Chapter Text
Heat clung to Beatrice and Camila’s skin as they made their way into the dive bar. Around them graffiti crawled along the walls like tendrils or roots spreading out in search of life. As they rounded the corner, they were stopped by a towering man in a tattered leather jacket, beads of sweat clinging to the top of his shaven head.
“You girls lost?” the man said, staring down at the women waiting to get in.
“This is Cat’s Cradle right?” Beatrice asked, staring past him in search of Ava.
“Yeah, but your type doesn’t come around here often,” the man spat, “unless you’re looking to ski? You looking to ski little girl.”
Before Beatrice could answer a resounding smack filled their ears and the man rolled his eyes as Ava came into view. Ava pressed in close to Beatrice, kissing her cheek and temple.
“Leave my girl alone, Rex,” Ava teased, punching the man in the shoulder.
Rex, as they now knew him, visibly softened under Ava’s gaze. He rolled his eyes then stepped aside for the three of them to move further into the bar. Chicken wire acted as a makeshift hallway in the tight space filled from wall to wall with intoxicated college students. Near the front of the room was a stage closed off by black curtains. Ava took hold of Beatrice’s hand while the latter took hold of Camila’s as they made their way towards the sticky countertop of the bar just to the right of the stage.
“Mikey! Three lemon drops,” Ava shouted to the bartender who was dashing madly around behind the bar.
“Make them yourself, last time I checked you were on shift tonight too,” Michael fired back, sweeping his sweaty blond hair back as he opened beers for the frat guys at the other end of the bar.
Ava shrugged then pulled herself onto the bar top and over. Without another word she grabbed a few bottles and began pouring liquor into a glass. The offered glass was significantly more than what could be considered a shot. Beatrice sniffed the glass tentatively while Camila stared out into the crowd of people, her gaze falling on her ex-boyfriend. Across the room Todd stood at one of the high-top tables with his new girlfriend wrapped in his arms. For a moment a pang of jealousy skittered down her spine. Beatrice had invited her out tonight to get her out of the dorm. Camila hadn’t had much experience when it came to relationships and her romance with Todd had been a whirlwind that burned out before it truly began. They had parted ways after mutually agreeing that they were better off as friends nearly two weeks ago, but it didn’t change the way Camila felt now seeing him smiling with someone else.
“Earth to Camila,” Ava shouted over the thrum of the music blaring through the speakers.
“What?” Camila frowned, turning her attention back to her friends who were both gazing at her with worried expressions.
“Take your shot!” Ava shouted, tapping the forgotten glass in front of Camila.
“Oh right,” Camila forced a smile onto her face before lifting the glass and swallowing the drink in one go.
“WOO!! That’s what I’m talking about, uno mas?” Ava smirked, holding up the bottles and tapping them together.
“You don’t have to if you’re not comfortable,” Beatrice adds, sipping at the beer Ava had opened for her moments before.
“Of course, only if you want. Consent is sexy.”
“Uno mas,” Camila shouted over the music, her gaze flickering to Todd once more.
Five “shots” later and Camila was feeling the buzz tingling through her body. She danced and spun around on the dance floor with Beatrice as they sang at the top of their lungs to the mix of rock music blaring through the speakers. Suddenly the entire room went dark, and a hush fell over the room. Just as quickly the lights went up on the stage to reveal band equipment. Excited chatter raced through the crowd then turned into roaring cheers as four women took the stage. Camila turns, stopping short when her gaze falls on the tall dark-haired woman making her way up to the microphone. The woman was dressed in ripped black jeans, a black croptop allowing a full view of her tight abdominals and a leather jacket. Her eyes were covered with black Lennon style glasses, but the smile underneath was intoxicating.
“Evening Cat’s Cradle,” the woman purred, her voice tinged with a British accent, “did you miss me?”
“We love you Lilith!” a man shouted from the crowd.
Another series of cheers rose joined the cacophony, the audience going practically feral when the woman shrugged off her jacket and tossed it onto the stage next to her. With a bright smile Lilith ran a hand through her hair, then turned towards her bandmates.
“We are Sister Warrior. I know it’s been a while,” Lilith laughed.
“Too fucking long!” a voice from the crowd shouted.
