"Nicole Haught, you are the most difficult patient have ever had the displeasure of working with," her PT said as they returned to the therapy room, Nicole practically skipping past the man.
"Oh, Brandon don't go breaking my heart now," She responded dramatically, swinging her legs back and forth as they dangled off of the treatment table.
Nicole wasn't usually one to toot her own horn, but here she was, tooting it anyway.
It wasn't a forgone conclusion that she'd be able to walk normally again, but after getting her head out of her ass and putting her nose to the grindstone, she progressed at what had to be a record pace. Nothing was going to stop her, not her leg, not the stupid stairs and definitely not Brandon the physical therapist.
She'd come a long way since her first session, where the only thing she could focus on was the dread and feeling that she'd never play hockey again. (Well, that and the irony of getting stuck with a therapist named Brandon). Sure, she still had pain after especially long days, but now sixteen weeks later, the limp was becoming less and less noticeable with each passing day.
"No, I mean it, you've aged me. I'm 27 and I've found four grey hairs since I started working with you—one for each month," Brandon continued just as dramatically, holding up four fingers for emphasis. "Or for each time you kicked me."
"Dude, I already apologized for that."
"I know, I know. Now, shut up, I'm trying to be sentimental." Nicole made a zipping motion across her lips, waiting for Brandon to proceed. "Now as I was saying, Nicole Haught, you are the single most difficult, infuriating, stubborn patient I have ever had the displeasure of working with, but you have come so far from day one, that I'm proud to say I was a part of helping you get here. And dare I say, I might actually miss you, Big Red."
"Aww, Mr. Drill Sergeant has a heart after all," she teased.
"Yeah, yeah. Now go on, get out of here to that girl of yours, and I really don't wanna have to see you back here," Brandon pointed a warning finger in her face. "Seriously, Bobo will have my head if you go screwing up all the work he did on that leg. Dude actually compared the work he did on you to Michelangelo sculpting David."
Nicole rolled her eyes because of course the crazy surgeon would.
"Sir, yes sir. Thank you Brandon, seriously."
"Yeah yeah. Go on now." He waved her out, and she walked down the hallway, expecting to see Waverly, but getting Wynonna instead.
She frowned slightly, really looking forward to seeing her girlfriend after completing the last of her post-op physical therapy.
"Wow, don't look so happy to see me, Scherzinger."
"Scherzinger?"
"Scherzinger," Wynonna nodded, but offered little clarification. "As in Nicole Scherzinger. Of the Pussycat Dolls?"
"I know who Nicole Scherzinger is," Nicole said, following Wynonna out of the door and out to the truck. "As far as nicknames go, definitely not one of your best."
Wynonna grumbled a fuck you under her breath as she started up the truck.
"Where's Waverly?"
"She keeps getting more and more work handed to her by Dolls. I really think he's getting close to offering her a real job in the organization."
"He better," Nicole agreed, "she's basically doing his job for him at this point."
Since the first set of errands Waverly had run with Dolls back in July, she'd increasingly been handed more responsibilities outside of rink operations. By mid-August, she'd known more of the ins and outs of the team than Nicole did; now in October with the season set to kick off in three days, Waverly was busier than ever.
Seemingly always knowing when Nicole was thinking of her, Waverly sent her a text message, which was opened immediately.
Waves : Hi baby, I am SOSOSOSOSO SORRY for not being there for your LAST DAY of physical therapy. I just want you to know that I am SO PROUD of how far you've come, and when I get home we're going to celebrate that. I love you
Nicole replied right away, returning the feeling and the love, smiling like an idiot at her phone. Wynonna scoffed and teased her from the driver's seat, but Nicole didn't really care.
