Chapter 16
A lba looked over at Neve in her passenger seat, fast asleep. She wished it could be more comfortable to sleep in a car all night because she couldn’t bear to wake Neve, not again, but they didn’t really have much choice. Alba didn’t like her chances of trying to lift Neve out of the car without hitting her head or dropping her.
She probably should have left the lookout earlier, given Neve a chance to go home if that was what she wanted. She’d felt her slipping off to sleep, but Alba hadn’t wanted to move. Neve was exhausted and broken, but she’d obviously felt safe there, with Alba. So, despite feeling her drifting off, Alba had stayed there. Not so long that Neve’s body would punish her for the awkward sleeping position, but long enough that she got a little sleep. Alba had then practically carried a stumbling Neve back to the car and brought her here, to Alba’s apartment, where she could be safe. She wasn’t safe at home, and Alba didn’t need it pointing out to her that carrying a half-asleep Neve into her apartment would cause more problems with Charlie.
She cut the engine and looked at her things. There was no way she was going to be able to carry everything in one go.
Neve was the priority.
Alba got out of the car, moving around to the passenger side and unbuckling Neve. She barely stirred. Alba could only imagine how drained she must be.
“Neve,” she said softly, quietly. “We’re going to get out of the car now and get you into bed.”
Neve mumbled and moved more willingly than Alba imagined she would in the same situation.
She was mostly carrying Neve as they walked across the asphalt towards the complex, but she didn’t mind. She preferred that Neve get some rest.
By the time they were in the elevator, Neve was basically fast asleep on her again, her soft, warm breath dancing over Alba’s neck. With no interest in waking her a third time, Alba waited until they were almost at her floor before scooping Neve up into a bridal carry.
Opening the door to her apartment was a little fussy—Alba wasn’t accustomed to carrying women around like that—but all that mattered was getting Neve to a bed, so she managed it eventually. It was only once the door was swinging open that she realized she could have texted Zainab from the elevator to open the door or simply knocked.
However, her approach was worth it to see the moment of surprise on Zainab’s face as she took in the sight of Alba bursting through the door with Neve in her arms. The surprise quickly faded into something both knowing and smug, but Alba ignored it and headed straight for her bedroom.
She’d been careful about not dirtying Neve’s sheets when she’d stayed there, and they had both just been sitting on a worn picnic bench, but she wasn’t about to undress Neve without permission, so, removing just her shoes, she tucked Neve into the bed and vowed to simply wash her sheets tomorrow.
Alba didn’t mean to linger, but she paused by the door. Neve sighed, snuggling into the pillow, and Alba was relieved to see the way some of the stress slipped from her muscles. If she’d done nothing else this week than make Neve feel safe for even a single moment, that was enough.
She left the room, closed the door softly behind her, and walked back towards the living room. She still needed to get the rest of her stuff, but she just needed a second.
Zainab watched her as she collapsed onto the sofa. “How’s she doing?”
“Shit, honestly.”
“Yeah, I can imagine, and I don’t even know the whole story.” She looked at Alba genuinely. “Do you think she’s going to be okay?”
Alba’s gaze drifted back the way she’d just come. “Yeah, she’s strong. But I think it’s going to be a long road.” She shook her head and looked back at Zainab. “Charlie’s a shit.”
She’d already thought Neve’s ex was a shit, and, now, she wasn’t sure which one of them she disliked the most. They’d both thrown phrases at Neve that they shouldn’t have, that she didn’t deserve. Alba had no idea how a person had someone like Neve being so open with them, only to use that gift to hurt her.
If she never saw Charlie again, it would be too soon.
“Are you okay?” Zainab asked.
Alba shot her a look. “I’m fine. I’m not the one…” She waved her hand through the air. She wasn’t about to betray Neve by spilling all of her business, even if Zainab knew enough to be able to fill in the blanks sufficiently well.
“Yeah, I know, but it can’t be easy for you, seeing her like that. I know you—”
“I’m fine,” Alba insisted, shaking her head in something akin to amusement. “I stopped at the drive-thru, got pastries for the morning, and iced coffees for now, but they’re still in my car.”
