Judy pulled the small teal garment out of the box. "I thought you said this was a sweater?" Her sister Hazel nodded and Judy held it up and flipped the sweater around to look at both sides. "I… how do I even wear this? And why is the neck hole so huge?"
Hazel rolled her eyes. "It's a backless sweater dress."
"Backless… what does…" Judy paused and trailed off, her eyes going wide. "I thought you said it was a sexy sweater, not… seriously, it looks like a half finished knitted oven mitt!"
"Trust me, he'll love this."
Judy closed her eyes and sighed. She regretted asking for Hazel's help, but after a failed dinner she'd made for Nick (how was she supposed to know he was allergic to walnuts?) and the disastrous night she begged him to let her come along while he played cards with Finnick (she didn't even know the rules for poker), Judy was running out of ideas for ways to get Nick's attention. "I'm going to look ridiculous."
Hazel shook her head and replied, "He invited you over for movies at his place tonight, right? Assuming he isn't blind, if you wear this, I guarantee he won't be able to take his eyes off of you." Judy scrunched up her face and bit her lip before Hazel repeated herself, this time with extra emphasis. "Just trust me, ok?"
Judy idly brushed imaginary lint off her oversized puffy down jacket as she waited for Nick to answer the door. She'd wanted to wear a shirt underneath the sweater, but Hazel had absolutely forbidden her from doing so. Judy was glad she'd at least added a pair of black leggings as she bounced nervously to keep warm in the brisk evening air.
Nick answered the door. "Heyyyyyy Carrots. There's, uhhh, someone here who showed up unexpectedly that I guess you should meet." Judy gave him a puzzled look before she stepped inside his apartment and Nick closed the door. "Judy, I'd like you to meet my mom, Vivian, and her friend Sally."
Sally, a young vixen about Judy's age, nodded from where she sat at the dining room table. An elderly vixen sitting next to her stood and strode towards Judy with a friendly smile on her face. "Oh, uhh, hello Ms. Wilde-" Judy awkwardly started to extend her paw before Vivian unexpectedly pulled her into a crushing hug.
Nick cringed when his mother closed her eyes and surreptitiously sniffed Judy once and said, "It's so good to finally meet you, Judy. My name is Vivian. I've heard so much about you-"
Nick interrupted his mom. "Judy, can I talk to you in the bedroom for a sec?" Vivian barely had time to let go of Judy before Nick dragged the bunny into the bedroom and quickly closed the door.
Nick stood quietly for a moment and then cleared his throat. "I may have… look, I told my mom we were dating, so she'd quit trying to set me up." Judy's jaw dropped open while Nick paced back and forth as he continued speaking angrily to himself. "Obviously she doesn't believe me, which is why Sally is here-"
Judy finally found her voice. "You... you told her we're dating?"
Nick stopped and gripped both of Judy's shoulders so he could look into her eyes. "Focus, Carrots. I need your help. I'm begging you, just play along until they leave. Have you ever seen me beg for anything before?"
Judy smirked and said, "Well, you did get down on your knees and tell Clawhauser you'd die if he didn't give you the last blueberry donut the other day."
His voice was almost a whine. "I'm serious, Fluff. Please?"
Judy rolled her eyes. "Ok ok. What... what do I need to do?"
Nick grinned slyly. "You know, just hold my paw and nod."
"Seriously? You think that'll convince-"
"Yes. And it's only for a few more minutes until they're outta here."
Judy smiled. "Alright, Slick. But you owe me."
Nick returned her smile and nodded. They started to walk back out of the bedroom when Nick turned to Judy and said, "Here, let me take your jacket."
Judy stopped and folded her arms across her chest protectively. "No! I mean, I'm cold, it's fine."
"Are you sure? I can turn up the heat-"
The vixens sat next to each other at the table and calmly sipped their tea while they stared at the closed bedroom door.
Vivian asked, "What do you think they're talking about in there?"
Sally smirked. "I dunno, but that bunny has it bad for Nick. I could smell her clear across-"
"Sally! Keep your nose to yourself."
Sally laughed. "You're one to talk. I saw you give her a big sniff when you hugged her. And I figured you'd be glad, since now you're halfway to winning our little bet-"
Nick interrupted her when he burst through the bedroom door, followed closely by Judy. "Can I get you ladies anything? More tea? How about you, Carrots?"
A bead of sweat trickled down Judy's brow and she said in a quavering voice, "I… I'd like some ice water, please."
Nick looked at her quizzically. "I thought you said you were cold?"
"Oh, I'm ok now." The three foxes stared at Judy for a moment, before she hopped up on a chair across from the two vixens and slowly shrugged out of her coat, which she carefully let fall over the back of her chair. Nick walked over as if to pick up her jacket, but Judy grabbed it and draped it back over her shoulders. "No, leave it, uhh, dear… I may get chilly later."
Nick balked for a second and then grinned. "Of course, honeybun." He hovered awkwardly while the two vixens stared at him before he slowly leaned over and gave Judy a quick kiss on her ear, which caused her to flinch. As he pulled away, Nick added, "Lemme get that water for you."
He hurried to the kitchen while Sally looked at Judy and asked, "So, you're Nick's partner?
Judy stopped watching Nick's retreat into the kitchen and looked at Sally. "What? Uh, yeah, he's my partner. At the ZPD." She paused before adding lamely, "And here."
