Happy Birthday, Johanna! I must admit this is a cause of me watching Ratched and as a result, a slow-burn romance was written between your fave couple ;) Hope you love it and I've done these two cute bisexuals justice! Xoxo
Their friendship starts when Galina's mobster husband gets a call from his boss, that Gloria needs her abusive boyfriend to disappear in a way he can never hurt her or her children again. Galina's job is to get Gloria, Benny, and Julio out of the apartment safely. Only Gloria's aunt Lourdes is brave enough to answer the door. Galina has found the three of them hiding under Gloria's bed, and it breaks her heart to know they are that terrified of someone knocking at the door. From that day forward, though, Gloria and Galina are thick as thieves. Their pseudo children are already friends with each other, and their biological kids become that way, too. They have other similarities too-they both enjoy cooking and they are quite motherly to many of the students at the school they work at. Everything is going well in their lives for fifteen years until tragedy strikes.
She's come to this restaurant so many times over the past five years, getting nothing more than a coffee or a small appetizer. Losing her husband Fahri to Kubra's hitman Aydin, has made Gloria so devastated to the point that she doesn't want to talk to anyone except her family and close friends. With their encouragement, she sought grief counseling. She wore black for the longest time, but now has moved onto other colors-dark shades of red, blue, green, purple, and gray. Now, with all of her children grown and out of the house, she's extremely lonely. Everyone is living with another person except her. There is no one to hold her through the night, nobody to kiss at the end of a long day at the bodega, and nobody to dance or curl up in front of the television with. Alone time is nice, but it's quite depressing for a widow. She can really feel him not there if she's by herself. She'd invite a friend over all the time if not for the fact that she doesn't want to seem like a desperate person who always wants company. For some reason, she can sense Fahri's presence at La Fontana's-which is why she always goes there. It's probably because that's the first place they went to during a triple date. The pain has lessened little by little, she doesn't sob like she used to, and the nightmares and flashbacks of a bullet going straight through his skull have become way less frequent, but her heart still aches for him and she's in mourning. Movies and shows with too much gore and people getting killed is a trigger. He had told her she could move on if she wanted to in one of their in case I die discussions, but she never found anyone like him. Nobody can replace him. It will dishonor his memory if she chooses someone shitty.
"Gloria?"
She looks up at Galina and smiles. "Hey."
"Are you on a date?"
"Hmm? No, I'm...it's just me. By myself. I took a cab."
"You're dressed nice, so that's why I asked. May I sit?"
Gloria nods. "Thank you. Of course. I figured maroon would be a good color choice for my outfit today."
"How goes it?" A look of sympathy shines in Galina's blue eyes as she lowers herself into a chair opposite Gloria's.
"Hard...but being here makes things easier, I guess. Putting on a lovely dress and makeup and sitting at a table for two when I'm just one...call me strange, but sometimes, I like to imagine him across from me."
"You're coping in the best way you can."
"Yes."
"At least you didn't keep his corpse, stuff it, and prop it up at your kitchen table!"
Gloria laughs. "Nah, I ain't like that! Although, one time, a widower I went out with, did do that."
Galina appears to be disgusted. "No! Really?"
"I'm kidding," Gloria murmurs. "I haven't been with another man since…"
"I'm sorry, honey. I can't imagine losing the love of my life the way you did. You have survived through so much, which makes you strong."
She reaches across the table and squeezes Galina's hand. No words are spoken between them for a few moments. "Thank you," Gloria finally says.
"Do you want me to get you something, or...I'm hungry, so I was thinking we could split on lunch."
"I'm starving," she admits.
"Actually, I'll get it…"
"I can pay for myself, though, gracias."
"Let me, I insist! It's very expensive here."
"I don't spend much at this place."
"I want to treat you." There's a beat as Galina smirks. "A woman buying another woman lunch is no longer thought of as scandalous. It's not the fifties."
Gloria chuckles awkwardly and feels herself blush for some odd reason. "Oh...I know that! I don't mind, go ahead."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive." Gloria is used to her friends wanting to pamper her, but she fears the day they will stop doing it, is going to come soon. She's afraid they're getting tired of doing favors for her.