Zainab breathed a laugh. “I’ll go.”
Alba eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because you bought me coffee.”
Alba narrowed her eyes before pretending to believe her. She grinned wide and tossed the keys at Zainab. “Great. Don’t forget to bring mine up with you. Pastries are on the back seat.”
Zainab shot her a look, shook her head, exchanged her slippers for shoes, and slipped quietly out the door.
Alba relaxed back into the couch. She wasn’t usually a vindictive person, and she didn’t necessarily like that she was thinking it, but she hoped Charlie was hurt by her own actions. She’d hurt one of the best people Alba had ever met, destroyed a part of her that Alba didn’t think she’d get back easily. The least she could be feeling was remorse for her actions. Alba didn’t even know her well enough to know if that was likely. Odd, really, that Charlie had been so convinced she knew exactly who Alba was when Alba didn’t have the slightest clue who Charlie was or how she worked.
It didn’t take long for Zainab to return, but, while she was gone, the weight of the evening seemed to have settled on Alba—the realization of everything that Neve must have been carrying and how, when it came down to it, her supposed best friend was nothing but a fraud. Alba’s heart broke for Neve, but she attempted to hide it from Zainab.
“You look exhausted,” Zainab said as she dropped back onto the couch.
“Eh. I’m good.”
“It’s okay to be tired.”
“I’m not the one going through anything. There’s nothing for me to be tired about.”
“You care. Caring can be exhausting sometimes.”
Alba laughed. “Is that your campaign slogan for when you attempt to win the presidency?”
She snorted. “You know it.”
“The people will love it.”
“Eh. Maybe it needs some workshopping.”
Alba took her drink. “Maybe you could go with ‘the only person who’ll drink coffee with you in the middle of the night’.”
“Imagining there are a lot of voters out there looking for that in their lives, are you?”
“I don’t know about them, but I appreciate it.”
Zainab gave her a sweet smile. They weren’t usually so soft with one another but, sometimes, one or both of them needed it. They’d gotten good at knowing those moments instinctively.
It was exactly the kind of friendship Neve deserved. Alba was going to do her best to give it to her.
“She doesn’t need to come on Thursday, just so you know,” Zainab said, clearly talking about Neve. “If it’s too hard, or she’s tired, or… well, for any reason at all. It’s okay. Though, of course, it’s okay if she still wants to come, too. The distraction might be good. Sounds like she could use a few good friends, and you know the group is going to love her.”
Alba wasn’t one for blushing usually, but something about the comment—or maybe Zainab’s tone—had her face feeling hotter than usual. Maybe it was simply the idea of Neve fitting in with them all, of Alba bringing someone so wonderful to the group that they couldn’t help but adore her. As far as Alba was concerned, that was the only appropriate reaction to Neve.
She cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink, hoping the coldness of it would offset her face. “I appreciate you saying that, and I’ll let her know. I honestly can’t say which way she’s going to go, but I’m sure she’ll appreciate knowing she has the choice.”
Zainab’s expression became slightly pensive, as though something Alba said had hit home. Alba hoped she hadn’t given too much away. That was, perhaps, the problem of knowing someone as well as they did—you got the good, but you also got them understanding exactly what you meant without having to spell it out. Usually, that was fine, but, when it came to Neve’s privacy, Alba was going to have to control her own expressions as much as she was controlling the exact words she was saying.
“Do you wanna watch something?” Alba asked, looking for a change of subject.
“Sure. You can choose.” Zainab tossed her the remote.
“Wow. You really are spoiling me tonight.”
“Shush, or I’ll change my mind.”
“I don’t think you will,” Alba said, laughing, her mind still on Neve sleeping soundly in her room.
She put on some mindless show they’d both seen a million times before. After the day everyone seemed to be having, she figured they needed something easy. Though Zainab did seem to be in a better mood now, which Alba was glad of.
Once they’d finished their coffees and their show—though how much either of them was taking in, Alba wasn’t sure—they both stood up at the same time, like dry synchronized swimmers.
Alba laughed as Zainab smirked and shoulder-bumped her. She was ready for her bed and, honestly, ready to be closer to Neve again. She knew she shouldn’t be so clingy, but she didn’t want Neve to feel the slightest bit alone.