She was so appreciative of Waverly's strength, even when Nicole could tell she was at her wits end with the redhead. Now that she was in a much better place, Nicole's biggest regret was the way she pushed everyone's help away—not being receptive to Brandon's instructions, shutting out and ignoring Vic and Shan, snippy one-word answers to any questions Jeremy tried to ask her, her mental breakdown in front of Wynonna, and especially to Waverly for the cold shoulders one minute and the yelling and screaming and self-pity the next. It may have been hard for Nicole (since she was the one who had her world flipped on its head), but that didn't mean that everyone around her didn't suffer too. She realized that now, and understood that she was incredibly lucky and incredibly undeserving of people who stuck by her even when she hardly resembled the woman that they knew.
"Wynonna, can we make a stop real quick?" Nicole asked as the truck drove along the road, nearing the little family-owned grocery store that Waverly loved.
Wynonna protested, but relented when Nicole promised her she'd buy the woman not one, but two boxes of the brightest, most synthetically processed, sugariest cereals with the cartoon characters on the front that Waverly never allowed in the house. Sometimes Nicole couldn't believe Wynonna was older than both her and Waverly.
In and out in less than twenty minutes, Nicole found everything she needed with relative ease and Wynonna drove them back to the homestead.
The redhead quickly jumped into the shower, changed into that navy blue button down that Waverly adored, and then headed to the kitchen to get started. Waverly texted her that she'd be back around 5:30, and Nicole was determined to have dinner prepared and sitting on the table when her love walked through the door.
"Ooh, what's cookin' Chef Haught…" Wynonna popped into the kitchen, looking excitedly over the ingredients until her eyes landed on the tofu/walnut mixture lying on a baking sheet, "…you know, besides a botched science experiment." Nicole rolled her eyes in amusement at the way Wynona turned up her nose.
"I found a vegan taco meat recipe online and I wanted to make dinner for Waverly."
Wynonna snorts to herself, but doesn't comment.
"Well, I was excited for your cooking, but now I'm glad I accepted Doc's offer."
"Which was what, a bottle of whiskey and cheap Chinese takeout?"
"Well, I'm sorry Nicole, but some of us don't have lesbian lovers to cook us vegan tacos," Wynonna quipped back. "Besides, I happen to like whiskey and wontons."
"I'm happy for you," Nicole smiled, "I'm just saying, at some point you should get around to teaching him how to use chopsticks. I'm tired of watching him almost cut his tongue on his knife."
"I quite like his little idiosyncrasies," Wynonna said, looking quite proud, "I used that one right, right?"
"Yes Wynonna."
"Great, I keep trying to keep up with Doc's vocabulary, but he talks like he's a hundred and fifty, and it's so hard to understand what he means half the time."
"I think you're doing just fine—motherfucker," she hissed, snapping her hand away from the hot tray she pulled from the oven just moments ago. Wynonna sniggered at Nicole's misfortune.
"Well, good luck with that," she motioned toward the dinner preparation going on, "I'll be heading out. Don't wait up for me."
"Wasn't planning on it," Nicole answered, but Wynonna had already sprinted off to her truck.
As the time neared 5:30, she started to plate the tacos, topping them with the vegan sour cream she bought from the market. She set the table, complete with cheesy little candles, placing a single rose in the small vase she'd also found at the grocery.
She sprung up from the table excitedly (almost embarrassingly quickly) when she heard the sound of Waverly's Jeep pull in. She met Waverly with a kiss at the door.
"Well someone's in a good mood," Waverly remarked once they'd pulled away and entered the house.
"Mhm, and even better now that I get to spend it with my gorgeous baby."
"You flatter me, Nicole Haught," Waverly smiled dreamily. "I actually have something to tell you."
"You're not breaking up with me are you?" Nicole teased.
"Well it would be pretty cruel to do that after that kiss, wouldn't it?" Nicole supposed she had to agree. "So you know how Dolls has been giving me more and more things to do with the team?"
"Yeah."
"Today, he asked me into his office, and offered me the job of Assistant Director of Hockey Operations."
"Waves, that's incredible!" Nicole cheered. "Tell me you accepted."
"Of course I did. Apparently, he talked to Gus first, and we're hiring more staff to fill jobs at the arena. So, I had no excuse to say no really."