"Okay, what would you like?" Galina asks.
"Hmm…" She thinks for a moment. "Pasta and a Caesar salad. How about we share it?"
"That sounds good to me!" Galina calls over the waitress and they order their meal. "So...are your girls and boys doing well?"
"Yes. You know Benny and Christina have a daughter...so I'm an abuela again!"
"This is the second time, Gloria, congratulations!"
"Nah. As Aleida would say, confuckulations! I send that kid off to college and what does he do? Gets his chica pregnant just a year before he can drink. I taught him better than that, but hey...at least their baby girl is adorable." Gloria pulls a picture of the youngest Mendoza out of her wallet and shows Galina. A happy infant in a yellow dress and a matching bow in her hair smiles up at the older woman.
"Aww, what did they name her?"
"Estrella Victoria. Ceci likes to joke that the little one is named after the Mexican beer, Estrella Jalisco, but we're Puerto Rican! I was like 'yo, you did not just name your kid after a cerveza!'"
Galina chuckles. "They'd be off their rocker if they did that! Wait a minute, isn't Aleida's friend named Margarita?"
"That's just Margaret in Spanish!" Gloria informs her.
"Oh, what does Estrella mean?"
"Star en español."
"Cute!"
"I know. Well, they've made me older than I was before," Gloria mutters. "I'm forty-seven and already seein' wrinkles…"
"You haven't aged since thirty," Galina compliments her.
"Thank you, that's sweet. Neither have you!"
"I appreciate the compliment! Sometimes, I feel twenty-seven, although I don't quite look it."
"Don't we all!"
Galina rests her chin in her hand and gazes at Gloria with piquing curiosity. "What's that crazy eldest son of yours been up to, besides becoming a father?"
"He's looking into a construction foreman job, following in the footsteps of his mentor and Christina's stepdad, Leon. As for my other kids, Julio is hard at work...majoring in Astronomy and enjoys playing soccer in his free time, Elena's a kindergarten teacher, a waitress at Friendly's, and a great mamí to Isla, and Ceci works at a record store."
"Ah, very interesting! Well, the boys help me out at my store, Nicky is a counselor for people trying to stay off drugs, Tricia is a budding writer, and, oh! Maxsim and Yuri drive thousands of chocolate bars around in a truck. Vasily has married Lida, as you know, and they have their son, Kolya...and Lida just had a tiny girl...Vera."
"Aww, what an adorable name!" Gloria beams. "Sounds like they've gotten careers that fit them!"
"Yours have too!"
"Mm-hm. Julio has always been a nerd, but his boyfriend Laronne is even more of one...he got Julio into studying space, stars, planets, and the like. Not that I blame 'em, that stuff sounds pretty cool, but each little thing about it is so hard to remember."
"I know what that's like, having your kids know more about some things than you...I can't work a cell phone to save my life! Texting, emojis, I almost got scammed, for heaven's sake, until Blanca and Diablo caught it right away!"
A gasp escapes Gloria. "¡Oh, gracias a Dios!"
"I'm not very good with the internet," Galina confesses sheepishly.
"Just don't talk to people you don't know, and if somethin' somebody's sayin' to you is too good to be true, it's most likely a lie."
Galina sighs. "I know that now!"
As the waitress brings their food and water over, Gloria and Galina thank her pleasantly. For the rest of lunch, the two ladies just talk about what they've been up to lately and gossip about the shenanigans their friends and kids are into. Nicky and Shani always go on double dates with Tricia and Mercy, it seems like, and they participate in group hangouts with Alex, Michelle, Flaca, Maritza, Poussey, and Franziska. The afternoon is filled with laughter and smiles and Gloria has to admit to herself that being with Galina has improved her mood somewhat today. Sure, she's been less depressed than usual, but something about Galina ignites a certain spark inside of her. The older woman has a way of not seeming to pity her or dwell on her sadness, but rather, attempting to lift her spirits. Gloria is aware the others mean well when offering condolences and they're trying their best, but she doesn't wish to think about the fact that she lost her husband. She just wants to relax and enjoy Galina's company as they discuss everything but Fahri and how heartbreaking it was that he was killed-because Jesus Christ, she knows. She knows. She doesn't need reminders.
