Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"So, you probably know everyone here then, right?" Carson asked, picking at the napkin under her drink.The bartender, Maybelle, shrugged, wiping down a glass.

"Pretty much. I like to peep the guest list if I can get my hands on it, nice ol' tip if you can put a name to a face without asking." She winked at Carson playfully.

Carson nodded, taking a sip of her Tanqueray and tonic. She looked across the crowd mingling about, she recognized quite a few faces, but not all. Her curiosity did peak, however, when she noticed a redhead nearby nursing a fruity cocktail as she laughed with a model Carson thinks she recognizes.

The woman was drop-dead gorgeous, copper hair falling in curly waves down her right shoulder and bouncing with her laugh. She had a tight crop-top on that had a familiar logo that Carson couldn't get a good look at from this angle but the way it cut off in the middle of the woman's rib cage and she got a good look at the definition of her abs, the small dangly belly button ring, a peek of hip bones before her tight cut off jean shorts was causing Carson's brain to malfunction.

Maybelle must have noticed her line of sight and the way Carson seemed to stop breathing. She reached to tap the brunette's shoulder, startling her out of her stare-down before she turned right around.

"Who is that?"

Maybelle smirked. "The redhead? Greta Gill. Her step-father owns the yacht."

"Her step-father is Lenny? They're not that far apart in age even, are they?"

"10 year difference, I think. Not that anyone's paying much attention around here nowadays. She's Hughes kid, total bitch. But she tips me well and dishes to me about fashion and all the hot goss she can think of so I can't complain a lot myself." She laughed and looked down the bar, seeing it was still pretty empty. She leaned closer to Carson so she could speak lower. "Between you and me, you're exactly her type and she has been eying you for the better part of two hours. Wink wink." She elbowed Carson, clicking her tongue and moving to a customer who just walked up.

Carson looked back over to the woman, Greta, and caught a pair of big brown eyes staring back at her. She raised her drink up, tossing a wink and took a sip so Carson raised hers back and did the same. She watched her whisper to her friend before she moved gracefully across the room to perch herself atop the bar stool next to Carson.

She didn't look over to her, only tossing her hair to the opposite shoulder and waving at Maybelle. "May, darling, when you get a sec!" She downed the rest of her cocktail back and set the glass down. She then slid her hand towards Carson's that were still wrapped around her drink before she finally looked up at her.

"Whatcha drinkin?" She purred, turning her body to fully face Carson. 

Carson swallowed, eyeing the full red lips of the woman in front of her. "Gin and tonic." The corner of Greta's lips twitched up before she began moving her hand away, not before letting her index finger graze Carson's wrist.

"Ugh. Can't do Gin." She looked to Maybelle who already poured her a fresh drink, thanking her sweetly before she turned her attention back to the brunette.

"What's wrong with it?" Carson laid her elbows on the bar, admiring how the redhead licked the corner of her mouth in thought. 

"I had too much at a pool party once, it did not go over well. I don't think I'll be invited back to Lily-Rose's house again." Greta made a disgusted scowl and shivered at the memory before she took a drink. Carson laughed, finishing hers off.

When Greta adjusted the hem of her shirt, Carson finally got a good look at it– a black and white shaded crystal heart with the words 'seamist' printed over it.

  Ah. A fan.

"Nice shirt." She commented, thanking Maybelle when she readily had a new drink in front of her. Greta looked down and back at Carson, her face taking on a darker blush than she already had. She looked away towards the dwindling evening crowd.

"Hm. So, are you here with anyone?" Greta wondered, kicking the bar stool in circles as she waited for Carson to answer, easily avoiding her eyes. 

"Nope. All by myself, I needed a break." Carson was amused as she watched the redhead stop her chair and hold onto her thigh, clenching her eyes shut to stop the dizziness.

"Whoa. That was a stupid idea." She giggled, she slowly blinked her eyes open and looked at her hand on Carson's thigh. Her first instinct was to pull it away but she couldn't get herself to do it right that second when she could feel the strong muscle tensing under her palm.

She chanced a look at Carson's face, not needing to gauge how she felt when she saw a half smirk and a raised eyebrow. God, she was showing off. Greta felt like a damn goner.

She leaned back up straight but let her hand slowly slide over Carson's jean clad thigh, pressing her thumb in only a tad before she moved it completely. "A break is good. Although, you don't need to be all on your lonesome."

Carson's thigh felt tingly when she adjusted herself, chewing on her cheek. "Maybe I like to be alone."

"Maybe, but good company can be real fun too."

"Is that what you are? Good company?"

Greta shrugged her shoulders and looked up at the ceiling. "I definitely can be. When you're tired of enjoying your alone time, come find me, yeah? I can show you a few things." She stood up off the stool, swaying into the bar but being held by a strong hand on her hip to keep from falling forward. She straightened herself up and held onto the hand on her hip, squeezing it and not so discreetly pulling it up to her bare waist.

Her skin was warm and soft, Carson wanted to feel so much more of it but she gently took her hand back and handed Greta her drink. "You gonna be okay getting back to your room tonight?" She muttered, looking into Greta's eyes who was batting her lashes at her.

"That an offer?" She whispered cheekily. Carson rolled her eyes, about to take it back before Greta pushed her hair behind her ear and got into her space. "I'm kidding. I got it but thank you, handsome, and please do find me if ya get bored and want to have some fun." She licked a line under Carson's ear and pulled back, playful and winking. As she walked away, she swayed her hips more than necessary, knowing Carson would be watching.

And she was. She's only human.

When Greta made it back to her corner with Max and their friend Flo, she kept her back facing the bar. The huge grin on her face would have been far too much, Max rolled her eyes at it.

“So? Went well?” Max asked, frowning down at the bottom of her shot glass seemingly forgetting she’d already taken it. Greta started digging in her purse she left with them, trying to find the baggie she misplaced.

“Uh huh, yeah. I’m playing a long game. She’s going to be chasing after me any minute, trust.” She finally found what she was looking for, pulling it between her fingers with a victorious ah-HA! She looked over to Max, “bathroom?” She smirked, pleased.

Maybelle was wiping down the bar when she noticed Carson switching between scrolling through her phone and looking over at Greta. She shook her head, it was always like this. 

Any of the past times she’s seen Greta, she’d always find some poor sucker and spend her time throwing her hair back, batting her big brown eyes trying to entice them. Hell, if it weren’t for her own personal relationships, she would have fallen for it too. The redhead was charismatic and a little ditsy, but she wasn’t dumb. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Carson does too, she thinks. Well, she hopes anyway. She doesn’t know a lot about her yet, she knew she was a singer and quite known and that she has a great dane named Goose who she showed puppy photos of to her earlier (adorable). 

She also had such a dark, sad look in her eyes though. She’d take time to look off somewhere, disassociate to somewhere a lot gloomier than here. 

Maybelle walked back over to her, nodding at her empty glass, “another one, hon?” 

Carson shook her head, turning her and frowning when she saw Greta had vanished. Oh well. “Honestly? I think I should probably head to bed. I’ve slept like shit for the past week.” She pursed her lips, tilting her head at Maybelle. “Say, you want to come with?”

The blonde gasped, hitting Carson gently with her cloth. “Carson Shaw! Didn't take ya for a scamp!” She smiled, giggling and Carson bit her lip, shrugging.

“I do alright sometimes.”

She shook her head, “as much of a delight I’m sure you’d be, I’m taken. Besides, I’m sure Gill would like, scratch my eyes out and I don’t really want to know what that feels like.”

Carson barked out a laugh, “she doesn’t own me, I don’t even know her. But too bad though, they’re a lucky person.” She smiled gently at Maybelle, making her blush slightly. “I will simply take myself to bed then, happily unclaimed.” She grabbed her wallet out, pulling a few hundreds out and placing them on the bar.

“Thanks for everything tonight, May.”

The blonde smiled back at her, pocketing the cash and waving. “You have a good night, Carson. I’m always around if ya want a friend.”

Carson saluted her, nodding and slowly strolled back to find her room.

Maybelle watched the doorway, seeing Greta and Max walking back in a second after Carson left. The redhead kept turning back, worrying her lip and Max whispered in her ear.

She shook her head. 

Unclaimed. Right. Whatever helps you sleep tonight, Carson. 

Chapter Text

"There is so no fucking way you're hitting that. I don't believe it!" Lupe exclaimed, sitting back and adamantly shaking their head. They brought the cigarette to their mouth and took a long pull.

"I didn't say that I was! I only said that she's into me!" Carson yelled, a small frown on her face. "What makes you think I couldn't?" 

"Dude. You wouldn't even know what to do with all of that."

" Lupe didn't even know what to do with all of that." Jess chimed in, unbothered. Lupe shot them a glare.

Carson was not just offended with the implication she wouldn't know how to have sex with Greta, she was also confused now. "Wait. You two? With her? How did that even work?"

"You want the safe for work version or?" Jess asked around the toothpick in their mouth. Lupe slapped them in the arm.

"I'm good! I'm learning a lot of things tonight. I'm fine with not knowing." Carson nodded, knocking back the other shot of tequila. She then turned to Lupe again, "And I would know what to do with all of that, thank you very much."

Lupe pursed their lips, sitting up and leaning their arms on the table. "Prove it."

Greta was squirming on the bar stool, antsy and debating in her head if she should sneak off for a quick bump in the hallway until she heard someone clear their throat behind her shoulder.

She turned, eyes widening when she saw Carson standing there. Her frown immediately turned up, "Hey there, rockstar."

Carson rolled her eyes, licking the corner of her mouth before she took the seat next to her, moving to face Greta better. "Hi, beautiful. I saw you didn't have a drink yet, can I get you one?"

Greta's heart was racing, where did that come from? She nodded, her curls bouncing. "I would like that a lot, they are hounding poor Maybelle right now."

"Yeah, it's insane. What do you want?" Carson asked while squinting at the line of people waiting for their order, seeing someone else come behind the bar to finally help the blonde.

"Guess." Greta teased, playing with her hair as she admired Carson's arms. The sleeves of her button up were rolled up, exposing the nicest arms Greta wanted to be wrapped up in - the snake tattoo on her right forearm looked so lickable. 

Carson laughed, figuring Greta would want to make it a game. "Okay! Fine. So the other night you were holding something that was kind of red? It had a cherry so I'm assuming you went with a classic vodka cran." Greta raised her eyebrows, tilting her head. "But! I don't think that's your usual. You give off the energy you like a... Rum and Coke? Am I close?" 

Damn. Greta was impressed, and a little turned on that Carson clocked her so well from the little she knows. "Well done, hot stuff. Diet, by the way."

Carson pumped her fist, feeling proud of herself. She stopped for a second, "Wait, diet... Rum? Or Coke?" Greta giggled, God, this is the attention she has been craving for so long. She felt herself vibrating. "Diet coke, silly." 

The brunette smiled down at the bar, "I knew that." The other bartender came down their way now, Carson quickly ordering their drinks on her card. She felt Greta's leg bump into her thigh and she went to put a hand on her knee, checking her out as she did so.

That dress was driving her insane, her pretty black bra showing under the sheer lace and the belt hugging her tiny waist. She had even added a few little chain necklaces around her neck and a couple of silver rings on her fingers. 

The heels made her legs look amazing. She was a total smoke show. When Carson finally dragged her eyes back up to Greta's face, she saw the faint pink across her cheekbones, a small smile on those red lips.

"Sorry for staring. You just look really lovely tonight." She squeezed her hand on Greta's thigh before removing it to grab for her drink that got placed in front of her.

The combination of Carson looking at her and undressing her with her eyes, the bold hand on her thigh that she felt annoyed at the loss of and Carson Shaw saying she looks lovely made her feel dizzy. She thinks I look lovely and bought me a drink, pinch me.

Greta downed half of her drink in one go. "So! Talk to me, tell me stuff."

"What stuff?" Carson sipped at her drink, her hand sliding over to Greta's on the bar top. Greta hummed, thinking.

"I heard about Allie. I'm sorry."

Carson's face pinched. "Oh. That stuff."

"Was that too much? I can change the topic!" Greta quickly interjected, her hand covering Carson's. 

"No, no it's fine. Um, yeah, thanks. Um. Well, things got a little fucked? Last year? Something uh, happened and Allie and I kind of went out of our heads. She's okay! As far as I know, she's safer from herself in there than out of there, but yeah she's gone for a while." Carson took another drink, running her thumb over Greta's.

"What about you?" Greta softly wondered. 

"I spent the past six months in rehab if that says anything."

"Oh." Greta looked down at their glasses with her eyebrows raised, sucking her lips into her mouth before letting go. 

Carson followed her line of sight and chuckled, "not for that. I'm usually a bit more normal there. It was the Oxy they needed to take away." 

"Ooof dude. But six months though? Look at you!" She raised her glass to tap against Carson's, "ya did the fucking thing! I'd give you one of those uhh, coin things, is it a coin? Badge? Sticker? Those little things they give you after you meet a like– milestone or whatever."

Greta tapped her hand against the bar top, a crease formed in the middle of her eyebrows as she tried to remember. Carson watched on, smiling fondly at her all the while. "A chip?"

The redhead's face brightened, "Yes! A chip! You're so smart, baby!" She leaned in to kiss Carson on the cheek six times, leaving behind a smattering of lipstick stains. "There. That's your chip."

Carson blushed, staring down at their hands. "Thanks." 

"Anytime for an excuse to kiss that cute face of yours. What else are you into?" Greta wagged her eyebrows suggestively. 

The brunette looked at Greta, her eyes darkening a little. "In what... context?"

Greta grabbed her purse and kept her hand locked with Carson's. "Come with me real quick." Carson followed her easily as they made it out into the empty hallway. The redhead dug into her bag, pulling out a small baggie of white powder.

She opened it up, grabbing for one of her keys. She stuck it into the bed and dug some of the powder onto it before lifting to her right nostril, sniffing it quickly. She held her head back for a second as she sniffed a couple more times, holding it out to Carson. She lowered her head again. "Bump?" 

Carson hesitated for only a second before shrugging, taking them into her own hands and repeating what Greta did. She never really got the popularity of the drug, the high could be fun sometimes but it usually made her jittery and feel weird. She supposed it explained why Greta had so much energy.

The woman whose eyes were locked on her face as she inhaled, handing the baggie back as she wiped her nose. Greta took another couple bumps before she put them away.

"Okay, that was fun! Needed that." She tossed her purse back strap over her shoulder and began to kick her feet, smiling at Carson when she leaned onto the wall. 

Carson couldn't look at anything else. An explosion could be happening on this boat but all she saw was Greta and her cute, girlish charm. She couldn't help herself as she reached for Greta's face, cupping her cheeks to pull her in for a kiss. 

Greta's eyes widened at the shock, mouth captured by the softest pair of lips she'd ever felt. She moaned into her mouth, grabbing the back of Carson's head to make sure she didn't pull away.

She kissed her back with force, deepening it and was delighted when she heard the singer gasp against her lips. She took the opportunity to slide her tongue into her mouth, tasting gin and lime as she tangled her tongue with Carson's. She slid a little down the wall, her leg slotting between Carson's. When she felt Carson's hand palm one of her tits, she pushed into the leg near her core, hissing. 

Carson's mouth moved to Greta's jawline, Greta wrapped her arms around her neck and tossed her head back, hitting the wall with a soft thud as she moaned out. This is what she's wanted for so long. 

She was out of breath, panting as she tried to catch it. This was all too good to be true, she felt excruciatingly wet between her legs. She bit her lower lip too hard when Carson's tongue licked along her throat. 

"Carson.." The brunette pulled back to look at Greta's blown out pupils, the lipstick smudged on the side of her mouth and her cheeks a darker shade of pink.

She looked ruined already and all Carson did was kiss her.

"Let's get back in there, doll. I want another drink and I don't want to lose our seats to those vultures." Carson helped readjust Greta's dress, kissing her on the cheek and pulling her off the wall with a hand to her wrist.

Greta pouted petulantly, that wasn't what she wanted right now but she stomped after Carson regardless. She needed more of a buzz anyway, it had nothing to do with Carson's raspy voice calling her 'doll'. Of course not.

She couldn’t quite place her finger on exactly what drew her to the fiery, broody rockstar but she couldn’t help but want those eyes on her at all times. She kept fluffing her curls softly with her fingers, craving the rush when Carson’s gaze would flick to them.

It didn’t make sense that she wouldn’t fucking budge. Greta was practically throwing herself at her. The other day, she craved for the brunette to chase after her, capture her like a little mouse. Now, Greta was sick and tired of how much she felt like she was trying to convince this woman to take her to her room and make her a mess.

Carson downed the rest of her fourth Rum and Coke, making the switch to Greta's drink of choice earlier, and turned her body slightly towards the redhead, absent-mindedly placing her hand on the back of Greta’s chair and scooting hers a couple inches closer.

Greta turned towards her too, dropping her head to the brunette’s shoulder. She grabbed one of Carson’s hands with both of hers, rubbing circles into the palm and playing with her fingers.

“You have nice fingers..” Greta muttered, thinking about how they’d feel inside of her, curling and teasing. She felt herself getting wetter, squeezing her thighs together. Carson watched her hand, her breathing getting heavier.

Greta guided her hand under her dress to her inner thigh, chancing a look at Carson’s face while she looked down at their hands.

"Fuck, Greta." Carson whined, pulling her hand back and threaded it through her hair.

Greta tried not to appear too annoyed that she took her hand away as she straightened up in her seat and waved Maybelle over. "That's what I was hoping for but you're really not taking the bait. Oh, hi Maybelle! Can I get four tequila shots and an ashtray?"

The blonde smiled and nodded, already preparing the glasses as Greta turned back to Carson who was scrolling on her phone now. 

Great. This is fantastic. I'm competing with a fucking iPhone now.

Greta grabbed her phone out too, tapping her passcode in and swiping to Instagram. She searched for the brunette's name and pulled up her account. She went to her last story post of a photo of the sunset just a minute ago. She rolled her eyes as she angrily typed "why are you ignoring me so you can post your stupid sky photos" in reply.

Carson's head lifted up quickly two seconds after the message was sent through and glared at the redhead. "They're not stupid."

Greta was interrupted when she began to respond, Maybelle setting the shot glasses in front of them along with a few salt packets and limes. She slid a maroon ashtray and a pack of matches towards Greta who nodded in thanks.

"You are going to put your phone away, take these shots with me, smoke a couple of cigarettes on the deck and then I expect you to take me back to your room. Got it?" She stated it more as a demand and not a question but Carson nodded.

“Bossy. You’re on, shot for shot.”

The next twenty minutes, they didn’t end up going to the deck. They got progressively more drunk, Carson getting a lot more handsy as they did which delighted Greta to no end. 

They kissed a little more and they went story for story of parties and bars back home. The time that Greta got so wasted at a pool party that she vomited in the pool, it effectively getting touched by a handful of heated models and co-eds. The time that Carson stage dived and someone accidentally punched her nose and she had to go to the ER to find that it was broken, she still has a small scar on the bridge that Greta did get to kiss.

After a while, Carson’s hands tapped on the bar before she moved her hand back to Greta’s thigh again. The redhead watched the move intensely but didn’t say anything else. 

"Greta.." She whispered, shaking her head and letting out a chuckle in disbelief. "This is a bad idea."

Greta slowly blinked at her. "What is?" She leaned in, placing her hand on top of Carson’s in her lap.

Still shaking her head, "that I want to fuck you so badly it almost aches.." She sighed, moving her hand up and down her leg.

Greta bit back a moan at the needy tone in her voice, at Carson’s motions on her thigh just under the hem of her skirt. “I- I don’t think so.. Actually, I’ve only ever been told that sleeping with me is a good idea. Great, even.” 

Carson chuckled, sliding her hand further up to scratch the top of Greta’s thigh gently, feeling the goosebumps rise and Greta’s body tensing. “I would believe that. But we’re also very drunk.”

Greta opened her legs just a little, enough to not draw any attention to what was happening in plain view but everyone on the yacht was in their own little worlds, just like them. She licked her lips, her eyes darting to Carson’s biteable lower one. “I’ve also been told I give great drunk head. Does that help?”

The brunette barked out a laugh at that line, shaking her head again and she looked around the bar. Her eyes met Lupe’s from across the room, the cocky fashion designer rolled their eyes but raised their glass at her. 

Greta turned too to see what Carson was smirking at, squinting until she saw the duo she slept with the other day. “You making your new friends proud, huh?” She flirted, tossing her hair over her shoulder and waving at the table. Carson scoffed.

“They didn’t believe you’d ever give me a shot.” Greta rolled her eyes at the thought.

“I would always give you a shot. In any universe, in any form, in any position.” She leaned in to kiss Carson’s neck, biting it playfully and making her gasp. “Now, take me back to your room.”

Carson grinned.

When the singer got Greta pushed over one of the dressers in her room, her skirt hiked up over her lower back, the deep groan in her chest flew out of her mouth.

Greta had such a nice ass, full and round and soft to the touch. She had a cursive tattoo on the top corner of one of her cheeks that said bon appetit that made Carson want to sink her teeth into it.

She scratched her blunt nails up the back of smooth upper thighs, over the firm cheeks and formed goosebumps in her wake as she trailed her fingers up to the waistband of Greta’s tiny scrap of a thong. She tucked her fingers under it and slowly began to slide them down long, tanned legs. 

Greta kicked them off to the side, leaning her body further onto the dresser while she reached an arm back to pull Carson into her body. "Why are you taking your fucking time?" She grunted when Carson pushed her hips into Greta’s ass.

"Do you want me to stop?" She teased. Greta whipped her head to the side to look at her. "Fuck no. I want you inside of me." 

Carson grasped Greta's hips hard, making her moan when she pulled her into her own. "Ugh, baby." Carson reached her hand in front of Greta and between her legs, feeling her soaked folds dripping between her fingers. She moaned, finding Greta's clit pulsing and swollen as she began to rub two fingers side to side on it.

The woman under her whining at every movement, pushing herself back into Carson roughly. "I need.. I need more than that. Goddamnit." She reached her hand down to grasp Carson's hand, pushing her fingers firmer against her clit as she grinded down hard, chasing her own pleasure using Carson. 

They both gasped at how wet she was, moving against each other roughly when they moved their joined hands down to Greta's entrance and two of Carson's fingers slid into the knuckles so easily Greta squeaked out Carson's name. 

“Oh shit, Carson, that’s it. Just like that, fuck you feel amazing.” Spurred on from the praises, Carson pulled out and slid three fingers back home from behind, reaching her other hand up and into thick red curls and pushing her against the dresser harder as she thrusted.

The redhead was going to be sore all over tomorrow but she couldn’t bring herself to care, not when Carson was fucking her without any abandon now. Her pussy felt so full  and wet but also like it was almost not enough for only three of Carson’s fingers. She was just so open, so willing. Her body felt on fire and Carson’s grunting and cursing under her breath, her hips hitting her ass, her fingers pulling at her hair to keep her in place was too fucking good.

She needed all of Carson. 

“I- Carse, I need another, please, please fuck me Carson please.” She begged, Carson grinned into Greta’s spine, scratching her teeth down a ridge. She pulled her fingers out, the redhead whining for her to put them back in but Carson ignored her in favor of spreading Greta’s legs open wider. She ran her entire hand over Greta’s ass with her wet fingers, watching the redhead’s back arch at the sensation. 

She pulled her hand back and smacked her right cheek, the sound reverberating around the room and Greta squealed, the cheek blooming a soft pink. Carson smiled, rubbing over the mark before spanking her a few more times in the same spot. She soothed it with her other hand as she ran four fingers against Greta’s pussy. 

Greta attempted to push her hips back into them but Carson held her down before she could get anywhere. She was helpless, babbling and begging in her arms until finally, Carson slowly made her way back to her entrance. She closed her fingers together and gently slid four fingers inside of her. 

Her walls welcomed them as she tightened around them. Holy shit, she has never felt like this before. She bever wanted someone like this. She felt Carson’s hold on her hip lessen, taking it as a sign that she was free to fuck herself on Carson’s hand and God , she did.

She couldn’t move too much, it already felt so intense but she didn’t need to. She moved her hips in small waves, feeling the knuckles against her most sensitive spots, Carson’s thumb pressed so close to her other hole had Greta reaching her peak. Her orgasm hit her like a freight train as she released herself all over Carson’s hand, dripping into her palm as she slapped her hand on the wall above her.

She thought she might be screaming but she couldn’t hear past the ringing in her head. It was all too much and she didn’t want it to stop. She clumsily pushed herself up, Carson still half inside her. She reached her arm behind her to pull Carson into her neck.

The brunette left kisses and licks where Greta’s neck met her shoulder but Greta needed more, she whispered as best as she could through her panting, “fucking bite me.” And she did, her teeth sinking into her flesh and making Greta pulse again as she came once more.

Carson carefully pulled her fingers out, Greta dripping down her thighs. She almost collapsed to the floor but Carson was too quick and held her body into hers, holding her as she cried out. Her hand quickly reached her clit to rub circles around the nub to prolong the aftershocks until she was too spent to move by herself anymore.

Her legs gave out on her as Carson helped move her to the bed. She was shivering from head to toe even with her dress still on and Carson covered them both up with a blanket, pulling her into her chest. They laid in silence for a few minutes, Carson scratching her scalp and Greta drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Do you want something to drink?” Carson whispered, she felt more sobered up now - only a subtle buzz going. Greta grumbled, curling further into Carson’s side, refusing to let her move anywhere. Carson’s chuckle made her smile sleepily. “Okay, fine. Need a few more minutes?” 

Greta nodded against her chest, placing her cheek on Carson’s boob and tangling her legs with Carson’s and allowing herself to take a cat nap whether Carson liked it or not.

An hour later, Greta blinked her eyes open into the dimly lit room, her body feeling stiff. She turned her head to look up at Carson who was sitting up against the headboard, nursing a glass of something dark and scrolling on her phone lazily. Her free hand was in Greta’s hair playing with the tangled strands.

She moved her tired body up Carson’s so she could nuzzle her into her neck, snatching the drink out of her hand. Carson smiled and pulled her legs over her lap. “What doin’?” She whispered, her voice feeling scratchy.

Carson turned her head to kiss her forehead before she looked at her phone again. “Instagram.” 

“Figured.” Greta said through a yawn. She raised the glass to her lips, taking a few gulps of the amber liquid. Of course Carson was the type to nurse warm bourbon. Her hand moved down Carson’s body, moving it under her shirt and feeling the warm, toned stomach under her fingers. She groaned. “Your body feels incredible.” Carson smirked, then grunted when she felt Carson dig her nails into her ribs. 

“Jesus, Greta.” She went to toss her phone to the side but Greta stopped her. She set the drink to the side table and sat back up.

“Mmh, no.” She turned her head to clearly look at the screen. “Turn your camera on.” Carson narrowed her eyes at her but did it anyway, facing it towards them. Greta fixed her hair out of her face before moving Carson’s hair back behind her neck. She leaned down so she could lick and suck at the side of her neck. The camera showing her side profile and a hint of her tongue peeking out between her kiss-swollen lips as she licked down. 

Carson licked her lips watching, snapping a few photos of the woman attached to her neck. Greta could tell, even with her eyes closed as she laughed into her pulse. “Mm, ya gonna post that?” She purred. Carson smirked, tossing her phone on the bed so she could maneuver the redhead to straddle her lap.

“You want me to?” Carson rasped, her hands going underneath the skirt of Greta’s dress so she could hold onto her ass, squeezing a few times causing Greta to grind into her with each squeeze. Greta reached down to pull the dress up, undoing the belt at her waist and raising the fabric over her head, tossing it to the floor leaving her in only her bra.

“Whatever you want, handsome. It would make your fangirls so jealous that I get to be the one on top of you though… getting to feel these,” she squeezed Carson’s breasts over her shirt, “getting my tongue on you…” she bent her head down to kiss Carson deeply, grinding down harder into her jeans. Carson gasped into her mouth.

“And say, aren’t you one of those fangirls?” She questioned, pulling back and looking over Greta’s face. She pouted her bottom lip out. 

“I thought you’d remember.. Ugh, of course you don’t remember. This always happens to me.” Greta groaned. She stood up much to Carson’s displeasure and walked to the mini fridge across the room. "I... am kind of a big fan of yours, your band."

Carson struggled to remove her skinny jeans, regretting her decision on putting on the offending fabric. "Oh, I know. That’s what I meant.”

Greta took out the small bottles of Jack Daniels, shooting one of them. “What do you mean?”

Carson flopped onto the bed, finally freeing her legs from their denim prison and turned her head towards Greta. "You wore the tiniest Seamist crop top I had ever seen the very first day we talked. I didn't even know we sold those." 

"You don't. Etsy does." 

"Ah."

"Anyway, I have seen you guys live a few times. Most recently a couple years ago, they let me go backstage and I asked if you would sign my tits."

Carson licked her lips and her eyes darted back down to the bra covered breasts. Greta walked back over, pushing Carson back so she could straddle her once more. Carson reached her hand out, tracing the edges of the fabric. Greta's back arched almost immediately. "Fuck, how could I forget that?"

Greta downed another shooter and tossed the plastic bottle to the floor. She moved to play with the end of one of Carson’s waves. “Hmm, you were pretty stoned, I think. All nervous and polite though, trying not to touch them too much while signing. It took a lot of self control not to beg you to grope me in front of all your team. 

Carson laughed, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth as she moved her hand to cup as much of Greta's breast in her palm, relishing in the nipple hardening against her hand and Greta's high pitched whine. "You gonna beg me to grope you now?"

The redhead nodded, squeezing the sides of Carson’s hips. "Please touch me." She grabbed Carson's hand and slipped it under the cup of her bra, moaning wantonly when Carson squeezed her and rubbed her tightened nipple with her thumb. "Oh, God." 

"You like that, pretty girl?" Carson rasped as she ducked her head down to kiss along Greta's jaw, licking over the small orchid tattoo behind her ear. Greta's hands made their way under the back of Carson's shirt, pressing her shoulder blades to push her closer to her body. She didn't respond with words, only the neediest mewls and scratches to her spine when Carson pinched her nipple.

She grabbed the end of Carson’s shirt and tugged at it, trying to pull it off and Carson helped her remove it. She squeezed her bare breasts roughly in her hands, mesmerized by how they fit in them like they were made for them.