“Agreed,” the drummer said into her mic.
Lilith laughed and ran a hand through her hair, sweeping it to one side as she turned to look at her bandmates. Camila’s mouth went dry as her gaze swept over the lines of the woman’s newly revealed arms.
“Regardless it’s good to be home and we have a special treat for you all at the end of the night Cat’s Cradle,” Lilith teased, “for now though allow me to reintroduce you to the band.”
Suddenly the drummer unleashed a crescendo of sound, playing a brief solo before ending with two quick taps to the snare.
“On the drums we have the one and only Mary Turner,” Lilith said turning and holding her hand out towards the drummer.
“Shotgun Mary!” a girl shouted from the crowd.
Once Lilith finished her sentence the rhythm guitarist began playing a funky almost blues style riff, ending with two quick chords.
“To my left playing rhythm guitar the incomparable Shannon Masters, soon to be Shannon Turner,” Lilith smiled.
Shannon held up her left hand to the light, sending the crowd into another frenzy as the large cut diamond twinkled against the stage lights. Turning she blew a kiss to Mary who pretended to catch it.
The bass guitar player to Lilith’s right began playing the chords of “Here comes the bride” a smile on her lips that earned her an eyeroll from the rest of the band.
“Ladies and gentlemen let’s hear it for our bassist the incredibly talented Yasmine Amunet,” Lilith said fist bumping the woman.
“Marry me, Yas!!” a man on the front row shouted, blowing a kiss towards the woman.
Several other men in the crowd joined the first in shouting Yasmine’s name and “we love you”. If it were even possible the crowd grew louder, drawing closer to the stage.
“Veronica! Veronica! Veronica!” the crowd began to chant, a few of them jumping up and down and beginning to thrash around.
Camila was so captivated by the spell that the band had the crowd under that she would have been knocked off her feet if Beatrice hadn’t pulled her away from the small group of men shoving each other.
“Play nice boys,” Lilith chastised, her voice going lower with a slight raspy.
The filthy whine that came from Camila’s lips startled herself and Beatrice, who frowned over at her friend and the tight scrunch of her eyebrows. Camila shifted on her feet, watching the way Lilith worked the crowd was causing her heart to thunder and a tightness to build in her core. She could feel herself ruining her underwear.
“Alright. Lastly my name is Lilith, your lead guitarist, your siren for this evening, and this,” Lilith said holding out her hand into which Shannon slipped a blood-red and black guitar, “is Veronica.”
Lilith took a step back, slipped the guitar strap over her head and began playing a solo. The crowd erupted in screams as she continued, her fingers gliding effortlessly along the neck as the guitar wailed. Camila found herself unconsciously moving closer to the stage, while Beatrice tried to keep up with her, pushing her way through the crowd. Lilith flipped her hair out of her face, succeeding also in sending her sunglasses flying into the crowd. A few of the other patrons lunged for them, but Camila got to them first, holding them tightly in her grip as Lilith finished her solo. Once she was done, Shannon made her way up to Lilith and whispered something in her ear. Nodding Lilith took two small steps to her right and crouched down a smile on her lips.
“Mind if I have those back, beautiful,” Lilith purred.
Camila froze, swallowing hard at the realization that Lilith was talking to her. She nodded and took a step closer to the stage, holding out the glasses for her, while her gaze was transfixed on the dark amber pools of Lilith’s eyes. On their own volition Camila’s gaze drifted to the soft curve of Lilith’s lips, her mind focusing momentarily on the realization that the lipstick she thought was black was midnight blue. It wasn’t until Lilith chuckled that Camila realized the woman had been talking to her.
“What?” Camila squeaked, earning another smile from the singer.
“Can you slip them back on for me?” Lilith asked again, her gaze focused on Camila’s face.
Camila looked down to her hand still extended out with the sunglasses. Slowly she unfolded them and slid them onto Lilith’s face, another wave of tension coiling in her stomach when her fingers brushed along the top of the woman’s cheekbones.
“Thank you darling,” Lilith winked, just before the sunglasses covered her eyes fully.
