Chapter Text
Call Me Maybe
Hey, I just met you
And this is crazy
But here’s my number
So call me maybe
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
“Teddy? I finally talked to her.” Nicole flopped down on her threadbare couch, foregoing any greeting to her twin brother when he answered the phone.
“Yeah? How’d it go?” His eager tone suggested he expected nothing short of an accepted marriage proposal.
Nicole let out a short laugh. “Well, I got her to take her shirt off.”
“What?! Way to go! Or should I be worried about both of you being a little loose? I would have thought small-town girls would take things a little slower than you city women.”
“The suburbs of Edmonton hardly count as the city. And, full disclosure, the shirt-taking-off was a result of some faulty taps at the bar, not my charm,” Nicole admitted.
Nicole sighed. “She has a boyfriend.”
“Aw, I’m sorry.”
“For a second, it seemed like we had a connection. Even though I got nervous and overcompensated with a cheesy line.”
“This, I’ve got to hear.” Teddy laughed.
“It was super dumb.”
“I’m sure it was. I still want to hear it.”
“Oh, fine,” Nicole huffed. “It was something like, ‘When I see something I like, I don’t want to wait.’”
Teddy paused. Nicole knew he was trying to think of something nice to say. “That’s not so terrible. A little random. Was that a straight-out come-on, or some sort of double entendre?”
“Coffee. It was about coffee. And there wasn’t even any actual coffee since they weren’t open yet, so it wasn’t like I even actually saw the thing I liked. Other that Waverly. So, super cheesy.”
“So, what now? Pine pitifully? Let it go and find another hottie? You said she has a sister, right?” Nicole could almost hear the eyebrow waggle over the phone.
“Yeah, that’s not a good idea. The sister is kind of a mess, if half of what I hear is true.”
“Okay, well at least tell me how good she looked topless.”
Nicole smiled, which she knew was her brother’s intention. “In your dreams.”
*****
“Deputy! Shift’s over! Come down to Shorty’s with me and grab some dinner. You’ve been here two weeks. It’s high time you get to know the locals a little better.”
Nicole looked up at her boss, who was standing by her desk with his hat on, clearly ready to go at five o’clock on the dot. She had been sticking around a little late since she had started, both wanting to make a good impression on her first real law enforcement job, and to get an opportunity to read old case files and learn a bit more about the town she had just moved to.
She had planned on waiting longer than a day to go back to Shorty’s - she didn’t want Waverly to think she was pushy - but showing up with her boss was hardly stalker material. What could it hurt? Purgatory was a small town, and it wasn’t like she could avoid Waverly forever. She could act normal.
“Sure, Sheriff Nedley.”
*****
Ugh, the boy-man was there. He was handsome, Nicole supposed, if you liked them beefy and vapid. She cringed internally every time Champ - really, his name was Champ? - did something obnoxious. It was clear Waverly was trying to work, but Champ kept doing juvenile things to get her attention - throwing a wadded-up straw paper at her, or egging his buddies on in ordering complicated drinks.
Waverly smiled at him, but it looked fake - she was no cheerier with him than any other customer. Well, except for herself, Nicole thought, perhaps a little hopefully. Waverly’s smile widened when Nicole ordered the fish and chips, though she stammered when she greeted her. Nicole thought the blush that came over Waverly’s cheeks was adorable, and she chose to interpret it as a positive sign that she affected the other woman.
Shorty clearly cared for his favorite bartender, and the town’s people did as well. Waverly was kind to everyone, and she seemed to know something about everyone, asking one man about his new granddaughter and a woman about her son’s new job. People didn’t seem as enamored of her sister, who was at the end of the bar, peeling the label off her beer and scowling at anyone who tried to sit next to her.
Nedley was chatting with the farmer on the other side of him, so Nicole thought she may as well do what she came there for - mingling.
She walked over to Waverly’s sister - Wynonna, apparently - and sat down without hesitation.
Wynonna glared at her. “You here to arrest me, officer? Being a bitch isn’t a crime, last I checked.”
Nicole laughed. “I’d be sitting in a cell if it were.”
Wynonna raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down. “Really? Because you look pretty straightlaced to me.”
“I’m a woman in a male-dominated field. You don’t think anyone’s ever called me a bitch? Those were the nice ones. But that’s okay. What’s bitchy in a woman is ambitious in a man, so I took it as a compliment.” Nicole shrugged.
