that kind of talk, she didn’t want it to happen over the phone.

~

"Was that good? the guy asks, "Was I good for you?"

Alexis doesn't know why, but her throat clenches. Somehow, the silence around them sounds too loud, even with the storm outside turned into a steady downpour. Metaphorically, it felt like a new beginning for her. Was the rain actually blessing what she had gotten herself into?

"You were perfect."

Her hand, still tingling, unsteady, finds the guy's jawline, the bow of his lips. Still breathless, He kisses the tips of her fingers, one by one. Still looking at her.

"I can give you more, I just... need a minute."

Alexis smiles, her fingers sinking into the guy's hair to trace gentle circles on his scalp. He leans into her touch, "You don't have to give me anything more, Ethan. I can barely move at this point." 

~

Nausea.

Nothing else registered.

No other feeling.

Just the pounding of her own heart, blending with the echo of her footsteps on the smooth floor.

Or maybe she was just imagining it all. Imagining the overwhelming silence around her. Imagining the sound of her rubber soles hitting the floor. Imagining her own heartbeat pounding in her ears, tightening her throat like a snare left hidden by some cruel hunter.

A part of her knew that a hospital's emergency room was never a quiet place. There were always nurses running around, patients groaning, doctors examining, and the repetitive, unbearable beeping of monitors. Yet in that moment, her ears were filled only with the indistinct buzzing of the lights on the ceiling, vibrating like a massive, monstrous insect.

It couldn’t be true.

Those were the only words swirling in her mind, endlessly repeating like a silent prayer.

Just moments ago, she thought the universe was okay with her moving on from Maya, but now she thought it had rather cursed her for cheating back.

Her fingers were trembling.

The phone she had turned off hours ago now hung limp in her hand, its black screen reflecting nothing but the hollow look in her eyes. One missed call. Then five. Then ten. Her voicemail was filled. Andy's message had been the one to crack her: 

“Accident… Maya… it’s serious…”

She could taste bile rising in her throat, turning her mouth bitter as memories tangled with nightmares, twisting into the image of Maya lying on a bed with all those tubes.

The memory of her last text before turning her phone off flashed like lightning: “Don’t bother coming. I’m done waiting.”

She didn’t remember walking through the entrance, or talking to the nurse at the desk. Somehow she was here now, outside Maya’s room, as if her guilt had carried her by the throat and dumped her here like trash.

Her chest caved in as she pushed open the door.

There she was.

Maya.

Unmoving.

Her beautiful, infuriating, unpredictable Maya, too still for someone who used to move through life like a storm. There were tubes in her nose. A machine tracking her heartbeat. An IV running slowly. Her silky hair were pushed back from her forehead, exposing the soft slope of her brow, bruised.

Alexis's legs gave out before she realized they had. She dropped to her knees beside the bed, gasping like the air in the room had suddenly gone too thin to breathe.

"I'm so sorry, Maya," she started sobbing, clutching the cold rail of the hospital bed. "I was so angry you stood me up, I ended up turning off my phone, I didn’t know this was gonna happen…"

Her voice cracked. The words barely came out.

"I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just,I felt so abandoned. I thought you didn’t care. I thought you were just... being Maya again. I didn’t know you were fighting to stay alive. Maya pleasseee."

The weight of it was too much. Her body shook with every breath, every jagged sob. She pressed her forehead to the mattress, just inches from Maya’s still hand.

"Please," she whispered, "just open your eyes and talk to me, love. Please."

The monitors continued their slow, indifferent rhythm.

Outside, a nurse laughed at something, a cart squeaked by, and the world carried on.

But Alexis stayed kneeling, crushed beneath the weight of everything she couldn’t undo.

~

"Can we do this again?" Ethan had asked in a whisper, one hand brushing at Alexis's waist.

This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go.

She had told herself that she was done. That if Maya didn’t show up, she’d leave, go home, cry it out, and be stronger tomorrow. She knew better, knew deep down that walking away from a cheater was the better choice than stooping to their level.

But then Ethan had appeared.

Kind. Familiar. Unscathed by the years, yet still carrying the same eyes that once saw her clearly in high school hallways, when she didn’t know who she was. When Maya didn’t exist.

He said his date had stood him up too. Said he saw the tears she tried so hard to hide.

And wasn’t that what she had wanted all along? To be noticed? To be understood without having to explain?

They had bonded over disappointment, over the ache of showing up for someone who didn’t bother to return the gesture.

"Sure"

His arms wrap around her torso, the warmth of his chest against Alexis' back as he spoons her. Alexis laces their fingers together on her stomach.

"Good night," He whispers in her hair.

"Goodnight."

In the dark, Alexis breathes, and breathes and listens.

The dark smells like his perfume, like freshly washed bed sheets, like the future she has been wanting. Like the bitterness of soot mixed with the sweet waxy fragrance of candles. The dark smells like home. The kind of comfort she had wished for with Maya, but never truly found. His breathing quickly grows deeper and slower in a rhythm she'd want to be familiar with, to be constant. A rhythm she wants to cling to, and soon Alexis is sure she's fallen asleep. But her heart, although warm and soothed, still races far too fast and won't let her do the same.

What Alexis does instead is remember.

She remembers her and Maya's first date, and she remembers their first kiss. She remembers their college days. She remembers her old phone's ringtone. She remembers Maya opening up about her trauma. She remembers the first time she won Maya's assault case, the look in her eyes. The way her hand never left Alexis’s skin, she remembers Maya's way of making love to her on that night and professing she was the only one for her. She remembers Maya saying I love you for the first time.