Without giving her time to process Mary shouted out a count and the band started playing, leaving Camila slack jawed and staring up at Lilith singing. With a smirk Beatrice made her way back to the bar where Ava was jumping around to the music while mixing drinks. Suddenly her gaze was drawn to the third party behind the bar a smiling beige Labrador. The dog was stretched out on the floor at the corner of the bar wearing a black tactical harness with a red service dog patch, its ears covered by earmuffs with the same logo that was on the drumset of the band. Its tail wagging profusely as it watched Ava and Micheal making drinks and dancing.
“Why is there a dog behind the bar?” Beatrice asked, leaning over to Ava as she scooped ice into a cup.
“Oh Tempo? He belongs to Lilith,” Ava said nonchalantly as she continued mixing whatever concoction she was working on.
Beatrice turned her gaze back to the stage where Lilith was strumming and jumping around the stage in measured small steps. She leaned into the microphone for the last note, a smirk on her lips.
“Spend my days locked in a haze. Trying to forget you, babe, I fall back down. Gotta stay high all my life to forget I'm missing you,” Lilith belts her voice taking on that same rasp from earlier that made Camila join the cheering mass that had accumulated at the bottom of the stage.
Sister Warrior continued to play their rock covers of some of the most popular songs, each one encouraging the crowd to dance and sing along. Lilith worked the room pointing her mic outward for the crowd to sing along with them and executing flawless riffs and solos on her guitar. At one point Yasmine took over as lead singer, belting out lyrics to Kiss by Prince. Beatrice rejoined Camila for a little bit dancing to the music and teasing her friend about her obvious infatuation. Near the end of their rendition of Misery Business Lilith was on her knees, her body leaned backward in an arch, as her fingers slid along the neck of the guitar, her lip between her teeth directly in front of Camila. Camila felt like the world slowed and it was just them in that moment. Her mind racing, filling in the blanks for another time where Lilith would be making a similar face. A single bead of sweat made its way down Lilith’s neck and Camila found herself envious of it as it disappeared into the line of her collar. When the song finished Lilith sat back on her heels for a moment, her shoulders rising and falling with each breath stealing away Camila’s. Lilith rose to her feet, then stepped towards the mic, her step faltering for a moment when her foot connected with a wire. Yasmine made her way over, simultaneously kicking the cord out of the way and whispering something to Lilith. With a nod and a whispered response Lilith made her way back to the microphone.
“Cat’s Cradle you have been fantastic as always, so we have a little treat for you. You are the first to hear our newly recorded single Destiny,” Lilith announces, and the crowd goes wild once more, several of them scrambling to take out their phones to record.
Mary started them off again, Yasmine and Shannon joining soon after. Lilith ran her hand through her hair, a few damp strands sticking to her forehead, before beginning.
“Life entered like stained-glass, fragile and beautifully broken. For the first time I’m awoken to the thought that I’ve lost it all. Then you enter with a soft smile, soft lips, and a body that won’t quit and I’m reminded that maybe I’ll be okay,” Lilith belts into the mic, her head turning toward where Camila is standing.
“I see my destiny. Laid out in front of me. It’s so plain to see that it’s because of you. Hold my hand through it all. Hold my hand I won’t let you fall. Be my one and only lover. You’re my destiny!” they all sing the chorus together.
By the end of the song, the crowd sings the chorus along with them and as the final note of the song fades away the audience erupts in applause.
“Thank you so much Cat’s Cradle. We are Sister Warrior, they’ll see you next Wednesday and I’ll be here too,” Lilith said into the mic a few snickers racing through the crowd.
Camila frowned in confusion at the laughter, but shrugged it off, instead turning to Beatrice who was standing next to her.
“I don’t understand,” Camila said.
“Lilith is blind,” Beatrice explained, “it’s a solid joke.”
“Oh,” Camila said, her attention turning towards the stage where Lilith was shrugging off the guitar strap and handing it to Shannon who put it away for her.
Yasmine linked arms with Lilith after picking up her discarded leather jacket and they walked together off the stage and towards a booth adjacent to the bar. Mary and Shannon followed behind them, sliding into the middle of the booth with Lilith on the edge. Several of the bar patrons immediately flooded the area to talk to the band. Beatrice tugged at Camila’s arm, the woman giving resistance for a moment before acquiescing and following her friend. As soon as they were in Ava’s sightline the younger girl made a show of jumping up and down to wave them over.
