Ch 7

When was the last time she actually spent a Saturday night out? Chi-Chi mused. She usually spent it on finishing household chores and prepping for the following week. Sometimes, she'd rouse herself enough to work out and would test how much remembered all the old katas she knew back when she used to practice martial arts.

She would finish the evening off with a good book and a glass of wine, a complete cliché, but she liked it. And when she did go out, it was with Lazuli and Bulma, and they preferred a nice restaurant or each other's houses, not a swanky bar.

She tugged nervously at her skirt. It was an old one and felt tighter than she remembered.

Shorter than she remembered.

She kept the new cashmere shirt on and thought that with some jewelry, skirt and ankle boots, she'd be able to repurpose it for a night out.

As part of her mini-makeover, she already had makeup on so she really just had to touch up her lipstick. Her palms began to sweat. This was making her feel more nervous than she thought.

By the time she got to the bar, she'd managed to calm herself down a little. She saw Lapis casually leaning against the wall by the entrance, scrolling on his phone with a bored expression on his face. A few women, younger, much younger, were eyeing him with interest.

Oh god, she was a 37-year-old mom of two. What was she doing here?

As if reading her mind, Lapis looked up and saw her approaching. His bored face disappeared and was replaced with one that looked almost admiring, if his default expression wasn't sarcastic.

"Hey hot mama," he drawled slowly, pulling her into a friendly hug. He leaned back to regard her. "You look good. New hair cut?"

"Yeah, was feeling like a change," Chi-Chi said.

He stepped away, but let his hand linger on the small of her back as he led them in.

This is weird, she thought to herself, almost flinching away from his small gesture. He must have noticed because he angled a look at her and dropped his hand.

"Relax," Lapis said with a chuckle. They found a small table with two high bar stools and situated themselves. "We're just two friends, hanging out."

"Hanging out," Chi-Chi repeated with a nervous nod.

Lapis' lips twisted and he looked down at the drink menu and said, "This is going to be fun."

She was sure he meant that sarcastically but as time went on, Chi-Chi found herself relaxing and having fun. Lapis really was a lot like her sister; maybe more sarcastic and biting, if one could believe it. But unlike his sister, who loved to drop bombs with a straight face and deadpan tone, Lapis tempered each barb with a smile.

She found out that he'd recently finished university studies and had gotten at job at the state national park. He didn't have to go back to school, especially since he had all that money from his time modeling in his youth, but he believed a bored mind was a dull mind, plus nature always called to him. He wanted to protect it and all its inhabitants. As a girl who grew up in the mountains, Chi-Chi related to that very much.

"To Mother Nature, my first love," he said mockingly, lifting his bottle, but his eyes shone with sincerity.

At that, the smile that had been on Chi-Chi's face faltered.

She didn't really want to think about first loves.

They fell silent and for the first time since finally relaxing. Chi-Chi felt awkward. Lapis leaned back on his stool and regarded her with a wave of his hand.

"So, are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?" he said finally.

"What do you mean?"

"I've decided I like you, Chi-Chi," Lapis said casually, like he was describing the weather. Matter-of-fact.

"Gee, thanks?" Chi-Chi rolled her eyes and took another sip of her wine, the only glass she had this evening.

"And if we're going to continue seeing each other, I need you to be straight with me."

Chi-Chi's brows raised in surprise. "We're going to see each other after this?"

"Depends."

"Do I have a say?" Chi-Chi returned with a half smile. He scoffed and grinned.

"No, I like my women unwilling and bored out of their mind. But seriously."

"Seriously what?"

He pursed his lips, as if considering his next words. Then, finally:

"Is Goku going to be a problem?"

Chi-Chi gaped soundlessly for a moment. "What do you mean? A problem?"

"There's a reason I don't fish in the same sea," Lapis said in the same droll tone as before. "Gets complicated. But I like you. And Goku's my friend. Therein lies my dilemma."

She was shocked that Lazuli wasn't kidding. There was some sort of… "guy code" at work. She shook her head.

"He doesn't own me. And I have no hold on him whatsoever."