"Well, if anyone deserves this job it's you," Nicole embraced her girlfriend, leading them to the kitchen. "Looks like this dinner is a celebration."
PURGATORY SPORTS REPORT (JeremyC_PG)
SOURCES: Blue Devils nearing big signing; no names released yet
7 OCT – 8:31 AM MST
TSN (TSN_Sports)
Many sources report that the Purgatory Blue Devils are close to a headline signing; The Devils could use a response to a lackluster free agency period following the retirement of defenseman Kym Greene, and the question marks surrounding the future of star forward, Nicole Haught.
7 OCT—12:00 EST
On Monday, the day before the season was set to kick off, Waverly had a meeting with Dolls and Nicole was set to get to real hockey rehab, another step forward on her road back to playing. Nicole gave her girlfriend a hug and a kiss, wishing her luck on her first official day in her very important, very cool new job. (As far as Nicole was concerned, Waverly was the definition of adorable in her blazer, her hair done up in a pretty, professional ponytail, and smile spreading from ear to ear with excitement). As she turned down toward the training room, Nicole could've sworn she'd saw a familiar face, but brushed it off, knowing how unlikely it would be that she'd actually seen what she'd seen.
This first session with the training staff was more informational than anything else. Kate and Rosita would be running point on her rehab, meeting three days a week to start, building at whatever pace Nicole moved through the stages.
"Sign this," Rosita ordered, holding a sheet of paper in front of Nicole at the end of the session.
"What is it?" She questioned, furrowing her brow.
"It's a contract. It just states that just because we're your friends," Rosita said, Kate nodding alongside of her, "you won't fuck around and bitch out on rehab when things get tough."
"And it states that we won't let you, either," Kate added.
"I'm offended that you think I'd do that," Nicole scoffed.
"You know as well as we do that rehab isn't gonna be some walk in the park," Kate said, softer and less upfront, "this is just a written promise that you can't get pissed at us when we work you like a horse."
Nicole laughed, but neither of the two trainers did.
"You guys are serious, huh?"
"Deadly," they answered in unison.
"Fine," Nicole sighed as she scrawled her signature across the bottom of the page.
Rosita and Kate smiled contently, adding their names below Nicole's and dismissing her.
Nicole left the room, hearing the sound of Wynonna yelling at Champ for "gross irresponsibility". She could only laugh, knowing that whatever Champ screwed up had to be really bad for Wynonna Earp to be lecturing him on responsibility.
She neared Dolls' office, knowing the meeting would surely have to be close to finished by now, and waited for Waverly. When the door finally opened, Waverly was the first one out but was still turned back into the office, waiting for the others. The occupants of the office walked out together, Waverly, Nedley, Dolls, and one of the last people Nicole would've expected to see.
What the hell was she doing here?
"Oh! Nicole, perfect," Waverly cheered when she first saw Nicole. "I have exciting news."
"Nicole Haught!" The blonde behind Waverly called out.
"Hannah?" She called back, meeting the woman for an excited embrace. "God, how long has it been?"
"Too long."
"I know. What're you doing here?"
"It may or may not have something to do with the exciting news Ms. Earp was talking about."
"Oh please, just Waverly," Waverly waved off Hannah's formality, "but Hannah just signed her contract, as of about fifteen minutes ago she's the newest member of the Purgatory Blue Devils."
"Shut up!" Nicole could burst with excitement. "That's incredible."
"I was going to introduce you, but I see you already know each other," Waverly said. "How exactly do you know each other?"
Hannah and Nicole looked at each other, Nicole a bit more awkwardly than the blonde.
"We uh…" Nicole started, not sure how to word it, "we were teammates at UA."
"Why're you being so awkward about it Haught?" Hannah questioned and, turning to Waverly, said, "We were teammates, but we also used to date."
"O-oh, right," the brunette said, just above a whisper. Nicole didn't miss the way Waverly shifted awkwardly on her feet.