“Holy shit, you have nice tits. I knew it but damn.” She giggled, biting her lip as she played with them. Carson pushed herself up at the sensations, reaching around Greta to unclasp her bra and letting it fall between them. She went to move her mouth to them but Greta pushed her with a hand to her sternum. “Wait, wait, I get a turn now.”

Carson backed off, raising her eyebrow. “That’s right, you did say you give great head.” Greta smiled proudly, licking Carson’s bottom lip. 

“That what you want now, pretty boy?” Carson nodded eagerly. “Are you gonna use my mouth for your pleasure, make me drink up every last drop?” She purred, reaching between them and feeling over Carson’s boyshorts and moaning at how soaked they were. 

Carson cursed, nodding more and pushing into her hand. She reached down and squeezed her ass again at the same time as she squeezed a breast, catching the redhead off guard as she yanked her hand away. “Ugh, fuck.” 

The brunette pushed her off of her lap, Greta growling at her but Carson ignored her in favor of removing her underwear and sitting at the edge of the bed. Greta went after her, standing in front of her with her arms crossed and an angry face. “That was rude just now, you know. I’m just a girl.”

“Uh huh. Get on your knees.” Carson said authoritatively. Greta’s eyes widened at the tone.

She obediently did as she was told, knees hitting the hardwood floor almost painfully but she’ll live.

“You going to be a good girl and make me come?” Carson ran her fingers in Greta’s hair. She nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

Jesus. Carson doesn't think she has ever met anyone like Greta before. 

After a few more rounds and far too much alcohol, they both had passed out and were dead to the world by the time the sun came up.

Greta woke groggily to a loud pounding on the door and in her head. She tried to harshly wipe at her eyes, looking around. Thankfully the curtains were drawn because the brightness they barely showed made her groan. Carson was still out like a light next to her, spread out naked next to her.

She took a second to let herself stupidly smile down at her, feeling more than a little giddy that she woke up to Carson like this, in Carson’s bed. She was so distracted, she forgot about what woke her up until three more beats on the door rang through the room.

That just pissed her off. She glared at the door as she stood up, picking up Carson’s flannel and throwing it on - only doing up one button at her middle as she grabbed for a bottle in her purse. She dry-swallowed two white pills before she trudged to the door, unlocking and yanking it open.

A large man was sweating and red in the face waiting for her and it pissed Greta off again. It was one of her mother’s annoying little henchmen. First, she got woken up at all when she could be asleep in bed with Carson and now, she has to look at a man and not Carson. What a fucking crock.

“What do you want, Jace?” She snapped, cocking her hip and crossing her arms.

“Greta? What are you doing here, we have been looking everywhere for you for the past few hours! This is Carson Shaw’s room!” He barked, confused and suspicious, failing to notice the state of her. She rolled her eyes dramatically.

“I am quite aware of whose room I’m in, dude.” She gestured to herself. “This goes to your grave, by the way. I don’t want to deal with mom’s shit today.” 

Jace shook his head disapprovingly, “don’t say stupid shit like that today, alright? Get dressed and get your ass to the main room, get Carson Shaw too. It’s bad.”

“What are you talking about?” Greta shook her head, now she was pissed off and confused. This was the worst morning of her life. 

“Lenny’s missing.”

“Pardon me?” 

“He went overboard, missing.”

Ohhhhh, shit.

Chapter Text

Greta was spiraling. She couldn't help it, her senses were high and everything felt tingly and sped-up and she was worried she crossed some imaginary line with Carson. 

She doesn’t even know what got into her, she isn’t normally so… attached or clingy with anyone she was sleeping with. Hell, it was usually just a one and done deal but she felt herself wanting Carson every time she even thought about her. It was getting pathetic at this point.

She hated that, but she also didn’t. She liked Carson - being around her felt nice and she didn’t feel as crazy in the head when she was in her arms.

Carson was running late or she wasn't coming at all which was even worse.

“I was too much, wasn’t I? Ugh, why couldn’t I just be normal?” She laid her forehead against the wall and kicked at it a few times in frustration. Max was flicking a lighter over and over to have something to do with her hands.

“You were in a clingy, post-orgasm haze. It happens, Gret. She probably got held up or something.” Max said lazily, feeling the effects of the half a bowl they smoked a while ago while waiting. 

“For forty-five minutes? She probably went back to her room and did something else, or someone else. Ugh, she’s probably with Maybelle.” Greta whined, stomping her foot and turning her head towards Max. “What if she hates me now?” She pouted at Max, who rolled her eyes at the dramatics, still focused on the small flicker of flame.

“I don’t hate you.”

Greta and Max both turned towards the other end of the hallway where lo and behold, Carson Shaw stood with a small half-smile on her face. Her outfit was exactly everything Greta could have dreamed of, she could have drooled all over herself.

She had on a black and white Calvin Klein sports bra, with a short-sleeved beige button down left open over it. Greta could see a few freckles across her abdomen that she'd been lucky enough to have her mouth on a few times now. 

She wore a nice pair of slacks with a leather belt keeping them held on her hips. Her black and white Adidas on her feet, green socks peeking out where her pants cut off. She had a few chain necklaces around her neck and a silver band around her thumb.

She looked equally adorable with her scruffy hair and soft smile and incredibly attractive that Greta wanted to skip the party altogether and take Carson against the wall.

The redhead backed off the wall though, walking the few steps towards Carson. She grabbed the collar of her shirt with both hands and pulled her in until their hips knocked into each other. 

She smiled down at her, Carson instinctively wrapped her arms around Greta's waist under her coat, pressing her closer. Greta fixed a hand through Carson's hair. 

"How much of that did you hear, exactly?"

"Some, and I was held up by the way because of Maybelle but not like- that."

"Told you!" Max chimed in behind them, curiously looking between the two and dissecting their dynamic - this was the first she really got to see them both up close. 

Greta hasn't had tunnel vision like that about someone since the woman who broke her heart two summers ago, who broke her spirit and put her in a dark place. 

Max worried for a second that whatever was happening between these two would set Greta back but she also saw the way Carson looked at Greta. There was no denying she felt the same way. They both probably didn't fully recognize what was in front of them yet. 

Greta, finally remembering Max was still there, giggled and pulled the small brunette towards her. "Carson! This is Max Chapman, my very best friend who I usually keep in my front pocket." 

She wrapped an arm around Max's neck smiling at her goofily, making Max crack up. Carson looked at Greta fondly before she turned to Max, sticking her hand out for a handshake. "Hi! I'm-" Greta cut in, grabbing Carson's outstretched hand and laced her fingers through Carson’s like she had been offering it to her and not Max. 

"Max! This is Carson Shaw," she dragged out Shaw in a sing-song voice. "My-" She paused. She scrunched up her face and pondered. She stepped up to take her free hand and placed it on the crown of Carson's head. 

"Myyy, um, boyfriend?" She looked down at Carson who shook her head underneath Greta's palm, the redhead shook her head too and mouthed “No?” Carson returned it. "Aw. Myy - hm. My hot girl that I sleep with now?" 

Carson shrugged, nodding. "Accurate, actually. So are you."  Greta beamed at her, pleased and bent her head down to kiss Carson on the forehead, laughing when Carson raised her head up at the last second so she'd kiss her lips instead. It was a cute move, Max could have thrown up watching.

"So! Are we ready to head down there or what?" Max clapped her hands, the two separating lips at the sound. Greta was about to answer but Carson tugged her hand. 

"Uh, actually, can I talk to you for a second first?" She looked into Greta's eyes in question. The redhead's stomach twisted, her gut aching. She didn't like the sound of that.

She chewed the inside of her cheek, but took a deep breath. Would she really be ending this after kissing and holding her like this?

"Sure! Max, we'll meet you and the girls there?" She said, a little too chipper. Max raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway. 

"Yeaaah, yeah don't be too long." She walked away down the corridor and left the two alone. 

Greta mentally prepared herself for the worst, steeling herself. Carson took her other hand and held them both in between them, swinging them a bit. The redhead felt antsy, finally clearing her throat, "So, what did you want to talk about?" 

Carson moved her mouth to the side, like she was trying to articulate what she was going to say in her head. She stilled their hands and looked back up to Greta again. "I'm sorry I was late. I promise I was trying to be quick but then I went and looked for Maybelle to help me pick what to wear and when I found her, she was already plastered and she was hanging out with an equally plastered Jo-" 

She stopped herself, biting back the name and Greta looked at her confused. Carson took a steady breath and continued, "She was hanging out with an equally plastered Jo. DeLuca." 

Greta succeeded in keeping her face in check, not wanting to scowl. "Why are you telling me this?" She asked, tone flat. 

Carson sighed, scuffing her shoe on the floor. "Because. This morning when you pulled me to the other room to decompress, you asked me what Maybelle wanted me to keep from you because you said you knew I had lied to you the first time. I almost wasn't going to tell you at all that I had to spend the past 40 minutes pushing not only May, but Jo around to get them somewhere safe to sleep it off." She let her take a moment to breathe, saying all of that so quickly Greta almost couldn't keep up. 

She pursed her lips, nodding once. "Why wouldn't you have told me that?"

Carson sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, taking a step to lean back against the wall. "Because Jo said some stuff to me, when I mentioned your name. I don't know any details and I don't need any, it was just them shit-talking and ranting. Stupid drunk stuff, but I got the jist." 

Greta let her hands fall to her sides, "I see." The brunette maintained eye contact, waiting. "Um," she sighed, breaking it to stare down at her feet. "Those things Jo said about me.. what did you- um what did you think?" She worried her bottom lip, undoubtedly probably smudging her lipstick. 

Carson lifted her hand to cup Greta's cheek in her palm. "I didn't think anything. I told them to leave your name out of their mouths and I shut them both in May's room."

Greta looked at her skeptically and scoffed in disbelief but Carson kept going, "Greta, I don't know what happened with you two but that is none of my business. I'm allowed to make my own judgments on people without letting other people infect that. If you turn out to be a 'super cunt with anger issues', then I guess I like super cunts with anger issues." 

Greta's eyes widened, a surprised laugh fell out of her mouth. Carson smiled, grabbing Greta's hands again and pulled her closer. "I don't give a shit about any of that or whatever anyone wants to say. I do give a shit about you though. Strangely enough, I have since the very moment we met and that's crazy because I don't usually feel that way with anyone right away, sometimes not at all." 

"I feel the same about you too." Carson pulled her into a quick hug, squeezing her arms around Greta's shoulders once. Greta's chest felt warm. 

"Good. I just wanted to be honest with you and I needed to get that out before anything else. That's all." 

The redhead sniffled, blinking a tear away. "Thank you for saying that, it's so very sweet of you, Carse." She kisses her cheek softly. "Let's go before Max starts mass texting me like a maniac." 

They headed down to the cozy lounge/bar. It hosted maybe around 15 guests with a few members working the bar. The area had a lower light, purple and pinks everywhere. Greta led Carson towards the back of the bar where five women were seated including Max.

She chose a small two-seater loveseat to sit so she was as close to Carson as possible, her thigh touching Carson's. She introduced the other girls to Carson one by one - a dark-skinned model in a long green dress named Esther who was cozied up to Max with a leg draped over one of Max's, taller dolled up redhead in a sparkly number named Flo who brought the group over an array of shots, and a pair of dark haired bright eyed twins who she learned were named Abigail and Beth in matching crop top/skirt combinations that were media personalities. 

Greta quickly grabbed two shots, handing one to Carson as she quickly downed hers and reached for another. "I need to get so drunk so fast before I have to go talk to Martin. Ugh." 

Max cackled, shaking her head and pressing her face into Esther's neck. "Good luck, bitch. You're braver than the marines."

Carson turned her head, her arm around Greta's shoulders. "Who's Martin?" Max chimed in, "a creepy fucking loser. He's a music producer for like Def Jam or something - he's also gross and obsessed with Greta." 

The redhead rolled her eyes, sighing as she chugged down a vodka cranberry. "He also happens to give us free shit if I can stand a few minutes with him, which you should be a little grateful for, pal." She gave Max a pointed look before standing up, reaching for Carson's hand. "Come on, baby. I need another drink before I go over." 

She dragged them over to the bar, ordering two Rum and Diet Cokes before she shrugged off her jacket, Carson reaching out for it to throw over her own shoulder. "Thanks. How do I look?" She fluffed her hair out, curls draping down one shoulder. She fixed the spaghetti straps of her tight black dress to sit perfect and looked over to Carson, smiling. 

"You look perfect, as usual." Greta's smile grew wider at the flirt, pleased. "Do you really have to go have a chat with him? If he's as weird as Max says?" 

Greta sighed. "I don't have to do anything, but I thought fuck it, we still have a few days stuck together on a boat - I am going to become even more of a nightmare than Max if I run out and then ruin everyone's time." She muttered a quick thanks to the bartender and downed half off her fresh drink, Carson following with hers. 

"Why can't you just pay him instead of whatever you're planning on?" Carson questioned, something about Greta being near that guy or any of those men he was with rubbed her the wrong way. It didn't help matters that Greta was so blasé  about it, like she thought it was expected of her.

Greta finished her drink quickly, pressing a hand to her head and squinting her eyes at the brain freeze of the cold drink. "Because.. Ouch. Because he never lets me just pay him and trust me, I have tried. He just wants something to look at and the attention of having a hot woman on his arm. I show a little leg, let him ogle my breasts and I'm back with the girls and some goodies." She shrugged. "You stay over there with them, okay?"

Carson grabbed Greta's wrist, stopping her. "Wait. I could come with you?" Greta dropped her hand quickly, shaking her head with a stern look on her face that she had never directed at Carson before.

"Nope. Not happening, you're gonna go sit with Max and everyone, you're gonna drink or smoke or whatever you want - enjoy yourself. I will be back in no time." She pressed a kiss to Carson's cheek. "I can take care of myself. Take my coat with you?" 

She didn't wait for a response, taking her leave as she sauntered over to a group of various middle-aged men. They all looked so sleazy, staring Greta up and down like a piece of meat on display. Carson's hands itched, taking her drink and slamming it back before she moved back to the table - luckily, she had a good line of sight to where Greta was seated so she could keep an eye on her incase she needed an out.

The brunette fell into easy conversation with the girls, they were all a little more chill than Greta was - having gotten high on some joints they had left while waiting and happy to ask plenty of questions about Carson and laugh at her awkward jokes.

She kept averting her eyes back to the table, seeing Greta's flirty smile and fake laughter teasing the men. She didn't control her face fast enough, Max noticed. 

"Hey, listen. She knows how to defend herself when she reaches her limit, she's a firecracker." Max reassures her, leaning closer to Carson. 

"Why didn't you go with her?" Carson asked, playing with a loose thread on the couch. 

Max shrugged, "he only has eyes for her. Besides, she's more the route of taking advantage of getting what she wants from those guys than I am. I wouldn't be able to control not vomiting in my mouth."

Carson barked a laugh at that, shaking her head. "God, men suck." Max laughed, sliding another drink Carson's way and raising her own up to cheers her. 

"Hey now, look - don't touch. We've talked about this, Marty." Greta giggled, batting his hand away from her thigh. She was starting to reach her limit and it's only been several minutes. Why was he dragging this out? This push and pull game was usually enough but he wouldn't stop hungrily eyeing her and it was getting unnerving.

"What if you took it in your mouth, huh?" Martin whispered, a sly smirk on his face as he nodded towards his crotch. Greta didn't have to look down to know he was probably hard.

"I don't do that." Greta quipped, still a flirty lilt to her voice - she was trying to resist the urge to punch the smirk off his face. 

He leaned into her space, smelling of absinthe and tobacco. "You've done it before, a couple summers ago - remember?" He grabbed her hand off the table top, directing it to the bulge in his pants. Greta felt vomit in the back of her throat.

She snatched her hand away and slammed it on the table. "I. Don't. Do. That ." Her voice was cold, so unlike the flirty, ditsy, high-pitched excuse of a tone she's used on him all night.

He scoffed at her, about to respond but something behind her caught his attention. He raised an eyebrow. "Got yourself a guard dog now?" 

The redhead turned around, spotting Carson watching the table intently, not participating in any conversation happening around her - attention solely on Greta. She groaned internally. 

While this kind of protective attention would have usually made her gleeful, her stomach was in knots. She told Carson she could take care of herself, she needed to tone down the possessive streak she adapted tonight. Even though she listened about not being near her, she was still making her presence known obviously enough for Martin of all people to notice.

She turned back around, feigning disinterest. "Nope. She's Max's new friend." Martin rolled his eyes, taking a minute to light up a new cigarette. 

He blew the smoke into her face making her scrunch her nose and sit back in her chair away from it. "Bullshit," he said out of the corner of his mouth. "You were more fun when you weren't in your little dyke phase." 

Greta gritted her teeth, grabbing her purse. "Y'know what, nevermind. Keep your shit." She went to stand up and leave but he held her wrist and forced her back into her seat. 

"No, no wait. You could do something for me that might appeal more to you." Greta sighed, exhausted and itching for this to be over. She regretted coming to this at all. "What?" She asked flatly.

He nodded over towards the back of the bar, towards Carson. Her Carson. "You and the singer. Put on a show for me." 

Greta glared at him, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "Not happening. Absolutely not."

A worse Greta, a Greta of two years ago, might have done that. Not even might, she knows she would have. She's done too much work on herself to not be that person again - someone so broken in the heart and in the head that she would have done anything not to feel anything ever again.

She didn't want to feel like she did back then, and she would never, ever, exploit Carson like that. She held her too dearly, too close to her heart to have Carson get tainted by any of this. 

She almost missed one of Martin's buddies laughing, "I'm impressed the whore didn't jump at the chance to get laid. Are you sure this is Greta?" 

Frankly, she's had enough of this shit.

"Hey, how about we bring up the massive elephant in the room that is my step-father being fucking dead in the ocean right now so SORRY if I don't feel up to giving you and your boyfriends a boner to jerk off about together later. There's a lot of shit happening right now and I am so close to fucking losing it-" Her voice was strained from containing just how angry she was, she faked a sob into her hand. the table got quiet, Martin whispered a shit.

She got them. Her skin crawled when she felt Martin's hand rub her shoulder blade, she wished she came over here with her coat still on but she bit her tongue. 

"Greta, I'm sorry. I didn't, fuck. Okay, here - just don't cry." He slipped the baggies into her purse, digging in his wallet for an 8-ball of coke and stuck it in her hand. "Don't cry, okay? You can do a line for Lenny." 

Greta looked up and tilted her head squinting. "Did- did you just tell me to do a line of cocaine for my dead step-dad?" she asked, incredulous. 

Martin gave her a solemn nod, she had trouble trying to figure out if he was being serious or not. "It's what he would have wanted. If you need some comfort," he patted his lap. "You can always suck on this to feel better." 

"Wow. That was- yeah that was gross. I'm going to go now." 

His friend with the whore comment slid a dark drink her way across the table. "Cheers, kid." 

Greta rolled her eyes, sliding the glass off the table. It fell with a loud crash, for a moment only the music on the speakers was present in the room as everyone hushed. "I'm not falling for that, you're not slick. Do you guys know why every woman in the universe avoids you like the plague? You have to know that, right? Because you guys are brainless useless pieces of garbage and we all know it." 

She stood up, sliding the strap of her purse up to her shoulder and pushing her chair back in. "Have a great night, and hey, Dean or whatever the fuck your name is, if you really want someone to whore out for you - Martin said he has something you can suck on to feel better and you don't even have to roofie him." Both men stood up aggressively, Martin's chair falling back.

Before they could say anything, Greta spoke up. "Settle down!" She said it like she was scolding a child and with such an air of authority that the two men balked a little. They slowly sat back down, still seething. 

"There we go. Take a joke, pop a Xanax, chill out. It's a party! That you threw!" Greta threw her arms up, grinning maniacally with her eyes wide. She raised two middle fingers at them and giggled, "suck a dick, dumbshits!" She twirled around, skipping towards the bar, choosing to ignore their comments on how crazy she is. 

I mean, who isn't? 

She waited for the bartender with a pout, wanting hand sanitizer, a whiskey and for Martin and his friends to somehow end up like Lenny when she felt an arm loop around hers and tug her out of the room, into the hall and around the corner. 

She tried to fight it off until she saw it was Carson leading her. She stopped fighting and let it happen, letting her body relax for the first time since they arrived. 

When they finally stopped walking, Carson stepped in front of her and placed her free hand on Greta's shoulder and looked her over frantically. "Are you okay? They didn't do anything, did they? I'll kick their fucking-" Greta placed her hands over Carson's and squeezed, causing her to pause her barrage of threats before she could start. 

"Carse, baby. I'm fine. The glass was intentional."

"Oh.." Carson steadied her breathing and Greta took a step closer. 

"It was... fine. They were gross but that's how it usually goes anyway." Greta shrugged her shoulders. 

"Did you get your stuff at least?" 

"Mhm." She reached down and opened her purse, having Carson peek in. "Holy shit?! That's so much!" Greta giggled at Carson's open-mouthed shocked expression. She was so damn cute. 

"Yeah, right? I played the dead-step dad crying card and he folded immediately." Carson's mouth got wider, she hit Greta in the arm gently. "Greta!" 

"Hey! Listen, I know it's fucked, okay," she took note of a full drink in Carson's hand and got distracted, "what's that?" Carson looked down and held her arm out. "I figured you'd need it after being over there so long." Greta's face softened, a fondness filling her chest like warm blankets. 

She took it gratefully, "thank you, darling. That's sweet." She took a drink, closing her eyes and humming as it went down her throat. She focused back on Carson's patient gaze at her. "Like I was saying, I know it was fucked,"

"It happened this morning." Carson interrupted. 

"I know! I've never had to use that before today! My dad died over a decade ago, I can't use that one anymore and besides - the other options were to either have sex with Martin-"

"Veto. Gross."

"Have you fuck me in the middle of the dance floor while he watched."

"Not in a million fucking years."

"Or the secret third option: simply suck his dick. It was a hard, crippling decision to make as you can see. So, don't blame me for Lenny actually being more useful dead than alive." 

Carson raised her hands in defeat. "Yikes! Fair enough. I can't believe people just fucking.. say that, ask for something like that. What did he expect, you'd say sure?!" She looked absolutely baffled and Greta watched her as she tried to process this. It didn't hit her until right this second that Carson may not really actually know. 

"Carse, has a man never done that to you?" She asked, chuckling a little in disbelief. 

Carson moved her mouth to her side, nose scrunching. "I- I don't think so. Not that I can think of."

Greta frowned, leaning back against the wall. "Must be nice." She muttered. 

Carson stood there, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest. Just because it wasn't her experience doesn't mean it doesn't happen, she knows that. For a second, she didn't think about how that was a very real very constant reality for Greta. How selfish, she thought.

She took a few steps towards Greta and laid her head against her chest. "I'm sorry, Greta." 

Greta wrapped her arms around her little brunette, kissing the crown of her head. "I get it. So, I kind of like - lost it a little bit back there on them." 

Carson chuckled, "I know. I witnessed your Sarah Lynn impression, it was good." 

Greta squealed in delight, "thank you for getting the damn reference!"

Carson chuckled, "Anytime. Seriously, are you okay?"

"I am." Greta slipped her hand in the opening of Carson's button down, her cool palm skirting up Carson's stomach. "It's been too long since I've had my hands on you." She stepped forward, pushing Carson into the wall with a soft thud, Carson groaned softly, her hands going to Greta's waist.

"Should we be doing this? After all the - oh." Carson stopped with a moan when Greta's soft mouth made its way to her pulse point, sucking and pulling at the skin as her hand ventured further up. 

She pulled back at the sound, admiring the flush appearing on Carson's cheeks. She smiled, groping Carson's right breast and watching as she bit her lip and let her head fall back. "Fuck." 

Greta's smile turned into a smirk, eyebrows raised. "You wanna?" She took another drink and set the glass on the floor away from them. She stood back up and one of her hands glided downwards to Carson's belt, looping a finger into a loop. "I'm all revved up now, I bet I could top you." She winked at Carson, giggling at the skeptical raise of the brunette's eyebrow. 

Carson's hands dropped to her waist again, squeezing before she quickly turned them around, pressing Greta into the wall and relishing in her surprised whimper. "In your dreams, pretty girl." 

Greta lowered herself against the wall and pulled Carson in closer. "I do have a lot of dreams about you, pretty daddy." Her fingers tugged Carson's belt loose, biting her lip when she saw Carson's eyes dart down to watch. "There's an especially good one I had once of being on my knees with your strap buried in my mouth." She whispered out, a delightful giggle escaped her when Carson pushed her pelvis into her. 

"Greta, God. You can't just say things like that." Carson pants, a hand going up to palm Greta's breast roughly, Greta whimpering and undoing Carson's zipper, pushing her hand clumsily into her pants and pressing her fingers against the warm dampness soaking the cotton.

"So ready for me already? Have you thought about it too?" She muttered, leaning towards Carson's body as the brunette pressed her hand against the wall behind Greta. Her hips rutting against the fingers pressed against her covered center. 

Carson grunted, holding Greta's wrist with her free hand so she could grind harder - using Greta to chase her pleasure. Anyone could have walked past and Carson couldn't get herself to care, she only bit her lip and crowded Greta further into the wall. 

"I've- shit. I've thought about it too. Oh fuck," she moaned when Greta adjusted her hand to fit into her underwear, two fingers teasing through her soaked folds. 

"Tell me about it, how would you take me?" Greta whispered teasingly, her tongue between her teeth as she felt Carson get wetter against her, fingers sliding towards her entrance. 

Carson couldn't catch her breath, Greta felt so good and the way she stared Carson down as she managed to slip two fingers inside of her made Carson's legs almost give out. She cleared her throat, humping Greta's hand as she dropped her face to Greta's shoulder, sinking her teeth into the skin. 

Greta curled her fingers on a thrust, holding her girl closer with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. She felt so wet having Carson like this, having her use her and looking so fucking needy. 

She was close to begging Carson to touch her too when she heard someone clearing their throat nearby. She looked up, eyes unfocused as she looked at the source - Max. God damnit. 

Max shook her head, laughing out at finding them. "I should have known you freaks were off doing this somewhere." Carson's head jerked up at Max's voice, her face a bright red when she pulled Greta's hand away and started unzipping her pants, panting. 

Greta pouted, her fingers slick with Carson while she grumbled, sucking them into her mouth and letting them go. She glared at Max, "thanks for ruining Carson's handjob, you are so fucking rude."

"Yeah, yeah. We're heading out, did you get it?" Max walked closer, chuckling at Carson's frazzled state and the way she avoided her eyes. 

Greta nodded, "we can split it up in the room." She stood up straighter and felt a little dizzy, giggling drunkenly when Carson held her up. "Woooof." 

"Did you just bark?" Carson questioned, eyebrows furrowed. Max rolled her eyes, "ya get used to her being a weirdo after a few. Listen though, Gret, I need the room tonight. Esther's room is occupied or else we'd go back there and I'm-"

"She can sleep in mine! I can take care of her." Carson was quick to suggest, blinking her owlish eyes in quick succession. Greta beamed down at her, blushing. She turned to Max and gave her a sly wink.

"She can most definitely take care of me, yeah." Greta flirted, playing with her hair. Max gagged.

"Christ, you two are a mess. That sounds good, just make sure she doesn't get too fucking wasted and charges her damn phone. I do not need a repeat of this morning."

Carson nodded, "I don't - um. I don't think anyone does, to be fair."

The two girls snickered at Carson's comment, agreeing. Greta grabbed Carson's hand and pulled her down the hall. "I'm gonna grab a few clothes and stuff from our room before we're in for the night! Have fun with Essyyy!" 

"Not like you're gonna need them. She still hates the nickname, by the way!" Max waved her off, shaking her head affectionately as she made her way back to grab Esther.

Greta quickly unlocked the door to their room and dragged Carson inside. She went to her bed and got a bag out, slipping some of her underwear and spare socks and a bra inside and then looking for an outfit for the next morning. 

Carson twiddled her thumbs, sitting on the corner of the bed as she waited. She looked around the room at some of the piles of clothes and empty containers on the dresser while kicking her legs. 

Once Greta gathered her toiletries and clothes into her bag, she also reached down into her suitcase, unzipping a small pocket and reaching in and pulling out a small red bullet vibrator. 

She raised her eyebrows a few times and cheekily winked at Carson's reddening cheeks at the implication. She packed that too and stood back up, walking over to Carson and grabbing her face. 

"You are so damn hot, Carse. I'm tired of it." She joked, bending down to kiss her lips - moaning into her mouth when Carson roughly pulled Greta into her lap. 

They made out languidly, Greta grinding herself into Carson while Carson pulled her in by her ass, her hands under the hem of Greta's dress to grab handfuls. 

Max knocked loudly on the door after a few minutes, "y'all better be decent, I swear to God." Greta laughed, pulling back and yelling "come in!"

The two stood up, fixing their rucked up clothes as Max and Esther stumbled in, laughing. Esther looked between them, red-faced and breathless with Carson's hair a mess from Greta's hands. She laughed, "okay, I see you, G."

Greta stuck her tongue out and handed Max her half of their stash. "Carson and I might only be touching the edibles tonight, I think so we're gonna veg out. Remember to test those - you still have some strips left?" 

Max saluted at her, "sure do, I got it. Narcan, water, we're all set." 

"Amazing. I have my charger and will keep my ringer on for once," Greta gave her bag to Carson to hold and hugged Max and Esther into her arms. "Love ya, don't do anything I wouldn't do! Have fun! I'm gonna go get fisted maybe!" Greta kissed both their cheeks and looped an arm around Carson, pulling her towards the door.

"You can stop oversharing your sex life with me anytime, Gret." Max yelled at her, laughing as the girls giggled like school children on their way out. 

The fisting, to Greta's dismay, did not end up happening. The two took a few edibles and played some sitcom on TV as they took each other's clothes off, making out lazily as they did. 

Carson's hands all over her naked body made her feel electric and whole in a way she's never had with another person perhaps ever. It made her forget all about earlier, only feeling Carson throughout her body.

She was gentle in the way she lapped at her pussy, an eager and thorough tongue dancing and teasing through her folds and across her clit as Greta thrashed above her. Sinful noises falling out of her mouth as she held Carson's head closer to her cunt, her tongue dipping inside of her entrance made her scream out.

Carson could eat Greta out forever if she'd let her, she loved how insatiable the redhead was for anything she was willing to give her. When Greta flipped Carson to her back, pulling her leg to bend to the side as she slid her fingers inside Carson's waiting cunt, Carson let out a litany of curses. 