Wynonna nodded. “Fair enough. So, what’s your name, officer? I assume you know mine.”
“Haught. Nicole Haught. Nice to meet you in person, Wynonna.” Nicole stuck out her hand and Wynonna shook it with something that was not quite a smile, but wasn’t a sneer either..
Nicole had just offered Wynonna condolences on the loss of her uncle - Nedley should be proud that she was picking up on information about the people in town - when the other woman’s phone rang.
“Yeah, I got it. I’ll be there as soon as I can...No, I’m not drunk. Tipsy, maybe, and that doesn’t count. I can still shoot straight, don’t you worry.”
Nicole was intrigued by who might be on the other end of a call like that. She wondered if she should inquire as to who or what Wynonna might be shooting that night, when she heard the other woman wrap up the conversation.
“See you, Dolls.”
“You’re going to see Deputy Marshall Dolls?” Nicole was confused. The terse agent had taken over the investigation of the woman who was killed right when Wynonna came to town. Nedley had been grumpy about it.
“Yeah. Black Badge Division business. Oh, I guess that means I’ll see you tomorrow! We’re setting up shop in the conference room at the police station.”
Nicole’s brow furrowed. “You’re part of the Black Badge Division?” She hoped she didn’t sound as incredulous as she felt.
Wynonna didn’t look insulted. Instead, she just snorted, “Can you believe it? Those jokers gave me a badge. The gun’s my own, though.” She patted her side, and Nicole saw the old-time revolver strapped to Wynonna’s side.
“Oh. Great. That sounds...great. See ya.” Nicole waved limply and watched as Wynonna put on her fringed jacket and sauntered out of the bar with a wink at her sister.
The whole town thinks she’s a psycho, but the Feds recruited her for a hush-hush organization? Am I the only one who thinks that’s strange?
For what it was worth, her conversation with Wynonna had taken Nicole’s mind off of Waverly. Waverly, who appeared at that moment with her food.
“You sure I can’t get you something to drink besides water? Cappuccino, maybe?” Waverly seemed to have regained her composure, if her smirk was any indication.
Nicole laughed. “Thanks, but I’m good with water. But coffee another time, eh?”
Waverly ducked her chin and smiled. “Yeah, that’d be great.”
“I promise to give you three days’ notice.”
“Ha ha. I’ll clear my schedule.” Waverly walked away to deal with another customer, but the smiled remained on Nicole’s face.
Maybe what Waverly needed was a friend. Nicole could do that. Being sour grapes about Waverly not being interested in her would only deprive two women of a similar age someone to hang out with. Nicole knew she could use a friend, and making one in a small town was anything but easy. She vowed to put her feelings aside and see if she could simply get to know Waverly - and, perhaps, her enigmatic sister. She had a feeling that would be far more interesting than watching Orange Is the New Black with her cat every night.
*****
“Teddy, this place is weird.”
“I thought the nice word for small towns was quirky.”
“Purgatory is beyond quirky. Three crazy guys just kidnapped Wynonna, Waverly’s boyfriend and her boss. Her boss died, and they said it was a heart attack, but it sounds fishy. They’re saying the kidnappers were part of some sort of cult, but I know there’s something else going on, especially since Wynonna and Dolls were involved.”
“Maybe it’s not Purgatory that’s weird, it’s the Earps.”
“That’s what everyone else says. But I think it’s more than that. I’ve been reading old case files, and this place has had an extremely high number of gruesome murders.”
“Nic, I’m sorry. That sounds messed up. Be careful, will you? Even if the cult explanation is real, that seems pretty scary.”
“Yeah. I’ll look out for myself. I just feel so badly for Waverly. All these people she loves keep getting put in jeopardy - or worse - and I can see her trying to keep it together.”
“Maybe you can be there - someone less involved who can be who she leans on when everyone else around her is struggling.”
“I know. She probably needs a friend. I can’t ask for anything more, and I care about her too much to complicate her life with my feelings.”
“You’re a good person. Just give it time. I bet the more she gets to know you the more she’ll see how much happier she’d be with you than the lug she’s with now.”
*****
Nicole accompanied Nedley to Shorty’s a few more times, hoping to show herself she could handle just being Waverly’s friend. Unfortunately, Champ was there more often than not, and it was like a knife to the heart every time he draped himself all over Waverly. Nicole knew she had no right to be jealous, but the empty look on Waverly’s face made her want to come to the other woman’s rescue. But doing that would mean replacing one person telling Waverly what to do with another, and she couldn’t do that.