"Anyway, so exciting you're here Han."
"I know it. Super bummed I'm gonna have to wait to get back onto the ice with you though," Hannah rested an elbow on Nicole's shoulder.
"Hey, I'm workin' on it, alright?"
"Well," Waverly cleared her throat, "I'd better get going. Busy, busy, busy around here these days."
She shuffled away, leaving Nicole and Hannah to catch up.
They'd come into UA together as freshmen, the program struggling after losing its best player (see: Shae Pressman) and four other key contributors to graduation. Both Hannah and Nicole saw significant playing time, and before long built a chemistry on the ice that was rare, especially considering Nicole was a center and Hannah was a defenseman. The chemistry the built quickly spilled over into off-ice activities and before long they'd become a bit of an item. They dated for the remainder of freshman year, even after the conclusion of hockey season, but ended things on good terms when Hannah transferred out to Boston College just before sophomore year started. Nicole had played four years at UA, struggling to build anything that came close to the chemistry she built with Hannah. Hannah on the other hand grew in stardom at BC, playing only that second year at the college before being drafted into the pro league in the States.
Nicole was happy to be reunited with a former teammate and excited for what that kind of talent would mean for the team. She just hoped she'd get to be a part of it sooner rather than later.
CEWHL (CEWHL)
BREAKING NEWS—Purgatory Blue Devils agree to terms with Boston Pride (NWHL) star defenseman, Hannah Hastings. Details to follow.
7 OCT—2:20 PM EST
PURGATORY BLUE DEVILS (bluedevilsCEWHL)
DONE DEAL: Hannah Hastings is Purgatory's newest Blue Devil
7 OCT—12:22 PM MST
PURGATORY BLUE DEVILS (bluedevilsCEWHL)
As if there were any doubt, Hannah looks good in Devils Blue
8 OCT—10:00 AM MST
PURGATORY BLUE DEVILS (bluedevilsCEWHL)
Our newest signing greets the fans, making an immediate impact by scoring the Devils' first goal of the season.
Blue Devils 1, Outlaws 0.
8 OCT—8:00 PM MST
If Nicole wasn't motivated to get back onto the ice before, she certainly was now. Playing with Hannah again wasn't something Nicole had thought about in four years, but now that it was a possibility, she'd be lying if she said it wasn't on her mind more often than not.
She'd made enough progress in her rehab after a few weeks for Rosita and Kate to throw her a bone, allowing her to lace her skates up, and go out onto the ice. It was far from game-level skating, more like a private public skate, slowly around the oval, but she'd definitely take it.
It had been a moment she'd been waiting six months for, and she'd really wanted Waverly to be there for it, but her girlfriend had her schedule booked out for the day with meetings and so Nicole put her knee brace on and tied up her skates alongside Rosita and Kate, trying not to let Waverly's absence dampen the mood.
"Hey, hey, hey," Hannah called appearing from the tunnel, the Devils' just getting out of practice for the day. "Looks like a party out here, what's happenin'?"
"Bambi's getting her first steps on the ice in six months is what's happening," Kate replied.
"Well, that is quite the momentous occasion, we gotta get it on video. If you all wait like two seconds, I can get my phone."
The other three nodded, Nicole needing a moment to get reacquainted with the feeling of skates on her feet, adjusting to the new feeling of the braces she had on. Hannah reappeared a few minutes later, phone in hand and skates back on. Ready and raring to go, Rosita hit the ice first, followed by Kate, leaving Nicole standing at the bench doors looking straight out at the surface. She took a deep breath, very aware of the camera on her, and stepped onto the ice.
No words could accurately describe the feeling. Just six months without it and it had felt like a whole lifetime had passed, the feeling of blades on the ice. Her first steps were hardly steps, still not quite used to the motion. She figured it'd be like riding a bike, but she was rusty, and probably did resemble Bambi in all honesty.
