129
The car slowed to a smooth stop in front of the penthouse. The driver stepped out quickly to open the door, but Ericka was already moving, steadying Amanda as she slid out.
"Whoa," Amanda laughed, wobbling as her heels touched the pavement. "The ground is... moving. Did you know that? It's like waves."
Ericka chuckled, looping Amanda's arm over her shoulder. "That's called being drunk, baby."
Amanda leaned into her, grinning, her words slurring. "If this is drunk, I should do it more often."
Ericka gave her a look, equal parts amused and warning. "Don't even think about it."
Amanda laughed mocking Ericka "DoNt EvEn ThInK aBoUt It"
They made their way into the building, Ericka guiding Amanda through the lobby and into the private elevator. Amanda clung to her side the entire way, planting a kiss on her cheek as the doors slid shut. "See? This is why you're the only one for me. No one else would put up with my drunk ass."
Ericka's lips curved faintly. "You're right about that."
By the time they reached the penthouse, Amanda was yawning, her body heavy against Ericka's. Ericka guided her inside, helping her out of her shoes and jacket before walking her toward the bedroom.
"Bed," Ericka said softly, steering her down.
Amanda plopped onto the mattress dramatically, flopping onto her back. "Yes, ma'am."
Ericka knelt to unbuckle Amanda's belt, tugging her out of her pants, then helped her into one of her oversized shirts. Amanda grinned through the whole process, mumbling compliments between yawns.
"You're so pretty. So smart. So strong. The whole package, babe."
Ericka shook her head, laughing quietly. "You're going to regret half of this in the morning."
Amanda reached up, catching her hand clumsily. "Nope. Not gonna regret telling you the truth. Never regret that."
Amanda let out a pleased sigh, nestling deeper into the blankets. "Mmm, this is soft. You're soft. Everything about you is soft."
Ericka chuckled as she tucked the covers around her. "You're drunk, baby."
Amanda reached up clumsily, brushing her fingertips along Ericka's cheek. "Yeah, but drunk me tells the truth. Always."
Her eyes half-closed, but the words kept spilling.
"I love the way you walk into a room and everyone just" she waved her hand vaguely in the air, "straightens up like you're gravity.
You're strong, you're sharp... and then when it's just us, you're silly.
You laugh at the dumbest things I say. And it kills me every time. "
Ericka sat at the edge of the bed, listening quietly.
Amanda's lips curved faintly. "I love how you hold your pen when you're thinking. And how you hum under your breath when you're cooking, like you don't even know you're doing it. And the way you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention like I'm the only thing in the world."
Her voice dropped softer, slurred with sleep. "I love how you make me feel safe. Not because you're protecting me though you do but because you let me stop protecting myself. With you, I can just... be."
Her eyes slipped shut, but her mouth kept moving, words tumbling like a secret she'd been keeping too long. "I love the way your hair smells after a shower. I love your hands. God, your hands. How they hold me, how they steady me. I love your voice especially when it's low, like now."
She gave a drunken little giggle. "I love you in glasses. I love you in sweatpants. I love you when you're working, and I love you when you're curled up next to me half-asleep."
Her voice slowed, softer, nearly a whisper. "You know what else I love?"
Ericka brushed hair off her forehead, leaning close. "What's that, baby?"
Amanda's lips curled into a sleepy grin. "That you're mine. Out of everyone in the world... somehow, it's me. I get you. That's the luckiest thing I've ever had."
Her head sank deeper into the pillow, breathing steadying as sleep claimed her. Just before drifting off completely, she murmured one last, almost childlike confession. "I hope our baby has your smile."
Ericka's heart clenched, her eyes burning as she leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Sunlight crept in through the sheer curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the bedroom. Amanda groaned, rolling onto her back, her head pounding like a drum.
"Ohhh, hell no..." she muttered, throwing an arm over her face. "Why does the sun hate me?"
From the doorway came the sound of quiet laughter. "Good morning, baby."
Amanda cracked one eye open. Ericka was leaning against the frame, hair pulled back neatly, a mug of coffee in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She looked far too put-together for how Amanda felt.
"You're glowing," Amanda croaked. "I'm dying."
Ericka walked over, setting the drinks on the nightstand. "You're hungover. Big difference." She brushed Amanda's hair back from her forehead and kissed it softly. "Sit up, drink this."
Amanda groaned but obeyed, sipping the water. "What time is it?"
"Almost ten. You slept like a rock."
Amanda winced, rubbing her temple. "Yeah, well... tequila."
Ericka smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Tequila, and the fact you turned karaoke night into a confessional."
Amanda froze mid-sip, her eyes snapping to Ericka's. "I... what?"
Ericka's smile widened, her eyes glinting. "You told me a lot of things last night."
Amanda buried her face in her hands. "Oh God."
"Don't worry," Ericka said gently, rubbing her back. "I loved every word of it."
Amanda peeked through her fingers, cheeks flushing. "Did I say anything... embarrassing?"