“Hey,” Zainab said, stopping Alba as she stepped away.
“Yeah? What’s up?”
Zainab pulled her into a hug. “Nothing.”
Alba smiled, embracing her. “This is kind of a big nothing.”
“Just accept the nice moment rather than being weird about it.”
“That’s kind of my default setting.”
“Trust me, I know. ” Before she let go, she squeezed Alba a little tighter. “You’re a good friend.”
“Thanks. You too.”
Zainab nodded and released her. “I’m using the bathroom first, though.”
Alba laughed. “I see what’s going on. Sneaky plan all along.”
“Naturally.”
Alba watched Zainab flounce away before she walked softly to her own room. She was going to have to grab her clothes to get changed in the bathroom. Even if it didn’t feel a little weird changing in a room with an unconsenting woman, she still wouldn’t have taken her chances. Knowing today’s luck, she’d try to put her shirt on as pants, trip, stumble into the bed, and accidentally give Neve a black eye.
She wasn’t generally the superstitious type, but on a day like this, she wasn’t taking any chances. Thus, she was relieved when she made it to and from the bathroom in one piece and managed to slip into bed beside Neve without issue.
The only light in the room was the slight moonlight and reflected streetlights. Their apartment was, thankfully, higher than the streetlights in the area, so they weren’t one of the poor apartments contending with lights shining in all night. That, added to the fact that Alba’s room looked out over a parking lot that was sufficiently sized to prevent looking too far into the windows of the building across the lot, always empowered Alba to leave her blinds open overnight. She enjoyed the glimpses of the night it afforded her, and she enjoyed waking up to direct sunlight streaming in.
Now, however, the light that penetrated the room allowed her to examine Neve’s sleeping form. She’d rolled over in her sleep and was facing Alba. Her skin still looked irritated from all of her tears. She’d probably have benefited from some overnight skincare, but her sleep had been the most important thing. Alba had plenty of products she could use in the morning to help out. And, if none of them were suitable, Zainab had even more. Between the two of them, they’d definitely have something Neve could use.
Alba snuggled more fully into her pillow, pulling the covers up. It had been a warm day, but exhaustion and emotions seemed to have made them both chilly.
She froze when Neve stirred, a soft sound escaping from her lips as her eyes cracked momentarily and she reached out towards Alba.
For half a second, Alba thought about launching herself out of the bed. She wasn’t certain Neve would remember coming here, or that Alba was going to be sleeping in the same bed as her. The last thing Alba wanted was for Neve’s fingers to make contact with her, startle her awake, and send her into an understandable panic.
However, she didn’t need to worry. Neve’s fingers found Alba’s arm, which she used as an anchor point to pull herself in closer to Alba. It wasn’t like they hadn’t been that close in Neve’s bed, but, in Alba’s slightly larger bed, and with the soft, sleepy way she did it, it set Alba’s heart racing.
She wrapped her arm around Neve and leaned her head forwards to meet Neve’s, their foreheads pressed together as they both balanced at the edges of their pillows. Alba’s entire body felt alive and tingly. She assumed it was mostly because she needed to sleep and had just drunk a coffee, but, deep down, she suspected there might be something more to it—something Zainab might have warned her about.
Neve hummed quietly and Alba was certain she was drifting back into sleep, but, right before she did, in the softest, sweetest voice Alba had ever heard, she murmured, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Alba’s breath caught and she couldn’t resist pressing a gentle kiss to Neve’s forehead before resting her own there again. It seemed that, in every part of this, Zainab had been right. It was somewhat inconvenient—not to mention frustrating—that she was right again. Alba’s only intention was to be Neve’s friend, but even she couldn’t deny she might be falling for the woman. And, of course, Zainab was right that it was going to hurt like hell until she could get over it, but, in moments like this, Alba couldn’t find it in herself to care. She’d happily take the pain. She’d take every single gut-wrenching, soul-tearing moment of it just to be around Neve, just to be the one who made her feel safe and loved and appreciated after all this. The pain was nothing in comparison to that.