Her hips raised to meet each thrust as Greta attached her mouth to the side of her neck and licked and sucked until the skin was a light smattering of pink. She'd whisper little praises, telling her how good she felt around her fingers as Carson worked herself on her hand. 

When she came for the first of many times that night, with Greta's boobs pressed against hers and a scream in the back of her throat - she was in no way a fool to recognize that within only a few days, she was so incredibly hooked and she was so whole-heartedly Greta's. 

After a few hours and a few snack breaks, they fell back into the bed - sated and exhausted. Greta wrapped up in Carson's arms as she quickly succumbed to sleep with her face pressed into her sternum. Carson followed, her face in Greta's hair and her legs tangled with the redheads. 

The next few days had been a blur, everyone moving around quieter and the air was tense. Greta had taken to attaching herself to either Max or Carson at any given time, needing to fill her space with only the people she could stand to be around. 

She was intoxicated more often than not but Carson made sure that it wasn't anywhere near as much as it was their first night together. Especially when Greta would take any free moment she could to drag Carson off for a quickie in any private place they could find - once even in the private jacuzzi that had them both heated up the entire day. 

Carson took care of making Greta eat when she noticed she forgot, and took plenty of water breaks and showers where Greta would pout playfully until she joined her. 

They got to know each other more and more, more stories passed between each other in quieter moments. Carson learned that Greta and Jo used to actually be best friends in school before things got bad between them. 

Greta learned that Carson and Allie Lockhart were best friends their whole lives, finding out that they both had a talent for singing and guitar playing led them to finding others to join and forming a band at 18. 

Allie was in an intake hospital now, after whatever happened that caused them both to go off the deep end. Greta didn't push when Carson confessed this, only assuring Carson that it was best for her. 

The final day of their trip, where they were finally on the home stretch, Greta had finished packing all of her things neatly and precisely. She went to the bathroom to freshen up and check her outfit again. 

She wore a simple yellow sundress, her hair up in a high ponytail and a pair of white sandals. She cleaned up her lipstick when she heard Max walking into the room. Excellent.

"Max, Max, hey Max!" She skipped out, startling her best friend who had a hand on her chest. "Jesus, Greta!" 

"Sorry! I'm so excited to go home! I can't wait to pick up Gomez and press my entire face into that furry little freak." She whined. She really did miss her cat so much, she adopted him a few years ago with a woman she'd rather not think of but he was always her baby from the very second she laid her eyes on the tiny ball of fur they found in an abandoned car park. 

"Also, I need your help." Greta pouted. Max groaned, "cover with Viv?" 

"Please." She batted her eyes, threading her fingers together in front of herself and moving from foot to foot. "Just for an hour or so, I want to say goodbye to Carson." 

"Doesn't she live in the city? You can see her whenever you want - it's not goodbye." Max went to her side of the room, inspecting to make sure she had everything packed. 

"Well, yeah she's bi-coastal but ugh - we haven't talked about any of that yet. I don't know if she'll want to keep in touch!" Greta played with her ear ring, a dangled sunflower. 

"Then maybe talk to her about that? But don't be too long. Viv said we might be able to dock earlier than we thought so." Max shooed her out of the room. "I got you, scram." 

Greta yelled out a thanks as she went off to Carson's room. 

She skipped into the open doorway, Carson midway through packing. The room was cleaner than she'd ever seen it although the other times she's been in it she was too preoccupied to notice.

"Heya, hot shot. I forgot you had a floor in here." She popped her gum, Carson looking up at her and rolling her eyes. Greta dropped down onto the bed next to the suitcase, flopping backwards. 

"It wasn't that messy before! It was just clothes, and stuff." Carson defended herself, she was normally more tidy in her life. But this was still her vacation despite everything, she could be a little messy. 

The redhead turned to look at her, a teasing glint in her eyes but she only turned her body so she could lay on her front, kicking her legs up. "Whatever. We got about two-ish hours they guess then we'll be back. What are you gonna do not being able to see my pretty face all the time?" 

Carson laughed, double checking the room to make sure she had everything. "Oh, you know. Cry, suffer, stare longingly at your Instagram feed filled with hundreds of photos of your face." 

Greta pouted her bottom lip out. "Settling for digital? That's rough, Carse. Brave." She was getting a little annoyed that Carson hasn't spared her a glance as she paced around the room.

If she were to, she'd notice that Greta shifted to lay on her side and was currently running circles around a hardened nipple, her dress sleeves down her shoulders and her breasts exposed. 

She wasn't sure if they were going to see as much of each other outside of this little fling they've been doing. They were in different circles, different worlds and as much as she thinks she'd want to keep seeing more of the woman, it was probably for the better if she didn't bring it up.

That being said - she wasn't going to not take advantage of one more romp before they returned. She pinched her nipple and let out a pretty whine, her head falling back as she pinched harder. She glided her hand down her stomach to her thighs, pulling her dress up.

Carson did notice that. 

"Fucking hell, Greta." She dropped one of her bags down and crawled up the bed. Greta laughed at the quickness, letting Carson push her backwards and slide her hand between her legs. 

"Mmm, finally you notice." Greta whispered huskily, moaning out when Carson slid her panties to the side and ran two fingers through the wetness there. Greta's hips lifted off the bed.

"God, you are so damn perfect." Carson muttered, leaning her head down to wrap her lips around an erect nipple, licking the bud lazily as she pressed her two middle fingers inside of the redhead underneath her. Greta's back arched as she whined, pushing her hips down on Carson's hand.

"Are you gonna miss me?" Greta panted out in question, running her fingers through Carson's messy head of brown hair, pulling on the strands to direct Carson to look up at her. 

Carson only smiled around her nipple, sucking it harder before she released. "What makes you think we won't see each other when we get back?" She kept up a gentle pace of thrusting her fingers in and out of Greta's swollen cunt, not wanting to get her worked up too fast. The redhead wrapped her leg around Carson's waist, rolling her hips as she rode her fingers.

Her skin was covered with a layer of sweat already, her chest and neck flushed. Carson worked her mouth across her clavicle making her breathing stutter. "I- oh, right there . I didn't know if you'd want to." She let out a little gasp when Carson's fingers curled into her G-spot suddenly. "Fuck, you're good. Oh my god." She pulled Carson's head up so she could give her a filthy kiss, her tongue rolling out to lick across the seam of Carson's lips. 

Carson returned the kiss, opening her mouth for the redhead's tongue as she pulled her fingers almost all the way out before thrusting them back in to the knuckle with a force that made Greta breathless. She pulled back from Greta's mouth, waiting for Greta to open her eyes hazily to look at her. 

The brunette began pumping her hips behind each thrust, rubbing Greta's clit with her thumb. Greta took to palming her own breasts, pinching the nipples and fucking Carson's hand back. 

"Greta?" Carson whispered, Greta not fully focused on her as she chased her orgasm - her walls squeezing around Carson's fingers with each pump. 

"Ah, yes. Yeah, baby? Oh, fuck me harder." She stretched her neck back, her grunting increasing in volume when Carson obliged and started going faster, pushing herself rougher behind her hand. Greta's arms wrapped around Carson's neck as she rode.

"Do you want to keep doing this once we're back home?" Carson grunted, the exertion making it hard to hard to keep herself above Greta, her forearm felt it was close to cramping but she didn't dare stop.

Greta was thrashing her head back and forth, a hand having a firm vice grip on Carson's bicep. She couldn't even attempt to fathom Carson casually asking her things while she had her so close to her peak. 

All she could do was nod frantically, raising her hips to meet Carson's as her body shook. Her legs felt numb where they were pressed hard around Carson's waist. Her moans filled the room as her walls clamped Carson's fingers from moving.

Carson watched her with a look of awe as she came hard underneath her, chest heaving and her pulse jumping. She was the most beautiful creature Carson has ever laid her eyes on, her hair a mess of auburn. 

She fucked her through the aftershocks, considering going for a quick second orgasm when they heard the door slam shut and they both sat up to looked at the source of the slam.

Greta groaned pathetically, hitting her palm on the mattress next to her. "Noooooo, Max, nooooo, that was barely an hour." 

Max had her arms crossed, a bemused smile on her face as she leaned against the door. She stifled a laugh at Carson pulling her hand from between her best friend's legs and hastily pulled Greta's dress into place while Greta complained. 

"Sorry girlie, your mom sent me to come find you. We're close." She shrugged, ignoring the glare from the redhead as she went to open the door. "Side note: maybe close the door next time y'all decide to go at it - you're damn lucky it was me that walked by while your bloody murder screams were drowning the hallway." 

She ducked out just as a pillow was sprung at her and hit the door. Greta crossed her arms, pouting at the door. "She is the worst."

Carson raised herself off of Greta to lay next to her. "That's also the second time she has caught us." Greta turned to her side to face the brunette. 

"In all fairness, the first time anyone could have. Kind of a rush, huh?" Greta grinned, tickling her hand under Carson's shirt and making her laugh and try to roll away. 

"Jesus, okay, yeah sure!" She caught Greta's hands in hers, catching her breath. They both smiled breathlessly into each other's eyes, rosy cheeks and soft eyes. 

Greta reached into Carson's back pocket for her phone, grabbing it out and giving it to Carson. "Unlock. I'm giving you my number."

The brunette rolled her eyes but did as she said, she knew she was going to ask if Greta hadn't. Greta typed her initials and number in, taking a quick photo of herself to set as the contact photo and then texted herself so she'd have it. 

"Yay. Now I can bother you all I want." She smiled content, handing the phone back and hugging Carson's side. Carson squeezed her. "Time to say goodbye to this hell dump and get back to the real world."

"Are ya gonna be okay today? With your mom's whole plan or whatever."

Greta hummed, looking up at Carson with a side smile, shrugging. "I have to be. Right?"

Chapter Text

Carson hurriedly took a shower, doing all the basic washing up from the night before and shampooing her hair. She combed through the dark strands as she stepped out and toweled off. She brushed her teeth twice and swirled mouthwash too for good measure and then began to wash her face and moisturize.

They had already seen each other naked, she supposed, so she didn't have to try very hard on her outfit and honestly, she didn't really give a fuck to begin with. She grabbed a clean brown ribbed tank top, forgoing a bra and slipped on a pair of grey sweatpants that fell low off her hips.

She was in the process of cleaning up her mess from last night, she had gotten in a funk (what’s new) and went a little crazy on her liquor cabinet and the Postmates app and the leftover wrappers and bottles on her coffee table and in her dining room were evidence of that. 

She changed her bedding, washed the dishes and refilled Goose’s water bowl. It was clean enough when she finally heard the harsh buzzing ringing through her apartment.

She padded slowly to it, sipping a Gatorade as the buzzer continued to go off. God, was she holding it down?! Carson pressed the call button, "you can let go now! I can hear you!" She swore she heard Greta's mischievous giggles over the crackle of the microphone as she pressed the button to let her in.

Carson leaned against the wall by the door and waited, scrolling through a mindless abundance of emails until three knocks on her door had her moving to open it.

Greta looked… Wow. She was wearing a tight white crop top with black block lettering not only am i funny but i have nice tits too. Carson let out a cackle at that and let her eyes wander down, the shirt ended right under her ribcage exposing a fair bit of midriff. Her belly button ring was silver and glinting in the light.

She was carrying her purse and a tote bag and had on a tight pair of blue skinny jeans that did wonders to highlight her legs with a simple pair of red heels on her feet. Carson’s eyes drifted back up to her face. Her hair was down and her curls were a little wild, being held back by a pair of RAY BAN aviators.

She had on eyeliner and mascara and red-tinted lip gloss and was chewing on a stick of gum, mouth shaping words that were static in the haze of Carson’s mystified admiration.

Greta had to bite back a laugh, smirking at Carson looking her up and down and not hearing a word she was saying. She watched her shake her head and make eye contact finally.

“Heya, stranger.” She giggled, raising her eyebrow. Carson’s face flushed.

“Hey, uh. Nice shirt.” Carson managed to say.

Greta smiled brightly, “it’s true, isn’t it?” Carson shook her head, “Not this again, get in here.” 

The redhead happily stepped into the apartment and checked out the rustic aesthetic Carson had taken on for the apartment, walls littered with expensive looking art pieces and shelves of knickknacks. 

Carson locked the door and followed, watching as Greta set her bags on the dining table and looked through her bookcase - at a shelf of framed personal photos. One was of Carson knelt next to a harlequin Great Dane puppy that was probably half Carson’s size. 

Greta turned her head back towards Carson, beaming. “Where is the big baby, huh?” 

Carson walked over, smiling at the frame Greta was looking at. “Oh, Goose? Hold on! She’s zonked out somewhere.” She headed back down a hallway, sliding a little in her socks as she called out for her dog. 

Not even a few seconds after, Greta heard the tell-tale signs of heavy clacking against the hardwood floor and Carson letting out an oof! Greta bent her body to the side to peek down the hall and almost fell over seeing Carson pressed against the wall, receiving many slobbery kisses from a dog almost two inches taller than her small frame on two feet.

Greta was so endeared and her face brightened, she walked closer to them - the dog noticed her and turned around, tail wagging in huge circles.

Carson quickly called out “sit, girl” and she did promptly, still tilting her head at the new stranger in her apartment. Her tail beat Carson in the leg until she began walking towards Greta, sheepish smile in place. 

“Forgive her, she’s really well-trained but after being gone so long, she’s.. very excited I’m home again.” Carson wiped her face with a rag she had in her pocket, expecting this very thing. Greta walked over to ruffle the top of her head.

“Hey, listen. I don’t blame her, I mean, I do the same thing when you give me attention.” She grins, wiggling her butt side to side. She then took a step and kneeled on one leg and looked back up at Carson. “Can I?”

Carson smiled, nodded. “Goose, this is your new friend, Greta. Say hi!” Goose stood up and ran a couple feet to Greta, sniffing her hand and licking it as she did while staring at Greta with her big brown eyes. She lifted up her long limbs to Greta’s shoulders but Greta was quick to shift and hold the weight, holding her hands on Goose’s ribs to rub and squealed when Goose tried to kiss her face and it tickled.

Carson moved closer, “don’t overwhelm Greta!”

Greta squeaked, falling over and the dog fell with her to her side, rolling to her back to waggle back and forth and Greta giggling and rubbing her belly.

Watching the whole silly spectacle, Carson shook her head. They were so cute. Carson’s heart flipped without her realizing.

After a few minutes, Carson stood up and cleared her throat. “Okay, up!” 

Both Goose and Greta stopped what they were doing and Greta stood up to her feet as Goose stood and sat promptly staring at Carson. They both watched the brunette for instruction and Carson looked between them, chuckling confused. 

“I only meant Goose, by the way.” She clarified, laughing more when Greta looked at her and Goose and realized. She had a sheepish smile on her face.

“Ah. Gotcha. This is gonna be confusing.”

Carson shook her head, grabbing for Greta’s wrist and leading them to the kitchen.

"So, mom has been on my ass grilling me with questions about the night of the party. It’s like I can’t escape it and then she'd try to feed me my own responses whenever I would actually answer. Fuckin' weirdo." Greta groaned, frowning down at Goose who followed them inside and had her head tilted looking up at her.

Carson shook her head at the two, leaning against the counter. "That is really weird though. I mean, wait, where the hell was she?" 

"Good question! I asked her that and she said she'd been sleeping the whole time. I asked 'can anyone confirm that?' and she asked 'can anyone confirm you were off somewhere "canoodling" with some singer?" She raised her fingers in quotes, her hands reaching out to grasp Carson's hips. She leaned into Carson's neck and left a kiss to the back of it. "I then told her that she could ask anyone within a five-mile radius of the room we were in who heard me screaming to confirm it. She got mad after that, threw a glass at me and yelled and ugh, I needed outta there.”

Carson quickly turned around, worry painted her face as she circled her arms around her. "Are you okay?" Greta smiled despite herself, she adored Carson's unwavering care sometimes.

"Not a scratch, I'm okay. You can check." She winked. Carson rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Good. So I can do this." She slapped Greta's arm, Greta squeaking through her giggles. "Why would you say that shit to her? Does she know it was me?" 

Greta smiled. She moved around the kitchenette like she owned the place, washing and drying her hands before she grabbed two glasses to sit in front of her and inside of the bag she brought for a new bottle of Jack Daniels to pour into the glasses. Carson stood up to the sink, observing her out of the corner of her eye as she washed her own hands.

"I didn't mention your name, though I wouldn't be surprised if she heard about it from someone else. She's a very secretive woman - she'll take that to her grave before she'd let it leak that I'm fucking anyone she doesn't approve of." Greta handed Carson her drink, taking a sip of hers and scrunching her nose at the strong taste.

Carson took a drink, Greta set her glass down and took the few steps up to her. She glided her hand down Carson's back until she reached the curve of her ass, squeezed a cheek roughly making Carson let out a whimper. Carson set her drink down next to Greta's then grabbed Greta's waist and pulled her flush against her.

"So, she wouldn't approve of me then?" Carson asks slyly. Greta rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around Carson's neck. 

"Who fuckin cares if she does? I'm not a child." 

Carson frowned at her and squeezed her waist. "Can you please just play along?" She muttered up at Greta. Greta's brows raised, a smirk slowly forming on her face and a glint in her eye.

She tossed her hair over a shoulder and then looked back at Carson. She batted her eyes, faux innocence bleeding into her voice when she softly sighed, "She'd think you were a bad influence on me."

She bit her lip, watched as Carson's eyes darkened. “I’ve been told that once or twice..” Greta nodded absently and carded her fingers back through Carson's hair and pulled her head closer, leaning her face down to cover Carson's lips with hers hard.

Their mouths moved together desperately, rushed as Carson guided Greta by the hips over to the couch and pushed her to sit on the arm. She unbuttoned Greta's jeans, unzipping them and slipping her hand down until she felt the soaked lace underneath. 

They both groaned into the other’s mouth, Greta pushed herself harder against Carson’s teasing fingers. Greta moaned through her teeth as Carson found her clit and started rubbing quick clumsy circles around it as best she could with the limited space and the denim scratching the back of her hand.

Greta’s head fell back as she let herself fully fall into the sensation of Carson’s fingers again. It had been less than 48 hours since she last had Carson and her body already wanted her again and again and again.

“Carson, please , take them off. I need to feel you.” She whined out. Carson didn’t hesitate to help Greta push off the offending garment, it took a long minute with how skin-tight they are but they got them down and kicked off, Greta’s heels going with them.

The brunette ran her palms up Greta’s soft, full inner thighs and pushed her legs apart, kneeling down to the floor and placing her open mouth over Greta’s soaked cunt, running her tongue along the lace barrier. Greta moaned loudly and her hips bucked harshly so Carson held them down and pressed her tongue against Greta’s clit as she writhed and mewled underneath her.

Carson pulled back to look up at Greta’s flushed face, her lips red and swollen. She gave her a filthy smirk as she stood back up and pressed herself tight into the apex of Greta’s thighs, the redhead gasping at the light pressure.

“I missed tasting you.” Carson whispered, her hands running up and down her girl’s sides. 

Greta whipped her shirt over her head and unhooked her bra while Carson licked her lips and watched all the skin being uncovered for her. God, Greta was a vision of smooth skin and sun-kissed freckles, her nipples straining to be touched.

Carson ducked her head down to suck one into her mouth as she started rubbing Greta’s clit over her panties, feeling them get even more wet as Greta pawed at Carson’s breasts over the shirt she still had on and lifted a leg around Carson’s waist.

“Holy shit. Holy shit, suck harder. Fuck.” Carson did, her teeth grazing the edge before she suckled harshly. Her tongue flicked over the bud to soothe it, Greta bucked her hips erratically against her hand and one of her hands flailed behind her to the couch cushion to keep herself upright while she felt Carson’s fingers slide her panties to the side and her middle and ring fingers entered her easily.

“You feel so good, baby girl, so damn wet,” Carson rasped out biting the top of Greta’s breast and Greta rode her fingers, moaning out obscenities and clawing at Carson’s hair, pulling her head up to shove her tongue in her mouth.

She was so close already, having been just on the edge all day by thinking of Carson while touching herself in her own room before to no avail, it was no match to how Carson worked her up and over with her mouth and fingers.

Carson pulled all the way out and entered her again with three fingers, pushing Greta down onto the couch cushion with a hand pressed on her sternum, pushing her hips into the back of her hand to fuck Greta with deeper strokes.

The redhead’s grunts carried through the apartment, the obscene sounds of how wet she was when Carson thrusted inside of her over and over. Her walls tightening almost painfully around Carson’s fingers as she curled them against a rough spot and pushed her palm into Greta’s clit, making her whine.

“Oh my God, oh my God Carson. I’m gonna come. I’m gonna come all over you.” She panted out, her voice rough. Carson doubled her efforts, some of her hair sticking to her forehead as she leaned over the woman below her, staring into her eyes as she thrashed.

“Come on, pretty baby. Come for me, you know I love how pretty you are when you come for me.” Carson rasped, her breathing heavy as she used every ounce of strength to thrust into her girl once, twice. Greta held onto the back of Carson’s neck, pushing herself harder and faster against Carson’s fingers, wrapping her other leg tightly around Carson’s hips as her breasts bounced with her and she let herself go, screaming Carson’s name and gushing along those talented fingers.

Her orgasm felt so intense, so drawn out while Carson sucked a mark between her breasts. She struggled to get her breathing under control even after Carson pulled out of her, she could only let her body fall into the cool fabric of the couch as her legs twitched.

Carson was still leaning over her, breathing heavy into her skin as she dropped open mouth kisses along Greta’s ribcage. She smiled up at Greta’s dazed, sleepy eyes. “Goddamn.” She laughed. 

Greta smiled, satisfied and closed her eyes. “Yeah, goddamn, Carson.” She muttered lightly, a small laugh bubbling out of her chest. Carson admired how beautiful and fucked out Greta looked underneath her. She left a gentle kiss on the bruising mark she left behind before she slowly stood up, feeling only slightly dizzy for a moment.

She took Greta’s hands and pulled her up too. She held Greta’s hip when she noticed how shaky her legs were when she tried to stand. “Whoa there, darlin. Not too fast.” Greta blushed darker, panting only a little now.

She pushed herself into Carson’s arms, crossing hers around her neck and placed her face into Carson’s neck - the slight chill she had was soothed by the warm fabric of Carson’s clothes. She murmured, “How the fuck are you still dressed right now?”

Carson chuckled and shrugged, kissing Greta’s temple before she guided them through the living room. There was a discarded shirt of Carson’s on the ottoman that Greta swiped up and pulled over her head. It ended mid-thigh and felt soft and worn and had a peach on the right side of the chest. It made Greta feel comfortable.

The brunette grabbed their forgotten glasses from the other room and brought them over to the couch, handing Greta hers as they sat properly on the couch now. She draped one of her throw blankets over Greta and her legs and yawned. 

Greta tucked her head into the crook of her neck as they sipped on the warm Whiskey and let their heart rates return back to normal.

"You know, your band - your music, it kind of saved my life." Greta admitted softly, swirling the dark liquid in her glass. Carson turned her head and laid back on the couch. 

"Really?" She muttered, kept her tone low not wanting to disturb the gentle space they found between them. Greta nodded and then let out a sigh.

"I was... Really not well two years ago, when I went to your last tour and I got to meet you guys. Hm," she shifted herself to face Carson but she couldn't look her in the eyes, she took a long drink. "Something really bad happened to me, I think I told you some of that, remember?"

Carson's brows furrowed, a crease forming between them and she gave a small frown. "I don't think so?" Greta frowned too, she could have sworn they've had this conversation before, that first night together, about Lenny and those men and that night that she couldn't forget for the rest of her life. Maybe not, maybe they were too drunk.

"Oh. Well, it's honestly too awful and terrible and gross to even recount right now, then I'd really kill the mood." She chuckled, winking at Carson who smiled at her but it fell quickly as she processed the weight of what Greta was saying. 

"Greta, did someone-" She started but Greta held a finger up. "I know what you're thinking, and no - they didn't. They could have though. They wanted to." Carson scooted closer to Greta, she wrapped an around her shoulder and pulled her onto her chest. The redhead let herself be held, relaxing into it.

"Anyway, it really messed me up obviously. Then my girlfriend dumped me and I got worse. You've seen me party loads of times, I know you've seen what I do." Greta looked up at her, her eyes hazy. Carson nodded.

"It used to be worse, a lot worse. A lot of people thought I was going to wind up dead. Truthfully, I wanted to be dead. I did a lot of stupid shit, anything I could do or take or screw, because I didn't want to have a moment of clarity, to think. To feel." Her tone had gone flat near the end of her sentence, she finished her drink and sniffled. She rolled her eyes up to make eye contact again, Carson threading her fingers through her hair. "You're not going to like me when you find out even half of the shit I've done."

"I doubt that, Greta." Her voice croaky, cleared her throat and sat up so she could refill Greta and her's glasses. Greta moved her mouth to the side, doubt creeping upon her own face. 

"I don't. The novelty is going to wear off, if you stick around long enough to find reasons to leave." Carson turned back to Greta, frowning at the wistless and knowing tone of her voice. Like she just knew it was inevitable that Carson would leave.. whatever this was.

She handed Greta her full glass, their fingers brushing against each other softly. Greta held her gaze, waiting for Carson to try to deny what she said. Carson blinked.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd let me form my own judgement and make my own decisions." She said, raising her eyebrows, challenging Greta. 

The redhead pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes for five solid seconds before she chuckled, leaning back into the couch cushions again. "Fair enough, I'll let you do that. Don't say I didn't warn you, sweet face." 

Carson shook her head, rolling her eyes when she grabbed her phone. "Noted. Come over here." 

Greta smirked at her, moving herself closer to Carson's side. "Mm, I like you bossy." 

"I know you do." Carson grinned, wrapping an arm around Greta's waist and pulling her closer. 

They laid like that in silence for a while, the sounds of the city drifting in from the window and Goose's loud snoring from the other room filling the space. 

Greta's eyes began to droop, her drink almost falling out of her hand but Carson dropped her phone to save it and startled Greta awake. She set it on the table when Greta heard her phone going off. She pouted and looked around for it, finding it inbetween the couch cushions. When she squinted at the screen and saw her mom's name, she groaned and declined.

Carson watched her toss her phone to the side and she snuggled back up to her. "Is it wise not to answer that? She seems... intimidating."

Greta shrugged a shoulder, grabbing her glass to take another drink before setting it back down. When she sat back again, one of her hands found it's way up Carson's shirt and cupped a full tit. "I've had enough of her to last me a decade in the past few weeks alone. I deserve a reprieve. She's even more batshit as a second-time widow, if you can believe that."

Carson breathed through her nose, trying to focus on forming a response while Greta's fingers teased at her nipple. She cleared her throat, "ahem, I mean, I don't know her so I don't- oh. I don't know about that. I mean, two husbands dead in anyone's lifetime? Ah, shit. It's gotta be rough."

Greta hummed, pinching Carson's nipple gently as her other hand splayed across one of Carson's legs. "I suppose, but any husband at all sounds like getting the short end of the stick. I much prefer having sexy little girlfriends to play around with." 

She leaned down so she could suck on the side of Carson's neck, she only pulled back a breath away to whisper in Carson's ear, "I can leave a mark, right? I really want to." Carson nodded, her breathing picking up when Greta went back to licking and sucking on her pulse point, her fingers on her breast still pulling and pinching her nipple.

She moaned, "I- fuck, Greta, feels good. I- you know we're not actually girlfriends, right?" Greta nipped her neck at that causing Carson to flinch before she pulled herself into Carson's lap, "Maybe not. But you sure are sexy and little and mine to play with, aren't you?" She raised a brow, a playful little grin on her pink lips. She grabbed the hem of Carson's muscle tee and peeled it off, throwing it behind her and smiling wider when Carson immediately started lifting up the shirt she snatched from her off her body.

She reached her hand down and underneath the waistband of Carson's sweats, licking her bottom lip when she felt how warm and wet Carson was through her boyshorts. Carson's breathing stuttered, her hips attempting to rise up where they were pressed into the couch by Greta.

The redhead smirked at the lack of response, pushing her fingers firmer against Carson's clit and watching her throw her head back. "Carson, my sweets." She purred. The brunette rolled her head to the side, "uh huh?" 

"You didn't answer me. I said you're mine to play with, aren't you?" Greta's eyes got darker with every word, Carson pushed her hips up harder and made Greta bite back a moan when her wrist hit her own sensitive clit.

"Yes, Greta. I'm yours to play with, just, do something already." 

Greta smiled a Cheshire grin. "Ya want my mouth? I miss having you come in it." She pulled herself off of Carson before spreading her legs and kneeling inbetween them on the soft rug below her. "Also, kudos for all the nice rugs. My knees are still bruised from the fucking hardwood of those rooms." 

Carson lifted her hips up to help Greta remove her sweats and underwear, chuckling at Greta's comment. "Poor little baby, the one who insisted to kneel for me in the first place." 

Greta pouted up at her, eyes narrowing, "I didn't hear you have any complaints about that decision when you fucked my mouth now, did I?"

"Nope! You won't today either." Carson winked at her before pushing the crown of Greta's head towards her cunt, head falling back to the couch when she felt Greta's tongue lick along her folds. The redhead used two fingers to spread her lips open, circling her tongue around Carson's pulsing bud in firm, precise strokes. 

She knew Greta could run her mouth faster than she could probably run track (she's had to chase around the woman on the boat numerous times and damn those legs gave her an advantage) but fuck, that mouth knew what it was doing when it was wrapped around her clit. 

She watched the beautiful head of red hair bobbing softly, she scratched her nails up Carson's stomach to grope her tit again as she ate her out. 

Man, Carson had to be the luckiest fucker on the planet to get a girl like Greta like this, girlfriend or not.

(Definitely not.)

Greta began to suck gently on her clit, flicking it teasingly with her tongue and her free hand caressed the inside of Carson's trembling thigh, edging closer to the apex of her legs so she could tease her index finger around Carson's entrance. She blinked up at Carson who was already staring intently down at her, gaze heavy with lust.

It made her groan into Carson's cunt, Carson pushing her head closer, grabbing at her hair. "God, babe.. You're doing so well at that," she moaned out when she felt the vibration of Greta moaning into her. "Good girl, yeah, that's right baby, and good girls deserve a reward, don't they?"