Whom she wanted to be with was Waverly’s decision to make. Nicole would never actively try to break someone up, so she simply smiled when she saw Waverly and tried not to notice that almost every time she looked up, Waverly was already looking back. Once, she got caught by Gus, who raised an eyebrow but gave her a smile. She realized she wasn’t being nearly as subtle as she had hoped and vowed to be more careful.
Ultimately, she decided it wasn’t worth it. She went back to staying late at the police station and making the most of her interactions with Waverly when she was there for Black Badge business. Waverly was so much freer when Champ wasn’t around. Whatever she was doing for Black Badge - research of some kind, it seemed - it made her more confident. And a more confident Waverly was prone to big smiles and little touches when she was around Nicole. It drove Nicole nuts, but she took her brother’s advice. She neither pushed nor backed away and hoped that in time circumstances would change.
*****
“I guess we won’t be seeing Champ around as much,” Dolls remarked in his usual mild tone, as he walked past Nicole’s desk towards the Black Badge conference room.
Champ had only stopped by the police station a couple of times since Waverly had begun assisting the Black Badge division, and it had been clear Dolls found him to be a nuisance. Obviously, Nicole felt the same way. She just imagined Dolls didn’t picture tearing his tattooed arms off and smacking him with them every time Champ hugged Waverly when it was clear she’d rather he not.
Nicole looked up. “What’s that, Deputy Marshall Dolls?” Was it too much to hope he had decided to leave this crazy town and never come back?
“Rumor is Waverly broke up with him,” Dolls called over his shoulder before he closed the door behind him.
Nicole couldn’t help but grin.
*****
She couldn’t stop grinning after the next visitor to her desk had left.
Waverly had arrived shortly after Dolls, Wynonna in tow. Wynonna greeted Nicole with her usual “Hey, Officer Haughtpants” and disappeared into the conference room. Waverly hung back, wringing her hands, then shoving them in her pockets. As soon as she spoke, though, they came out and fluttered around her as she stammered through her question.
“So, it’s Wednesday - of course you know it’s Wednesday - and, you know, since I want to make sure you have plenty of time to plan, I was wondering if you might want to finally have that coffee with me on Saturday. You know, like you mentioned when we met? I thought, you know, that maybe this weekend would be a good time.”
Geez, ‘you know’ much?” she mumbled to herself after she finally took a breath.
Nicole was simultaneously amused and stunned. Was Waverly asking her out? Was she just looking for someone to talk to about all the crazy things going on in her life? Only one way to find out.
“Of course. I’d love to. When and where?”
*****
“So, what are you going to wear?” Teddy asked as soon as Nicole called him to tell him about her Saturday plans.
“Really, that’s your question?” Her brother wasn’t particularly into fashion, but she appreciated his commitment to helping her make the most of this situation.
“Yeah - this is a huge opportunity. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like she’s never seen you out of uniform. You guys just run into each other while you’re on duty, right?”
“True.” Nicole was impressed with her brother’s insight. “But, remember, it’s freaking freezing out here. It’s not like I can show a bunch of skin without risking frostbite.”
“Fair point. And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’s a badge bunny who’s only into you because of the uniform.”
“Aaaand, there’s the Teddy I know and love.”
*****
In the end, Nicole chose to wear a modestly (but not chastely) cut blue v-necked sweater and jeans. It wasn’t like it was appropriate to show up in a slinky evening dress so as to fully stun Waverly. It was just coffee.
All the same, it seemed to have an effect.
“Hey, Nicole!” Waverly waved from the table she had already sat down at. She stood up to greet Nicole and bumped her knees on the chair, probably because her eyes were glued to Nicole’s chest.
Nicole managed to get over to Waverly quickly enough to steady her. Waverly looked up at Nicole, now very much in her personal space.
“You look great! I mean, nice. I mean, great and nice.” She waved her hands - her typical nervous gesture, Nicole observed. “I’ve just never seen you out of your uniform.”
I’m so not telling Teddy how right he was.
Nicole raised an eyebrow, and Waverly immediately blushed. “You know what I mean.” Perhaps trying to move past her double entendre, she continued, “I’ve never seen you with your hair down either.”