The other three cheered, and Nicole beamed straight into the camera as she caught Hannah's smile following her slow steps. She felt like she might cry in all honesty. Maybe there was hope for her yet.
She was too caught up in the gravity and pure joy of the moment to realize she was pushing herself too fast, tumbling to the ice before she could register it was happening. She sat there frozen, groaning. Flashbacks of her second practice with the Devils came back to her mind. Somewhere from above (and behind her) she heard Rosita whisper-yell a command, "Shut it off," and she knew that Hannah had caught the fall on her camera as well.
"Nicole?" Kate called, her voice growing louder as she drew closer to the redhead.
She managed a nod, abundantly frustrated that her body couldn't quite keep up with what she was trying to make it do.
It was neither Rosita nor Kate, however, who offered Nicole a hand to stand back up.
"Hey Nicky, looks like you stumbled there," Hannah said bemused. Nicole quirked an eyebrow as if to say "Really? Hadn't noticed." Hannah's sarcasm was welcomed though, if Waverly had seen her fall, she'd have been a hundred shades of worried and probably would've tried to bubble wrap her. "Whaddya say we get you stood back up and send that faceoff dot to the box? Two minutes for tripping."
The blonde's smile was so sincere and so Hannah Hastings that Nicole physically couldn't be annoyed in that moment. She was still the same Hannah she'd met in Psych 101, even before hockey season even started; the blonde with the big green eyes who'd approached her on day one of the semester and introduced herself so confidently and charmingly. Nicole took the hand extended to her and slowly, carefully, got back to her feet.
Hannah's hands lingered a moment on Nicole's forearms, even after she'd steadied herself back on her feet.
"God, if I had nickel for every time I had to pick this one up freshman year," Hannah teased Nicole to the other two trainers.
"Shut up, it didn't happen that much," Nicole defended.
"Probably happened too often for someone who'd become a professional, not to mention rookie of the year and MVP in the same season—congrats on that by the way though babes."
Nicole rolled her eyes playfully, either not catching or choosing to ignore the way that the term of endearment so easily slipped from Hannah's lips.
"Alright klutz," Rosita chuckled, though began to take on a more serious tone, "are you okay?"
"Yep. Perfectly fine," Nicole answered. She'd have a bruise on her left hip and one on her ego, but she was fine enough she figured.
"I need you to be like a million percent honest with me," the trainer pressed, "don't fuck around with things like this. If you're hurt it could set back your recovery."
"I really am fine, promise," she answered, leaning on Hannah just ever so slightly. Taking a stride toward the bench, she didn't even try to hide the wince. Maybe it hurt more than she originally realized.
"Alright we're gonna kill this little adventure then."
"Come on Nic, I'll help ya over to the bench," Hannah offered, not moving away from her side, and even helping her to undo the laces on her skates. It was something she could definitely do herself, but appreciated not having to put the effort in to bend down.
PURGATORY BLUE DEVILS (bluedevilsCEWHL)
What's this? Nicole Haught takes small steps on the ice, but giant strides in her road to recovery with her first time on skates in six months. (Video: 49)
29 OCT—3:57 PM MST
Nicole threw her keys into the dish by the door in the homestead that Waverly had insisted on buying as a way to ensure that none of them (she said with a hard stare at both Nicole and Wynonna) tore the place apart looking for misplaced keys. As if that would work for the walking disaster that was Wynonna Earp.
One of the smaller excitements in Nicole's recovery was the fact that she could take herself places once again, not relying on her girlfriend or best friend for rides like she was a high school sophomore again. Tonight, she'd been at the Devils' game and went over to watch game film with Hannah, something they frequently did together after games in college, and picked right back up as the season got into full swing, despite the fact that Nicole wasn't playing. She found it odd at first, but as a student of the game, she figured that while her body was still a work in progress, she could at least keep her mind sharp. (And, it gave her time to catch up with an old friend).
