"How was your date?" Kidd asked without pretense, setting beers in front of Brett and Foster even though she wasn't working.
"It wasn't a date."
How many times would they have to have this conversation?
"But how was it?" Brett asked, seemingly disregarding Foster's last argument.
"It was great," Foster couldn't help but divulge. "Cold, but good."
"I told you to layer up," Brett said proudly, raising her glass to no one and anyone at the same time.
"Who won?" Kidd asked, the light in her eyes not unnoticed by Brett or Foster.
"Ah, not us," Foster shrugged, taking a big gulp of her beer.
"Who's 'we'?" Kidd challenged without hesitation.
"The Blackhawks," Foster answered immediately. "The Hurricanes whooped their ass. It was a shut out."
"A shut out!" Kidd laughed at her friend. "Did Upton teach you that?" Kidd asked without missing a beat.
"Yes, she did," Foster said, rolling her eyes and swigging her beer. "Hailey taught me a lot about hockey, actually. I think I know how it works now."
"Oh my god, you like her!" Brett exclaimed, loudly and suddenly.
"Shut up, I do not…" Foster argued weakly.
"So what did you do at the game today, when you weren't staring into each other's eyes?" Kidd asked, already laughing.
"We watched the fucking game!" Foster snapped, embarrassed and done with the torture.
"Did you kiss her?" Brett asked in a sing-song tone that caused Foster's blood to boil.
"No, I didn't kiss her. You guys are idiots," she mumbled, looking down into her beer.
Foster wasn't surprised when her friends giggled in unison in response. She also wasn't necessarily surprised when Hailey Upton walked into the bar at that exact moment. The detective had said she might show up to Molly's later that night, but that knowledge didn't keep Foster's heart from fluttering just a little more than she liked.
They made eye contact almost immediately; Upton knew where Foster sat, now. They exchanged a smile and a small wave before Upton made her way to the bar, to her friends. Foster took a sip of her beer and averted the gaze of Brett and Kidd.
"Aw, your girlfriend's here," Kidd said enthusiastically (and loudly).
"Go say hi!" Brett chimed in, grinning ear to ear.
"First, she's not my girlfriend. Second, we waved. I'm not going to interrupt her and her friends," Foster muttered, finishing her beer quickly and wishing for more.
"Foster, you don't spend all day with someone and then act like you barely know them later. I thought you were good with this stuff," Brett dug, hopefully insulting her friend into action.
"She saw me and she didn't come over here. Maybe she just wants to spend time with her friends now," Foster said, her anxiety palpable.
"Or maybe she's thinkin' the same thing you're thinkin', like she's not sure if you want her to leave you alone," Kidd challenged.
"Just go to the bar to get us more beers," Brett suggested. "Say hi, see what happens."
Foster thought it over for a moment before deciding that was the best course of action. She hated that she was so transparent when it came to her friends. She hoped she wouldn't be that obvious with Hailey.
After a solid thirty seconds of nodding her head to herself, she rose from her chair, empty glass in hand. She smiled resolvedly at her friends before heading toward the bar, toward Hailey.
"She really likes her, doesn't she?" Kidd asked Brett quietly, as soon as Foster was out of earshot.
"Yeah, I think she really does."
XXX
The bar wasn't full enough to warrant it, but Foster stood right next to Upton's seat anyway. She didn't say anything, trying not to come across as anxiously as she felt. When she caught a whiff of Upton's light perfume, it caused a swirl in her stomach that made her angry with herself.
"Oh, hello," Upton rasped softly, pulling Foster out of her headspace.
"Oh hi," Foster couldn't help but smile, their easy tone with each other calming her. "Long time no see," she joked.
"Has been," Upton chuckled. "Anything exciting happen in the last…" she looked at her watch, "three hours?"
"Nope," Foster told her, flagging down Herrmann. "I just thought I should do some drinking after my long day of… drinking," she grinned.
"Mutual," Upton smiled into her eyes, raising her beer glass for effect.
Herrmann said hello as he sat three glasses in front of Foster before returning to his customers. Foster realised that this was her time for retreat. She also realised that she didn't want it to be.
"Hey, do you want to come sit with me and the girls?" Foster threw out casually before she could stop herself.
Upton looked immediately nervous, sending Foster into a spiral of self-doubt.
"I would, but I don't want to interrupt. I mean, I barely know them," she shrugged, looking more at her hands than at Foster.
"I want you to know them," Foster said suddenly, realizing after the fact just how intimate it sounded. "I mean, if you want to…" she covered.
Upton's face spread into a wide, relieved smile.
"Yeah," she nodded, looking into Foster's eyes more intensely than she intended. "I'd like that."
Foster lit up like a Christmas tree, nodding toward the beers on the counter.
"Good," she smiled, realizing then just how blue Upton's eyes were.
She saw Brett and Kidd gossiping like schoolgirls long before she and Upton reached their table. She hoped like hell that her friends would behave themselves and not say anything to embarrass her, no matter how desperately they wanted to.
"Hey guys," Foster said cheerily, taking a deep breath and trying to calm her racing heart. "You know Hailey," she nodded, looking into each Brett and Kidd's eyes and silently saying 'please be good'.
"Hey, Hailey," Brett smiled, extending her hand politely. They may have known each other from the job but they had never interacted outside of work. It clearly mattered to Foster, which made it matter to her by default.
"Yeah, welcome Upton. Nice to see ya," Kidd agreed.
They took their seats across from Brett and Kidd, and Foster hoped that someone would start a conversation. Any conversation, really, as long as it didn't involve her and Upton and their not-dating. If this ended up being awkward for Upton, Foster would never let herself forget it.