Nicole wasn’t sure what to say to that. Waverly seemed nervous - in a good way - but it tied Nicole’s tongue. She searched for some way to respond that was the walked the line of being flirty without being over eager. She came up with nothing.
She sat down, feeling awkward, only to have Waverly ask, “So, should we go order our coffees?”
That required getting back up and putting in their orders at the counter. Waverly chatted animatedly with the barista, while Nicole rocked on her heels, hands behind her back.
It was pretty adorable that Waverly ordered a cappuccino for her - and she paid - so Nicole was feeling more comfortable by the time they got back to the table. She was searching for the right opening topic, but Waverly beat her to it.
“So, tell me Officer Haught, what made you want to move to our fair city?”
Nicole smiled at the memory of her phone interview with Sheriff Nedley.
“Can you shoot?”
“Do you get squeamish at the sight of blood?”
“Can you file paperwork on time?”
“Great, you’re hired.”
“I finished the police academy and applied for a bunch of jobs. I’m from outside a decent-sized city and was hoping there would be more opportunities in a smaller town. Getting in the door in a bigger place might be easier, but moving through the ranks as a woman can be pretty hard. I thought I’d learn more someplace with less bureaucracy. Sheriff Nedley called me the day he got my application and hired me over the phone. He seemed pretty happy I was from out of town. I figured I’d be crazy to wait for something else, so I just accepted.” She paused a moment. “I was too excited to think about how weird it was.”
“Wow, that’s really brave,” Waverly commented. “I’ve never really been out of Purgatory. I can’t imagine leaving home to move someplace I’d never even seen.”
Nicole had never thought of it as brave. She took a sip of her cappuccino. “I’m definitely learning a lot. I just never imagined there would be so much violent crime in such a small town. Or so much interaction with Federal agents.”
Waverly looked away, took a swig of coffee, clearly burned her tongue, then coughed from apparently inhaling liquid.
Nicole sat, wide-eyed, waiting for Waverly to recover.
Finally, Waverly croaked out, “So, do you have any pets?”
Nicole’s forehead wrinkled. I guess talking Black Badge Division isn’t going to happen. She opened her mouth to tell Waverly about Calamity Jane, when the other woman’s phone rang.
“Wynonna? What’s wrong?...I’m busy - is this urgent?...None of your business…” Waverly sighed. “Fine, I’ll meet you at the police station.”
“Nicole, I’m so sorry.” Waverly put her hand on top of Nicole’s, effectively diffusing the frustration Nicole felt at realizing the weird goings-on of Purgatory were about to ruin a lovely morning.
“But you have to go. I get it. Do you want a ride to the station?” Nicole figured she could at least extend their time together by a little bit.
Waverly shook her head. “I really appreciate it, but I drove here and may as well take my own car there. Plus, it’s your day off. I don’t want you to get tempted to get sucked into work."
Nicole shoved down her disappointment. This was progress, and she wouldn’t let any pessimism creep in.
“Rain check?” she asked.
Waverly’s grin lit up her face. “Definitely.”
*****
Nicole could tell Waverly was anxious as she stood outside her hospital room for the second time that day. Waverly wrung her hands as the nurse finished checking Nicole’s vitals. Nicole made eye contact and gave a weak smile. As happy as she was to see Waverly, and as happy as she had been to hear that Wynonna was okay, it turned out almost dying was pretty painful. And exhausting. Nicole just wanted to sleep for a year and wake up in a town that didn’t have such a high murder rate.
The nurse finally left with instructions to get lots of rest, and Waverly tentatively entered the room.
“I - you heard about what happened? They found Wynonna. She’s down the hall getting checked out.”
“I’m so glad, Waverly. I’m sorry she and I got into so much trouble.” Things were still foggy, but Nicole knew there was something abnormal - paranormal? - about their attacker. He moved so quickly, and his eyes were like fire.
She shook her head to clear the strange thoughts, then regretted it. Instantly nauseated, she leaned back against her pillow.
Waverly rushed towards her, hands outstretched. She pulled back at the last minute, seemingly afraid to touch Nicole.
“It’s okay,” Nicole reassured her. “I’m okay. It’s just - I know this sounds crazy, but one of the guys who attacked us was, like, super fast. It was really weird. Did they catch him?”