Ericka leaned close, her lips brushing Amanda's ear as she whispered, "You said you couldn't wait to marry me. And that you hope our baby has my smile."
Amanda smiled "Well I meant every word".
Amanda was still clutching her glass of water when Ericka leaned casually against the headboard, her mug of coffee steaming in her hands.
"By the way," Ericka said lightly, "your phone's been buzzing nonstop since eight a.m."
Amanda groaned, her voice muffled under the blanket. "If it's work, I quit."
Ericka smirked. "Not work. Worse."
That got Amanda's attention. She yanked the blanket down, squinting. "What do you mean worse?"
Ericka gestured toward the phone on the nightstand. "Check."
Amanda reached for it, the screen lighting up with a flood of notifications. She blinked, confused. "Wait when did I get added to a group chat?"
Ericka chuckled. "Probably last night. All of you were drunk enough to think it was a brilliant idea."
Amanda tapped into the thread, her jaw dropping at the chaos.
Amanda slapped a hand over her face. "Oh my God. They're insane."
Ericka leaned in to peek at the screen, lips twitching with amusement. "They're invested. Difference."
Amanda scrolled, her face heating as she caught the next round of GIFs: wedding bells, champagne flutes, a cartoon bride and groom dancing across the screen. Then oh God someone had dropped a blurry screenshot of Amanda from last night, holding her phone up like a trophy.
"Absolutely not," Amanda groaned. "They're literally betting on us. This is harassment. I need a lawyer."
Ericka's laugh was soft and wicked. "What are you going to tell them?"
Amanda groaned louder, dragging the blanket over her head. "That I died. Funeral's Tuesday. Closed casket."
"Baby," Ericka teased, tugging the blanket down enough to see her flushed face. "You can't hide. You promised me tequila makes you honest."
Amanda huffed dramatically, then snatched her phone again. "Fine. But I'm not giving them anything good." Her thumbs flew across the screen.
The reply was instantaneous.
Amanda groaned, dropping her face into Ericka's shoulder. "They're relentless. Actual menaces."
Ericka set her coffee down, stroking Amanda's hair gently. "They're just excited. You charmed them all last night."
Amanda peeked up with a groan. "Charmed? I was slurring my words."
"And still had the entire table chanting your name," Ericka said smoothly, kissing the top of her head.
Amanda rolled onto her back, muttering, "Kill me now."
Her phone buzzed again. She reached for it—and froze. Her blood ran cold.
A video clip popped up.
Amanda tapped it with dread, the sound filling the room: her own voice, strong and smooth, belting out a ballad into the karaoke mic. Even drunk, she sounded... incredible.
The camera wobbled as her coworkers shouted encouragement in the background. "Sing it, Amanda!" "Yessss girl!"
Amanda's eyes widened in horror. "Oh. My. God."
Ericka's brows lifted, a slow, delighted smile spreading across her face. "You never told me you could sing like that."
Amanda groaned, burying her face under the pillow. "Because I don't! I don't sing. I was drunk!"
Ericka tugged the pillow away, laughing softly. "Baby, you don't get to hide this from me now. That was... amazing."
Amanda's cheeks burned. "I'm deleting that chat. I'm changing my name. Witness protection."
Ericka kissed her temple, whispering against her skin. "Or... you could let me keep the video and play it every time I need to remember how much I adore you."
Amanda looked at her, still mortified, but the warmth in Ericka's eyes made her heart flip. "...You're enjoying this way too much."
Ericka smirked, brushing her lips over Amanda's. "Maybe a lot."
Amanda groaned, tossing her phone onto the blanket like it was cursed. "Nope. That's it. I'm moving to another country."
Ericka picked it up before it slid off the bed, scrolling back through the group chat with a smirk. "Wow, they really are relentless."
Amanda covered her face with both hands. "They're savages. Absolute savages."
Ericka laughed softly, setting the phone back down. Then she turned, cupping Amanda's chin so their eyes met. "Baby... do you realize what that video did?"
Amanda blinked. "Made me a meme?"
"It made everyone see you," Ericka corrected, her voice warm but firm. "Not just my assistant, not just the one keeping me sane—you. The person who owns a room without even trying. The one who can make them cheer just by opening your mouth."
Amanda's throat tightened, her tipsy confessions from last night brushing back against her memory. "You really think that's what they saw?"
Ericka's smile softened. "I know it is. They adore you. And honestly... I love that they see even a fraction of the woman I get when the doors close."
Amanda swallowed hard, suddenly quiet. Then she muttered, "You're too good at this."
Ericka tilted her head. "At what?"
Amanda sighed, giving in with a crooked smile. "At making me feel like I'm not just... lucky to have you. Like you're lucky to have me too."
Ericka leaned down, kissing her slow and soft. "Because I am."
Amanda melted into the kiss, then pulled back just enough to grin. "Still deleting that group chat, though."
Ericka laughed. "Not a chance. I want to see what they say next."
Just then, Amanda's phone buzzed again.