“Bea, Cam come meet my friends,” Ava shouted over the music from the speakers that had started again.
Camila swallowed hard as they approached the booth. Ava was busy setting drinks in front of all the band members and chatting excitedly about something with them as she slid in next to Yasmine. From around the corner of the bar Tempo trotted through the crowd of patrons to sit next to Lilith’s feet. For a moment he rested his head on her thigh, and her hand came up to scratch behind his ears.
“Hey big guy,” Lilith cooed, “did you enjoy the show?”
As if in response Tempo placed his paw on her thigh, earning another series of ear scratches and a kiss to the top of his head. He then settled, laying down across Lilith’s feet underneath the table. Camila’s heart thumped harder in her chest, the interaction causing her to fall even harder.
“Beatrice these are my friends Lilith, Mary, Shannon, and Yasmine. Everyone this is my girlfriend Beatrice and her roommate Camila,” Ava introduced everyone, motioning for the two women to sit at the chairs that were pulled up to the edge of the table.
Beatrice slid into the seat closest to Ava, intertwining their fingers. Tentatively Camila slid into the seat next to Lilith, doing her best to maintain her composure, which quickly failed when Tempo rested his head on her knee.
“Oh,” Camila gasped, “I’m sorry. He just put his head on my knee. Should I move. I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“It’s okay,” Lilith laughed, “he’s off duty. You can pet him if you want.”
Camila brought her hand to the top of the dog’s head, the feel of his soft fur under her fingers was grounding and helped her calm down. That was until her gaze went back to Lilith who was smiling at her.
“So, no luck at the trials Lil,” Ava whispered across the table.
Camila watched as the taller woman tensed, her shoulders going practically rigid at Ava’s words.
“No, but it’s okay. I’ve been blind for 20 years now. I’m adjusted,” Lilith said, picking up her glass and downing the remaining contents.
“You’re really good. I mean as a band you are really good,” Camila stammered, thankful for Tempo who had settled again across her feet, his head resting on Lilith’s boots.
“Thank you. Is it your first time at the cradle?” Lilith asked, a soft smile on her lips.
“Yeah. Bea thought it would be good for me to get out of the house. I uh…broke up with my boyfriend two weeks ago,” Camila explained.
A series of nods and humms of understanding filled the space as Camila continued her story. When she mentioned that her ex was actually here tonight and pointed out Todd everyone very obviously looked towards where he was standing with his frat brothers. At that exact moment the aforementioned man looked up and noticed, causing Camila to blush, hurriedly turning to look down at the table but it was too late. Todd’s girlfriend was a girl that the band recognized from a few shows right before they took their hiatus.
“Oh no,” Shannon sighed, “they’re coming this way.”
A few seconds later, Tempo shifted from his resting position to sitting fully on Lilith’s feet. Lilith reached down to reassure him.
“Hey, Camila,” Todd said, shifting from side to side, “Leslie wanted to come over and meet the band.”
“It’s fine Todd,” Camila replied, unable to keep the sadness out of her voice.
“Oh my god. You guys…gals sounded so great tonight. I’m such a huge fan and your new song was so good too. I’m Leslie. It’s so cool to meet all of you,” Leslie fangirled standing so close that Camila shifted to move closer to Beatrice.
“It’s always nice to meet a fan,” Lilith said, shaking the woman’s hand, “as a matter of fact I was getting to know another new fan. Isn’t that right Camila.”
Camila’s turned towards Lilith her brow furrowed, then to Beatrice for help. Beatrice shrugged while Ava sat next to her mouthing “play along”. Turning, Camila looked up to Leslie than back over to Lilith before reaching across the table and taking Lilith’s hand.
“That’s right. Lilith, weren’t you saying something about showing me the green room,” Camila said, her fingers running along Lilith’s hand.
Unknown to her an involuntary tingle shot down Lilith’s spine at the touch. It was Lilith’s turn to swallow hard before she cleared her throat and stood up, forcing Leslie to take a step back into Todd.
“Right. If you’ll excuse us,” Lilith said, offering her hand to Camila.