Waverly took a step back and wouldn’t meet Nicole’s eye. “Uh, yeah, he got killed. Shot. Dead. You know.”
“I really don’t,” Nicole muttered. She was relieved both she and Wynonna escaped alive and that Waverly didn’t suffer the loss of another loved one. But she was getting tired of the runaround.
“Listen, I’m supposed to be resting and I’m sure you want to check on Wynonna…” Nicole almost couldn’t believe she was kicking out the woman she spent much of her time trying to find excuses to be around, but a splitting headache and an ever-increasing suspicion that Waverly knew exactly what was going on this town made her want to retreat into herself. She needed some time to think about things.
“Right. Sure. See you soon, I hope.” Waverly walked to the door. At the last moment, she turned around.
“Nicole?” she asked.
“Yeah?”
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Nicole couldn’t help smiling. “Me too.”
*****
“You doing okay, Wynonna?” Nicole handed the other woman a donut but didn’t make eye contact.
Wynonna accepted it and shrugged. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Nicole was in no way convinced.
“You?” Wynonna asked.
“I’m okay. What I went through wasn’t nearly as bad as what you did.” Nicole tried unsuccessfully to suppress the shudder that went through her every time she thought about the kidnapping. Was there a woman in town who hadn’t been kidnapped? This place was so messed up.
Wynonna put a surprisingly gentle hand on Nicole’s wrist. “It’s not a competition. Your trauma is as valid as mine.” She let out a cynical laugh. “Huh. I guess some of that therapy in my teenage years actually stuck with me.”
Nicole took a deep breath and finally looked up at Wynonna. “I have nightmares. I told Nedley I was fine and that I was ready to go back to work - and I mostly am. But when I go to sleep I still see him, or I’m still buried in the dirt and freezing cold.”
Wynonna let go of Nicole and folded her arms, perhaps an unconscious gesture of self-protection. “Me too. The nightmares, I mean. Except sometimes mine are while I’m awake. I’m really jumpy, you know? I want to shoot someone just for tapping me on the shoulder.”
Nicole nodded. “I became a police officer to try to help people - to catch the bad guys. But I was so helpless. I don’t understand how someone could have done that to us so quickly. All my training, and I couldn’t stop him.”
“I get it. Vulnerability at the hands of men isn’t my bag either. But we both escaped. We survived. Listen, if you ever get freaked out and don’t want to be alone, we have an extra room. It’s a super creepy memorial to our dead sister, but there’s a functional bed.”
Nicole considered how weird it would be to ask for a sleepover at Waverly’s house. “I have a cat - she’ll sleep with me if I get freaked out.”
“Cool. If you ever change your mind…”
“Thanks.”
*****
Nicole and Waverly found themselves back at the coffee shop with regularity over the next week. The first time was a coincidence - Nicole literally almost ran into Waverly as she was carrying her to-go cup out the door. An adorable smile convinced the cop that Nedley wouldn’t be too mad if she was a few minutes late for her shift, and she sat with Waverly while she drank her cappuccino. The conversation was a little stilted - Nicole was still recovering fully from her kidnapping injuries, and Waverly changed the subject when Nicole mentioned the report she still hadn’t filed on the incident.
Nicole decided that possible supernatural occurrences weren’t going to keep her from pursuing Waverly. Maybe someday the other woman would trust her enough to let her in on the secret, but for now she’d be patient. Gathering her nerve, she asked Waverly to meet her again on purpose the next day, and Waverly agreed.
The second coffee date was a little more relaxed, so Nicole asked for a third.
*****
“Did you watch that hockey documentary?” Waverly asked Nicole in lieu of a greeting, as she slid into the booth opposite the officer.
“I didn’t get a chance - I fell asleep at 8:00.” Nicole fidgeted with her hat, where it rested on the table.
“You’re still tired from the almost dying.”
Nicole wasn’t sure if it was a statement or a question, and Waverly’s face showed how scary that whole incident was for her. Nicole reached over to squeeze Waverly’s hand and gave a small smile.
“Yeah, I’m not quite back to one hundred percent. But I’m getting there. I really do want to watch that movie. Maybe you can come over and watch it with me.”
Waverly’s smile lit up her face. “I’d love to! I’ll make popcorn.”
Nicole laughed. “I may not be a great cook, but I can push the buttons on a microwave.”
“Oh, please,” Waverly huffed. “Microwave popcorn is disgusting. I make it on the stove with coconut oil - you’ll think you’re at a movie theater.”