Greta's eyes widened, she flattened her tongue letting Carson rut her hips into it as she kept circling her finger around Carson's ring of nerves, nodding as best she could with the grip on her head and moaning out what she hoped sounded like an affirmative.

Carson slowed her hips, a smirk growing on her face watching her struggle. "Talking with your mouth full, sweet girl?" Greta's eyes rolled back, a surprised groan leaving her mouth when she felt Carson pull her head back by her hair, sitting up. She was lost, confused as to why Carson stopped her already. 

The brunette leaned over her, Greta’s lips were swollen and her chin was covered in arousal. Her cheeks flushed and eyes wide and excited. Carson could see her pulse jumping at being held like this.

"Open your mouth for me." Greta obeyed, sticking her tongue out just in time for Carson to gather enough saliva in her mouth to spit into her mouth. Greta never felt more turned on in her life when she swallowed it promptly and watched Carson bite her lip while she watched.

"You're so good for me, my little doll. I'm going to come in that beautiful mouth of yours, okay?" She fixed Greta's hair behind her ear, fingers brushing Greta's warm cheekbone as she nodded. "Speak up."

"Okay." Carson narrowed her eyes and Greta whined. "Okay, come in my mouth please , Carson." 

Carson stood up to her feet then, moving Greta out of the way on the floor. She grabbed Greta's shoulders to turn her around so her back hit the front of the couch now. She nudged her hands in between Greta's thighs where they were squeezed together and separated them, Greta adjusting herself so she was more comfortably sitting on her feet. 

The redhead licked her lips as Carson moved her body around, running her hand up Greta's sternum, up to the column of her throat and tipped her head back on a throw pillow Carson moved under her. She felt like a toy, being moved around like this, her body not her own as Carson placed her exactly how she wanted her.

She'd never felt this safe to allow someone access to her body in a way like she does with Carson. It was ridiculous but she felt like Carson knew her better than herself sometimes even though she doesn't, not really. 

When Carson lifted her leg up to bend onto the couch, all thoughts left her brain - only consumed by seeing Carson towering over her, dark curls and lips slick with her arousal and Greta's spit made her abdomen tighten. She reached up reflexively, wanting to trace a finger along her slit but Carson grabbed her wrist, angling her arm just right and maneuvering her two middle fingers to curl halfway. 

Carson gave her a hard stare but Greta could see the light behind it still, the playful but minuscule lift of the right corner of her mouth. She knew she could say no and feel comfortable but she didn't want to.

"Okay, I want your fingers to stay like this." She held them upright and let them go, Greta keeping them still. "I want your mouth on me and when you know I'm close, I will tell you to slide them inside. Do you got that?"

Greta was struggling to keep her legs open, nodding along but that wasn't enough for Carson who pulled her head back and stared into her eyes. "I want you to.. to.. fuck, use my mouth." 

Carson didn't, not yet, not while Greta was out of mind like she was. “I need you to repeat what I just told you to do. You can do it, honey.” Her voice was firm but also dripping with a neediness she didn’t know she possessed. It made Greta drip on the rug underneath her. 

She nodded, mostly to herself trying to clear the fog in her brain. She cleared her throat politely and looked up at Carson’s expectant face. “I’ll keep my fingers just the way you want them. I- you’ll use my mouth and when I know you’re close, you’ll tell me when to slide my fingers inside of you.”

“Good girl, that was so so good.” Carson looked down at Greta’s proud smile, smirking at it. “You want your reward now? Think you’re up for it?”

Greta bit her lip, batting her eyes. She let go of her lip and licked the corner of her mouth. “I can take it, baby. Please use my mouth, that's all I want.” 

Carson’s smirk got wider, she lowered herself to Greta’s mouth which was already open and waiting. Her tongue lapped languidly up and down Carson’s slit, running along every crevice, pressing against the sides and underside of her clit. She moved her mouth down to tease her tongue inside, mewling at Carson’s entrance tightening slightly around the tip.

The brunette held onto the back of Greta’s head, beginning to move back and forth against Greta’s mouth - gently at first, trying to reign in some control but it was becoming difficult quickly. Especially when she chanced a look down and Greta’s eyes were already staring back at her, wide and dark and wild. 

Carson’s moans were getting rougher, when Greta thrusted her tongue a little deeper into her she rutted hard against Greta’s mouth, running her fingers through her hair and pushing her head further into the cushion and quickly looking down to check on her. Greta only grunted and strained her neck trying to push her face as close as she could get as Carson began to grind against her face harder - mind only focused on chasing her orgasm on this gorgeous woman’s face. 

Without being able to help it, Greta managed to squeeze her thighs closed while Carson was distracted. She knew Carson was close, could tell she was losing any and all restraint on her movements - her breasts bouncing deliciously above Greta’s face that she itched to hold onto but kept one of her hands on Carson’s erratic hip, her other hand still poised but shaking ready to do what Carson told her to.

She didn’t have to wait long when Carson let out a whine from the back of her throat, head thrown back as she reached to tap Greta’s wrist, Greta caught the message and ran her index and middle finger up and down the cunt that was drenched with Greta’s spit and Carson’s arousal. She made sure her fingers were properly covered before teasing Carson’s entrance, looking up at Carson’s throat when Carson pushed down on her fingers with no resistance - filling herself up. 

It made Greta’s eyes roll back, feeling Carson’s walls tightening against her fingers, her wet mouth stretching up to flick her tongue against Carson’s swollen bud, sucking it softly into her mouth. Carson let out a silent scream, holding Greta’s face closely as she rode out her orgasm roughly.

Carson, breathless and legs feeling like jelly, pushed herself to the end of the couch with a grunt. The tremors in her thighs were not easing up and she pushed her messy hair back off her face. She’s panting, turning her head to the side to see Greta wiping the lower half of her face with her fingers and sucking them into her mouth, her head still bent backwards on the couch.

“Babe,” she breathed out, tapping Greta’s shoulder who turned and looked at her with a blissful smile, eyes twinkling. 

“Yeah?” She croaked out. She cleared her throat and rolled her neck and shoulders, her wrist that felt like it would cramp up. Carson’s fingers dug softly into the back of Greta’s shoulder. 

“You okay? I didn’t hurt you?” Carson asked, smiling at the happy humming coming from the redhead. 

“Mmm, no. I loved all of that a lot.” She smiled up at Carson again before pushing herself up and grabbing the discarded throw blanket, throwing her legs up onto Carson’s lap and covering them both up. 

“Good.. good. Me too, princess.” Greta squeezed her arm around Carson’s waist, placing her face in her neck and pressing a kiss against her skin, then another.

“Did I do good?” She whispered, her hot breath lingering against Carson’s neck and sparking goosebumps. 

“So good, Greta. The best.” Carson sighed, she shifted her thigh and groaned when she felt Greta’s arousal painting her leg as she moved. “Oh- oh. Greta.”

The redhead blushed, spreading her legs a little. “I’m- this is embarrassing. I’m still so ready.” She laughed softly. “You have ruined me.”

Carson smirked at her, squeezing her hip. “I can ruin you more soon, if you’re up for it.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that, baby?” She batted her lashes at Carson, watching her hand slide up Greta’s slick, twitching thigh.

“I have a few ideas.. there’s one you can help me put on in a dresser in the other room.” Carson tried to act nonchalant but almost couldn’t bite back a chuckle when Greta sat up on her lap, eyes widening as she looked down the hall and then back at Carson. 

“I really hope you’re talking about what I think you are.” Greta’s face full of excitement, she bounced a little in Carson’s lap. Carson closed her eyes, trying to stave off the visions of her bouncing more in her lap than that. She tapped Greta’s hip.

“Stand up and you can find out.” She did let herself laugh at Greta’s scrambling to stand on uneasy legs, pulling on Carson’s wrists to pull her up with her. She smacked Carson’s right ass cheek a few times. 

“Come on! Chop chop!” She giggled, pushing a naked Carson first down the hallway as she continued to laugh. 

~

Carson would usually find some flimsy excuse to kick out a hook-up right after the deed was done, but she found herself a few hours later with Greta sitting on her living room balcony sharing a blunt and their fourth glass of Whiskey. 

The sun was setting and the sky was an easel of lavender, pink and oranges. Carson felt two drinks past cheery and pleasantly sore all throughout her body. Greta stole another one of her shirts and a pair of briefs, sitting cross legged in the patio chair flicking through her phone as she drank. 

Something was still bothering Carson about the large elephant in the room but she knew bringing it up again would annoy Greta but she couldn’t help but be bothered. 

“It’s just– I don’t get it. I don’t. There were, what? At least around 30 people on that boat, including staff whose literal job is to go around checking if things are okay and ensuring that people, you know, stay on the goddamn boat? !” She threaded her hair with her fingers, taking a longer inhale of the blunt before passing it to Greta as she continued to ramble. “How does one person go missing, overboard, even, and not one single person knew or heard anything until morning? It’s his boat!”

The redhead sighed heavily, setting her phone down and took to playing with the blunt between her fingers. “You cannot seriously still be on this whole ‘Someone pushed the defenseless white man off a boat’ bullshit, Carson.”

“It’s not bullshit–”

“Stop! Okay? Everyone was fucked up on something that night. We were all too in our own shit to worry about someone else’s - me and you included if you don’t recall.” She rubbed her forehead with the palm of her hand, frustrated. She sighed. “The douche canoe probably got too hopped up on his Heroin and Absinthe binge and fell right off by his own damn self.” 

She took a long hit off the blunt before airily finishing, “And good fucking riddance, I’ll say.” She exhaled the smoke, passing the blunt back to Carson and took another sip of her drink. 

Carson looked at her like she grew three heads. “Why are you not more concerned about this? I mean, he was your step-dad for like, a year.” 

Greta groaned loud and long, tossing herself back against the chair. “What is your point? They weren’t in love. He was nowhere near anything of a father figure, he was a goddamn creep and he ruined my life and maybe, yeah, he deserved exactly what happened to him.”

Carson sat up, wide-eyed. “Greta, what the fuck? That’s so dark, and what? Just because he may have messed up your sweet, mommy’s spoiled rich girl home life?”

Greta’s face got dark, she leaned over to Carson pointing the lighter at her. “Shut the fuck up about things you pretend you don’t already know. ‘Sides, it’s not like you liked him either from what you told me. I bet all of those people there hated him just like we do. He’s not here anymore, what does it matter?” 

“He was a human being at the very least? And what do you know?” Carson scoffed, stubbing the blunt out.

“He was the furthest thing from a human, Shaw. You know it and I know it too. Can you fucking drop the act? You’re worse than Max and Viv right now.” She snatched her phone off the table, downed the rest of her drink and stood up. “I should go.”

She stalked inside not waiting for a response. Carson rolled her eyes, sighing harshly before she grabbed her own glass and followed after her. Greta was roughly pushing her jeans up her legs when she found her by the couch. “Greta, I’m only saying–”

Greta threw her phone to the ground and huffed, glaring over her shoulder. “Stop. Okay? I wanted one stupid fucking afternoon not having to hear about that psycho. I thought I might finally get that peace with you but you’re just like the rest of them.”

She tossed her hair behind her shoulder, ripping off Carson’s shirt and grabbing hers to put back on, grabbing her bra and shoving it in her purse.

“I am not like any of those people.” Carson growled, reaching for Greta’s wrist but stopping herself when Greta turned and glared at her.

“What is this little fuckin’ ‘I’m so good and caring about people’ play coming from, huh? Where’s the real Shaw? The one who wanted him dead for what he did to you and Allie? To me?” She took a step closer to Carson, rage and frustration burning her chest.

Carson froze, taken aback. She didn’t understand. “What are you even talking about? Greta, you’re drunk.”

“So were you but I remember what you said. That very first night we fucked, when we swapped why we hated that scumbag so badly. I have only ever shared that shit with Max because it’s so fucking awful to recount without wanting to vomit. You told me, you believed me.” Greta coughed, a sob wanting to escape her throat. “You told me what happened. You told me you’d kill him, that you’d hurt him for ever hurting us.”

“I.. I wouldn’t. That’s not me. I wouldn’t say any of that. You’re lying. That’s what you do- you lie to make yourself feel better about all the shitty things you do.” Carson quickly spit, shaking her head and staring intensely at Greta’s face. The redhead flinched, stunned at what she said.

“That’s.. bullshit. Complete bullshit. I thought you were smarter but I guess you fooled me too.” She took another step closer, leaning towards Carson and crowding her space, a hand on her shoulder. She lowered her voice. “You act like you’re some melancholic, don’t-give-a-fuck, badass icon just because you’re in some band but you’re just as washed up and lonely as the rest of us.”

Carson felt a hot coursing anger surge through her chest, she reached up to push Greta away but she grabbed her wrists before she could. “At least I have the wherewithal to admit how fucked in the head that I am and why I do what I do to get through the fucking day alive. Can you? How was rehab by the way? Did ya lie your way through that too?” Greta asked icily.

Her words were meant to hit bone and they did. Carson used all the strength in her body to push the redhead a few feet back, stumbling.

“Fuck you, Greta.”

Greta shrugged her shoulders, turning to grab for her purse and heels, picking up the bottle with ¼ left. “Been there, done that.” She slammed the front door behind her so hard, the wood splintered and Goose howled out from the other room.

God fucking damnit.

She slapped the wall in frustration, walking to one of the windows to look down at the darkened streets. She sees Greta clumsily stepping into the backseat of a black SUV and she sighed. At least she had the decency to call an Uber. 

Her thoughts then shifted when she saw a red car across the street. She’s never seen that car in this neighborhood before, maybe it was a neighbor's friend? She could just barely make out two figures moving around in the front seat.

She quickly closed the curtains and the shades on all of her other windows and locked the balcony door. It felt far too much like they were trying to look up at her window.

~

"Can you fucking believe her?" Greta asked, throwing another dress onto her bed and going back to her closet. She was frantic, rambling to Max and running back and forth in her room. 

She's been doing this since Max came over two mornings later. She's in a manic state, Max realized and the coke didn't help her case but Max wasn't going to poke the bear as she fluttered to and fro in her room trying to find the right outfit to wear for a new post on her page. She hadn't updated since they were still in Turks and Caicos and she felt twitchy for a little validation, sue her.

"Honestly, yeah I can believe her. You both said some shitty things to each other, Gret, you can't put sole blame on her." Max was at Greta's vanity, legs propped up on it as she filed her nails. 

Greta whipped her head up at her, "whose side are you on?!" 

Max rolled her eyes for the eleventh time in the past hour. "Yours, obviously. I love you but you're overreacting about this. You got into your first fight and it was dumb as hell, you've gotta drop it."

"I'm overreacting? She hasn't even messaged me to apologize."

"Neither have you, idiot. Don't forget you threw that rehab shit in her face." Greta stood, staring at the ground. She didn't have a rebuttal for that and Max knew she finally processed the extent of what she said. "Yeah, dude." She shrugged, doing a spin in the chair before standing up and walking towards the closet, tossing some things around.

Greta didn't move, only worried her lip. "I'm such a fucking asshole." She sighed, kicking over her floor lamp in frustration and sitting on the bed holding back the urge to cry. Not right now.

Max came back out of the closet with a few things in her arms and Greta's ring light stand. She sat the stand near the bed and then walked over and knelt down on one knee in front of Greta, lifting her head up to look at her. 

"Yeah, you can be an asshole. But this? You two were drunk and stupid but it's not something you can't come back from. I saw how she looked at you, that didn't look like just someone infatuated with sleeping with you." Max hoped her words and the genuine look on her face was enough to get Greta to absorb that it was going to be okay.

Greta sniffled, shrugging a shoulder. "I don't know about that, but it's- it's whatever. It was meant to be short-lived anyway, a passing fancy or whatever. What's that?" She nodded at the white lacy fabric in Max's arms. Max tossed them in her lap.

"I think the white lace you have on is perfect but not as a body suit for this shoot. So, do the bra and thong combo. Stockings, garter. You can tousle your hair so it's more wavy and it would have a more sensual vibe."

Greta tilted her head, nodding along in thought. "Heels?" Max shook her head. "Nah, no heels and we’ll take them on the bed. More intimate." Greta smiled.

"God, what would I do without you?" 

"I'd rather not find out! Get dressed, I’ve seen enough of your bare chest today."

After Max left, Greta fell back on her bed. Luckily Max, bless her heart, was kind enough to help her clean up the lingerie disaster her room became before taking her leave because Greta really couldn't have been bothered to do it alone.

She swiped through the photos they took, biting her cheek as she analyzed every freckle, every little imperfection that bothered her. From the small birthmark on the back of her thigh to the one inch jagged white of a scar below her hip bone, she found herself unsure she even wanted to post any of these. 

She considered maybe deleting her entire OnlyFans page altogether and covering all of her mirrors because looking at herself reminded her that everyone has always been right.

She was not good enough. For anyone. Not even herself.

But Carson, sweet and kind Carson, she had thought she was. That she was lovely, that she meant something. Greta wasn't even in her body when she switched to iMessage, going through Carson and her messages.

She hadn't lied to Max, Carson hadn't texted her to apologize but she had texted her. A few times, asking to talk. Checking on her, hoping that she was alright. She didn't respond once.

She couldn't. The regret tasted bitter and no matter what she did with herself, she couldn't rinse it out of her mouth.

She contemplated for a minute, knew this was going to be a little reckless even as she opened the camera on her phone and sat up to kneel on her bed. The red silk sheets moving under her as she adjusted her legs, she still had the white set on from their shoot earlier sans the stockings so her smooth tanned legs were in view bent underneath her.

She sat up straighter, a long red curl falling over her bare clavicle and she rested her free hand to her side, leaning on it. She snapped a few photos, all below the neck - she didn't want to see her face right now and she doubted Carson would either. 

After she was satisfied with one of the three photos, she sent it off to Carson, not giving herself a second to think herself out of it. She locked and set her phone down and stared at it, biting onto her thumb. Her stomach felt like it was in knots but she thought it might have to do with the little amount of food she's consumed in days.

Gomez jumped onto the bed with her, a high-pitched mewl leaving his mouth as he stretched and crawled up into her lap. Greta was grateful for the feline always knowing her best, it was around his dinner time too and she knows she should probably eat something - if for nothing else, to ensure her energy to care for him.

She was about to stand up when she saw her phone light up, a message from Carson- no, two messages from Carson coming in. She grabbed it, hurriedly pressing her passcode in and going to their messages.

Carse: Did you mean to send this to me or someone else?

Carse: Because if it's the latter, I'm going to be madder than I already am at you.

Greta quickly typed back a response, trying to ignore her heart rate picking up.

Greta: omg no i took it for you! 

Carse: Why?

Greta frowned. 

Greta: i thought you’d like it..?

Greta: i don’t know.. nvm

Greta locked her phone again, stood up and walked to her door to retrieve her robe and toss it on. Gomez dutifully followed her lead downstairs to the kitchen and waited patiently by his bowls.

She felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her robe but ignored it, fixing Gomez his wet food and going to pour it in his bowl. She threw away the can and checked the text that might make her throw up the beer she had earlier.

Carse: I was worried about you. 

Carse: But I did like it. You're always very pretty. But I would have liked any acknowledgment of my previous texts at the very least, Greta.

She felt tears fill her eyes, she shook her head. She fucking hated how sensitive she felt tonight. 

Greta: i'm so sorry carson

Greta: for what i said, how i acted, i felt crazy and i was drunk and i took it out on you i don't want to be like that with you ever i swear

Carson started typing immediately.

Carse: It hurt my feelings, I won't lie and say it didn't. But thank you. I'm sorry for what I said too.. I really don't want to be like that with you either.

Greta: .. you forgive me?

Carse: Yeah, idiot. For now.

Greta: am i a pretty idiot?

Carse: 🙄

Carse: A very pretty idiot. I want to talk more about that set - God, I want to see more of you in that.

Greta: you want some more photos? maybe a video, baby?

Carse: What about in person?

Greta: carse, i know what you're doing. you're going to try to have more of a conversation about the fight, aren't you? 

Carse: Maybe.. we should. But I'd still like to see you and touch you again.

Greta: i'm not ready to talk, Carse.

Greta did start crying, to herself and Gomez eating happily so it was okay. She isn't hungry anymore.

Carse: Okay. Can I at least see you anyway?

Greta turns her phone off and heads back to bed.

The next few days were a blur, Carson gave up on hearing from Greta for now when her messages stopped going through. She was feeling upset about Greta closing herself off with her, she thought things were maybe looking up for them but now? She didn't know.

Maybe this is what Greta was talking about before or maybe she was trying to avoid her feelings altogether. But Carson did feel something, she couldn't stop feeling things when she was around Greta.

Greta is different from the other people she knew, she was troubled and stubborn and honest. She didn't put up a mask to make Carson like her, she saw the difference between how she looked and moved with those men and how she looked and moved when she was interested in a person - like she did with her.

It drove her to breaking down in tears thinking about what Greta said to her. She didn’t think she was pretending to be someone she wasn’t. She wasn’t actively trying to but what if she was without noticing? She was so different from who she was a year ago but also the same person too.

She didn’t remember at all telling Greta about what happened with Allie and Lenny. She swore she’d take that to her grave. Greta saying she told her something too? Ruined her life? It all felt blurry, staticy, wrong. Her mind tried to replay that night over and over again but she only remembered the drinking, how soft Greta’s skin was, how beautiful her eyes were in the soft glow of the lamps in her room.

She shook her head, trying to snap out of it. It was no use right now, she doesn’t even know where the redhead is or if she’s even okay and she was trying to ignore the pit in her stomach that was saying something was wrong. Not only with Greta but with everything. 

Goose has been barking more at strangers, Carson’s felt like she was being watched anytime they went to the dog park or even in the safety of her own home. The red car was always parked across the street from 6pm onwards and gone by at the very least 7am - when she’d take Goose out for their morning run.

She’s trying to force her brain to chalk it up to stress and hangover jitters and the constant migraine she’s been feeling over the week. 

She had reached out to Maybelle over text this morning, they had been talking on and off. They agreed to do a brunch to have a decent time with a friendly face.

Carson was running late getting to Sunset Diner to meet Maybelle. She brushed her fingers through her hair to smooth down the fly-aways before entering the eatery.

She spotted Maybelle almost instantly at a corner booth near the back. She waved and walked over, the blonde stood up to give her a tight hug before pulling back, her hands on Carson's shoulders squeezing.

"Aw, honey. You look like shit." Maybelle said solemnly, shaking her head before her face cracked at Carson's indignant frown and she cackled. Carson pushed her in the shoulder.

"No offense but so do you." She joked, turning to slip into the booth and waited for the blonde to do the same. "I've been better. How are you doing?"

Maybelle shrugged, playing with the edge of the plastic menu. "Same. I've gotten closer with Joey since we got back which has actually helped a little."

Carson nodded, "how're they doing? Last I saw them was that night you guys were drunk."

"Not having a great time either. Did you see what happened to them the other day?" Maybelle thanked the waiter for delivering water to their table, tearing open the paper on the straw. Carson furrowed her brows, reaching for her water and taking a sip. 

"No? What happened?"

“iCloud leak.” Carson’s eyes widened and her face cringed. “Yeah, plus their Insta and Twitter both got hacked, their people only just managed to get back into all three but it’s been bad. Also, look at these.” She opened her phone and swiped to an app, setting it down in front of Carson.

Carson picked it up, squinting at the screen. There were numerous text messages over the span of the past seven days they’ve been back home. A lot of them didn’t make any sense (one of them was a grocery list?) and some were just a random assembling of numbers and decimals and dashes.

“What is this?” She handed the phone back to Maybelle. The blonde shrugged, waiting for the waiter to leave earshot before leaning closer to Carson.

“They’re odd, right? Jo thought the numbers could be like, coordinates or something but when we looked it up, it was some warehouses in White Plains. I don’t know, paranoia is rampant haha.” She sighed, putting her phone away. “So!” She hit the table. “What about you? What’s been going on in Shaw’s world?”

Carson chuckled, biting the inside of her cheek. “Uh, not much. Saw my manager for a bit when I got back, she has two Great Danes and they get along with my girl so that was some good bonding with the dogs. It’s been nice to be with Goose after so long.” She nodded fondly, thinking about her sweet pup. Maybelle smiled.

“I bet she missed you.” 

Carson smiled back at her, “She really did. She almost knocked me right down when I introduced her to Greta the other day.”

Maybelle paused, eyebrows furrowed. “You introduced her to Greta? You still talk to her?”

“Well, yeah. I mean. We got into a fight last time we saw each other but it’s nothing I don’t think we could talk out. Besides, Goose approved of her which is a first. I trust her instinct.” Carson shrugged, now perusing the menu. Maybelle shook her head, reaching a hand out to Carson’s wrist to get her to look up.

“Car, Greta’s not the type to “talk it out.” She does this kind of thing - she plays with someone’s head and once she gets what she wants, she tosses them out. It’s an endless toxic cycle, but you’re too sweet to see the pattern.” She frowned at her. Carson’s arm tensed and she pulled it away from Maybelle’s hand.

“Maybe things are different between me and her than they were with other people.” She defended. “Besides, everyone’s emotions are high with all we know.”

“Or maybe you’re too blinded by how hot she is to see that she doesn’t have the capability of love or anything stable you might want.”

“Who says that’s what I want? I like her. I like.. being around her. The sex is great, but we talk and laugh and it’s been.. nice. I need that.” Carson stared at her hands. “She hasn’t texted me back since a couple of days after she left mine that night. I’m worried.”

Maybelle huffed out a heavy sigh, no longer having the energy to try to convince Carson - she’d have to find out herself eventually. “She’s probably doing what she loves best, off partying with her clique of barbies. If you really care to figure it out, your best bet is to reach out to Max Chapman.”

Carson’s eyes flashed up, “do you have her number?”

“Sorry, sweetie. We were never close, but you can try social media.” She gave Carson’s hand a squeeze and leaned back in her seat. Carson nodded, giving her a grateful smile.

“How about we actually order something now? I haven’t had a decent cheeseburger in way too long.”

~

CarsonShaw followed you! 

Max laughed at her phone screen, tapping Esther on the shoulder. They had just gotten back from the building’s gym and gotten inside Esther’s air conditioned apartment. Esther turned and looked over Max’s shoulder at her phone.

“Oh, damn. Wonder what she wants?” Esther pursed her lips, eyebrows raised. Max rolled her eyes.

“Something to do with Greta, obviously. She forgets that we’ve been friends for a decade, I can tell when she’s lying. Carson probably texted her and she ignored it, as usual.” She opened her phone and hit the follow back button. She debated sending a message of her own first but not a minute later, she received a DM from Carson.

[carsonshaw]: Hey Max! This is Carson, we met last week? Through Greta? 

Max snickered, what a dork. 

[maxchapman]: I remember you Shaw hahaha even if I forgot, Greta wouldn’t shut up about you if she tried. What’s up?

Carson stood at a crosswalk, face softening momentarily at the message. She began typing furiously as she waited for the light.

[carsonshaw]: Aw ❤️ She’s who I wanted to ask about actually. I was wondering if you heard from her? Or know if she’s okay? She had finally texted me back Monday night but when I asked if we could talk in person, she ghosted again and it’s been a few days and I’m just really worried and I was hoping you knew anything. 

[carsonshaw]: Sorry for the word jumble, it’s been a weird day.

Carson heard footsteps behind her but when she looked over her shoulder, there was nothing. This is getting ridiculous. When the light finally flashed, she ran across the street, ducking into a small alleyway by her complex. She watched the sign of Max typing.

[maxchapman]: Huh. I didn’t know she spoke with you. She was miffed about the fight y’all had, she gets cagey with things like that. She might reach out soon? But sorry, Shaw. I was with her for most of Monday and then headed out and nothing from her since. It happens.

Carson frowned, she was hoping for a bit more than that. Damnit. She grabbed out her keys when she made it to the back entrance of her building, unlocking the huge metal door and letting herself in. She sends off another message before pocketing her phone to make it up the five flights of stairs.

[carsonshaw]: Oh. Well, thanks for your time. Sorry to bother.

Sweating and out of breath, she finally makes it to her apartment and unlocks the deadbolt and falls inside. Goose heard her and raced out down the hallway to greet her, raising her paws to Carson’s shoulders and licking the sweat off her neck. Carson huffed, pushing her down gently.

“That tickles, girl. It’s good to see you too.” She gives her some head scratches, sitting on her butt to rub the dog’s soft belly and smiles at the happy grumbles and pants that it elicited from her.

Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She opened it and saw Max sent her two more messages. 

[maxchapman]: You should try Silo in Brooklyn.

[maxchapman]: It’s off Randolph and Scott, it was the last place her phone pinged off in the last 15 minutes. Thank God for me forcing her to put me on FindMyFriends lmao.

Carson jumped up to her feet, eyes wide as she clumsily typed out a message.

[carsonshaw]: Oh my god, thank you! I’m going to see if my neighbor can watch my dog and I’ll head over there to see if she’s still there.

[maxchapman]: Do me a favor, Shaw? If I give you my number, can you shoot me a text to let me know if she's alright or if she wasn’t there? 

[carsonshaw]: Absolutely!!!

Carson saved Max’s number and quickly shot out of her apartment, going across the hall to knock on her neighbor’s door. Her name was Claire and she’s lived in the building for a year and has a cat named Sawyer who gets along swimmingly with Goose. They found out one day when Carson had Goose on leash in the hallway to head outside and the tabby cat snuck out and wouldn’t stop purring and running through Goose’s long legs.

Ever since then, if Carson had a show out of town or late night rehearsals, Claire was always happy to care for Goose while she was away, which was a Godsend when Carson didn’t want to deal with her sister.

The door opened up to a tall, brown haired woman with green eyes and olive skin. She was in yoga pants and a tanktop and smiled brightly when she saw Carson. “Hey there! When’d you get back?”

Carson waved, “hey, Claire. About a week ago actually, I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other.” 

Claire made a weird face before schooling it within a second, “oh! Huh. Funny world. What’s up with you?” 

“I know this is super last minute but I have an emergency and was wondering if you could watch Goose overnight? Until maybe 1 tomorrow? I can pay you extra, it’s okay if you can’t though!” Carson spoke, out of breath. Claire laughed fondly.

“You’re lucky, I’m off tomorrow so yeah I can totally babysit her. I’ve missed her face! And yours.” She tilted her head, leaning her hip against her doorway. Carson scrunched her nose. 