Camila stood, linking her arm with Lilith’s and promising they would be back in a few minutes. Behind them Tempo slid from under that table, his tail wagging as he tried to follow.
“Tempo, desempleo,” Lilith shouted over her shoulder.
Tempo sat down, his tail softly swishing across the ground as Camila guided Lilith through the club.
“Green room is to through the door on the other side of the stage,” Lilith whispered, leaning into Camila’s touch.
“Thank you,” Camila whispered back, smiling up at her brightly, before glancing over her shoulder to Todd and Leslie who were watching them intently.
Once they were through the door Lilith strode ahead of her until they reached a door at the end of the hallway. The dim orange glow of the bulbs in the hallway was in stark contrast to the brightly lit room they stepped into. Lilith made her way over to a mini bar in the corner of the room, opening it to retrieve two beers. She passed one to Camila then sat down on one end of the loveseat, setting her feet up on the coffee table and taking a long sip. Camila sat down in the chair next to her, sipping at her own beer.
“You, okay?” Lilith finally asked, “running into exes is never fun.”
“Yeah. I just—its stupid,” Camila shook her head, a scoff falling from her lips.
“I doubt it. Try me. Blindness gives me sage like wisdom you know,” Lilith teases.
Camila laughs at this leaning her head back against the seat and staring up at the ceiling for a moment. When she looked back towards Lilith, the woman had removed her shades and was staring in her direction.
“How do you know where I am?” Camila asked, trying desperately to change the subject.
“The disruption of the light. I can still distinguish light and some brighter colors,” Lilith explained, “you dodged by question, but I’ll take that as my answer.”
Camila nibbled at her bottom lip, feeling suddenly exposed. She didn’t know what she had expected of Lilith, but it wasn’t this. Most rockers who took women backstage would have been half-naked by now or at least that was the stereotype. Lilith, however, was humming to herself while drinking her beer, perfectly content to just exist in the silence.
“Why did you help me back there?” Camila finally asked.
“I could tell you were uncomfortable. Your breathing pattern changed,” Lilith explained as if she were explaining how freezing water makes ice.
“What do you mean my breathing changed?”
“You started taking huge deep breaths like you were trying to center yourself, but the exhalation was shaky. That only happens when people are excited or nervous and seeing that your ex was there, I assumed the latter.”
Camila opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words for what she wanted to say. Instead, she turned the conversation back to Lilith again.
“What’s with the shades?” Camila asked.
“Light sensitivity is a bitch,” Lilith shrugged, finishing her beer then standing to throw the bottle away, “they’re not a perfect solution but they help, especially on stage.”
“You seem comfortable here,” Camila noted the way Lilith moved around the room with ease, settling back on the loveseat and propping her feet up again.
“We play for the Cradle’s Hump Day Review every week. Or we did before,” Lilith trailed off, her confidence wavering for a second.
“What changed?”
“I took some time off.”
Lilith cleared her throat, adjusting on the loveseat and bringing her arms from the back of the couch to rest in her lap. Camila waited for her to continue and in the meantime finished off her own beer and tossed it in the trash. When she returned to her seat, she found Lilith pressing her fingers into her temples. A soft groan pulled from her lips as she tried to massage the pain away. As she moved closer, she noticed the small thin discoloration of skin along Lilith’s hairline.
“May I,” Camila asked, taking a step closer to Lilith, “I’m unfortunately familiar with headaches.”
Lilith leans back against the chair with Camila standing behind her. Gently Camila presses her fingers just above Lilith’s temple the same way she does for her own headaches at least twice a week. Lilith sighs then groans into the touch when Camila’s fingers move upward into her hair.
“You know you’re nothing like I thought you would be,” Camila remarks as she continued to massage Lilith’s head.
“Is that so,” Lilith sighs again this time breathier than the one before.
The sound sends another pulse straight to Camila’s center, the wetness obvious to her again.
“You know the stereotype. Rockers that sleep with women in the green room.”
“It was actually your idea to come here,” Lilith laughed, “but if you’re interested it’s on the table…or chair, countertop, the sofa, wall. Take your pick.”