“Sounds fantastic.”
*****
Coffee that morning had gone so well, Nicole took her chances with monopolizing more of Waverly’s time.
“I know it’s crazy cold outside, but I’m tired of being cooped up in the station. What do you say we go get some lunch?”
Waverly looked up from her desk and smiled. “Sure, let me get my coat. And hat. And scarf. And mittens.”
They walked down the street to the deli, then unbundled, their outerwear taking up half the booth.
Nicole blew into her hands. “How many more months of winter?”
Waverly laughed. “Plenty. Get used to it. And then enjoy Spring when it finally comes.”
“I will,” Nicole replied, looking into Waverly’s eyes. She could envision them going hiking together when it got warmer, or just sitting out on Waverly’s porch, watching the sunset.
Waverly smiled but looked down, a light blush on her cheeks. “So, what are you in the mood for?” Her blush deepened as she glanced back up at Nicole.
Nicole didn’t capitalize on the potential double entendre. “I usually get the turkey club sandwich, but I think I’m in the mood for soup today.”
“Their clam chowder is pretty good, if you like that,” Waverly suggested.
“I’m allergic to bivalve mollusks, actually. So no clams for me.” Nicole had no intention of getting herself sent to the hospital and ruining a lovely afternoon.
“That’s an awfully specific allergy.”
Nicole shrugged. “Yeah, but at least it means I can still eat shrimp and crab and lobster.”
“Fair enough. Bivalve mollusks are a little chewy anyway. Kind of like rubber bands, now that I think about it.” Waverly made a face.
“What about you? Any allergies?” This didn’t feel like a super-sexy topic of conversation, but Nicole figured it was good information for any future outings that involved food.
“Nope. I’ll eat just about anything. Including, apparently, rubber bands.”
“Anything, huh?” Nicole couldn’t help asking.
Waverly raised an eyebrow, but they were interrupted by their server before she could say anything.
“What can I get for you ladies?” the young man asked.
“I’ll have the French onion soup,” Nicole spoke up.
“And I’ll have the chicken salad sandwich on wheat, please.” Waverly put in her order.
“Wonderful. I’ll get that for you as soon as it’s ready.”
“Thanks!” Waverly said with a smile. Nicole loved how she was so genuinely friendly and kind to everyone. She resisted the urge to sigh and make puppy dog eyes across the table.
“So what do Purgatorians - is that the right word? - do in the spring?” she asked instead.
“Mostly shoot things and light things on fire. And drink,” Waverly replied.
“So, pretty much the same things they do in the winter.”
“Yup. Just in fewer clothes.”
Nicole’s mouth worked faster than her brain. “Wow, that makes me look forward to your Spring Shorty’s outfit. The Winter one’s already a little drafty, eh?”
Too much? she worried.
Waverly laughed and winked. “I just prance around in a bikini that says Shorty’s on the butt.”
Nicole shook her head and chuckled. “No wonder Shorty’s is so popular. Who cares about dead old Wyatt Earp when his great-granddaughter is there, live and in person?”
*****
Nicole stopped short, just as they were about to enter the police station. She knew as soon as they did, there would be people around and the flirty vibe they carried through lunch would dissipate.
“So, are we still on for that movie? I can’t wait to taste your popcorn.” Nicole felt like that came out dirtier than she intended.
“Right. Yeah. For sure.” Waverly’s mittened hands fidgeted. Nicole hoped it was nervous energy of the good kind.
“Friday? Seven o’clock?”
“Sounds good.”
“Can’t wait.”
Nicole leaned forward to open the door for Waverly, just as the other woman reached for the handle. They bumped shoulders, and a little of the nervousness seemed to dissipate as they giggled. Nicole looked down at Waverly and froze at the intense look she received. Friday couldn’t come soon enough. Maybe, if they spent some time alone together in private, they could talk about what was going on between them. Or just move straight to action.
She managed to pull her eyes away from Waverly’s and opened the door with a flourish.
“After you, ma’am,” she said with a tip of her hat.
*****
“I’m so stupid!” Nicole berated herself to her brother.
“Tell me what happened and I’ll help you figure out how to fix it.” Teddy’s voice was smugly calm.
“Ugh - people in happy relationships always think things are simple.”