She does not remember the last time Maya told her the truth. 

Chapter Text

Three months later....

"You can’t tell me how to take my meds!" Maya shouted from the kitchen, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. Her hand gripped the countertop as she stumbled slightly, nearly losing her balance on the crutches.

Alexis rushed forward instinctively but stopped herself, fists clenched at her sides.

"The doctor specifically said not to mix it with alcohol, Maya. Are you trying to kill yourself?" Her voice cracked with frustration. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"The world doesn’t revolve around you!" Maya snapped back, eyes blazing.

"You’ve been impossible these past few months!" Alexis cried. "I’ve been here, every single day, doing everything I can to support you! Why can’t you just let me help?"

"I’m not going to stop drinking. It’s the only thing that helps me cope,knowing what I used to be, what I was before this happened!" 

"And what version would that be, huh?" Alexis shot back. "The one that could walk around freely and cheat without guilt?!"

Maya flinched like she’d been slapped. Her lips curled into a bitter smile.

"Yeah, well, that version was better than being stuck with you."

The words hung in the air, cruel and heavy.

Alexis staggered back, like Maya had kicked the wind out of her.

"How did we get here, Maya? How did we become this?"

"I’ve always been like this!" Maya yelled. "You’re the one who kept seeing something in me that wasn’t real. You painted this perfect picture of who you wanted me to be. I never asked for that."

Tears were brimming now, but Maya didn’t stop.

"I was never perfect, Alexis. I just wanted to experience life with you—as I am—without you constantly trying to fix me. I know I’m messed up. I know it!" She pounded her chest with a trembling fist.

"I can’t be a better person. I’ve tried, I am trying… but I just," Her voice broke. "I can’t change."

"Then you don't love me enough."

~

Two weeks later.

Maya heard the sound of retching coming from their guest bathroom. Alexis had moved to their guest room, giving Maya a necessary space from their earlier outburst. 

"Alex?" she called, voice cautious. "Are you okay?"

When there was no response, she instinctively moved, hopping on her good leg, crutch under one arm, and pushed the bathroom door open. What she saw froze her in place.

Alexis was hunched over the toilet bowl, pale and trembling, her breaths shallow and uneven.

"Shit, Alex," Maya breathed, dropping down beside her. She quickly pulled Alexis’s hair back, one hand on her shoulder for support.

Alexis let out one final, painful heave before collapsing backward, slumping into Maya’s chest with a glassy, faraway look in her eyes.

“Hey, hey, look at me, babe,” Maya said, her voice rising. “Should I get you water? Can you hear me?”

Alexis didn’t respond.

Then her body went limp.

Panic flooded Maya’s veins like ice.

"Alex? Alex!" She shook her gently, then harder. “Don’t do this. Please, I’m sorry, I said some fucked-up shit, but you can’t die on me.”

Tears were already welling in her eyes as she awkwardly stood, struggling to balance herself. She half-hopped, half-stumbled out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, grabbing her phone with trembling fingers.

She dialled 911, her breath ragged.

"My girlfriend just passed out," she cried. 

~

Six months later.

Maya had become an entirely different person.

Meeting her son had changed something in her, softened her in ways neither rehab nor recovery could. She was more patient now, more focused, more present. The recklessness that had once defined her had slowly given way to something steadier. Something tender.

It had all begun the day Alexis was rushed to the hospital, barely conscious, severely dehydrated. The doctors said it was due to a cryptic pregnancy. She hadn’t known she was pregnant. Neither of them had.

Maya had been overwhelmed, shocked, terrified, but also... ecstatic.

From the moment she held him, she was in love.

The baby had a head full of soft brown curls and wide, curious eyes that lit up when Maya entered the room. He didn’t look like her. Not even a little. But Maya didn’t care.

“Baby’s eyes change over time,” she would say with a laugh whenever Alexis looked too quiet. “And his hair, well, it’s just a mix between your dark and my blonde. See? Science.”

She had been too in love to question it.

Too in love to notice Alexis’s discomfort whenever the baby smiled a certain way… or how she hesitated before agreeing.

Because Maya didn’t know the truth.

She didn’t know Alexis had quietly taken a paternity test.

And she didn’t know it came back with Ethan’s name.

~

Eight months later.

Maya was in prison.

She sat in the cold, quiet cell, staring blankly at the wall, the bruises on her knuckles slowly fading, but the fury in her chest still smouldering.

She had beaten Ethan nearly to a pulp. Then, in a blind haze of rage, she’d tracked down his car and set it on fire, watched the flames eat away the leather seats and glossy paint like it meant something. Like it could undo the betrayal.

The truth had gutted her.

She’d found the paternity test folded in half at the bottom of Alexis’s drawer, shoved between old receipts and a pacifier. Ethan’s name was printed clearly,

Undeniably, right next to the word father.

She remembered standing there, holding the paper, her hands trembling, not from surprise, but from the terrifying clarity of everything suddenly making sense.

The brown curls.

The familiar eyes.

The uneasiness Alexis never voiced.

It hadn’t been just a mistake. It had been a secret, a choice.

The trial hadn’t lasted long. There were witnesses. Security footage. Blood. Fire. Maya hadn’t denied a single thing. She hadn’t cried. She hadn’t begged.

She had just said, "I blacked out."

But in the silence of her cell, she remembered every detail.

~

Three years later Maya was out...