Camila swallowed the groan that the forwardness of Lilith’s words caused. That coupled with the way Lilith’s head was tilted up towards her, the reflection of the lights in the room illuminating the liquid amber of her eyes would be her excuse for the way her hands snapped away from the woman’s scalp as if burned.
“I’m sorry. That was too much,” Lilith stammered, running a hand through her hair as she stood and turned towards Camila.
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have—”
“Listen. I—I think you’re beautiful and I meant what I said out there. I would really like to get to know you better,” Lilith said, making her way around the couch towards the vanity where Camila was leaning.
“How do you know I’m beautiful?” Camila asked, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.
“Because Shannon told me,” Lilith laughed, “she told me a complete smokeshow that was just my type was holding my glasses two steps to my right.”
The answer caused laughter to burst from Camila’s lips, her eyes twinkling as she turned to Lilith who was now sitting on top of the vanity. Camila chastised herself when her gaze flickered along Lilith’s body and lingered entirely too long on her abs.
“Also,” Lilith continued after a moment, clearing her throat, “I like the way your voice sounds, you’re confident but there is a hesitancy like you’re always searching for the right words. Then there’s your skin. When you put my glasses on for me earlier your fingertips grazed my cheek and your skin felt soft but there was strength in your touch. You use your hands a lot, but you don’t have callouses like a musician or a handyperson. I’m thinking computers?”
Camila gasped, looking down at her hands then back to Lilith who wasn’t looking at her anymore. Instead, the woman had her eyes closed as if recalling a memory.
“And that’s why you’re attracted to me? My hands and my voice?” Camila prodded, knowing from the way Lilith gulped that there was more she hadn’t said.
“No. There’s more…but people normally think it’s weird,” Lilith sighed.
“Tell me,” Camila said, placing a hand on the other woman’s thigh, eliciting a surprised gasp.
“I—I like the way you smell,” Lilith admitted, “I don’t know if its your shampoo or perfume, but you smell like lavender and vanilla with a little hint of cinnamon. It’s a comforting smell, and I can tell you’re strong because when you guided me to the door, I was confident you would get me there safely even though I didn’t really need the help.”
“Lilith—”
“I’m also into short girls.”
The last statement earned a gentle slap on the arm from Camila and another bout of laughter spilling freely from her lips. Lilith joined in the laughter before extending her hand to Camila. The smaller woman took it, allowing Lilith to pull her closer until she was standing between the taller woman’s legs.
“You’re gorgeous too, but you probably hear that all the time,” Camila whispered, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks at the admission.
“Not really. The blindness thing usually keeps people at bay,” Lilith sighed.
“Their loss is my gain then,” Camila responded, leaning upwards towards Lilith who was staring straight ahead.
Camila’s breath caressed Lilith’s face and the taller woman tilted her head down, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“Camila…are you trying to kiss me right now?” Lilith teased.
In answer, Camila’s hand slid along Lilith’s cheek and into her hair, softly tugging as Lilith closed the distance. Lilith’s hand moved along Camila’s arm then over to her cheeks, her fingers playing with the ends of the shorter woman’s hair.
“Your hair is so soft, and it’s curly,” Lilith whispered into the space between them.
“Please just kiss me already,” Camila whined.
Just as their lips were about to meet the door burst open and Tempo came bounding into the room. Camila darted away from Lilith as if burned as the Labrador bounded over to Lilith barking loudly and pawing at her leg.
“I hear you big guy. I’ll get down,” Lilith sighed.
Tempo took a step back but continued to stomp on the ground until Lilith’s feet touched the floor again. Lilith kneeled down to pet Tempo’s head just as Mary came around the corner of the door.
“Let’s go Lilith. Cat’s Cradle is great for drinks but wifey wants tacos,” Mary said, the sound of Shannon’s slurred speech shouting tacos in the background acting as confirmation.
“We’ll be right there,” Lilith answered rising to her feet.
Mary exited the room with a two-finger salute. Lilith paused for a moment, her hand going to her shirt then her forehead in search of her sunglasses.
“Tempo, gafas por favor,” Lilith said.
Camila watched in awe as Tempo turned on his heel and began searching. Upon locating Lilith’s sunglasses, he took them carefully in his mouth and brought them over, nudging Lilith’s hand with them.