Sally raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. How long have you known each other?"
Before Judy could speak again, Vivian said, "Sally, dear, quit pestering the poor girl." The older vixen took a sip of tea, and after a few lingering moments of silence Nick joined them, a glass of ice water in each paw. He handed Judy her water before he sat at the head of the table and started to take a drink when his mom smiled and said, "You two make such a cute couple. How long have you been dating, and are you planning on moving in together?"
Nick started to choke and Judy froze, an uncertain smile plastered on her face.
Sally snorted. "Oh, so it's ok if you give her the third degree?"
Vivian frowned. "I'm just naturally curious about my son's life. And I wasn't just asking her, I was asking both of them."
Nick cleared his throat and put his glass down on the table with a loud thunk. "You know what… it's getting late, Ma. Judy and I were planning on watching a movie-"
"Say no more, say no more. I know when I'm not wanted."
Judy giggled at the petulant tone of Nick's response. "Ma…"
While the vixens finished putting their coats on, Judy hurriedly put on her own jacket and jumped up to say goodbye. Sally eyed the rabbit for a moment before she asked, "I thought you were staying for a movie?"
Nick awkwardly hugged Judy to his side. "She is. Thank you both for stopping by."
Vivian started to say something, but Sally put a paw on her shoulder. "Come on Vivian, we need to say goodnight to these two lovebirds." Nick practically pushed the two vixens out the door and slammed it behind them.
Vivian made an annoyed noise and Sally chuckled.
They walked to Sally's car in silence and got in before Vivian said, "That was the most bizarre... I wonder if Nicky is gay?"
Sally snickered. "Nick isn't gay, he's just stupid."
Vivian folded her arms. "How do you know?"
"Well, when we were younger, I caught him watching some videos… look, I'm pretty sure he isn't gay." She paused and held out her paw. "Now pay up."
Vivian pulled out her pocketbook and extracted a twenty dollar bill. "You know, technically they said they were dating-" Sally made a rude noise, and Vivian sighed and reluctantly handed over the money.
Sally smiled and tucked the bill into her purse. "They aren't dating, at least not yet. It's hilarious that Judy is so obviously interested, and Nick is so painfully oblivious-"
Vivian scowled. "Enough with the gloating already. Let's go."
Sally started the car and began to back out of the parking spot when Vivian gasped. "My phone! You know what, I forgot my phone. I'll be right back."
Nick slammed the door and turned to Judy. "What is going on with you tonight, Fluff?"
Judy glared at him, her paws on her hips. "Me? At least I didn't ask you to lie to my mom-"
Nick's ears flattened against his head and he looked at the ground contritely. "Judy, I… I'm sorry I had you lie-"
Judy closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "This isn't exactly how I wanted to meet your mom for the first time."
Nick glared at the door and said, "Honestly, I wish you'd never had to meet… wait… you wanted to meet my mom?" He looked over at Judy to find her staring at the ground, obviously embarrassed, with her ears folded flat against her head. Nick stepped next to her and knelt down before he said, "I still don't understand… Carrots, can you at least tell me why the hell you won't take off your jacket?"
Judy refused to look him in the eye. "I wanted to wear something tonight that I thought you'd like."
Nick looked confused. "The jacket?"
Judy huffed. "No, it's… I've got it on, under the jacket."
"You mean the sweater? It looked nice, teal is definitely your color."
She looked up into Nick's eyes and smiled tentatively. "Really?" Judy hesitated for a moment before she took her jacket off and handed it to Nick. She turned to the side. "It doesn't look… weird or anything?" Judy bit her lip and awkwardly twirled to show off her outfit.
Nick gaped at Judy and stared for a few seconds before he realized he'd dropped her jacket on the floor.
When she saw his face, Judy froze and her ears drooped. "Maybe I should go," she mumbled.
Judy started to reach for her jacket, but Nick snatched it up. "No. Wait, Carrots. It… it looks really good on you. Honest." Judy smiled and her ears blushed scarlet. "Ok Fluff, why don't you go sit on the couch while I go make some popcorn-"
Nick was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Nicky, it's your mother. I forgot my phone on the table." Judy panicked and bolted towards the bathroom.
Nick sighed loudly. "Oh for Pete's sake."
Vivian was startled when Nick abruptly stormed out the door. She craned her neck to see inside, but Nick quickly closed the door behind him and wordlessly held out her phone.
"Thank you, dear." Vivian sniffed the air and looked at Nick quizzically before she triumphantly added, "Huh, I knew it! You really do like Judy."
Nick cringed and he said in a loud whisper, "Wha… Ma, shush! She has super bunny hearing-"
"So you like her enough to date-"
"Yes, ok, I do. Happy? And if you could refrain from dropping by unannounced with more vixens, and let us spend some time together in peace, that'd be great."
"Of course." His mom smiled and kissed Nick on the cheek. "Have fun, Nicky." She started to walk away, but after two steps paused and turned to look at Nick. "Could you do me a favor? If you could tell Sally you two really are dating the next time-"
"Ma!"
"Ok, ok, I'm going."
Nick opened the door and stepped inside to find himself unexpectedly nose to nose with Judy, who had an astonishingly smug look on her face. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Carrots, tell me you didn't overhear-"
But there was no chance for Nick to finish speaking before Judy roughly pulled him close for a kiss.