By the time they'd decided to call it a night, it was nearing 11 pm, and she'd almost had half a mind to accept Hannah's offer to crash at her place. But, it had been a long day and she hadn't seen Waverly since the morning when the smaller woman took off for the arena bright and early to prepare for the game. As she yawned and climbed up the steps, the only thing she was looking forward to was climbing into bed and cuddling up with her baby.
She tossed off her team hoodie and sweats, changing into her pajamas and peeling back the covers on what had become their bed. Sensing the disturbance, Waverly rolled over, humming sleepily as she reached across the bed.
"Nicole?" She murmured, still very much under the influence of her slumber.
"Hi baby," she whispered, taking Waverly's hand in hers as she covered herself with the duvet.
"Wha' time isit?" The brunette slurred.
"It's late, shhh, go back to sleep."
But Waverly didn't go back to sleep; she sat up instead.
"I tried to wait up for you," she said, words more coherent.
"I know, and I'm sorry I'm so late, Hannah and I got caught up watching film."
"That's good, I'm glad you guys are still friends," was what Waverly answered, but Nicole sensed a bit of something she couldn't quite name in her voice.
The conversation went on for a moment longer before Waverly yawned and announced she was going back to sleep, rolling over to turn away from Nicole. The redhead was dumbfounded and a little hurt when Waverly turned further away from her.
As expected, she didn't get the greatest night sleep. She couldn't for the life of her understand Waverly's sudden change of attitude. Surely if she'd done something wrong, Waverly would've told her. She was up when her girlfriend's alarm went off, stretching her tired limbs, yawning as Waverly swung herself out of bed with a "Good morning" but little else before going over to the bathroom to kick off her morning routine.
Okay, still upset, Nicole concluded, but about what?
"I was thinking," Nicole said once Waverly returned and started to dress for the day. "Devils have a rare day off, so maybe once you get off of work for the day we can treat ourselves to a nice dinner at that restaurant you like, or we could order in and watch, or not watch, a movi—"
"—I've got wall to wall meetings today and tomorrow, Nicole."
She'd said it so plainly and flatly that Nicole knew better than to suggest anything else.
Waverly was dressed and out of the house in a frenzy, leaving Nicole still insanely lost as to what she'd done to lead her girlfriend to act like this. She figured that whatever it was, it couldn't have been relationship-destroying, considering the kiss (albeit quick and on the cheek) and "Love you" that Waverly said as she turned to run out the door.
Three more weeks passed with no improvement on the Waverly front, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Nicole had tried pretty much everything in the book, always getting a shrug or a "Can't, super busy" from the woman. Nicole spent most nights up, wracking her brain as to what could've gone so wrong.
This wasn't like them. They weren't some dysfunctional couple that didn't know how to communicate. They always talked things through, hardly ever letting a minor issue build into a major problem. They fought, that much was normal, but it wasn't ever this serious. This was new ground for Nicole, and it was eating her alive.
Nicole was exhausted from lack of sleep and overwork of her mind, trying to wake herself up enough to give a good effort in her rehab session with Rosita and Kate. They hadn't been back out on the ice since the one time, instead working on leg and core strengthening exercises. She'd been progressing at a steady rate—a snail's pace, sure, but a steady pace regardless. They'd worked out a system for rehab where she'd come see the trainers three days a week, lifting and stretching and making strides toward her ultimate goal; on the other days, and the days the team was on the road, Nicole worked with Wynonna of all people.
(Wynonna, the usually lazy, unmotivated slacker, was surprisingly into the idea of "getting ripped" with her best friend).
On her way to the training room, she was thoroughly bewildered by the scene she'd encountered—Waverly all but pinning Hannah against the wall, eyes wild and menacing.
"What is your problem?," Hannah asked, annoyed and mostly puzzled by the outburst. "I said I was sorry."
"Well, I don't know who you think you are, coming in here and thinking you can just have whatever you want," the brunette snapped. "News flash, blondie, you're not the queen of anything here so—"
"Woah, hey," Nicole jumped in before Waverly got the murderous look in her eye, "Waves, what's going on?"