“Aw. Let me go grab her and her stuff! Thanks so much again!” Carson ran across the hall and shut her door, shaking her head. Was she hitting on me? Why does everyone have such shitty timing nowadays?

Once she got Goose settled in next door with her food and toys and her bed, she packed an overnight bag and checked to make sure every window and door was locked throughout the apartment and the lights were all off. She noticed the car wasn’t out this evening but she didn’t want to risk anything nowadays.

She turned her brand new alarm system on in the foyer and made sure it was properly connected to her phone and locked. She locked up her front door and headed out of the back exit just to be safe.

The club wasn’t too far from her apartment so she stuck to walking with her jacket hoodie on and her grey beanie low on her head. Once she arrived, she had to mentally prepare herself to deal with whatever mood she would find Greta in, if she is still here anyway. 

Carson’s eyes quickly adjusted to the lights when she zoned in on the redhead she was looking for. Greta was in a short sparkly party dress, hair wild and falling down her bare shoulders dancing on a table with a couple of other women Carson didn't recognize.

She walked over to the group, waving away cigarette smoke clouds as she did. Carson saw the moment the women recognized her, turning their heads and whispering and Greta turned around to look and saw her stepping closer to the table.

“Carson!” She said brightly, a huge grin on her face as she took a clumsy step forward. Carson smiled despite herself, Greta being excited to see her was a good sign at least. She reached her hand up towards her.

“C’mere. I don’t want you to fall.” Carson spoke at a louder volume so she could be heard over the music. Greta grabbed Carson’s hand, using her other one to twirl her hair around a finger.

“Wouldja catch me if I did, handsome?” Greta flirted, stepping off of the table as steadily as she could with the help of Carson who only laughed in response. Once Greta was standing in front of the other woman they both shared a look, still linking hands. Greta looked down at them and raised her hand up to Carson’s face, palm down. “Kiss my hand.” 

Carson rolled her eyes, looking around the club and then sneaking a quick kiss to the back of Greta’s hand. “There. Happy? Can we talk now?” 

Greta dropped her hands, pouting petulantly. “No. I came here to have fun.” 

The brunette groaned, holding Greta’s arm. “Not everything can be fun, Greta, can you stop fighting this and come with me?” She was getting increasingly more agitated with her and by the look on Greta’s face, she shared the same feeling about her.

“No one invited you to suck the joy out of everything, Shaw.” Her face hardened, shrugging off Carson’s hand and crossing her arms. Carson sighed, closing her eyes and taking a step closer to Greta.

“Greta, please, can you just-” She got interrupted when she watched a man abruptly step beside Greta and wrap his arm around her waist. He was white, maybe in his thirties and looked higher than a kite in a a plain white shirt and jeans.

“Hey G, this little one bothering you?” He nodded at Carson but only looked at Greta who was clenching her jaw. His arm around her made her skin crawl. When she went to push it off, Carson did it for her and wrapped her own arm around her instead, pulling her into her side.

She chanced a look at Carson’s face and saw the anger in her gaze on the guy, her jaw set and her eyebrows pinched. Greta felt a tingling sensation down her spine, she pressed her body against Carson’s side. She turned back to the man she couldn’t remember the name of and shook her head.

“I’m all good. She’s my girlfriend.” Greta spoke up, biting back a small whimper when she felt Carson’s arm squeeze her. The guy raised his eyebrow, skeptical until Carson stepped in front of Greta. 

“We’re just leaving. Word of advice, dipshit? Keep your hands off of her.” Carson growled out, pulling Greta with her towards the exit. The redhead barely kept up with her as she snatched her purse from the booth and followed. 

She knew this would lead to them having this conversation Carson was so hung up on having. She didn’t understand why she’d care enough to want to fix things or whatever her angle was. Why seek her out again? Through texts and now having somehow found where she was. It didn’t make sense. 

People didn’t chase Greta after already receiving what they wanted from her. They enjoy themselves playing around with her and then they’d toss her away for the newest shiny thing, it happens. Greta didn’t mind, she used them too. 

She thought she cut the link off for anything further with Carson when she left her place, feeling sour from their fight. But here Carson was - dragging her out into the cool night, fumbling for a carton of cigarettes out of her jacket pocket and a lighter.

Greta full body shivered at the chill in the air hitting her bare skin. Carson shrugged off her jacket to hand to her without a word and Greta wrapped it around her shoulders, absent-mindedly pushing her nose into the fabric and taking a breath.

She reached into her purse to find what was left of one of her baggies and one of her keys. She did a couple of bumps, Carson watching her from where she was leaning against the wall. Greta looked up at her and questioningly held out the baggie but Carson shook her head.

“You’re doing more? It's late.” Carson rasped out, taking another drag of her cigarette. Greta shrugged. 

“Can’t risk a comedown if you’re trying to have some weird conversation now, can I? What is this about anyway?” She questioned. She saw Carson nervously fidgeting with her lighter out of the corner of her eye as she put her stuff away, she was staring off down the alleyway and across the street.

She seemed jumpier than usual, paranoid. It was so unlike the Carson she had gotten to know the past month. Greta walked closer to her, standing a few inches from Carson’s shaking hands as she gently grabbed the cigarette between Carson’s fingers and brought it to her own mouth. 

After she took a long drag, she grabbed Carson’s jaw with cold fingers and moved her closer to press her mouth against Carson's, opening instinctively. Greta blew the smoke into her mouth, running her fingers through her hair. She pulled back so Carson could blow the little smoke out before she leaned back in and kissed Carson, feeling the brunette’s tongue tentatively lick hers when she opened her mouth.

She felt Carson’s hands go under the jacket to grasp her hips and herself falling forward into Carson’s body, gasping heavily. After a few moments of their languid makeout, headlights glared at them as a car pulled up to the curb.

Carson jumped back from Greta at the sight, her body tense against the brick wall and eyes wide. Greta looked at her, worried. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. 

“It’s okay, scaredy-cat. It’s Henry, my driver. Come on.”

They got settled into the backseat and Carson relaxed a little, Henry was warm and comforting as soon as she met him. So unlike any man she’s ever encountered and she was happy for that.

Greta was flicking through one of her Spotify playlists, biting her lip trying to find a song. She looked up at Carson with a small pout. “Carse?”

Carson looked over at her, she brought her hand up to rest on top of Greta’s thigh and moved her thumb up and down. “What’s up, buttercup?” 

The redhead giggled at the new nickname, she was glad Carson was feeling a little more herself. She cleared her throat. “I know this is silly buuut, would you mind if we played one of your songs?” 

Carson groaned. “Oh, God.” She hid her face in her hands. Greta was quick to set her phone down and place her hands over Carson’s.

“It’s just that it’s one of my favorites! We don’t have to though.” She pouted exaggeratedly and gently pulled Carson’s hands down and widened her eyes more.

Carson couldn’t resist that. “Fine. It depends on what song it is.”

Greta brightened. “I’ll show you!”

She began to play the song more low than she usually does in the car, the guitar chords and drums calming her instantly.

Whisper your siren’s song

To every girl who comes along

I’m coming to shore

I want her

Greta laid her head on Carson’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around her right arm and humming along. She started slurring the next few lines with her eyes closed and Carson’s eyes misted over.

Lull me to sleep please, say anything to me

Paint your hands over my uniform

Lust and love can take the same form

I made a mistake, open seas make me so afraid

Carson allowed herself to let the tears fall down her cheeks when she pressed a kiss to Greta’s temple, feeling how Greta squeezed her arms at the contact. She began to sing along lowly too.

I was the chosen sailor, but I missed my mark

Oh, vixen I’m missing, take me back and tear me apart

Trouble waits for a victim

I wouldn't mind being yours

~

They arrived at a fancier building in Chelsea when the car finally pulled up to the entrance. Carson shrugged Greta’s shoulder and glanced at her. “This it?” 

Greta hummed, stepping out of the car after Henry opened her door. Carson scooted out of her side too, fixing her hair down and nodding at the man. “Um, thanks, uh Henry?”

The man smiled knowingly, fixing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Anything for one of Greta’s friends.” He winked at them before stepping to the side and getting back into the driver’s seat.

Greta rolled her eyes, linking her arm around Carson’s again and turning them towards the building and walking inside. She brightly greeted the doorman and guided Carson to the elevator, pressing the up button and waiting.

The elevator came quickly, she pushed their way in and hit PH before she turned around and leaned against the wall, staring intently at Carson with hooded eyes. The brunette kicked her foot against the floor, biting her lip. Her brain wouldn’t stop whirring around and her hands felt tingly.

She quickly rested them on Greta’s waist, letting her body speak for her when she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Greta again. The redhead let out a surprised gasp before she quickly adjusted her stance to more comfortably kiss her back. She dug her fingers in the wavy mess of chestnut hair, biting Carson’s lip hard when she felt one of Carson’s hands go up her dress to cup one of her cheeks roughly.

Greta’s leg lifted up to allow herself to angle her crotch to Carson’s legs for any pressure. Carson smiled into their kiss, pressing her thigh up and relishing Carson’s deep groan into her mouth.

The elevator reached it’s stop far too soon for either of their liking.

Greta led them inside her penthouse apartment. Carson observed Greta locking up and then followed her deeper inside. She was impressed with the interior of the place, dark wooden accents and deep red furniture. Floor to very high ceiling windows with black out curtains, and a whole second floor too. 

It was huge for one person, Carson imagined Greta probably had a lot of parties here. She ran her fingers along a sturdy black bookcase filled to the brim with literature. She was so distracted that she lost sight of the redhead after a few minutes of reading titles.

She looked around the room until she saw Greta come walking downstairs barefoot, a black cat with silky fur and bright green eyes cradled in her arms.

Carson was about to start talking but held it when she heard Greta singing.

Greta was still in her sparkly party dress and the cat was staring up at Greta with slow blinks as she moved him so she could free up her right hand and remove her silver chain necklaces. She sets them on the soft tuft of black fur on his chest and maneuvers so she can clip them around his neck.

All the while, she's smiling down at him - the world around the woman and her feline son ceased to exist. Carson rested against the wall, watching them fondly. Greta was so soft like this.

She could just about make out the words now that Greta was singing to him, "You’re my little sparkle jump rope king, you're my little sparkle. You’re my little sparkle jump rope king, you're my little sparkle, sparkle." She would tap his little nose every time she sang king and kiss him after a sparkle.

Greta finally looked up at Carson, directing that soft, beautiful gaze at her and Carson couldn't look away. She switched to humming her little tune and walking over to Carson, nodding at her chest to hold her arms out so she could hand off Gomez to her.

Carson was nervous, she didn't think the cat would like her very much but Greta gently set him in her arms and he settled in with only a little annoyance, he seemed to accept Greta's judgement on her.

"Now, Gomez, while I go to the ladies room, can you please comfort our little worry-wart? Can't have your future step-mom dying of stress on us."

"That's never going to happen, Greta."

The redhead skipped off towards her bathroom, "Can't hear youuu, I'm far away."

Once Greta left the bathroom, she walked back out to the living room wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She felt a little more present than she did on the way back.

She had been losing it a little the past week- well really, a lot. She needed to be away from everyone, everything and she didn't want to think. She'd been drinking everyday, balancing with the coke and cigarettes to keep her up and going out again.

She hadn't even spoken to Max in a few days or Carson. Now she's faced with the confusion on her living room couch, sitting on one end with Gomez purring on her lap. Why would Carson go out of her way to seek her out when she's ignored every attempt at communicating?

Carson looked up at the doorway to see Greta leaning against it. She had taken the time to clean off her makeup and change out of her dress and heels and now sported an oversized gray sweatshirt and white knee high socks. Carson thought she never looked more beautiful (she always thought that whenever she saw the woman.)

She tapped her hand on the spot next to her, hope glittering in her eyes. Greta hesitated but her feet carried her towards the couch anyway, sitting down next to Carson. Gomez perked his head up, slowly standing off of Carson's thighs to walk over to his mom and curl up on her lap instead. The two watched him and they shared a soft smile at each other. 

"I'd pretend I was offended but he knows what's best." Carson joked, giving a small laugh. Greta nodded, running her hand across the soft fur of his back. She looked back up at Carson.

"Are you going to tell me what you needed to talk about without ranting through my house like you're crazy?" Greta questioned. 

Carson looked at her hands, her face twisted. "I am not crazy." 

Greta softened, her free hand lifted to Carson's arm. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that, you're right. But seriously, what is going on? I've never seen you like this." 

She watched Carson let out a scoff but she looked like she was about to cry. It shifted something in Greta's chest, making her scooch Gomez off to the end of the couch so she could wrap an arm around Carson's shoulders. "Hey, talk to me. What happened? Did someone do something to you?"

Carson pressed her face against Greta's chest, sniffling before she pulled back, taking a breath. She nodded. "I think? I feel like I'm losing my mind honestly."

Greta's hands clenched. "Who? What did they do? I'll find them." She said, feeling a wave of protectiveness over the brunette. Carson shook her head.

"I don't know who they are. It started as a feeling, like I was being followed or watched." She turned to face Greta. "There's a car that waits across the street from my building every single night. A man who I can't see the face of always hanging out by Goose's dog park every morning. Always looking away when I see him but I know he's watching me."

Greta tensed. She heard this same thing from Max the other day she went over, feeling watched in a crowded bar. Max had sworn she thought it was Martin but how it didn't make sense he'd be at a gay bar watching her and Esther. Greta had quickly shut it down by saying "Max, he is obsessed with me, a huge lesbian. He's obviously chasing."

She didn't know how to touch this, however. While she did think Max was paranoid because of the weed she smoked beforehand and her already major distaste for the guy, Carson didn't look high or drunk or anything. She looked tired.

"Are you sure it's the same guy?" She asked gently. She held onto one of Carson's hands to keep her from picking at her nails - a nervous habit she'd picked up on a couple weeks ago.

Carson sniffled again, trying to hold herself together. "I'm pretty sure. I talked to Maybelle earlier today, we went to get lunch. She told me she was getting cryptic text messages all week, bizarre ones - like they know she knows something and that they were watching her." She stood up, shrugging off Greta's arms. She felt too hopped up, a dizzying cacophony of hamsters all using her body as a wheel to run on and make her feel overstimulated and flighty. She began to pace in front of the couch.

"She said Jo also got their socials hacked and an iCloud leak on Wednesday. No one knows what happened or the source. It's so weird. I couldn't get you to talk to me so I could make sure you were okay and that nothing has happened to you and it drove me insane. I had to find you so I messaged Max on Instagram.”

Greta was biting her lip, her knee beginning to jitter after she sat up. "Why are you worried about me?"

Carson stopped pacing and turned around, hands in the air. "Don't you see it? The common link is that we were all on that boat. May, Jo, me, you. Hell, you even mentioned at some point that Max felt something sketchy was happening too. That can't be a coincidence, can it?" She didn't mean for her voice to get loud like that but she needed Greta to listen to her, believe her. 

The redhead paused her movements, brain going 100 miles per hour. It made sense. "I.. No, that is really weird, that's not good. Or a coincidence. I- I didn't think about that."

Carson walked over to Greta, putting her hands on her shoulders and Greta looked up at her - she looked a little worried now too. "Greta, has anything strange happened to you?"

She waited, Greta worried her bottom lip and she slowly stood up with her. She walked over to her dining room and grabbed a worn piece of paper, walking back to hand to Carson. 

I KNOW ALL OF YOUR SECRETS

"That was under my door when I came home from yours last Friday. We have some stupid teenagers roaming around in the building, so I assumed it was a prank." She held her thumb between her teeth, watching Carson read it and look at her.

"What the fuck is going on?" 

Greta shrugged. "I also saw Jess the other day, you remember them? They said they'd been receiving threats, something about bribery? I was really fucked up that night so I don't remember specifics but yeah.. It does look like there's something there."

Carson's eyes widened at the new information, she looked back at the note in her hand trying to find anything on the page that could help but it was just those taunting words. It being slipped under her door meaning the person knows where Greta lives and has been inside this building. She wanted to throw up.

She set the paper down on the coffee table, about to start pacing again. "We need a game plan, we need to do something - maybe write it all out? Do you have a journal somewhere? Have you checked on your-" Greta was behind her, her hand gently on Carson's mouth to stop her talking and her other arm wrapped around her middle. 

"Carson, baby. You need to sleep is what you need right now. You look like you haven't gotten much of that." Greta turned her around, Carson was about to speak again when she removed her hand but she gave her a warning glare. "No. Yes, we do need to sit and process all of this but it does us zero good if we're running on fumes and I don't have the brain power for that - do you?"

Carson shook her head, a frown taking over her face. Greta squeezed her shoulders and stepped into her space. "Come on, you want to sleep in my bed? It's very comfy." She batted her eyes at her, giving her a side smile. The faint beginnings of a blush spreading slowly on Carson’s cheeks.

"Will you be in it?" She asked, her hands going to Greta's waist. 

Greta bit her cheek and giggled. "I'll be wherever you want me to be. I do sleep naked though, just to be clear." Carson's eyes shot to hers, wide and so much more awake than earlier. Greta laughed again, "well, there you are. Let's get our minds off of all of this shit for tonight, okay? I'm going to take really good care of you so you can sleep." 

She leaned her head down to capture Carson's lips in a lingering kiss, pulling her closer. Carson fell into it, relaxing for the first time in awhile. She felt calm with Greta most of the time. She was happy to be in her arms again after she spent all those days thinking she'd never hear from the redhead again.

She pulled back from the kiss, "I'd like that a lot.”

Chapter Text

Max and Esther jumped to stand up when Goose barked at the front door, high alert and anxious until the door unlocked and Greta came rushing in, Carson following behind her with a stuffed luggage cart.

“Damn, what’s all that?” Max exclaimed, side eying Greta who looked hopped up and shaky.

“Whatever of value shit Carse has, can’t trust those crazy punks not to break in again. I don’t even trust my own apartment.” Greta huffed, digging in her purse and staring into it frustrated.

Carson and Max give each other a look, the smaller brunette shrugging and mouthed “I’ve tried.” 

Max sighs, walking towards Greta who was now holding a baggie. She held out her hand to the redhead expectantly.

Greta looked at her confused, “Not even a hello? You’re greedy.”

“You need to cut this shit down fast, Gret, I’m not playing. You look like a fuckin zombie.” Max grabbed for the baggie but Greta held it over her head using her height to her advantage.

“You don’t exactly look like America’s Next Top Model either, Chapman, leave it.” Max pulled at Greta’s arm, wrestling her into the wall to try to get the baggie out of her hand. Greta held her resolve, pushing Max in the chest and letting out a slew of curses as they pushed and pulled at each other.

Carson slid the luggage cart out into the hall and slammed the door with a large crack. Three pairs of wide eyes turn towards her. She cleared her throat, running her fingers back through her hair. “I am seriously at my limit right now.”

She stalks over to Greta, raising her eyebrows and putting her own hand out to her. “Give it.”

Greta growled at her, “No.”

“Greta, I won’t be asking again. Hand it over until you learn to behave like a grown fucking adult.” Carson’s jaw was set and it made Greta bite the side of her mouth. 

“Fuck you.” She spat. Carson shook her head, still waiting. She squeezed the baggie in her hand once. Her breathing was erratic and she felt like she was on the verge of passing out, her body feeling both awake and exhausted all at once.

Her shoulders sagged, she wordlessly handed over the drug and turned to the bedroom, Gomez dutifully following behind her. 

Carson slipped it into the pocket of her jeans and leaned her forehead against the wall, groaning. She went to punch the wall in front of her when a hand pulled her wrist down and stopped her. Max turned her to face her.

“She already told me you’ve been steadily trying to break your hand, how about we not add injuries to our list of worries?” Max suggested. “You look like you need to lay off too.”

“I haven’t done any of it, one of us needs to have some kind of clarity - she’s driving me crazy.” Carson yelled. Max gave her a warning glare, pointedly looking at the closed bedroom door. She stepped up to Carson.

“She has a problem. We’ve been knowing that. Enabling her to be this coked out isn’t helping her.” 

“You think I don’t know that? She doesn’t listen to me. I cannot keep babying or coddling her right now.” 

Max shoved her finger into Carson’s chest. “Out of the both of us, she’ll sooner listen to you than me. I don’t know why, I don’t know what kind of love spell shit you pulled on her but she’s hooked. You need to go in there and make sure she’s okay and get you both some fuckin’ sleep.”

Carson’s brows furrowed, “but what about-”

“Nope!” Max interrupted, pushing the brunette to the bedroom. “I’ll take care of your dog, Es and I will stay and keep an eye and ear out. I don’t want to hear or see shit from either of you until you’ve both had at least four hours of sleep and found your common sense.” 

Carson scoffed and shook her head but walked the rest of the way to the door regardless. She grabbed out the baggie and tossed it to Max who caught it effortlessly. “Probably best not to have that on me, got a baby klepto in there.”

Max laughed, “I go to her apartment to get ready because she has stolen two of my favorite perfumes and to this day, thinks I haven’t noticed.” 

Carson chuckled, opening the bedroom door which was luckily unlocked. The curtains were drawn and the lights were off, she could only just about make out the lump under the blankets and Gomez on her pillow. 

She sighed, toeing off her shoes and removing her clothes. She chose to keep her sports bra and boyshorts on and climbed into bed, lifting the blankets gently and wrapping herself around Greta from behind.

She could feel Greta still had a pair of yoga pants and her sweatshirt on and pressed her palm against Greta’s stomach underneath the barrier, breathing deeply at the warm rise and fall of her stomach.

“Carson?” Greta spoke softly, voice cracked.

“Yeah, babe?” She whispered back. Greta squeezed the hand on her stomach.

“I’m sorry for stressing you out. I.. I know I can be a lot.” She sniffled, wiping her cheek on the pillow next to her head. Carson’s chest tightened.

“Hey, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to put that on you, there’s just- There’s a lot of things, it all overwhelms me and makes my brain hurt. I don’t want to have to worry about you too.”

Greta slowly turned around in Carson’s arms, settling in and staring into Carson’s eyes. They looked so much duller even in the soft light around them. She rubbed her thumb along Carson’s cheekbone.

“I’ll do better, okay? I’ll try.” She looked at her, hope bleeding into her tone. Carson sighed, looking down between them before she made eye contact again, nodding. 

“I believe you. Now, close your peepers.” She kissed Greta’s nose softly, fully expecting it when Greta pulled her down into a kiss when she tried to pull away. She smiled into the kiss, pressing Greta closer so they were chest to chest. The redhead sighed, mouth falling open so Carson could claim it with her tongue.

Greta wrapped her leg around Carson’s waist when the brunette pushed her gently to her back, groaning soft and low when Carson’s hand pressed against the quickly growing heat between her legs through her pants. 

She reached down and guided Carson’s hand up and under the waistband, back arching and head falling back to the pillow when Carson found her clit without any hesitation. She pushed into her hand roughly, a breathless moan leaving her mouth when Carson started leaving kisses and bites to her jawline, down her neck.

When Carson’s fingers ran down her slit, sinking two inside to the knuckle, Greta already felt on the edge. She pulled Carson into her hard, claiming her mouth once again when Carson began thrusting into her. They moved together fast, Carson swallowing her whimpering as she helped her to her peek.

Greta tightened greedily around Carson’s fingers as she came, messy and hard, hiding her face in Carson's neck as she rode out the intense waves. Carson’s wrist felt like it was going to start cramping as she pulled her hand out, she wiped it on the sheets and winced at the bruising on her knuckles.

The redhead looked at her dazed, reaching out for her hand and pulling it to her lips. She kissed along her fingers, her knuckles, the back of her hand and then her palm. “We should ice this, baby. This hand means too much to me, you know.” She nodded solemnly.

Carson rolled her eyes, yawning into the crook of her elbow before she settled down on her back. “Later. I’m about to crash, G.” 

Greta pouted. “So, I guess this means no returning the favor?”

Carson shook her head. “I’m good for now, maybe if you actually sleep I’ll be interested.” Greta huffed but moved to sit up and remove her sweatshirt and wiggled out of her yoga pants and tossed them to the ground. She draped herself over Carson’s body, tucking her head into her neck.

“Tempting offer. We’ll see.” She squeezed Carson’s sides. She lifted her head to look around the bed. “Where’d my baby go?”

“I’m right here?” Carson teased, Greta hitting her hip. “I think he’s in his bed, we scared him off. Don’t worry, okay? Relax.” She laid Greta back down to her neck, playing with her hair and massaging circles into her shoulder blade.

Carson quickly dozed off with her hand in Greta’s hair, but Greta laid atop her with her eyes open - bleary and eyeing the hint of sun through the blinds. She wanted to shake out the discomfort in her legs but held herself completely still - she didn’t want to be the reason Carson couldn’t sleep, again.

She considered maybe taking Goose out for a quick run to calm her body but then she’d get yelled at by her best friend for how she acted and for still not listening. Her head was spinning.

Sitting up slowly, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and a cold bottle of water out of the mini fridge. She choked down half even though her stomach felt sick, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. She used a hair tie around her wrist to lazily tie up her hair, hoping the lack of anything against the back of her neck would make her more comfortable.

She unlocked her phone, forgetting her last search was through Martin’s IG. He never posted much, about 10 in total over the course of five years and she’s been beating herself up for forgetting entirely that he had a sister.

Racking her brain trying to remember when she has ever hung out with the woman but she kept running blanks. She’s been around so many different people in various circles on both coasts. The woman looked like just about any woman you could run into at a party.

Claire’s IG was private as well as any other socials of hers so Greta took to sifting through the 100 people Martin followed on his account, hoping maybe she could put a name to the face of the guy who helped her break in.

Her mind was racing too fast for her to catch up, she had to keep scrolling back up when she realized she had stopped paying attention, the words all blurring to her. She sighed, locked her phone and tossed it gently to the side. She finished off the bottle of water and looked across the room to the mini bar.

The urge was there, heavy and pounding in her ribcage. She could drink just enough to mellow herself out, she thought. That wasn’t against what Max and Carson wanted out of her, right? If only to get her a few hours of sleep to be in any way or shape useful to anyone.

But she thought about how Carson sounded out there, tired and irritated and angry at her and it made her chest and throat tighten painfully on themselves. She knew one day Carson would have enough, she was just hoping she had more time to enjoy with her before then.

What luck. 

She turned to lay on her side facing Carson, the small brunette sleeping soundly. The early afternoon light made the room a little more bright, enough to actually be able to look at her without squinting in the dark. 

Greta reached out her left hand, running her fingers feather light up Carson’s arm, tracing the freckles near her clavicle. The warm, soft skin both soothed Greta and lit a small match in the bottom of her stomach.

She sighed, flopping to her back as she moved her hand down her stomach towards the silk red panties she still had on. She tried not to rush herself when she slowly slid her hand under the waistband, eyes falling shut as she felt the warm abundance of arousal, the smallest of whimpers threatening to fall out of her mouth when she traced her fingers up and down her sensitive slit.

Her other hand moved to her bare breast, fondling it roughly in her palm as she rutted her hips up to meet her fingers, small rolls of her hips so she didn’t disturb Carson next to her. Greta would feel the burning in her core increase and ebb away just as quickly, she bit her lip in frustration.

She sat up and slid her panties down her legs, kicking them to the floor and rested her weight on her arm placed behind her. She began touching herself again, her movements firmer as she gasped into her shoulder. Her clit was so sensitive she could scream, her arousal made her fingers slide so easily but not so precisely. 

Sweat started forming on her brow as she worked herself up little by little, trying desperately to hold onto it before it faded out. She slid her wet fingers inside of her entrance, no preamble - only desperation guiding her to rocking her hips against them. It still wasn’t enough.

She was so focused on chasing an orgasm that wouldn’t come that she didn’t see Carson’s flailing heavy arm looking for her in her sleep. Not until Carson’s arm found her and wrapped itself behind her back, Greta moaned softly when Carson pulled her clumsily into her side and wrapped her other arm securely around her body.

Greta would usually feel butterflies at Carson’s subconscious wanting to keep her close, if it weren’t for 1) Carson’s move effectively trapping her hand between Carson’s hip and her groin and 2) Carson was still asleep.

She whined under her breath, panting. This was too much, she could not spend another second like this, she wanted to crawl out of her skin.

She pushed her nose into Carson’s neck, kissing her a few times and feeling her shift just a bit. She cursed how heavy a sleeper Carson was once again before she moved her mouth up to her ear. “Carson.” 

The smaller woman didn’t budge. Greta chewed her lip, pushing Carson’s shoulder and shaking her a little. That did make Carson grunt, moving her face to hide into Greta’s chest but the redhead was quick to call for Carson a little louder, this time it came out as more of a long drawn out moan.

She felt Carson shift again, her hand moving to Greta’s lower back. Her eyes were still closed but she was trying her best to shake her head softly, grumbling. “Greta?” She rasped, rough and low and Greta’s stomach clenched.

“Carson.” She begged. 

The sleepy headed woman’s eyes fluttered open, she raised her head a bit. “Hey, I’m here. What’s up?” She whispered.

Greta sniffled, “I can’t sleep.” She felt childish and pathetic but she was so frustrated, so drained and she needed something.

Carson sighed, “G, I am so exhausted.” 

“I know! I know. I’m sorry, Carse. I just– I’m trying, I am. But nothing is working. Please..” Greta pressed her body closer to Carson’s, a tear falling down her face and hitting Carson’s chest. Carson frowned, pushing a loose bang behind Greta’s ear.

“What would help? What do you need from me?” She asked softly, as grumpy and only the smallest amount of annoyed as she was, she knew Greta was being earnest. She could have left the bed and did whatever she did while Carson slept all she wanted but she was still in their bed, in Carson’s arms. That means something.

Greta wiggled her hips, Carson felt the slick curls against her hip above her underwear. She breathed through her nose softly. “I don’t- I don’t know. Just you, I need you. Anything.” She whispered, her voice breaking. 

Carson pulled Greta on top of her, “sit up.” She did and Carson guided her to straddle one of her bare thighs. She groaned when she felt her arousal on her thigh, she thinks this is the most soaked Greta’s ever been with her.

She pushed her thigh up, tensing it and Greta let out a low moan. “Use my thigh, baby girl. You feel so lovely.”