“How would I have even known you were stupid about something to do with Waverly? There are so many things you could have been stupid about.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“Don’t hate because I actually got a woman to go out with me. Just assume I know what I’m doing and my advice is stellar.”
“Fine. But only because I have no one else to talk to. First, this morning my boss rejected my report on my kidnapping and told me to let go of my ideas about what really happened. And you know what a crazy experience that was. There’s no way any part of it was normal.”
“I know. I still wish you’d have let me come take care of you when you got out of the hospital.”
“I can’t risk something awful happening to you. This place is dangerous and I can’t figure out what’s going on, let alone how to stay out of trouble.”
“Well, how am I ever going to meet Waverly?”
“There may never be a reason. After I talked to Nedley, I tried to talk to Waverly about it. I know she knows something - it’s all tied up in this Black Badge Division stuff - but the conversation was a disaster. I was talking to her about my conspiracy theories, and she was talking about us.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah, I finally had a chance to try to figure out what’s going on between us and I totally blew it. I didn’t realize at the time we weren’t having the same conversation, and I accused her of making fun of me.”
“That’s not so bad - it was just a misunderstanding. You can clear that up easily. You’ll look back on it and laugh someday. Probably while you’re little old ladies sitting in your rocking chairs.”
“It gets worse. I picked her up when she was walking out in the cold, and we ended up fighting again. She made it very clear we’re not dating and she only wants to be friends.”
“Ouch.”
“So where’s your I’m-so-good-at-relationships magical advice?”
“Um, crack open a fifth of whiskey and drown your sorrows?”
*****
Nicole had had no idea Nedley’s couch would be so comfortable.
“This may be the sexiest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Nicole breathed into Waverly’s neck.
“What? Making out in your boss’s office with a nerdy, confused girl in a bulky sweater who’s only ever kissed three - well, now four - people and slept with two?” Waverly’s attempt at a joking tone fell flat.
Nicole pulled back and blinked, trying to process all that information at once. She intended to follow up on each of those elements, but for now she kept it simple: “No, kissing Waverly Earp. Kissing you. I’ve never -” Nicole stopped, not wanting to overstate her feelings and scare Waverly off. “You’re just so -”
Nicole stopped again. How could Waverly not know how wonderful she was? The whole town thought she hung the moon.
Waverly smiled, seemingly amused at Nicole’s loss for words.
“You scare me too.” Nicole finally completed a sentence.
“I do? How is that possible? I don’t think I scare the rats that eat all the crumbs at Shorty’s.”
Propping herself up was getting difficult, so Nicole sat up, pulling Waverly along with her. They tucked their legs underneath themselves and faced each other on Nedley’s couch.
“What I feel for you - even when it was an unrequited crush, it was...intense. It hurt to watch you hurt when Wynonna was kidnapped. Wow, that happened twice, now that I think about it.” Nicole shook her head and got back to the point. “Now that you seem to feel something for me, too, I’m terrified I’m going to screw it up. Or that you’ll be the one kidnapped next time, and I won’t be able to take it.”
“For the record, I already was, but it all turned out fine,” Waverly commented, nonchalantly.
“This place is crazy. Don’t think we’re not going to have that conversation soon. But my point is -”
Nicole found herself interrupted by Waverly’s lips on her own. Right, kissing, not talking. Waverly pushed her back down onto the couch, and Nicole’s arms instinctively wrapped around her. Her head swam. There was so much to process, and her brain was on overload. For a moment, she gave herself over to the feelings of holding the woman she had pined for in her arms, but when Waverly slid her leg between Nicole’s, the deputy had to pull away.
“Wait,” she panted. “We can’t do this.”
Waverly looked devastated, so Nicole quickly kissed her before continuing. “I just mean right here - right now. We can’t go any further on Nedley’s couch. I’m not sure I could come to work again if I had a memory of you and me...doing this...here. I definitely couldn’t come back to work if my boss caught us.”
“Of course.” Waverly sat up and ran a hand through her hair. “So, what do we do now?” She looked a little shy, as though she had used up all her bravado in the previous five minutes.
All Nicole wanted was to make Waverly happy. She couldn’t bear the thought of this beautiful moment ending with Waverly feeling insecure.
“Well, maybe if we keep things PG and listen out for anyone in the lobby…”
Waverly grinned and pounced on Nicole for the third time that evening.
*****
“Teddy! She kissed me! Call me back!”