"Princess here needs to realize that she doesn't own the hallway," Waverly straightened out her blazer and crossed her arms.
"Look, I bumped into her and I apologized right away, but she went zero to crazy in—"
"—Oh, girl you have not seen crazy," Waverly spat through gritted teeth as Nicole continued to hold the woman back.
"Waves, relax, it's okay, it was an accident," she tried to deescalate the situation. "Han, are you okay?" The blonde nodded, smoothing her hoodie back down from where it had bunched up during the interaction.
"Figures," Waverly scoffed and stormed away.
"What was that?" Han asked once Waverly was out of earshot.
"Fuck if I know," Nicole breathed, staring down the hall Waverly disappeared down.
Her mind was reeling from the added layer of confusing Earp behavior from Waverly when she stepped in for her rehab session. She tried her best to focus her frustration and perplexity onto the exercises, but even after 45 minutes her mind was elsewhere, the exhaustion in her body not making anything easier. (Especially when you add the ache in her bones to the stress of whatever the fuck was going on). She was no athletic trainer, but she did know that she was definitely not doing the exercises correctly.
"Aright, calm down Red," Kate stopped her, placing a hand on her shoulder to hold her back. "Stop before you hurt yourself."
"I'm fine. C'mon, let me start again."
"No you're not," the trainer handed her a towel to wipe the sweat away from her brow. "Have you seen yourself lately? You're exhausted, you're not doing the exercises correctly and you're very clearly distracted. What's eating at you?"
Nicole draped the towel over the back of her neck and let out a long, exasperated, possibly theatrical sigh.
"Waverly's been weird—hard, cold, distant. She won't say more than a few words at a time to me and will hardly ever let me touch her anymore. And, just before I came in here, I had to pull her away from Hannah before she went ballistic on her. The worst part is I have no idea what it is or how to fix it."
Rosita and Kate shared a look, both fighting impossibly hard to hold back their laughter.
"You're kidding right?" Kate arched her brow at the redhead. Nicole shook her head. No, she very clearly was not kidding. "Nicole, for such a smart girl, you really are a moron."
"Hey!" She gasped, offended.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"It sure would help."
"Waverly's jealous."
Nicole probably looked like the surprised face emoji in that moment. She was sure of it.
"Jealous? Of what?"
"God, I'd smack you upside the head if you didn't just recently suffer a head injury." Rosita butt in, unable to hold her tongue any longer.
"I seriously don't know what you're talking about."
"How about the way you and Hannah have been all over each other since she got here," the Latina trainer said plainly. "Or the way she so shamelessly flirts with you, or the way you're always spending time with her? Tell me, did your problems start around the time that blondie—your ex—came around?"
"Yeah," Nicole admitted, "but Hannah and I are just friends."
"Does Hannah know that?"
"I-uh-well," Nicole spluttered.
"How about this," Rosita tried again. "Does she know that you and Waverly are dating?"
Nicole deflated. God, how could she be so stupid?
"N-no. I-it never came up," Nicole offered the weak excuse. "But, Hannah knows that me and her aren't a thing anymore."
"Does she?" Kate challenged.
"No," she muttered, feeling like absolute dogshit. "God, I gotta fix this."
"Luckily for you, Waverly Earp is so over the moon in love with you that she'll take you back, even if you were a real horse's ass."
"Double lucky for you, I happen to know that Waverly's 1:00 meeting got cancelled," Rosita added, nodding as Nicole sprung to her feet and took off to make things right (hopefully).
She was walking so quickly and with so much purpose that she barely realized there was another body in her path until she collided with them. And of course it belonged to one Hannah Hastings.
"Woah, where's the fire?" Hannah quipped, hands lingering still.
"Huh? Oh, nowhere."
"Right," Hannah smirked. "Look, I hope this isn't too forward, but I was hoping that maybe you'd want to get dinner some time? I know it's been such a long time, but we were something don't you think so? Who's to say we can't try to revisit that?"