Greta whined, nodding and bracing herself with a hand to Carson’s hip. Squeezing it when she began to grind down into Carson’s muscular thigh. The pressure against her cunt was intoxicating, not nearly enough but scratching an itch nonetheless. 

She sucked on her bottom lip, eyes rolling back when she grabbed and played with her breast, pulling a nipple roughly as she rode harder against the warm skin of Greta’s leg. She let out the smallest of mewls, whispered curses and Carson’s name.

Carson held her eyes closed, growing more turned on, feeling Greta drip down her leg and onto the sheets, hearing those desperate little sounds that she tried to swallow down so she wouldn’t bother Carson. She slowly opened her eyes to the most gorgeous sight, the soft glow of sunlight through the shades made Greta look ethereal, her skin glistening and almost glowing.

Her breasts bounced with her as she moved, her head bowed as she let out a small sob. Carson knew she wasn’t going to get off this way, she mostly wanted to see if Greta would be a brat about only getting her thigh. But Greta was more worked up and restless than she thought, trying so hard with what little she was offered.

“Fuck, fuck it.” Carson whispered, the redhead looked down at her, eyes glassy. She went to open her mouth but Carson’s hand went to her hips and pushed her harder against her thigh, she moaned out louder than she meant to.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry-” Greta was interrupted with a hard kiss to her mouth, Carson’s arm moving around to Greta’s lower back and her body rising to roll Greta to her back, Carson hovering over her, still attached by the lips.

Greta sucked on Carson’s bottom lip, pulling it and Carson took a breath. “What do you really need from me, sweetheart?” 

The pair stared into each other’s eyes, Greta breathing heavily underneath Carson. She wrapped her arms around Carson’s neck and pulled her down, nuzzling her nose under her ear. “Is it okay.. Your mouth?”

Carson smiled at that, moving her hand down her body towards the redhead’s inner thighs, using her hand leg to push Greta’s open wider to make more room. “Is that all?”

Greta swallowed. “Your fingers too? You don’t have to, I’ll take whatever you think I dese-” Carson once again interrupted her, this time with a finger over her lips, shushing her gently. 

“You deserve the world, my girl. Whatever makes you feel better. Tell me if you need more, okay?” Carson looked at her, Greta nodded. 

Carson began to leave a trail of kisses down Greta’s lithe and agile body, paying close attention to her straining nipples, the sensitive skin on her ribcage, her hips. Greta felt almost embarrassed knowing how messy she looks from Carson’s position and could feel the uncomfortable damp sheets under her ass. 

She wanted to cry that she could get so out of mind like this but when she chanced a look down at Carson, she had an almost predatory look down between her legs. Her thighs tried to close together but Carson’s eyes darted up to her, dark and knowing as she positioned Greta’s legs on top of her shoulders, pulling her in by the ass until Greta’s cunt was pressed against her tongue. 

Greta fisted her hands in the sheets, feeling exposed and so turned on every part of her body was tense. The whimpers she let out increased in volume when Carson lapped at her clit, maneuvering her hand below her chin so she could slide three fingers inside. 

She was so open and ready for it that her cunt welcomed the intrusion instantly. She bucked her hips into Carson’s face hard, manners out of the window because she finally felt herself reaching higher, her muscles burning. Carson fucked her deeply, breathing through the burn in her arms and the pressure against her bruised hand. Watching Greta like this was too good of a view to lose.

Especially when her thighs were tensing and pressing against the sides of Carson’s head, Greta not holding back groaning out Carson’s name, not holding back her hand dropping to the back of Carson’s head so she could push her closer, fucking herself on Carson’s fingers.

The tell tale pitch in one of her more drawn out whines let Carson know she was seconds away, she only needed Carson’s soft lips around her pulsing clit, sucking and pressing her tongue flat underneath it.

Greta rut her hips up roughly and slapped a hand across her mouth as she screamed out, flooding Carson’s mouth that she was quick to swallow, groaning against Greta’s cunt at the taste and causing her back to arch as her orgasm fell into another quickly. Carson didn’t let up with her fingers or her mouth, not until Greta cried out “no more, please.” 

Carson pulled off, chin and nose glistening as she looked up at Greta with a dopey smile. Greta was trying to catch her breath when Carson gently laid her back down on the bed, crawling up to press a slow kiss on Greta’s swollen lips. 

“You did so perfectly, honey. Wow.” 

Greta held Carson close, blinking away tears. Her brain felt like mush in a good way. It felt less suffocating, like she could process one thought at a time and not a thousand. Like she was comfortable in silence again.

They laid there comfortably, Carson acting as Greta’s weighted blanket. Carson left small kisses to the freckles on her shoulder, then lifted her head up to check on Greta.

Her breathing regulated, steady puffs of air leaving her nose and her eyes closed. Her cheeks were flushed but the corner of her lip was turned up, happy. “Hey, G. You want some more water? Maybe a bath?”

No response. Carson smiled with relief at Greta not moving an inch, sound asleep. She squinted at the alarm clock reading 1pm. She owed it to both of them and everyone else to get them both as much sleep as they could manage.

Chapter Text

"They found his body. Ouch - fuck, these heels are a fucking bitch." She bent her leg so she could grab the other finicky heel and fling it to the side, missing Carson's confused 'huh'. 

"What? When? I haven't seen anything about that." Carson grabbed her phone and unlocked it, scrolling through any news results she might have missed. Greta spit out her gum into the tiny trash can by the door.

"And ya won't. Mom got the call and we went down to identify this morning." She walked into the kitchenette, pulling a half open bottle of wine out of the fridge and taking a big swig from the bottle and wincing. Her stomach is still unsettled from the past 12 hours. "Gnarly what the ocean can do with someone's body, 0/10."

Carson looked down at the coffee table, shock clear on her face. "That was so fast.. what, what did they say the cause was? Drowning?"

The redhead skipped over to where Carson was sitting on the couch, laying her legs across her lap when she flopped gracefully next to her. "Mostly." She sucked on a little puff bar, blowing out a big cloud of smoke above her.

Carson leaned back, instinctively massaging one of Greta's calves to have something to do with her hands. She paused though, letting the word sit. "What does that mean? What else would have done it? A shark?”

"Unless a shark got access to a knife or something, I suppose so." She said lazily, letting out a little purr of contentment at Carson's thumb digging into the muscle.

The brunette sat up straight at that, startling Greta. "A knife? Someone killed him?!" She pushed Greta's legs off, standing up and beginning to pace. "What the fuck. What the fuck!" 

Greta took another long pull of the wine, her eyes following the tiny woman's meltdown. "Carse, chill the fuck out. Yeah, they think someone fucked up his neck pretty good before he drowned and the ocean did the rest. They didn't find the weapon, obviously, and it's pretty case closed if Viv has anything to do with it."

"But someone got murdered! He didn't just cut his own throat! They have an entire guest list of potential suspects, we all knew him. It's gonna come out!" Carson began hyperventilating, walking to the desk in between the two bedrooms to find one of her journals. She hurriedly opened one and went to a clean page before frantically searching for a pen.

"Carson!" Greta had stood up in Carson's haste, slowing her down with her hands on the brunette's shoulders. "Can you breathe for me? Why are you freaking out about this?"

Carson looked at her frazzled, her eyes darting all over her face as she swallowed. "Why are you not freaking out about this?! I've never been associated to murder before! They'll eat me alive in prison!"

The redhead pursed her lips, biting back a laugh at the suggestive second meaning that Carson didn't seem to catch. Carson shoved her in the arm, "why are you looking at me like that?"

"Sorry, sorry! It's just." Greta sputtered, "I will shank a woman so fast if they tried to eat you alive. That's what I'm there for!"

Carson groaned, "this isn't funny!" She shrugged Greta's hands off of her, huffing and walking back to their room. Greta sighed, following behind. "You're right, C, not funny. I'm sorry." She caught up to Carson who stopped in front of the mirror on the vanity.

Greta wrapped her arms around Carson's middle and made eye contact with her in the mirror. "I'm sorry, baby. It's just- I'm out of my comfort zone with all of this too. I mean, I quite literally had to look at a bloated and washed up dead guy before breakfast." Carson looked down, holding Greta's hands over her stomach before grabbing one and bringing it up to her face, kissing the palm.

She took a deep breath, Greta watching her in the mirror still. "I know. I'm- I didn't think about that. This is too much to process and I can't joke about it." 

Greta shushed her, turning her around in her arms and pulling her close so their fronts were pressed together. "I get it. I do, what do you want me to do? Let me take your mind off of it, yeah?" She snaked a hand down into Carson's back pocket and squeezed her ass lightly. Carson's eyes fluttered shut at the context, her body instinctually relaxing into Greta.

She knew what Greta was doing, her immediate response to anything was usually something sexual. This was not the situation that called for an orgasm of all things but she couldn't help how her body reacts to Greta, especially when she leaned her face in to lick at her pulse point and used her other hand to cup Carson's breast.

"Carse?" She whispered into Carson's neck, noticing her start to zone out. Carson shook herself out of it, wrapping her arms around Greta's neck. "Yeah?"

"I asked you if I could make you feel better." Greta batted her eyes down at her. 

"I-" Carson hesitated, it's not like it wouldn't make her not feel better but this felt so wrong, her stomach twisted. "I don't know. I'm a little tired.."

Greta pouted out her lower lip, taking her hands back and letting them fall to her side. Carson sighed, pulling her in for a quick kiss. "Take a nap with me?"

The redhead shook her head, pulling out of the embrace and grabbing her phone out of her pocket. "I'm not tired. I think I'm gonna see if Max wants to grab a quick bite or something, I’ll be back later." 

"Oh." Carson felt a pang of disappointment but she couldn't begrudge Greta for wanting a breather with her best friend. Maybe she could see if Maybelle was available to hang out, she didn't really want to be alone right now.

Greta looked up from her phone, she saw sadness in her favorite pair of eyes and did feel her heart skip a little. God damn her for being attracted to the cute ones.

She sent off a quick nvm to her driver about picking her up and put her phone away, grabbing for Carson's hands. When she got those eyes to look back up at her, she gave her a soft smile. "You know what, actually, a nap is probably what I need a lot more."

"Yeah?" Carson squeezed her hand, the hope in her voice tangible and made Greta want to melt on the spot. She nodded in return, leaning into Carson to give her lips a kiss, and then a few more. 

"Mm, yeah. Can I steal a shirt of yours?" She pulled back, her thumb going up to tease at the indent of Carson's dimple. Carson nodded and smiled, "you would have stolen one anyway."

"I was trying to be nice." Greta shrugged, moving to her dresser and finding a big shirt that would be ideal. She slid off her jeans and tank top, unclipping her bra when she moved her eyes up to the mirror and saw Carson hadn't moved an inch - only biting her lip and staring up and down Greta's body. She smirked to herself, bending down to collect her clothes and give Carson a good view of her ass in a purple lace thong. 

She pulled on a soft grey t shirt that ended mid thigh on her, she loved Carson's affinity for oversized clothes when she's comfortable at home. Carson skipped over to the bed, flicking a lamp off and closing the curtains.

After she rid herself of her pants, only in a tank top and boyshorts, she pulled the heavy comforter down and climbed in, patting the opposite side. Greta followed suit, setting her phone on the nightstand. She was honest with Carson before; she really wasn't tired. Her brain was but her body felt wired up, switching between wanting to run a marathon or end up on the bathroom floor again. 

No one ever usually wanted to cuddle with her before Carson, especially anyone she had slept with and she was fine with that until she first felt perfectly safe in Carson's warm strong arms their first time together. She loved the way she fit when she aligned her body with Carson's smaller one, like they were meant to hold each other.

It was a ridiculous notion but it comforted Greta's brain nonetheless, the buzzing quieting when Carson kissed the crown of her head and tucked the blanket around them both.

She was out within a few minutes.

Carson was in the middle of a dream where she was horseback riding, kicking up dirt with a cowboy hat tucked perfectly onto her messy brown hair when she felt something warm and wet against her neck. She grumbled, trying to push whatever it was until she heard a hmph and then something lay on top of her.

She felt eyes on her which made her begrudgingly try to open her tired eyes. The first thing she noticed once she could blink past the blurriness was a pair of big brown eyes staring at her from where the head was perched on her chest. The scattering of freckles across Greta’s cheeks were more prominent in the slits of sunshine coming through the blinds.

“There you are, sleepyhead.” Greta whispered, her throat reverberating against Carson’s chest.

Carson grumbled again, clearing her throat a little before croaking out, “hi. Whatcha doin awake?” 

“I couldn’t sleep for long, I have too much energy. It’s nice outside! Goose and I went on a walk to the bakery and we got some of those scones you like.” Greta said merrily, kicking her feet up behind her.

Carson groaned at how awake she was, her body feeling heavy. She yawned into her hand and squinted at her wrist for her watch, Greta easily took her wrist and kissed the inside of it. “Yeah.. I guess we should eat something.”

“You know what would be an even better idea?” Greta raised up to straddle Carson’s lap, she shimmied her shoulders and looked down at her cleavage in her well-fitted black sports bra. Raised eyebrows and a sultry smirk on her face, “wanna have fun?”

Carson rolled her eyes. “Why do you always think sex is the answer for everything?” She huffed lightly, picking up her phone to glance at the time. She pouted.

“Caaaarson. Don’t be such a party pooper, it’s not hot. Sex is the answer for everything. Look, look!” She bent over the side of the bed and fumbled around in one of her bags until she pulled out a curved, smooth double-sided dildo and in her other hand, a shibari wand. Carson squinted at the redhead’s hands. Greta held up the dildo and winked, “this double-sided dildo WILL save you.”

“G, it is 11 in the morning. Why don’t you ever just say ‘good morning’ to me anymore? Don’t you miss that? I do.” Carson sighed, trying to turn over under the weight of Greta in her lap. 

“Come on, please? Do you think I’m disgusting now because of all the puking and crying? Because I brushed my teeth like five times, they are sooo minty fresh. So is my tongue! Try it!” She leaned down and stuck out her tongue and pressed it against Carson’s closed lips, making Carson squeal and push her shoulder playfully.

“You are sooo annoying, yaknow that?” Carson laughed, pushing her face into the pillow beside her while Greta pouted. 

“I am also really cute and soft.” Greta gently grabbed one of Carson’s hands and slid it across her abdomen, flexing a little bit to show off. She saw Carson’s face shove more into the pillow but she didn’t take her hand away, instead opening it flat to caress the soft skin on her own.

Greta smirked down at her. “Aw, there she is.” Carson pulled her face back to scrunch her nose at Greta, heaving herself up to kiss her on the lips once before she finally pulled herself out from under Greta. The redhead was once again miffed and whined at Carson’s laughter.

“Come, let’s try to eat something.”

Throughout the day, the mood shifted quicker than you could blink an eye. They argued on and off, about the most trivial of things, throwing rude quips at one another when the irritation ran high. Greta, at some points, would give her the silent treatment while they were in the same room.

One instance, Greta was feeling restless and annoyed so she went to sit on the terrace. Carson left her alone, she busied herself working in her journals. She was trying to piece together all the knowledge she contained to figure out who could have had the motive to kill Lenny and get away with it (this is what actually annoyed Greta and made her avoid being in the same room as her.)

After a while when her stomach growls, she realizes it’s been well over an hour and Greta’s still not inside yet. She heads over to the terrace and opens the door, spotting Greta with her shirt slightly rucked up over her naval, jean shorts riding low down her hips, hair blowing in the wind as she bent herself backward off the railing, delicate hands grasping the bars as the sun directly hit her face.

Carson runs out in a hurry, pulling Greta up with both arms around her waist and pulls her a few feet away from the railing. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Greta laughed airily, rolling her eyes. “Chill out, I was fine. You pulling me off like that could have done far more damage though.” She pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows.

Carson attempted a calming breath, it didn’t work. “I wish you would take care of being safe at all.” 

“I wish you would get off my back. God, where’s that fun Carson I had back on the boat, huh? Did she go overboard too?” Greta put her hands on her hips when Carson let go of her suddenly.

“That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t making a joke.” Greta ran a hand through her windswept hair roughly. She sighed roughly. “I wish I never thought to book this with you.” She walked over and through the doorway, shoulder checking Carson on the way.

The brunette followed along, anger simmering right beneath the surface of her chest. “Why did you then?”

Greta didn’t respond right away, she was digging through a cupboard by the bar, pulling out a bottle of something dark Carson couldn’t make out the name of before she grabbed a corkscrew and padded towards the spare bedroom they hadn’t used.

She opened the door and then turned to face Carson, “I guess I wanted a few days where we could pretend we were a ‘normal’ couple, or whatever you decide to think we are today. I will admit, I was fucking stupid to think that would ever work.”

“That what wouldn’t work?” Carson’s face was hard, though her lip trembled a little.

Greta wiped at her nose that was still running. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” With that, she slammed the door closed. An audible click of a lock followed suit and Carson found herself left with only their animals and the sound of the air conditioner whirring on beside them. 

After taking Goose to a dog run to play for an hour, they returned to the suite just as they left it. Carson looked over to the closed door of the bedroom Greta went through and shook her head. She let herself fall onto the couch, sleep quickly consuming her.

Carson jostled awake as Gomez sat on her chest, the grumpy feline bopping her in the face with a paw. She grumbled, of course he takes after his mom. She checked her watch to see it had been roughly 45 minutes that she’d been asleep. She sat up slowly, the cat falling into her lap as she rubbed her eyes. She turned towards the door again - still shut.

She yawned, Gomez jumped off of her and ran over to the closed door, pawing at it to no avail and then looking over at Carson. 

Open the damn door???

Carson shook her head, amused. She took her time standing up, rolling her shoulders and walking over to the door. She knocked a few times, hearing music playing low in the room through a speaker but she knew she knocked loud enough that the other woman could have easily heard her over it.

She knocked five more times, louder, stubbornly. She waited, the music didn’t cease but she heard footsteps get closer until the lock unclicked and the door hastily opened. Gomez ran in before Carson could even get a word out.

She was too stunned to have even heard Greta bark out an annoyed “what?” The redhead was wearing a matching bra and panty set, black lace with satin straps. Her legs and arms were bare and freckled and looked so long and smooth. Her hair was tousled up big and cascading over her right shoulder and Carson didn’t care about how irritated the woman looked at her because she looked damn good doing it.

When Greta moved to lean against the doorframe and glare, Carson shook out the fog in her head and cleared her throat. “Uh- Gomez. He wanted inside, I dunno how long.” She shrugged.

Greta tossed a look over to see the black cat curled up on the sette on the side of the room and smirked at him. Silly cat. She then turned back to Carson, watching her struggle to keep her eyes off of the bra strap that fell off of one of Greta’s shoulders and gave her even more skin to look at.

She controlled her face, batting her lashes as she reached her left hand out to give a barely-there caress to Carson’s bicep that flinched on contact. “You want to help me?” She flirted.

Carson’s eyes flicked up to hers, her eyebrows furrowing. Greta held up her right hand that held a glistening silver bullet vibrator. Jesus Christ.

Greta only shrugged her shoulders. “Ya don’t have to. The door will be unlocked anyway.” She wagged her fingers and shut the door with her hip without another word.

Carson stood there, baffled. On one hand, they haven’t really discussed the spat from earlier (or any of the other ones) but on the other hand– no, fuck it. It’s been a long fucking month, both of them are tired and cranky and maybe doing something where they don’t have to think, something they know how to do well with each other is exactly what they need right now.

Maybe she can convince Greta to eat an actual meal afterwards. It was barely 3:30 in the afternoon and the sun was shining brightly through the drawn windows and Carson was already opening the door and shutting it as Greta’s giggling rang through the room.

They were sitting with legs tangled between each other on the bed watching some sci-fi film on the television, they were still laying in the other bedroom. Carson convinced Greta, after a few rounds as they laid satisfied and sated, to eat some ramen with her if she ordered some. After a brief hesitation, Greta agreed.

It was finally a more tame and calm energy than they’ve had in days even if for a while, they shared a joint on the terrace before the food arrived so they were pleasantly stoned and giggling as they tried to make sense of what they were watching.

“What is this movie even called?” Greta asked after slurping a noodle into her mouth.

“Mm, I don’t know. Some long title.” Carson murmured, popping a vegetable gyoza into her mouth.

“Wow, so helpful, Carse.” She giggled around the straw of her iced green tea. Gomez was wrestling around with Goose’s tail in the corner, it was almost bigger than him but he was determined and it made the two women break out in laughter, Greta recording it on her phone.

Greta took care of throwing away their leftover trash as Carson got invested in the movie. She walked back in to see a small frown on Carson’s face, taking a second to glance at the TV at one of the actors Carson seemed to be taken with. She sat back down next to Carson, her head falling to the brunette’s shoulder.

“I wish I looked like that person.” Carson muttered, distracted.

Greta perked up, “how so?” 

“I don’t know.. More-” she waved her hands around her own body. “More secure I guess. If my chest wasn’t in the way, or.. I could feel like it was actually me in my body at all times. I always feel so separated. And they, they look so cool, so.. comfortable in masculinity. Why can’t I do that?” She let out a frustrated huff, reaching for her water cup.

Greta tilted her head. “I mean, I think you could. I think sometimes you.. do, without really noticing.”

Carson frowned at her, “there are days I wish I was as comfortable as you seem to be sometimes with your femininity.”

“But that’s not really you, Carse. It doesn’t have to be, you’re not in a placemarked box labeled Woman. You are whoever and however you feel is most you.”

“That.. both makes sense and doesn’t.” She scrunched her nose, Greta giggling at her and swatting her arm lightly. Carson laughed.

“I’m really high, okay? It may not be my own experience but I know people whose it is and it’s not a linear process. You’ll figure it out by slowly navigating your way through it, and you will feel so much freer for it.” Greta leaned in and kissed the side of Carson’s mouth. “I’ll always help make you feel comfortable along the way.”

Carson smirked sleepily, her hands resting on Greta’s waist. “Oh, I’m sure.” She kissed her again and again, laughing when Greta pushed her to her back and tickled along her sides.

It was late, the sky darkening when Carson woke up to a large crash somewhere in the suite and jolted awake. She stayed still for a second, heart racing when she heard more noises and shuffling in the other room and jumped up quickly. She runs out to the main area holding a curtain rod (the only thing she could find on quick notice) only to see it was Greta racing to and fro through the room, opening up drawers and cabinets and throwing things out of them, muttering to herself.

She was sweating and her hands were shaking profusely. Carson kept calling her name, asking what was wrong but it didn’t register in Greta’s frazzled state. The brunette looked around for the pets but they were in their beds by the couch, staring widely at Greta in concern and Carson was sure her face mirrored theirs.

She didn’t understand what Greta could possibly be looking for, the sudden flip of her mood not making sense until Greta barged into their bedroom and made a dive for Carson’s bag, hastily opening the zipper. Carson went after her, pulling her back as Greta flailed her hand trying to hit Carson off. The brunette only held tighter and managed to pull her back and towards the bed where they landed in a heap by the end, Carson’s eyes full of concern and Greta’s eyes bloodshot.

“Where is it?” The fiery redhead demanded.

“What? Where is what?” Carson was trying to piece it together. Greta huffed angrily, trying to pull her hand up, maybe to hit Carson but Carson’s grip remained.

“You fucking know what. Where did you hide it?”

Then it hit Carson. The fucking coke. The coke that she gave to Max the other day and Greta hadn’t been in the room to have known that.

“Greta… It’s gone.”

The redhead finally gathered the strength to fight Carson's hands off of her and stood up, glaring down at a wide-eyed Carson. “Bullshit.”

“I swear, Greta, it’s gone. I had-”

“Carson, I would highly suggest you think before you fucking lie to me right now.” Greta warned.

Carson stood slowly, cautious. “I gave it to Max.”

Silence. Greta froze, a look of shock like she was in the gut. The air felt cold all of a sudden and Carson shivered within it and under Greta’s stare. “You.. did what?”

Carson sighed. “I- I didn’t want it here, where you could it when I could-”

Greta interrupts again, “Oh so you give it to Max? What, did she win some, some competition or something about being a better addict than me while I was asleep or what? What the fuck, Carson?!” 

“I needed it out of here because I was worried about you! We all were!” Carson begged her to understand, hopef even one little part of Greta would try to find reason.

“God, Carson, you are so fucking naïve, aren’t you? That was mine. I paid for that. How dare you.” She scoffed, disgusted. She stormed out of the room to grab for her purse on the end table and dumped it upside down, spilling out all of it’s contents. Lipsticks, lighters, stray dollar bills and rolled up pieces of paper falling out and Greta flicked aggressively through all of it, groaning when she couldn’t find anything useful. 

Carson watched her from the wall by the door as Greta broke down crying. She began to toss things around and to the floor, a lamp, books on the shelves, a portrait on the wall. Carson ran up to her and tried to wrap her arms around her but Greta shoved her, growling. “Don’t fucking touch me! You are ruining my life!” 

Carson shoved her back. “You’re ruining mine! You are such an insufferable, spoiled brat!” Greta’s nostrils flared, her jaw and fists clenched. Carson continued, “Do you do this to everyone who tries to care about you? Try to- try to push them away because you just have to be the one to choose whether or not you deserve it?” 

Greta didn’t speak, only crossed her arms and glared ahead. Carson could see it in her eyes though, even from where she was standing, the way they misted over and Greta tried to move her head so she could blink any tears threatening to escape.

They stood there face to face until Greta sighed. She walked over to the bar, grabbing something out of the fridge that Carson could see was a liter of Vodka. She only shook her head, contorting her face slightly to try to will away the frown.

Greta walked towards the bedroom but paused when she was about to pass Carson. She dared to look into her eyes, this time both so close they could out each freckle on the other’s face. The tired rings of darkness around their eyes. Greta sniffled. “I’m going to finish packing and then.. I’m going to go to bed.”

She walked away without another word.

Carson stood there, her body feeling taught from how strained her muscles have been. God, she didn’t know how much longer she could put up with the weight of everything stacking up against her. She doesn't know how much longer she can try to take care of Greta and herself with their lives threatening to implode around them.

She went and sat by the animals who were confused and a little distressed. She decided giving Greta space was the better option, she couldn’t think of what else she could possibly offer the redhead that wouldn’t cause another fight.

After a bit of getting some much needed kisses and low brow playtime, she got up and braced herself to check on Greta. When she got in the room, she saw that Greta made an attempt at cleaning the things up from her tantrum and had packed all of her things into her bags sans two outfits she’d need and her bathroom supplies.

She didn't say anything, didn’t even look up when Carson walked quietly into the room. Carson could tell she’d been crying. She, against her better judgement, reached out her hand to Greta but before she could land, Greta turned around and went to set her bags down by the door.

She grabbed her things and bottle and chanced one look at Carson, offering a tight small smile, “see you in the morning, Carson.”

She made her way out, Carson hearing the door to the other bedroom open, heard Greta call for Gomez who went running loyally into the room before the door clicked shut. Carson sighed in defeat and began to pack as well.

She got through packing all of Goose and her things and got ready for bed before she laid down, her dog at the end of the bed, and succumbed to a restless sleep.

There’s too much blood. Where is it coming from? Carson gasped awake, sweat dripping down her forehead and she sat up quickly. Ignoring the dizziness, she stood to her feet, breathing heavily and she ran her hands all over her face.

That wasn’t her. She wouldn’t do that. Those couldn’t have been her hands, could they? She looked at her hands, now wet and smeared with blood which only made alarm bells ring again. She looked toward the bed, Greta wasn’t there. Where the fuck was Greta?

She tripped over her feet to open the door and look around the dark suite. She couldn’t make out anything with her blurry vision so she felt along the wall until she reached a doorknob and pulled open the other bedroom. It was too dark, but she could see the lump in the blankets that could only make up Greta. She hoped.

She reached Greta, seeing her face slightly in the light of the streets outside but she wasn’t waking up when Carson shook her arm. Oh no.

"Greta? Oh my God, Greta.. please. Please please wake up." Carson whisper-screamed at her, shoving her naked shoulder and her tears were streaming too quickly down her pale face.

This was a horrible, horrible dream and she felt she was stuck in the ride of it forever. She felt sick. Greta didn't move and God, not her too.

Not her too, she just got her. This can't be happening. Carson laid her head on Greta's stomach and sobbed hard into the sheet laid across her, her body shaking with the force. She didn't feel the soft groaning under her and a hand lazily stroking the back of her sweaty neck.

She rolled and dry heaved over the bed, everything in her body refused to come up. She sniffed, coughing when she felt warm arms circle her shoulders, a kiss pressed against her spine as she got pulled into Greta's body.

"Shh, there, there. Hey, it was a bad dream, honey. I got you." She whispered, running soft circles on her upper arms. Greta's voice was scratchy with sleep but the gentle tone helped Carson settle if only a small amount, grabbing the hands on her arms and holding them close.

Greta was still half-asleep, not completely aware of her surroundings or the time and fighting off the beginning of an ache in her temple. She tugged Carson's arm until she turned to face her, Greta wiped the tears and a droplet of blood off her face with soft strokes. She held up Carson's hands and kissed her palms before placing them on her own cheeks.

"I'm here, okay? You're safe." Carson nodded, a hiccup escaping her mouth and making her cry out a soft, "sorry." 

The redhead gave her a small smile, "none of that. Hold on a sec." She slowly managed to crawl out of the bed, her heart skipping without her consent when she felt Carson's hand not want to leave hers. She went to the small mini fridge she had raided by herself earlier and swiped up two small bottles of water and then made a beeline to a large dresser to grab her purse down from.

Carson watched her dig through her purse from where she was sat curled in on herself on the bed, she set her purse back up on the top of the dresser and crawled back into the bed and handed Carson a water and a pill.

The brunette's stomach lurched. "Oh, Greta, I can't, I-" Greta held her hand up, "it's an extra strength Advil, babe. No offense but I save my good shit for better occasions than nightmares or hangovers." She tiredly snickered and dry swallowed a pill and downed the water.

Carson smiled, following suit and they threw the bottles to the ground. Greta reached for the hem of Carson's sweater, she frowned down at the chest. "Aw. Ya got some stains there. We'll sort it tomorrow." She helped Carson take the sweater off and worked off her sweats, guiding the smaller woman to lay under the large fluffy blankets with her.

When Greta turned off the small light, she felt Carson throw an arm around her waist and pull her in close to her own body, her head laying on Greta's chest so she could hear her heart beating before she quickly drifted off in a fitful rest. Greta kissed her head and squeezed her.