"What're y'all doin' for Halloween?" Kidd asked casually, always more comfortable in social situations than her friends. "We're throwing a big shin dig here and I only have to work half the night," she smiled, raising her glass.
"I haven't even thought about it," Upton admitted, just now remembering that it was only a few days away.
"Come on! You don't have a costume?" Kidd asked, looking at Foster out of the corner of her eye.
"Not yet. Maybe you guys can help me with ideas?" she asked hopefully, appreciating the ease of the conversation.
"Absolutely!" Brett piped up. "I'm going as Little Red Riding Hood."
"Of course, you are…" Foster muttered into her drink, smirking as she saw the insult cross her friend's features.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Brett scoffed, though there was a playful smile in her eyes.
"So vanilla…" Foster shook her head.
Upton didn't know them well enough to know if they were playing or if Brett was truly insulted. She wanted to keep her mouth shut but her discomfort was evident.
"What are you going as, smart ass?" Brett retorted, causing Kidd to laugh heartily into her beer.
"Not Little Red Riding Hood…" Foster smirked.
"Don't pay attention to them, Upton," Kidd offered, laughing at her friends. "We all like to give each other crap. It's part of the sisterly bond, or whatever."
Upton smiled calmly, both at the conversation surrounding her and the inclusion she felt from these women who she barely knew. It spoke well for Foster, knowing she kept such good company.
"Alright, Miss Not-Vanilla," Upton regarded Foster boldly. "What's your costume?"
The sparkle in Upton's eyes caught Foster off guard, freezing her in the moment and knowing her friends were watching with prying eyes, anticipating her reaction. She didn't have one.
"I…" Foster couldn't relax her wide eyes, looking into Upton's and feeling awkward.
"You don't even know, do you?!" Upton scoffed, pushing Foster by the shoulder. "You're giving your best friend shit but at least she has a plan."
Kidd and Brett exchanged a look as they watched the banter.
"Says the woman who also doesn't have a plan…" Foster argued, taking a drink.
"But I'm not givin' anyone shit about theirs…"
They looked at each other, warm smiles showing in their eyes and emanating from their energies. Brett and Kidd took in every millisecond of interaction but knew enough not to comment on it.
"Stella, what are you going as?" Upton asked, feeling comfortable enough with them already to be herself, feeling anxious enough to know that she had to tear her eyes away from Foster.
"Me and Kelly are going as Cleopatra and Caesar," she nodded proudly. "I know the couple theme thing is kinda lame, but I can't wait to see him in that skirt…" she grinned, wagging her eyebrows suggestively.
The other three women burst into laughter at Kidd's excitement, and boldness.
For the next hour, all four shared drinks and laughs, easy conversation that Upton didn't feel any difficulty falling into. They talked about everything and nothing, and Upton only realised that she still didn't have a costume idea until it was time for her to leave. Warm blanket, comfy bed and much needed sleep had become her desire, regardless of how much she was enjoying herself.
"It's time for me to head out," Upton said quietly to Foster, Kidd and Brett in a debate amongst themselves.
Foster nodded, knowing that the disappointment in her expression had not been well hidden.
"It's been a long day," she said understandingly. "I had a great time," she couldn't help but admit.
"So did I," Upton smiled, looking closely at Foster as her heart swelled against her will. "Thanks so much for asking me to get to know your friends. It meant a lot," she added, looking away from Foster in hopes of not showing just how much it meant to her.
Upton rose from her seat, stretching her back before putting on her coat. Brett and Kidd caught the movement and realised that it implied their new acquaintance was leaving for the night.
"Guys, it was so nice to hang out with you," Upton said genuinely, shaking each of their hands and smiling like she meant it.
"You too, Upton. Let us know what you're thinkin' for Halloween," Kidd smiled, glancing over to see Foster shifting awkwardly in her chair.
"Yeah, Hailey. It was great to get to know you. We'll see you on Halloween, but don't be anything 'vanilla'," Brett smirked, catching the glare from her partner.
"I'll try," Upton laughed, looking to Foster expectantly. Expecting what? She wasn't sure.
Foster stood up before she allowed herself to question it, looking into Hailey's foggy blue eyes for a mere moment before grabbing the edge of her coat and pulling her into an embrace. This hug wasn't like any she'd shared with Upton before; not like any she'd shared with anyone, she realised. They held each other tightly, Upton's hand firm on the small of her back as their bodies pressed into each other. It made her think about earlier today, when she wrapped her arm around Hailey instinctively. The warmth, the scent of the detective, the comfort and anxiousness battling with each other. She didn't want to let go. When she finally did, she found Hailey's eyes looking as overwhelmed as she assumed her own did. They smiled at each other timidly. Since they both knew that the other wasn't shy in any way, it meant something to both of them.
"I'll talk to you later?" Upton asked hesitantly, her voice coming out soft and raspy.
Foster nodded, not allowing herself to hide how overwhelmed she felt.
"You better," she smiled, brushing Hailey's hair away from the collar of her coat. "Be safe?" she asked, heart thumping at the look that the woman sent her.
"I'll text you when I get home," she answered, not out of obligation.
One last lingering smile sent Upton away from the table and toward the exit, but not before turning back just once to smile at Foster again.
The silence was heavy, nearly suffocating, as Emily took her seat to finish off her beer. She couldn't look at her friends, not now when this feeling was overtaking her.
"Holy crap," Brett said, but it was quiet and heartfelt, not teasing.
"Damn, dude, you ready to admit you're dating yet?" Kidd couldn't help but interject. "'Cause you never hug me like that," she added. "Jesus…"
Foster's face was already beet red from the hug. Now it felt like it was on fire. She shook her head, not ready to look at her friends. It was going to be a long night.