“Gracias Tempo,” Lilith cooed, putting the sunglasses back on, “trabajo.”
Tempo’s excited leaps stopped almost immediately as he went over to a black bag in the corner and fetched a handle, bringing it back to Lilith and sitting with his back to her. Lilith knelt, attaching the handle with practiced ease. Once it was attached Lilith gripped the handle with her right hand and Tempo led her to the corner to pick up the bag then out of the room. Camila followed, fascinated by the partnership between the two of them. Tempo led Lilith out to the main area of the club which had calmed significantly from earlier. A few patrons still lingered playing pool and drinking. At the bar Beatrice and Ava were doing a terrible job of pretending not to watch them exit the hallway and make their way towards the rest of the group.
“I have to help get everything packed up,” Lilith explained as Mary began stacking up cases in the corner, “will you be around when we’re done?”
“I think so. Beatrice is my ride and I think she’s staying until her girlfriend gets off work,” Camila said, her gaze falling on Beatrice and Ava who were obviously staring.
Lilith turned then allowing Tempo to lead her to the cases and began helping to carry their equipment outside. Camila joined Ava and Beatrice at the bar where they stared at her expectantly. Michael joined them, sliding a glass of water across the bar to her.
“So…” Michael spoke up.
Ava slapped his arm, earning only a disinterested shrug from him before he went to the other side of the bar.
“Really though. What happened? Also, Leslie was sick with envy,” Ava chimed in, “Todd seemed happy you were moving on.”
“He’s a good man,” Camila said, sipping on the water and chancing glances back towards Lilith working, “and Lilith is really sweet.”
“Did you just call her sweet?” Beatrice raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve heard Lilith called a lot of things, but sweet is a new one,” Ava laughed, “damn Cam what did you do to her in that room.”
Camila looked back again, watching as Lilith hefted one of the larger cases onto her shoulder and walked out of the building. The flex of the woman’s arms as she carried the cases was mesmerizing, especially since some of them she was carrying alone would normally take two people to carry. A smile flickered to her lips when Lilith placed the case for Mary’s drumsticks in Tempo’s teeth allowing him to help as well.
A little while later when nearly all the equipment was taken outside, Mary made her way over to the bar, dropping into the seat next to Camila. Shannon joined them, snuggling into Mary’s back.
“Listen Camila. I don’t know you that well, but I know Lilith best out of everyone. She’s not a people person and honestly some people find her downright cold, but when she cares for you that means a lot. She doesn’t normally talk to people one on one, or let people pet Tempo until they’re properly vetted. So, all I’m saying is don’t fuck it up,” Mary warned, “or you’ll learn why they call me shotgun.”
“It’s because she’s the driver for our equipment and everyone wants to ride with her,” Shannon slurs, giggling when Mary rolls her eyes at her.
“We just talked Mary. That’s all,” Camila responded, noticing that Lilith had reentered the room and was making her way to the bar.
“Everything is packed up Mary, but can I have a minute. I’ll meet you at the car,” Lilith said, joining them.
Mary stood, motioning to Camila that she was watching her. Shannon tugged her along with a smile excitedly reeling off her taco order. Once they were out of earshot Lilith took a step closer to Camila, their knees practically touching before Tempo sat down letting Lilith know to stop moving. Camila shooed Beatrice and Ava away to the other side of the bar so that they could talk in private. Lilith’s posture was different than it had been in the green room. Her back was rigid a tense set to her shoulders and her jaw seemed to flex with tension as she spoke.
“I had a nice time talking to you Camila,” Lilith said almost formal in tone.
“Me too. Will I see you again?” Camila asked, worried by Lilith’s tone.
“If you come here next Wednesday I’ll be here again,” Lilith said, nodding and trying to take a step away but Tempo wouldn’t budge.
Sighing, Lilith pulled her phone from her pocket and held it out for Camila to take. Smiling, Camila took the device and input her number. She handed it back to Lilith, unnecessarily stroking the tips of Lilith’s fingers as she took her phone back.
“I put it under Cam,” Camila mustered all the confidence she could before whispering in Lilith’s ear, this time noticing the way goosebumps raised on Lilith skin as she leaned in, “call me.”