The next morning, Carson had woken up groggy and sticky from sweat. She was confused about her exact surroundings until she heard the soft snores coming from the woman next to her, curled up on her side facing away. Carson’s heart ached in a bad way.

She took extra care of not waking up Greta, again, and retreated to the main bedroom to clean her face and put on a hoodie despite it being increasingly more warm in the mornings. She fed Gomez and Goose before she leashed up Goose and headed for a run.

Greta had woken up to a cold bed soon after, no little note left behind like the other day, no clear sign that Carson had found her way into her bed at all the night before. Maybe she dreamt it? She looked throughout the suite, seeing Gomez fed and lounging on his back in the sliver of direct sunlight on the floor.

She went to take a shower, not caring to wash her hair yet until she was back at home. She put on a pair of soft jeans and a tank top, not yet having put her socks on yet when she heard the door open. She set her hairbrush down, stepping out into the doorway of the room and seeing Goose lazily go drink some water as Carson shucked off her hoodie and shoes by the door, heaving herself onto the loveseat.

Greta didn’t say anything yet, the tension in the room felt sharp and she didn’t want to step on glass if she tried to speak. Though, she could tell Carson knew she was standing there even though she didn’t spare her even a passing glance.

A heavy sigh. “Greta? Can you come here for a minute?” Carson asked, her tone devoid of any emotion. Greta’s blood felt cold.

A part of her wanted to turn back into the room and ignore but her feet still led her over to the opposite side of the loveseat, pointedly trying not to let any part of her thigh touch Carson’s or else she might break.

They sat there for a few moments, Greta was itchy while Carson had her elbows on her knees and her head facing down. She was breathing heavily and Greta wanted to reach out for her. 

Carson took a deep breath and released before she finally looked over at Greta. She held her gaze steadily.

“I think.. we should take some space from each other.”

Greta felt like she was slapped in the face.

“What do you mean?” She asked, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

Carson’s knee began to jitter. “We” she gestured between them, “need to take space from each other. I can’t keep fighting with you every hour of the day whenever you feel a sudden change of your feelings. Do you know how exhausting that is?”

“Wow, sorry I’ve been so tiring for you to put up with.” Greta snapped, defensive.

“Stop. See? This is what I’m talking about! But not only that, you keep making my reactions feel like an attack on you. Like I am not even allowed to feel something without it somehow being me trying to hurt you. I can’t deal with this anymore.”

“By this you mean me.”

“I didn’t say that.” Carson was quick to deny.

Greta clicked her tongue. “You didn’t have to.” Carson looked down to the floor again. Greta had to squeeze her eyes shut, fists clenched. “Huh. So.. about all those ‘we need to stick together’ speeches you kept giving everyone.. I’m guessing I’m excluded from that now.”

“Greta.. No. We can still do like, daily check-ins! Yeah, and we made that groupchat with everyone too. You have other people to surround yourself with.” Carson tried to sound reassuring but she knows what it sounds like. You’re pushing her away. 

“But not you.”

“Greta… I just mean-”

“No, no, I get it. I haven’t been that exciting, sexy plaything for you anymore. You have finally seen past all of that, congratulations honestly. Never thought you’d make it that far.” Greta laughed coldly, clapping her hands together once. She scoffed. “I can’t believe I started to believe you’d be any different.”

Carson groaned. “I just need time and space to think. I’m overwhelmed all the time and I am stressed and scared and you aren’t helping. I need to think outside of you. I need to breathe for once.”

“So, you’re breaking up with me?” Greta raised an eyebrow, her body leaning slowly further away from Carson’s the more they talked.

“A break up would suggest that we were together in the first place.” Carson responded, rigid.

Greta glared at her. “Then what do you call what the hell we’ve been doing then, huh?”

“It was s-”

“Don’t you dare try to say to my fucking face that all this was was just sex. I know what it’s like when it’s just sex. That wasn’t this.” Greta didn’t intend to raise her voice but she couldn’t hold back now. 

“Yeah, well there is no this anymore so.. No need to try to label whatever it could’ve been.” Carson retorted, leaning back onto the couch and staring at the ceiling. 

Greta’s face fell, her stomach lurching. Her chest felt like someone was pressing a 20 pound weight too forcefully against her chest. “I– you’re serious..”

Carson’s head fell into her hands.

“Carson. Tell me that this meant nothing to you.”

The brunette didn’t look up, shaking her head once and chewing on her thumb. Her knee hasn’t stopped moving. Greta growled, pushing Carson’s hands away and pulling her face up by her chin.

“Look at me. Tell me right now that all of this meant nothing to you.”

Carson pushed her away, stood up and began walking towards the bedroom but Greta was quick to go after her and grab her shoulder. She pushed Carson into the wall beside them and towered over her. Carson’s nostrils flared, rearing up to push Greta off of her but she looked up into the redhead’s eyes and paused.

She doesn’t think a day in her life that she has ever seen eyes both devoid of life but full of tears, they were red-rimmed and dark and try as Greta might, she couldn’t hide how much pain was in that gaze.

“Greta.” She choked out. “Please.”

Greta didn’t budge. “Tell me.. that this meant nothing to you. That I meant nothing to you.” Her voice cracked and she huffed at herself, disgusted with herself.

The tears fell down Carson’s cheeks faster than she could wipe them off. “I can’t.”

“Oh, come on. Be a man for once and-”

Carson did shove her backward this time. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?” Greta crossed her arms, sniffling.

“Because..” Carson’s shoulders sagged. “It’s not true. I’m sorry.” With that, she walked towards the bedroom door and this time, Greta didn’t follow her or try to stop her.

When Carson was finally ready for the day after a long, hot shower, she grabbed her suitcases to begin bringing them out to the sitting area. She noted that Greta’s things weren’t by the door like last night but assumed she’d already rolled them out already. She opened the door and the only noise to be heard was Goose’s tail hitting the couch cushion at seeing her owner.

No sign of Greta, neither in the room or the balcony. Gomez, her suitcases, gone.

Carson sat on the arm of the couch, staring down at a note on the coffee table. 

called henry to pick us up. dw about anything else. drop your key off at reception by 12.

i wish i could have met you at a different time in our lives. that would have been nice.

x G

A few tears falling on the notecard was the only indicator to Carson that she had even started crying.

She wanted space, she needed space. She needed to set that boundary with Greta even though it’s not what she wanted. Now she has that space.

She feels sick to her stomach.

It had been bordering on four days since they left the Soho Grand. Greta hadn’t reached out to Carson since and Carson hates that it’s her fault she isn’t. She hates that she’s sent several scattered texts to the redhead while drunk because it feels weird that they weren’t talking when Greta was all she usually talked to and the days are bleeding together that she can’t remember just how long it’s been.

She chooses, rather selfishly, to keep herself drunk more than she’s sober because it was easier that way. There were less shakes that way and she could live in delusion on her bedroom floor that she was the kind of person that never had all the softness inside her get rung out of her.

She also chose to have her sister pick up Goose and take care of her for the week. She didn’t feel capable of taking care of her girl in this stare and as much as that hard truth saddened her, she needed her in a safe place. She didn’t want the last being that cared about her to see her like this. She ignored Meg’s concerned, disappointed glances as she gathered the pup’s stuff, it was nothing new.

Laying on the floor of her living room, a bottle with at least two more shots worth next to her thigh she pressed Greta’s contact again.

It was her fourth? Sixth? Time that she’s called and got sent to voicemail. She finally decided to clear her throat when the beep came this time.

“Greta… hey. I um, I tried to call you a few times. A lot of times. I think. Sorry about that. I thought you’d pick up?” She hiccups, wincing at the pain in her chest. “Goose has been um. She’s been good. Been running around in the dog park a lot. I haven’t been up for running with her so that’s the best, I guess.. I think she misses when you’d take her out. She always has fun when you’re there. I guess we have that in common haha.. I had Meg, you know Meg? She’s my sister. I had her take Goose because.. wellI- I’m fine. Really fine. Never been more fine. They repaired the door you kicked in across the hall. I stopped looking out of the window. What does it matter yaknow? What does anything matter? Hell, the door is unlocked all of the time now, who cares?” She slurs out, grabbing for the bottle next to her and takes a big swig, setting the empty bottle shakily down. She sniffled.

“I didn’t mean it. You know. I think I wanted to avoid us becoming serious for some reason. Allie used to always say I had commitment issues out the wazoo. I think she had a point there. We couldn’t have picked a worse time than now to have met.. I should be used to the no contact you give me after we fight but this feels a little more.. permanent? That’s not what I wanted.. if it’s what you want, I have to accept that, right? Is it acceptance if I keep calling you? That I’m leaving this voicemail? Maybe not.. I know you hate me now. I hate that you do. Because I really miss you and it’s only been a few days but it feels colder now at night than it’s ever been. I miss holding you in my arms when I sleep. I miss your lips. I miss your hands, your voice, your laugh. I’m sorry.. I don’t know if I can be a person who provides the kind of security we both need. I really do love you though.” Carson paused, taking a sharp breath. She did not mean to say that.

“I meant- I- fuuuuck, man. That’s not- God, I should go. I can’t- I am far too drunk right now. Um.. text me? When you get this? Or call me? Or not.. Ugh. I hope you’re okay. Bye, Greta. This is Carson.”

She hangs up, berating herself already. She wants to smash her phone but maybe that’s too dramatic.

She pulls up Allie’s contact name, the new one with the number she doesn’t recognize by heart because it’s not really hers. They got her a new one, new iCloud and everything because of all the memories on the old one.

It felt unfamiliar, unfair, unnecessary but Carson pressed the number to call anyway. It was three in the morning but Carson was too drunk to care, her eyes too blurry with tears to see her screen even if she wanted to hang up. She expects a dial tone.

When there wasn’t one, when the phone picked up and some rustling signaled through the speaker before a groggy and soft voice went, “‘Ello?” Carson froze. Allie repeated herself.

“H-hey. Allie?” She slurred over the line, cursing herself.

“Carson?”

“Al..” Carson cried into the receiver, holding the phone as close to her ear as possible. “Please don’t hang up.”

There was shuffling and then what sounded like raindrops hitting a window in a soft, fuzzy succession. It relaxed Carson slowly. They both used to need white noise to fall asleep, lest the nightmares creeped back on them when they least expected it.

Carson can’t remember if she had even pulled her white noise machine out of her suitcase despite being back for weeks but Allie’s was loud enough to hear for them both.

“I’ll stay as long as you need, Car.” 

Group Chat: crisis crew

Maybelle: Has anyone heard from Carson in the past few days?

Jess: Nah

Max: No but speaking of, anyone hear from Greta??

Maybelle: Why would I

Jo: Probably ignoring responsibilities as per usual

Jess: Both their locations are off. That’s sus, no?

Max: Thank you, JESS. It is. Has anyone checked on them?

Maybelle: Greta’s your best friend, that sounds like a you situation.

Max: Carson was supposedly good friends with you too but you ain’t check on her either so, I wouldn’t talk. 

Jo: Watch it, Chapman.

Max: Don’t tell me what to watch, DeLuca.

Jess: Christ. Ok; Maybelle, Jo and Lu go check on mini-dyke. Me, Max and Esther can go check out Greta’s. Got it? 

Lupe: why am i in it?

Jess: Because you’re irritating me today too

Lupe: 🖕

The two trios made their way hastily to their friend’s apartments. Luck was in favor for Maybelle, Lupe and Jo when Carson opened the front door of her apartment, drunk and half-conscious but still standing albeit confused as to why they were there.

Jess, Max and Esther had a bit more trouble when they found that Greta and Gomez weren’t at Greta’s apartment. Max even had them stop by Vivienne’s to no avail. She was almost at a loss until she was reminded by a key on Greta’s bedside table at her mom’s that Greta had another apartment in Long Island City. They had partied there a few times when they wanted to get away.

Once arriving and knocking incessantly at the door, Greta finally opened up, frowning at the three.

“May I help you?” She said, her mouth a straight line.

Max pushed the door open and stepped inside, nose scrunching at the trashed state of the apartment and Jess and Esther followed suit. Greta rolled her eyes petulantly, “yeah, sure, come in.”

“Where have you been? Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” Max yelled, glaring at the two baggies on the coffee table. Greta noticed and quickly snatched them up into her grasp, stuffing them in her bra.

“You’re not getting more of my shit, Chapman. Anyway, my phone is a little busy.”

Max rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah? Doing what?”

“Swimming.” She said, nonchalantly pointing towards the kitchen. All three walked into the kitchen to see Greta’s sink filled with water and her phone floating around on top of it. Jess snickered but plucked it out so they could see how salvageable it was.

Max groaned into Esther’s arm.

Eventually, Greta’s phone was deemed unusable but Jess had a backup burner phone they were fine with letting Greta use for now with her saved SIM card.

“Why did you break it anyway?” Jess asked, sitting on the end of the couch and doing a bump the redhead offered.

Greta was playing around with the phone, going through any notifications she missed. “Carson wouldn’t stop calling me. After the last voicemail she left, I needed to do something.”

“So.. drowning the phone.”

“Yep.”

Max sat up from her place on the couch, flicking through the TV. “What happened with you and Shaw?”

Greta cringed, texting her mom that she’s fine and has been busy with a new project so not to worry that she hasn’t reached out at all. What’s the harm in a little lie? She finally looked up, “well, she dumped me the other day. Woo-hoo!” She cheered, her bottom lip shaking before she pulled it into her mouth.

The room got silent so she decided not to follow up again.

Greta logs into her Instagram account, getting rid of all the notification bubbles when Carson’s face pops up next to hers at the top of the page. It had a green circle highlighting a close friend's story.

As much as the avoidant part of her wanted to close the app and push Carson further out of her head, the more nagging part of her, the one who craved to know what Carson was doing won out. She tapped the circle, waiting for the screen to load.

It was a video, a dark one that made Greta turn her brightness up to 100%. She could just make out Carson’s slightly blurred face with the light from her phone highlighting her cheekbones and hazy eyes. She looked.. happy? Intoxicated, for sure. Her eyes were trying and not succeeding staying open more than an inch.

It took Greta a second before she realized Carson wasn’t the only one in the video, a woman with bright blonde hair she couldn’t make out the face of clearly moved her head into frame, pressing lingering kisses down the side of Carson’s neck.

The redhead’s hand clenched tightly, the glass in her hand feeling like it might crack. She set her jaw, watching Carson laugh with no audio and the woman smiling into her skin, a tongue poking out against Carson’s pulse.

Not only was Greta’s chest surging with heated anger, her eyes misted realizing how the video looked just like the one they took that first night together. Carson had never actually posted it but Greta remembered it, it felt like Carson was intentionally trying to upset her.

Greta swiped to her iMessage app, luckily Jess had no trouble getting her iCloud set up so she still had access to all of her data. She went to Carson’s message thread, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth as she tapped through and unblocked Carson’s number.

Greta:

[Attached Photo] - Screenshot of Carson’s Instagram story.

carson, what the fuck is this?

who is that? 

It only took a few minutes before the typing bubble showed up, appearing and disappearing.

Carse:

What do you care

Greta:

carson do not fucking play games with me right now.

who. the. hell. is. that.

are you doing this to piss me off

Carse:

Im surprised you even remember I exist for once

Greta:

you’re the one who said you wanted space from me. don’t be an ass just because i actually gave that to you.

Greta hadn’t even realized she had stood up and began pacing back and forth on the worn, Persian rug of the living room. Jess, Max and Esther not daring to speak up, only staring out of the corner their eye as she muttered and cursed at her phone.

Carse:

Idc Greta do whatever you want and I will do whatever I want and none of it matters anymore

Greta:

what the fuck does that mean?

carson shaw, where are you?

Carson stopped responding. Greta saw red.

Greta:

i swear to fucking god if i see her anywhere near you when i find you, carson, she AND you are going to regret it. 

Greta smashes the lock button on the side of her phone and looks up at the three on the other side of the room. “Do you guys know where Carson is?”

A beat. Max’s eyes widened dramatically, “oooh, I’m not sure! How would we know that, silly?” She laughs, shrugging between Jess and Esther. Greta wasn’t amused by this play.

“We aren’t sure but I’m positive that she’s somewhere safe and okay, you know? Maybe with that little blonde one she hangs out with!” Esther spoke up, pursing her lips. Greta squinted between Max and Esther before dragging her eyes to the end of the couch and spotting Jess, silent and staring down at the phone in their lap, chewing their thumb nail.

“Jess? Do you know anything?” Greta questioned, taking a step forward. Jess only shook their head once, staring down at their phone again and not quickly enough, stared up at the phone they gave Greta in her hands before averting her gaze.

If Greta wasn’t so pent up and manic, she would’ve missed it but she’s not the idiot everyone keeps making her out to be. She crossed her arms, biting the inside of her cheek. She hummed as she took another step, making it seem like her goal was the kitchenette before springing at Jess quickly.

They didn’t have time to act at first when Greta jumped into their lap, clawing at their hands to let go of the phone. Jess pushed her off and onto the floor but Greta held a vice grip on their hands, pulling at their fingers intently focused on trying to glance at the lit up screen.

Max and Esther heaved Jess off the best they could and made them lose their grip, the phone landing on Greta’s chest and she scrambled up quickly, running to the other side of the room. Jess seemed to have given up protecting it anyway.

[Fives minutes ago]

Lupe:

Taking the kid to a nightclub called Gabriela. In Brkyn. Jo stayed behind to watch Carson’s place. Maybelle’s with me.

Carson found some uh, “special company” so I wouldn’t tell her that yet.

Or do idk I’m so bored

Greta huffed, tossing Jess’ phone to the couch and racing into the bedroom. She was muttering again, the group quietly discussing what they should do while in the kitchen. The redhead came out eight minutes later in a pair of sparkling red shorts and a black cropped tank. She was tying a pair of new black and white Converse high tops to her feet before she came walking back out of the room.

“Are you guys coming or what?” She hastily asked, pulling her hair into a high pony and wiping off leftover lipstick on the back of her hand so she could re-apply.

“G, are you sure it’s a good idea? You both don’t seem to be in the position… to be talking?” Esther asked, lightly.

Max chimed in, “Exactly. The last thing you need to be doing is getting kicked out of some nightclub or arrested for assault, especially with an active murder case involving your step-dad?” She hoped she was giving Greta any sense but the redhead only shrugged and applied her lipstick in the reflection of the shiny silver toaster near Max’s head.

“Who cares. It’ll be five minutes tops - I’ll rip that skank’s hair out and smack some shit into Carson and will be home in time for my nightly Ambien and Scotch.” She blotted her lips with a paper towel and tossed it in the garbage. Standing up straighter, she pointed to herself and raised her eyebrows. “So, how do I look?”

Max rolled her eyes, leaving the room. Esther gave her a thumbs up and followed suit. Jess looked her up and down, nodding in approval. “Hot. I’ll get your mugshot on a T-shirt.”

Greta smiled, leaning in to give Jess a peck to the side of their mouth. “Exactly what I’m going for!” She grabbed her purse from the counter and headed out into the living area, picking up her phone and glancing at a text from her driver. “Henry’s almost here so make up your mind about if you guys want to tag along but if not, lock up.” She tossed a key ring to Max and headed for the door.

The other three glanced at each other and Jess shrugged, following behind the redhead. “I could use a drink after all of this, so.” 

Max gave Esther an exhausted stare before they both followed behind and locked up the door. 

Greta, Max and Jess were in the backseat while Esther made conversation with Henry in the front. Greta did two key bumps and handed the baggie over to Jess, rubbing under her nose faintly and staring out of the window. Max looked at her disapprovingly and Greta could feel the judgement.

She whipped her head to the side, “what?”

“Nothing.. I just. Seriously?” Max asked, sighing.

“Don’t start, Chapman. If you’re going to tell me once again to lay off it, keep that shit to yourself. I mean it.” Greta was firm, her stare heated. Max sighed.

“I’m just worried about you.”

“Yeah, well.. don’t bother. It’s not worth it.” She spoke quieter now, grabbing the coke Jess handed back and pushing it back into her purse. She leaned her back against the headrest, sighing heavily and jittering her leg.

Greta was halfway through a cigarette when the car pulled up to a curb, a blue painted wall with a painting of a woman and the club name next to a huge garage door. They all stepped out of the car, Greta poking her head back in through an open window to thank Henry and ask him to stay nearby if he could, that she wouldn’t take too long.

She straightened, taking in the building and the loud music coming from inside. A few security guards taking the group in already, Greta tossed them a flirty smile and a wave that made the three attempt to act cool with their staring.

Greta giggled, leaning towards Jess and whispered in their ear, “I thought this was a new club? It’s a dump. Tacky.”

Jess smirked at her, “that’s not really what you’re here for though so get over it.” The redhead rolled her eyes, nodding and putting her cigarette out on the curb, placing the butt in a trash can nearby and walking up to the door, swaying her hips.

“Howdy, boys.” Greta purred, tipping an invisible hat and winking. She trained her voice to stay steady and flirty, just pitched enough to appear sweet and girly and disarming. 

Batting her long lashes at one of the men who was checking bags, she raised her purse towards him with a look of faux innocence. “Want to check my bag?”

The guy’s eyes were struggling to train only on her face as she leaned in slightly over the table. She heard Max groan under her breath but remained posed and unaffected. The man shook his head, pushing her hand down gently. 

“No need. You girls seem good to me. Let ‘em through.” He called over to the one at the door. Greta licked the corner of her mouth and hummed.

“Oh, thank you kindly.” She took the lead and walked into the bustling crowd of the nightclub. It was dark and smokey, lights flashing in every direction. Jess had already found Lupe and Maybelle off to the side, Esther following behind them.

Max stayed by Greta's side. “Sure you’re gonna find her in all this?”

“If she thinks being tiny is going to make me not file through every single person in here, she’s drunker than I thought she was.” Greta looked around, spotting a small stool by the door. She used Max’s shoulder to keep steady as she climbed up and squinted around the dance floor.

She didn’t recognize anyone in the haze of faces and blurry bodies until she spotted a flash of bleached blonde hair at the very end of the bar, and could swear that was the one from the video. She jumped down, waving a quick goodbye to Max as she made her way through the crowd.

As she pushed her way closer, her height gave her the advantage to spot her girlfri– Carson in her stupid denim vest over a long sleeved button-up and slacks and a taller woman with an almost-white bob had her arm wrapped around the brunette’s waist, whispering in her ear and Greta’s blood began to boil.

She stomps over to the corner they’re in, not caring who she was knocking into. Once she reached them, Carson looked up with glazed over eyes filled with confusion. She barely looked like she knew where she even was but she slowly recognized the woman in front of her. 

“Greta? What are you doing here?” She said softly, eyebrows furrowed and Greta almost didn’t hear her anyway, focused more on the woman who recognized her too. 

Greta grabbed the woman by the elbow around Carson and shoved her by the shoulder into the brick wall beside them. Even though the woman was tall, Greta still had a couple of inches on her even in sneakers.

“What the hell is your problem?” The woman spat, a grating accent Greta couldn’t recognize hitting her ears and annoying her further. She shoved Greta back and Greta was quick to wound up her arm and punch her in the jaw, taking her off guard and causing her to fall back a step.

Carson clumsily wrapped her arms around Greta’s waist from behind and it made Greta stumble. “Carse, stop.”

The blonde quickly glanced at Carson, scowling. “Who’s this bitch?”

Greta lunged slightly, still being held by Carson who she didn’t want to knock over in the process. “I’m her girlfriend, you stupid cunt. Who are you?” 

The other woman had the gall to laugh hysterically, like Greta just told the greatest joke she’d heard in her life. “You’re kidding, right? No you aren’t.”

The redhead clenched her jaw and pushed forward, Carson still attached to her as she lunged at the woman’s face, her thumbs pressing into each of her icy blue eyes hard. The woman grabbed her shoulders, trying to push her arms away from her face but Carson lost her balance trying to keep her weak body upright.

Greta felt the arms around her loosen and before she knew it, she full force shoved the woman back, getting shoved around by other patrons and quickly, Greta caught the small brunette before she fell to the floor.

She ignored the woman’s yells for security, holding Carson’s cheeks in her hands and squinting into her eyes in the low light. “Are you okay? Hey, are you dizzy? Need some air, babe?” Carson only looked at her but didn’t show a clear sign she had heard anything Greta asked.

Two security guards, one from the entrance, did come by and told Greta that she needed to leave or they would call the police and she glared at him, seething. She held Carson up with Carson's arm over her shoulder. It was clumsy and weird with their height difference but it worked fine enough. 

She didn’t look at anyone as they made their way to an exit, only focused on Carson and her spaced out breathing. Once they got into the cool night air, Greta plopped them both on a bench nearby.

Greta reached her hand slowly over to Carson’s, caressing the back of her hand with her thumb but Carson took her hand away without a word. They sat in silence after that, Greta keeping her hands to herself. 

Her knees wouldn’t stop shaking and her skin felt itchy. She felt her whole body involuntarily shiver but she didn’t want to leave Carson, despite her cold arms. So, she stared at the ground, willing her body to keep still but failing.

Carson watched her from the side, noticing now in a clearer light how pale and lost Greta looked, how dainty, how the contrast of her alabaster skin and black shirt with the blood droplets on her clavicle– wait, blood drops? 

Oh. Greta’s nose was bleeding. She didn’t even seem to register it. 

“G?” She whispered, Greta turned her head. “Can- Can I-” Carson scooted closer to her, her knee knocking into Greta’s, the redhead only watched. “Can I get that- You got something.” She reached out her hand, the sleeve of her button-up over her thumb and she gently wiped at the blood combining with the lipstick on Greta’s lips.

Greta reached up and felt her nose, pulling her hand back to stare at the fresh warm blood smearing her fingers. She sighed, reaching into her purse and pulled out wet wipes to clean her face and chest. She refused to meet Carson’s eye as she did.

“Are you okay?” Carson whispered hoarsely.

“Been better… You?” She whispered back.

“Been better.”

They sat in silence once again. Carson felt so exhausted, her bones heavy and head pounding with a force of twenty hangovers. She readjusted her position, bending her body and laying her head on Greta’s lap, looking up at her.

Greta looked down at her then, her hand instinctively going to Carson’s soft locks to play and tousle. Carson smiled at her, dazed. “You.. you said you’re my girlfriend back there.” Greta paused her movements, furrowing her brows.

The thing is - Greta has called herself lots of things like that when it came to Carson. Ever since they met almost a month ago in fact. Carson always complained and denied it, even when it seemed more like the truth near the end.

Her stomach felt like she swallowed pins and needles.

“Carse… How much have you drank today?” She asked, trying for lighthearted enough to not sound judgemental or condescending. She wasn’t trying to be like that, she was just confused and a little worried. 

She’d seen Carson drunk, she’d seen Carson on edibles and joints, even a few bumps with her here and there but she never really has seen Carson quite like this.

“Mmhm. One drink, or- well- a few? Maybe? A few days?” She slurred, eyes narrowed at her hands in thought. Okay, then… There was— no. Carson wouldn’t, she’d been clear about that - she’d been set on that and Greta believed her. 

But she needed to be sure. “Carse.. babe. I need to ask you something.”

“Go ahead. I know what you’re going to ask.”

“Are you high?” Greta braced herself.

“Yes.” Carson responded lazily. Greta paused, taking a breath. “...on?”

“Weed.” Greta sighed but it broke off when Carson followed up with, “and Oxy. I think. I’m not sure.”

The redhead sat up straighter at that, an instant jolt of anger filled her chest. Not at Carson, no. She didn’t believe Carson would - she knew how important it was, is, to her having quit. She believed Carson wholeheartedly would not have done that herself, no matter what was going on.

Carson sat up, staring at Greta with soft brown eyes. Greta took a few breaths, finally looking into Carson’s eyes. “Carson… Baby, what-”

“Greta, please don’t.” She interrupted, bottom lip trembling a little. “Not.. Not right now. Can we go home?” A tear fell slowly down her cheek and Greta wiped at it softly.

“Yeah, yeah of course, honey. Where- which home?” Greta hesitated, unsure if when Carson meant can we go home, she had actually meant Greta go with her.

“Mmm.” Carson hummed. “Yours?”

“Uhm, okay.. what about Goose?” 

“My sister.”

Greta sighed with relief, pulling out her phone. “I’ll text Henry now, he should still be in the area.” Carson nodded and laid her head to Greta’s shoulder this time. She began to doze off on Greta after several minutes when Max stepped out of the bar, heading their way.

“Well, y’all sure made a scene!” She said cackling, only shutting up when Greta glared at her and pointedly nodded at Carson asleep. Max stepped closer, raising her eyebrow but Greta only shook her head. Her phone dinged and she checked Carson again.

“M, can you sit with her until Henry gets here? I need to go talk to someone real quick.” Greta gently raised the brunette’s lightly snoring head off of her shoulder, not being able to help leaving a sweet kiss to her temple.

“Didn’t you already get kicked out, dude? Also, is she okay?”

“She’ll be fine, she’s going to sleep it off at my place. As for everyone else in there, I will kick someone unconscious before my car even gets to the curb. Excuse me.” Greta gently switched places with Max, Carson too tired to notice or stir.

The redhead walked back into the club, narrowly avoiding any of the security she recognized and made her way to the table off to the side where Esther, Lupe, Jess and Maybelle all sat.

She rounded on Maybelle first as soon as she saw the blonde’s disgusted scowl directed at her. “So, this was protecting her, huh? What kind of fucking friend are you?”

Maybelle’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh - don’t you even start with me. Where is she?”

“And what the fuck are you talking about?” Lupe asked, glaring at Greta over their mug of beer.

“She’s high. How the hell did you not notice that? Who gave her the pills?” Greta demanded, eyes hardened at Lupe especially who squinted at her. Maybelle slapped her hand on the table.

“No. No, we were with her the whole time unlike some people. She’s been drinking herself out of house and home but there were no fuckin’ pills. She’s not like you.” Maybelle scoffed.

Lupe leaned over the table, shrugging. “How do ya know the kid didn’t have a nice little stash and took them herself? Not everything is everyone else’s fault.”

The implication that Carson was just like any other addict was a reach Greta didn’t take lightly. She leaned over the table too, reaching up and slapping Lupe, hard enough to cause their bottom lip to open up a little.

Jess had to hold Lupe back from retaliating, not wanting to draw more security for them from security. “What the fuck, bitch?” Lupe spat her. 