Nicole smiled softly, hoping that she had the words in her to let the blonde down gently.
"Han," she sighed. "Look, we were something, but I have to be completely honest with you. I'm sorry if I've led you on or gave you the wrong impression, but Waverly Earp," she paused to gauge Hannah's reaction, "is my girlfriend—of just over a year now—and I love her, I'm in love with her and I really should've been upfront about that."
"God Nicole," Hannah gave a breathy laugh, "Jeez, I won't lie and say I'm bummed you're not single, but I'm sorry for laying it on so thick. I hope I haven't caused any problems." The way Nicole looked to the floor and sighed gave Hannah all the information she needed. "Oh gosh, I have, huh? Oh—well now the incident in the hallway makes so much more sense."
"I'm sorry about that, she's really such an angel. Who apparently has a wicked mean streak."
"Yeah, I got that. Well, I'd better let you go make up with your girl then."
"Thanks Han, for being so cool about this."
Nicole sped off as quickly as her sore leg would take her, leaving the building to get to her car. She'd needed a few things that she could get on short notice that would hopefully at least get Waverly to listen to her. Maybe she'd have a little more success now that she knew the reason for this drama.
She did a silent victory dance when she saw that Waverly's office was empty when she returned. If she was on schedule, she'd be in her meeting with the marketing department for another five minutes before she'd come back to her office because of the cancellation on her schedule. Five minutes was just enough time to get everything out and prepared, which was perfect because five minutes was all she got.
Punctuality was a blessing and a curse.
Waverly scoffed, rolled her eyes, and turned to leave when she saw that Nicole had occupied her desk with a food container, a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed unicorn.
"Waves, wait, please," Nicole pleaded. "I was an idiot." Waverly paused, but didn't turn back around. "And I brought your favorite—sweet and sour soup."
The brunette turned around slowly.
"With peanut butter?" She asked with her arms crossed. Nicole produced a spoon and a jar of Waverly's favorite peanut butter from the bag, placing it on the surface of the desk. Waverly relented and took a seat across from Nicole. "I'm listening."
"I was an idiot."
"We've established that."
"I'm sorry. For not realizing right away, for continuing to spend time with Hannah and practically rubbing your nose in it."
"Nicole, you didn't even introduce me as your girlfriend, which I wasn't a fan of, but shrugged it off until—" Waverly cut herself off, "—do you know how hard it was to see your still very into you ex all over you, and the flirting and the late nights, and the, the…she was there for the first time you got back on the ice. That was such a special moment, one that I really wished I could've been a part of, and it hurt Nicole—to see her get that moment with you, especially when she doesn't fully understand how important it was."
"Oh baby, I'm so so so so sorry times a million. For everything, please understand that none of this was ever my intention. I'm sorry I didn't do it before, but I finally did tell Hannah about you, and she apologized for causing any sort of problem and she was actually really cool about it."
"I have to apologize for flipping my shit on her," Waverly frowned.
"She'll forgive you," she assured. "Though I must say, Jealous Waverly es muy caliente."
"I hate the way it makes me feel though."
"And that's why I love you," Nicole took Waverly's hand across the desk, and to her excitement, Waverly didn't pull away. "And about the skating, I know you missed that moment and I'm sorry you're upset about that, but as long as you want to be, you'll be a part of as many special moments as possible. You are truly one of a kind Waverly Earp."
Waverly stood up and crossed the desk to be closer to Nicole.
"I hate when we fight."
"It is the worst," Nicole seconded. "But we're gonna be okay, right?"
"Mhm," Waverly nodded, "especially when the best sex is make up sex."
"I know you're a genius and what not, but that is the smartest thing you've ever said."
"And," she continued, "I've got a free hour and a door that locks."
"Well now you're speaking my language," Nicole said, watching her girlfriend get up to lock the door and close the curtains, returning to crash their lips together, the sweet and sour soup left forgotten on the desk.