He was quiet for a moment, looking like he was assessing her statement seriously.

"You sure about that last part?" Lapis asked finally, with brows raised.

"We've been divorced for seven years, Lapis."

Lapis shrugged, as if saying, "So?"

Chi-Chi shook her head, baffled, flashing him a tight smile. "If Goku and I were going to get back together, it would have happened by now." Color suffused her face. "Besides, I… um, I think he's seeing Launch? So clearly he doesn't care about friend group dynamics."

Lapis nearly choked on his beer. "Fucking with me."

"She was cooking him dinner, the last time I dropped off the kids," Chi-Chi said as casually as she could.

"Launch. Tien's ex-girlfriend Launch? The one with the drinking problem?" He banged the table in delight.

Her cheeks darkened. "Yes. I really hope she got over that. My kids are there. I'm… I'm trusting Goku has the judgement not to expose them to her mood swings. I remember how wild she used to get."

"Dende on a dongle."

"That's one way to put it."

"Well, that was a long time ago," Lapis said generously, sipping on his drink in amusement. "People change… Even me."

Chi-Chi smiled. Lapis was definitely a lot of fun. She didn't feel that magnetic pull to him the way she was around Goku, but he did change. For all his prickly bluster, time seemed have smoothed some of his rough edges.

For now, all she felt were the comforts of friendship but he was nice on the eyes… it could turn into something. Or maybe not, but her mood lightened at the knowledge that this was a good first step forward.

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Chi-Chi was home by midnight and she stifled a yawn, thinking with amusement that this was the latest she'd stayed out for a while. After drinks, Lapis took her out dancing, which was also something Chi-Chi hadn't done in ages. For someone with his reputation, he was really a true gentleman the entire evening.

Except for the flirting, it was a lot like hanging out with the girls.

She giggled silently to herself, thinking it was probably wise not to say that out loud in front of Lapis.

She was just removing her new shirt and was folding it up when her text notification pinged.

Alive? —Lapis

Chi-Chi smiled. And rapidly texted back.

Barely, but thanks for checking in, that's sweet. —Chi-Chi

What're you wearing? —Lapis

Chi-Chi nearly dropped her phone. Was he… was he serious? She looked around, wondering if she was on candid camera, like he had known she was just in her skirt and bra. Maybe she pegged him all wrong. Or… maybe she was just a prude?

Gah, she hated this dating thing.

In a second: I'm kidding. Night, princess. x —Lapis

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes, feeling slightly relieved that he was. He was as awful as his sister for pushing buttons.

She was finally in her pajamas and about to turn the lights off, when her notification pinged again.

Trying to match Lapis' teasing and feeling a bit daring, Chi-Chi cheekily typed:

I'm wearing pink polka dot pajamas. ;-) —Chi-Chi

She pressed send without another care, when she saw the history of the chat message was different:

Hope you have your phone on vibrate since it's late. Texting you now before I forget that I told Gohan to invite Videl over for lunch tomorrow. You should come by! —Goku

Followed by her own text about her damn pajamas.

Her stupid, ratty, completely unsexy pajamas.

Chi-Chi cried out in mortification, throwing her phone in the air. Of all the times to not be paying attention to who was texting her! What must Goku think!

He hadn't responded so she quickly put her thumb on the message and tried to see if there was an option for "unsend." There was a delete option, but did that just delete it on her end or on his as well?

While she frantically considered her options, Goku responded.

? —Goku

She didn't know her fingers could type that fast.

Sorry! Wrong text window. Just jokes. —Chi-Chi

She blew out an embarrassed breath, wondering how she got herself into these situations. She was about to lower her phone, trying not to dwell, when her phone pinged again.

I'm wearing nothing to bed. :-P—Goku

Chi-Chi's heart rate immediately went to overdrive. She wasn't sure if he was just trying to joke… or was saying the truth… or both.

Because he loved sleeping naked.

Again, the vision of walking into his room by accident danced in front of her.

Chi-Chi considered all her options, then simply responded:

Ha. —Chi-Chi

lol. gnight Chi. —Goku

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