“She wouldn’t. I know that, and I know all of you do too. She’s the better one out of all of us. She’s actually fucking trying while we all sat around not caring about shit.” Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence. “Now, where's that stupid broad from earlier? The blonde?” She turned to Esther who shrugged.

“The one you tried to gouge earlier? No idea. Think she left.”

“Of fucking course..” Greta said bitterly, leaving the table without another word or glance. She walked up to one of the bartenders. “Could I possibly get a few bottles of water?”

The bartender with the pixie cut smiled and nodded, going for the fridge and grabbing three out with one hand. She slid them over the counter towards Greta. “Anything else?” Her voice takes on a more flirty tone.

To be honest, Greta did not have the energy for this tonight even if the girl was cute. She was tired, sweaty and she wanted her bed, a bump and her Carson safe in her arms. She smiled pretty at her regardless, eyes sliding over the woman and then flicking to the end of the bar where she had that fight earlier.

“I actually also have a question! Um, my friend met a woman earlier tonight that she was super into but ya see, they lost each other in the crowd with all this music. Maybe you can help me find her? My friend is pretty shy at this..” She twirled her hair, giggling.

The bartender got visibly excited. “Oh! I love matchmaking! What did they look like?!” 

Greta described Carson down to the shoes she was wearing but only remembered bits and pieces of the other woman, her hair and her eyes and that vomit-inducing accent. She hoped it would be enough information to get a name but unfortunately, Carson - ever the gentleman - paid for the woman’s drinks on her own tab. 

The only useful info she received was that the bartender thought her name was maybe Emma and she had noticed her slip out for a cigarette earlier and never come back. Greta thanked her, sliding over money for the waters and a sizable tip. She winked at her as she made her way to where she left Carson and Max.

When she made it outside, Max was staring down at her phone with Carson who looked groggy but alert. 

“Hey, chickadees. I brought refreshments.” They both looked up at her, Max making a grabby hand at the cold water and Carson staring at Greta silently, chewing her lip. Greta couldn’t decipher the look on her face so she wordlessly handed the bottle over and walked to the brick wall by the end of the bench. She settled her back against it and sighed, downing half of her water.

Esther poked her head out, looking at the three and letting them know Henry arrived. Max nodded, excusing herself to use the restroom. Carson stared at her hands in her lap and Greta busied herself with texting Henry that they’d be out in a few.

She scrolled absently through her apps after receiving the Ok, wanting to appear distracted so she didn’t focus on thinking too hard about what Carson was thinking. As if she knew that was avoiding looking at her, she heard Carson clear her voice and slowly stand up from the bench.

Greta saw her scuffed boots make their way to stop in front of her. She slowly looked up, her hair covering her face and Carson pushed it back. She left her warm palm pressed against Greta’s clammy jaw.

“I’m okay, you know..” Carson whispered reassuringly.

Greta nodded back. “I- I know. I just got scared, I guess.”

“I’m sorry I scared you, my sweet girl.” Carson leaned in to press her lips against Greta’s but the redhead lifted a finger to her mouth, stopping her.

“Carson..” She warned.

“We should talk. When we’ve slept this nightmare of a night off a little. Is that okay?” Carson sounded unsure, like Greta might bail on her while she slept. Greta let her hand slide behind Carson’s neck and she sighed softly.

“More than okay. Come on.”

Carson was holding a wash rag full of ice cubes, the corners tied closed with a hair tie, against Greta’s knuckles. She brought her hand up to her mouth and kissed her palm.

“You have got to be more careful, G.” Carson muttered, frowning at the blooming bruise spread across her two middle fingers.

“Says the one who put her first through her own bedroom wall the other week. Hypocrisy is a disease.” Greta muttered sleepily, yawning into her elbow. She had her free uninjured hand running across Gomez’s stomach who was sleeping soundly in between the two in Greta’s bed.

Carson had managed to pass out again when they arrived at Greta's, falling asleep almost instantly after changing into more comfortable sleeping clothes she still had there.

It had taken Greta longer to catch up, she spent over an hour cleaning up her apartment before she took a long, hot bath. Her muscles ached, she can’t remember the last time she let herself relax since they left the hotel.

Greta took an Ambien before her bath, she usually needed an hour for it to hit on an empty stomach. She chose to actually listen to Max’s concerns earlier about her joking of drinking with the medication she wasn’t even prescribed. She knew she was right and also knew she would hear a longer monologue on how bad it was from Carson if she started now so she stuck to sipping water for the night.

Once she got into her silk nightie and put up her hair, she slowly did her skincare routine. Her hands were shaking, still bruised and fidgety but she continued on before she padded upstairs, peeking in her room to see her traitor of a son in her spot, being cradled by Carson. That really wasn’t fair, especially with how cute they looked on top of it.

Greta did manage to squeeze in right behind Carson, wrapping an arm around her waist and bending her other one under Carson’s pillow. The brunette must have felt her, her body pushing back to fit more snugly against Greta and one hand going up to hold the hand sticking out from under the pillow and Greta smiled contentedly as sleep consumed her.

Several hours of sleep later, more than either woman has gotten in awhile, Friends reruns played on Greta’s flatscreen TV while Carson iced Greta’s knuckles and grabbed them refills of water.

“You are so much sleepier than you usually are.” She carded back Greta’s mussed up hair.

“Mom got a new ‘script and I may have helped myself.” Greta mumbled, hoping Carson wouldn't get upset. The brunette sighed deeply which made Greta look up towards her, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Bein’ responsible, I promise. It’s just… been helping me get actual sleep the past few days.” 

She wrapped a pinky around Carson’s, squeezing softly. 

Carson nodded slowly, looking up at the ceiling like she was trying to figure out how she was going to say what she was going to next. 

“Greta.. are you mad at me?” She asked rushed.

Greta scrunched her face. “No..”

“Not even for making out with that woman earlier?”

The redhead sat up in bed, narrowing her eyes down at Carson. “What woman? When?” 

Now Carson was confused. “The woman you punched earlier? I thought - you knew.” 

“No - I most definitely did not know that or I would have ripped her tongue out while I was at it.” Greta tossed the makeshift ice pack on the floor, turning to place her legs off the bed but Carson held her wrist, crawling closer to the other woman and bringing her wrist up to her lips to kiss. The pulse there was rising in speed.

“Greta, I was being stupid and drunk and I thought it would, I don't know, make it hurt less?” Carson’s eyes were shiny and wide and Greta’s heart ached. 

“Make what hurt less?” She whispered out.

“Missing you.. being without you.” Carson held Greta’s wrist against her cheek.

“I don’t know what to say.. I- I miss you too. It’s only been a few days but I still feel a pit in the bottom of my stomach.” Greta blinked away a stray tear, the vulnerability of this moment was making her stomach nauseated but she held her resolve and her gaze on Carson’s. 

Carson sighed, a soft chuckle falling out in the end. “I don’t want space from you anymore.” Greta gave her a small smile.

“Sure about that?” She whispered. “This is your one chance to keep having me shut up, I mean, some people pray to be given this opportunity.”

The brunette let out a full belly cackle, one that had her clutching her stomach and face planting into the blankets. Greta doesn’t think anyone’s laugh has ever made her heart race this fast before, her adoration multiplying.

Carson wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. “I’m afraid I like it more when you don’t shut up, so I’ll be okay with giving up this opportunity.”

Greta gave her a cheeky smile and a raise of her brow. “Oooh, so what does this mean, huh? Will we go back to the way things were?”

“Well, no, I’m afraid that’s how we got into this position, don’t ya think?” Carson tilted her head at her, a smirk blooming on her face when Greta turned back to her completely, sliding her hands down Carson’s shoulder blades and pulling her in so they were only inches from touching.

“If you keep mentioning positions and not wanting me to shut up, this conversation will need to be tabled because it is doing a lot of distracting things for me.” Greta whispered, voice low and a little rough. Carson ghosted her lips over Greta’s.

“Then how about you agree to be my girlfriend and we go from there?” She raised her eyebrow in question, watching heat spread across Greta’s cheekbones. She swallowed.

Nodding, Greta pushed her mouth to cover her lips firmly. Carson deepened it, pulling Greta in with a hand on her hip.

“Yes. Absolutely always.” She mumbled against Carson’s lips, giggling into her mouth when Carson pushed her flat on her back and slid her hand under her nightgown.

Chapter Text

Greta waited inside the stall she had changed in for a few more minutes, biting her thumbnail and kicking at the stall door lightly in boredom. She didn’t want to step back out there if there was a chance she’d be spotted by Claire. Ever since they found out it was her, she was always scanning any person that crossed their path in case she saw her. 

It was possible that she hadn’t seen them at all during their visit, that it was happenstance she was here but Greta’s belief in that had rapidly declined the more she had watched her taking photos of the bustling crowd outside.

They’d been there two, maybe three hours, without a care in the world - only focused on the little bubble they created. She felt foolish about that but when you finally get a few moments of peace outside the chaos of their every day, it was freeing to be selfish and bask in it.

She took a deep breath in, wiping under her nose out of habit and tightening the grip on her phone and the bag on her shoulder and opened the stall door feeling only a little hopeful that the coast may be clear or that the crowd outside was growing so much that she could slip away amongst them.

That hope dashed in a flash when someone entered the bathroom at the moment she walked out; both of them freezing in their tracks.

Greta stood up straight first, huffing out a sigh of relief when she recognized it wasn’t Claire, just some lanky teenager with bright red hair in a pair of green overalls with a small red backpack. The teen was still frozen in place at the sight of her but Greta chuckled softly, chest feeling less heavy than it did in those few fleeting seconds.

“Ya scared me, kid. I wasn’t expecting someone to come in.” She spoke airily, a kind smile on her face before she looked at her phone to check the time. She doesn’t want to worry Carson more than she already was by taking too long.

“You’re… You’re Greta Gill. Right?” A small voice timidly spoke up in the small bathroom. Greta’s head whipped up at that, a tight coil in her stomach once again.

I am too fucking high right now for this whiplash, give me a BREAK.

“Um.. why do you ask?” Greta giggled, hoping it didn’t sound as stilted as she felt it did, but this girl didn’t look very intimidating or like she had any ill will. Then again, Carson had actively thought the same of Claire for a long time enough to trust her with one of the most important beings in Carson’s life so really, who knows anyone’s real intentions anymore these days?

The red-haired kid looked a little shy as she looked down at her hands, breathing in a way that made her look nervous.

“I follow you on Insta. My best friend and I like– love you, we think you are so cool. Sorry! This is weird! That’s weird- I didn’t expect you to be here? In here? Or over here? Ugh!” She groaned at herself, tripping over her words.

Greta tilted her head, a confused look in her eyes. That’s not what she expected at all. She’d never really felt that she had earned any sort of admiration, she was just someone born into a life of riches and the bombardment of doom that comes along with that. But hey, at least she’s cool.

Once the kid took a deep breath, she stood up a little straighter. “I’m Kay. I’m sorry for scaring you. And also for rambling at you, that was a lot for a stranger in a public bathroom.” She got out, she spoke quickly but it reminded Greta of Carson a little and her face softened.

She smiled. “I’m Greta. It’s okay! I was startled but it’s all good. Plus, I’m used to someone who rambles and she’s fucking cool as hell so I bet you are too.” She winked, letting out a soft chuckle.

Kay beamed, her eyes lighting up. “Uhh, Carson Shaw, right?! I saw the hard launches, you guys are SO cute! We always thought you might be gay but also we didn’t want to project? Because that’s weird?? But oh my God, a total win for lesbians everywhere.” She laughed out and Greta joined in, feeling delighted.

“Don’t worry, super gay and super into Carson Shaw, yes! I love that!” She exclaimed warmly, reaching out for a high five that was returned even more enthusiastically. “It’s nice to meet you! Weird question, you didn’t happen to see a sketchy woman with brown hair out there right? Green eyes, a Mets cap on? Maybe kind of lingering by herself somewhere like she’s looking for someone?” She knew it was maybe a shot in the dark but then Kay looked at her strangely, like she was thinking back to something.

“That’s… so weirdly specific? Crazy timing too because my dad got like- really pissed at some woman for taking photos earlier because he thought he was taking photos of us or something. Uber weird but she fits I think? I wasn’t looking too closely at her but the cap and hair fit?” She said, answering as if she wasn’t entirely sure herself but Greta was going to run with it.

“Can you do me a huge favor?” She asked, biting her cheek and widening her eyes a little. She didn’t have to try much, Kay eagerly nodded, almost bouncing in place.

“Anything, literally anything!”

Greta grinned and then came closer to the girl and whispered what she needed her to do.

***

15 minutes later, Greta was jumping into the backseat of Henry’s still revving SUV. All four of them jumped in their spots when Greta hopped in, wide-eyed brown (and Gomez’s green) eyes all shooting to her at once.

“Greta, what the hell?!” Carson exclaimed, holding her chest. Henry rolled his eyes, used to Greta’s tactics and Gomez closed his eyes, only a slight bat of his tail to show his annoyance at being woken up. Goose at least was happy to see her, wagging happily in the back, tail hitting the rear window and face attempting to shove past the head of the backseat to attempt to lick her.

Greta gave her nose a gentle boop and put her seatbelt on, nodding up to Henry to let him know they were good to go. She placed a hand on Carson’s thigh and squeezed as she leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I’m sorry for the scare, baby. I’m here now.”

“Yeah, now. I texted you like five times after it took you so long, what happened?” She harshly whispered. Greta frowned, forgetting for a moment she had scrolled past all her other notifications in her haste.

“I ran into some kid in the bathroom, apparently we’re like her favorite lezzie power couple.” She shrugged, trying to be cute with a proud pout on her lips.

“What does that even mean?” Carson muttered, exasperated.

“It’s a good thing - anyway, she thinks we’re super cool and was willing to be my ticket out of that humid fucking bathroom. She got Claire off our tracks, I think. For now.”

Carson gave her a confused look. “Explain.”

Greta sighed, “so, I don’t know how long she was there so obviously I am not 100% sure she even saw us at all or maybe got tipped off by someone and that’s why she was here? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that the kid saw her at one point taking photos- like I said she was doing! So I sent the kid down to see if she was still lurking around, and she was, I told her if she was, to act like she was on the phone gossiping with a friend that she saw someone on Twitter had met me and you in Long Island like an hour ago and really sell that shit, claim there were pictures someone was gatekeeping – whatever.”

Carson listened with unease, her knee starting to jitter worried that Greta’s plan would or had already backfired. If Claire had actually seen them out, especially with Goose, she’d know it was a lie.

“Then, I wanted her to walk back but try to get a good glance if she could without getting caught and see if Claire reacted in any way and then message me what happens and if Claire leaves.” Greta continued, eyes flashing wildly at her brilliant plan. She rubbed circles on Carson’s knee to calm her jitters.

“Okay… What happened then?” Carson questioned, skeptical.

Greta grinned widely, “it worked, baby! She said she looked fucking pissed, threw her hat down in the sand, angrily made a call and walked off. I think she bought it!”

Carson was in shock. “Why- what- how- that doesn’t make any sense. There’s no proof of that! She could easily find out that was a lie!”

“If she cares enough to search through a bunch of fan accounts on Twitter, sure. But also Kay said she had a friend of hers tweet that exact lie anyway just to sell it - like I told her to do! Man, we might have to adopt a 17 year old, Carse. We’re too young for a teenager but I feel like we’re ready for a con-child.” Greta rushed out, kicking her leg happily and burrowing her nose into Carson’s neck.

The brunette was still wary but I mean, at least it worked? For now? They could at least go back to Greta’s apartment without that stress for the moment. There was still the matter of the stress of that meeting being held in an hour but that could wait until after this car ride and a nice long shower to wash the beach and sweat away.

She let herself try to relax a little, pushing her nose into the top of Greta’s head and leaving a kiss behind, squeezing the hand on her knee. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I think you’re mostly glad I didn’t try to kill her on sight when you couldn’t watch.”

“That too.” They shared a soft laugh.

***

Once back in the apartment, the animals were quick to eat and wash down dinner with some fresh cold water and immediately crashed on the couch after their big outing. Carson muttering petulantly that she wanted to do that too but Greta was still buzzed from the coke and the adrenaline, pulling her upstairs after locking up and into her master bathroom.

She quickly pushed Carson into the door and began undressing her, latching onto every inch of skin she uncovered with her hot mouth as Carson scratched her nails along Greta’s sides. She didn’t have nearly as much energy as her wild girlfriend but she was happy to let her take the lead a little as she ravaged her neck for the third time today - no doubt leaving another mark as she pushed Carson’s board shorts down her hips and to the floor.

“I don’t think,” a suck to her clavicle here, “I will ever get tired,” a nip to the top of one of her breasts there, “of being with you.” Greta moaned happily when Carson pushed her back a little so she could remove Greta’s clothes too, unclasping her bra quickly before quickly leaning down to suck an aching nipple into her mouth. Greta held her head closer, kicking off her pants as she pulled them closer to the shower.

She couldn’t even begin to grab around for the handles to start the water when Carson pushed her hard into the glass shower door and dropped to her knees. She was panting heavily watching Carson lick a line down her stomach and bite down onto the band of her underwear, staring up at her with darkened eyes.

She nodded wordlessly down at her, biting onto her lip hard enough to almost draw blood as Carson smirked, pulling down the panties only with her teeth at first until they stopped at her thighs and then tugging harder to get them to her knees. They both heard a small rip but Greta couldn’t give a shit, it was so hot and Carson not waiting to remove them completely dived into her wet heat with her satisfying tongue against her clit made her groan loudly, pushing herself closer to feel more of that warm mouth against her.

Ever since Carson found out that one day on the boat that Greta had never been eaten out before, she has made it her honest to god mission in life to make sure Greta never forgets how her talented mouth feels pressed open against her cunt, the tongue that felt heavenly when it pressed into her entrance with such a gentle force that Greta’s walls can’t help but try to tighten as best they could around it.

“Carse! Fuck..” She writhed, a firm grip in Carson’s hair and her other hand pressed against the glass door behind her. “Baby,” she sighed into the air when Carson licked up to her clit, a few gentle circles before she pulled away altogether. She slowly kissed her way up Greta’s wound up body until she reached the cute desperate pout on her girlfriend’s lips. She kissed that too, a few times, laughing into her mouth when Greta held her jaw and pressed her tongue inside her mouth to taste herself.

They pulled away after a few minutes of making out, foreheads pressed together. The exhaustion of the day, of really the past month, was hitting them both it seemed, Greta moving slower even with her ever-present arousal slightly glistening off her inner thighs in the light of the bathroom. She nuzzled her nose against Carson’s.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we should focus on showering for now. If Max were to come and interrupt us, I can’t be held responsible for what I would do.” She laughed softly, eyes soft looking over Carson’s beautiful, tired face smiling at her, dimple prominent.

“Fair. I’m also so exhausted, babe, I could fall asleep right here.” She leaned into Greta heavily, wrapping her arms loosely around her waist and kissing her neck.

Greta hummed, holding her closer. “Let me wash your beautiful hair first then you can fall asleep all you want in my arms on the couch.”

Carson smiled into her neck, squeezing her waist. “I love you.”

The redhead tried her best not to let her whole body shake. She hated when Carson kept saying that in moments where she lacked a lot of clarity. Instead of responding, she rubbed Carson’s back and pulled back to look into Carson’s eyes, forcing a sweet smile. “Come on. Let’s clean up.”

***

Carson was on the cusp of falling asleep in Greta’s arms without really meaning to in the living room while everyone was settled around in a circle on the various chairs and couches Max pulled out from around Greta’s apartment.

The redhead had her fingers lazily scratching at her scalp for the past half hour as she lazily picked at the fried rice she insisted on having earlier but now couldn’t fathom stomaching.

Max and Jess did most of the talking. Despite everyone’s earlier tribulations about the impromptu meeting taking place, no one muttered a word throughout. 

Except when Maybelle chimed in, “okay, pause. You broke into a cemetery?!” Her eyes were wide as she leaned in, flabbergasted.

“That’s what you’re focused on? Breaking and entering? Not the whole, I don’t know, burnt corpses in a field near the cemetery? Nice priorities, kid.” Greta chirped, rolling her eyes. Carson muttered at her to be nice and sat up. Maybelle looked like she wanted to scratch Greta but Jo calmed her with a hand to her lower back.

“What is the deal with you two?” Lupe piped up. They were unsettlingly passive through this ordeal and unnerved Carson but she chalked it up to them probably already hearing the story from Jess.

Carson opened her mouth to change the subject when both Maybelle and Greta quickly hurled insults at each other in their haste to tell each other exactly what the other’s problem was, Greta leaned over Carson to get more in Maybelle’s space and Maybelle did the same over Lupe who was sat next to Carson.

Their language got a lot more colorful and Carson was holding onto Greta’s shoulders, resigned to her fate of Greta screaming in her ear all the while glaring at Lupe with seething hatred for starting them up. Lupe however sat smiling patiently, apparently satisfied with this outcome.

It was Max who stood up after a few minutes of back and forth and grabbed both Greta and Maybelle up off the couch by their ear and pulled them to the middle of the room. 

“Enough! No one gives a shit about which one of you is a hussy or a bitch - both of you need to fucking focus!” Max growled, staring between both of them as if scolding a child.

Greta smirked through the uncomfortable pain in her ear, “Or what?”

Max slapped her on the back of the head and pushed her back towards Carson, glaring at her back while Greta giggled and crawled towards Carson’s legs and sat between them on the floor.

Maybelle held her arms out in defeat as she was pushed back towards her seat too, blushing at Joey who was only shaking their head withholding a smirk.

“Alright! Well! Now that we are all calm and getting along,” Carson nudged Greta with her foot at her side, then she grabbed for a journal on the side table and flipped to a new page. “How did you know what cemetery to go to?”

“Shirley got tipped off.” Jess gave, head hanging off of the side of the armchair.

“Why Shirley of all people?” Greta quipped, glancing sideways at Shirley who still looked like she was going to shit bricks being in close proximity to the redhead. She smirked. “No offense, Shirls.”

“Shirley had to come back for questioning because something they failed to mention to Viv or Greta for some reason was that they had found what they believed to be the murder weapon the same day they found Fayman. It was caught in some net near where they found his body floating.” Max pursed her lips.

“And they think this poor curly-haired scaredy cat did that because?”

“It was one of her own branded knives, she brought her own knives on the boat.” Jess supplied.

Greta whipped her head towards Shirley again, eyebrows raised. “Okay, that's hot. I want my own branded knives!” 

Carson nudged at her again, making the redhead squirm and glare at her. Carson glared back. “Shirley’s a chef, they’re different knives.”

“Well, apparently they do the same kind of damage considering–” Carson frowned at her, shaking her head and Greta’s mouth snapped closed. “I rebuke my statement. Go on.”

“Thank you, loud mouth. So, after she talked to them and essentially cleared her name and involvement since she was with me at the time of when the incident occurred - we hung out. We grabbed some food, talked, we went back to her townhouse and there was a letter taped to her door.”

Shirley had the envelope in her hand, holding it out to Max while trying to narrowly avoid Greta’s grabby hands towards it. Max did however hand it off to Carson who looked through it carefully.

It was silent except for the sounds of Carson flipping through pages of her journal. Greta turned around and placed her elbows on Carson’s bare thighs, holding her head in her hands as she waited for Carson to put the book down. The brunette didn’t notice she moved until she accidentally thunked her journal on Greta’s forehead, a whiny ouch got Carson sitting up.

“Oh, hi! Sorry, babe.” She said, kissing her girlfriend’s forehead before turning both the note to Shirley and the one found in Greta’s apartment around to face the room. “Same handwriting, also looks to be the same kind of paper but hard to tell, Greta’s was a little torn when she found it. Was this it?”

Shirley nodded, “Max looked around with me, nothing else out of the ordinary. Just the name of that cemetery and what time to be there.”

“So, we went.” Max concluded. “And that’s what we found when we looked around, it looked fresh? I don't know, I don’t have a whole lot of expertise on this.”

“You realize that could have been an ambush, right?” Greta pointed out, “why the fuck would you go alone?”

“We brought Jess.” 

Greta barked out a laugh. “Ah yes, but of course. What more protection could you need?” Jess flipped her off.

***

After two more hours of back and forth, exhaustion started to stifle the room. They were right back to where they were before – stuck and that much more fearful.

These were clear and pointed threats; the dead birds left outside on Vivienne’s porch the same morning Greta went to visit, the charred remains of whatever that was left in an empty field outside of that cemetery in Staten Island, the shed full of photos of them being followed and the notebooks of names and codes, the e-mails, the text messages, the notes left at their apartments and the Claire and Martin Alexander being above it all.

Carson was back in Greta’s office, hunched over her journals again. The redhead decided to get some work done on the balcony. It was almost 9:30 and the sky was dark but the city was still mulling about, bright and busy with no care about the danger lurking around.

Greta couldn’t get herself to focus after long, she anxiously smoked a few bowls and laid her head back. She then grabbed her phone, pressing in the pin and swiping to WhatsApp. She paused, tapping her index finger on the side of her case.

Martin was online. Which meant he’d be able to see that she was too. They rarely text the other unless he knew she’d be at the same venues as her or she was desperate and exhausted all of her other options.

She opened their text thread, worrying her lip between her teeth as she weighed her options. She could text him, but what could she possibly say? Ask him what his problem was? To meet up somewhere so she can do what? Negotiate with him to leave them alone? Because that’d be such a smart move. They’re obviously trying to scare them, Greta hated that it was working.

She wished they would just get whatever this was out of their system and over with, she was tired of not having any answers and no clear way to establish what they want and give it to them so they could fuck off. Her itching to rage had her hovering her thumb over the call button by his name but not a second later, she heard a knock on the sliding glass door and saw her scruffy-haired girlfriend giving her a small wave through the glass.

Greta smiled, closing the app and locking her phone. She flicked her fingers at Carson, willing her to come join her. She opened and closed the door, not wanting to waste any of the air inside and she made her way to stand between Greta’s legs, holding her hands out.

“Missed you.” She muttered softly, the light from the living room cascading a warm light on Carson’s face. Greta grabbed her hands and squeezed.

“Didn’t want to bug ya, honey. You were in the zone again.” Greta replied just as softly. Carson sighed and sat sideways in Greta’s lap, adjusting to make herself more comfortable. Greta smiled when she wrapped her arms around Greta’s neck and pulled her in for a kiss.

“I did it again, didn’t I?” Carson whispered on Greta’s lips.

“Huh?”

“Got carried away and obsessive in another journal over this again.” Her eyes were so big and tired, Greta threaded her fingers in her hair and kissed her again.

“S’okay. You’re looking out for us, taking care of us, my little detective. I can’t be too mad at that.” She nuzzled the tip of her nose into the crease of Carson’s barely visible dimple.

“I’ll always take care of you.” Carson’s lashes fluttered above Greta’s eyebrow. One of her hands skirting down gently to Greta’s waist to hold. Greta’s eyebrow raised, looking down between them and slowly gazing up her girl’s small frame.

Carson was chewing her lip, obviously deep in thought and Greta rubbed her thumb across her cheekbone to get her to focus back on her. “Hey you, what’s going on in there?”

The brunette sighed, curling closer into Greta’s body, “are you scared?”

Without any hesitation, “yes. I don’t remember when I haven’t been.” Greta admitted gently. Carson’s the only one she’s felt brave enough to admit that to.

Carson nodded, pushing her face into Greta’s neck. “Me too.”

The traffic below them was muffling as they both closed their eyes and sat embracing. After a few minutes, the fireworks started causing Carson to jerk upwards and wince. Greta held her hands up over Carson’s ears to muffle the sound as they both rushed to stand, grab Greta’s stuff on the table and get inside.

After locking the door and closing the blinds to the balcony, Greta turned and saw Carson still holding her hands up to her ears and looking around the living room for something. She walked up to her, a questioning look on her face when Carson looked up at her.

She frowned towards the pet beds in the corner, Greta noticed they weren’t anywhere downstairs like they were previously. She held Carson’s forearms and smiled down at her, easing her hands down. The firework show outside was less of an overstimulating headache inside than Carson had imagined.

“I think I know where they are. Gomez has a special spot for when he wants peace and quiet.” Greta wrapped an arm around her sleepy girlfriend’s neck and nudged her towards the staircase. They got up to the hallway and Greta walked up to the spare bedroom, the door already halfway open. When she peeked inside, she saw her intelligent black ball of fur curled up under Goose’s head where they lay stretched out at the end of the guest bed.

Greta crooked her finger at Carson to call her over and she loved watching the way Carson’s stressed, tired face softened completely looking at the duo. She leaned her head against the doorframe and watched the pets twitch in their sleep, sound and safe.

“How tired are you?” The redhead whispered softly, her arms looping around Carson’s waist.

“Honestly?” Greta nodded. “I feel like I haven’t rested in the past four years, at the very least.” A yawn left her throat as she finished her sentence to prove her point.

“Well.. we need to get ahead of that, my dear. We need ya.” She pulled her girlfriend towards her bedroom, keeping it open a crack in case the animals wanted to join them. She began shedding her clothes and Carson followed suit, she pulled on a sleep shirt and went over to Carson’s side of the bed. She flicked on a little white box that began to make a soothing cacophony of rain sounds.

Carson’s eyebrows furrowed, “where did you find that?” Greta turned her head and slyly smiled at her, climbing underneath the covers and sitting up so she could watch Carson stand half naked by one of her bags confused.

“Jess found it in one of your suitcases when they went and picked up a bunch of your things. I told them to bring it, figured you could use it.” She raised a shoulder, smiling at Carson’s surprised face and pout.

The brunette climbs into bed in just her boxers and an old band shirt, looping an arm around Greta’s waist and pulling her so they were front to front. She kissed her lips softly, then again. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Greta hummed into her mouth, holding her face in her hands to keep her close. “Given I am the one who has kept you up so much lately, it’s the very least I could do. Do you need anything else?”

Carson smiled sleepily, tangling her legs with Greta’s and nuzzling her face into Greta’s chest. “Just you.”

The pair slowly fell asleep wrapped in each other, their pets tangled in the other room as chunks of the city all celebrated Fourth of July out and about below and around them.

Given there was nothing planned for tomorrow, both turned their ringers off on their phones. Sleep was more necessary right now anyways.

Even if that meant missing the string of missed calls from Martin Alexander on Greta’s Whatsapp. 

***