"Like always, Dmitiri barely spoke to me...but the only thing he said last night, and I shit you not, was...I don't think you appreciate me anymore."
"Randomly out of the blue like that?" Gloria questions her.
Galina nods, her ocean blue eyes flashing with anger. "He was being very handsy with me while looking at the television...I told him I was a good wife, I cooked for him, I cleaned up his babyish messes, I birthed and raised three boys, and I asked him how that was not enough."
"For fuck's sake, Galina, that's more than plenty! He's a lazy son of a bitch, I'm sorry to say! He doesn't even help you with the god damn dishes…"
"Oh, don't apologize. I agree with you, which is why I divorced him. He kept crying and begging me not to leave as I packed my suitcase, but I ignored him and flipped him off."
"Hey, good for you! Hold up a second...you left that big house to his dumb ass, where are you staying now? Not some seedy motel, I hope…"
"No, Nicky and Shani let me stay with them. They'd known I was getting sick of his lousy actions, and they understood why I had to go...but basically, I'm switching between all my children's apartments. They just think I got into a fight with him and need a break...in time, I'll tell the truth. We should probably inform them together."
Gloria frowns and knits her brows. "Yo, but what I don't understand, is why you didn't just kick him out?"
"He refused to get off the couch. I can't drag him outside, I don't have the physical strength. I couldn't call the police because he was only being a nuisance, not a threat."
"Ahh, that blows," Gloria mutters.
Galina beams at her. "Thanks for listening to my woes."
"You're welcome. I'm always here for ya, just like you are for me!"
The redhead's grin only gets wider. "Would you like to see a movie with me?"
Gloria nods and adjusts her black fedora with a beaded strap. "Sure! That would be lovely."
"Okay, you pick."
"Really? Thank you. Umm...Birds of Prey?"
"Yes, I need a chick flick!"
"All right!" They high-five and then reapply their lipstick using compact mirrors.
As they walk to the theater in their heavy brown coats since it's freezing, some guy in his fifties thinks it's a good idea to wolf-whistle at them as they're going through an alley. "Hey, babes, can I get some?"
Galina wraps her gloved hand around Gloria's and pulls her along. "Some brains? I dunno, maybe you can find those at the cerebellum store. Can't you see we're together?"
Gloria cackles as she catches on. "Yeah, you ain't gonna get nothin' from us!" She rolls her eyes and leans into Galina. "Scumbag." She gives the redhead a quick kiss on the cheek and she swears that Galina immediately blushes. It could be from the cold, too. She has no idea.
"Not even a threesome?"
They ignore him as they hurry to the building, their joined hands swinging between their hips. This feels so natural and she doesn't mind pretending they're a couple to ward off predatory assholes. After paying for their tickets and popcorn, they find their seats and the movie begins.
Every time their hands touch to reach into the popcorn bucket, they giggle and apologize. Gloria is entranced by the actresses on the screen, especially Rosie Perez. She notices Galina isn't taking her eyes off the film, either. They keep laughing at the funny things that happen and exchanging smiles. "Now, that was hot," Gloria murmurs as Renee Montoya does something badass.
"Nicky called her a MILF," Galina whispers. "No idea what that means…"
Gloria chuckles. "Mother I'd like to fuck."
"I mean...she is attractive."
"Conventionally beautiful," Gloria agrees. "Benny more has a celebrity crush on Jurnee Smollett, but Christina said the Black Canary would kick his ass if he flirted with her."
"She's right," Galina says. "I bet he wouldn't do it in a creepy way, though."
"Nah, he's respectful."
"Shh!" someone behind them hisses.
"Oops!" Galina mimes zipping her lips shut and locking them up with a key. Gloria stifles laughter behind her palm and they go back to paying attention to the movie.
"Okay, that was great!" Gloria gushes when it's over and they're walking back to where Galina's car is parked.
"I know! Amazing girl power." Galina smiles.
Gloria nods. "Yes!"
"Can I give you a ride home so you don't need to pay the taxi fare?"
"Sure, I would appreciate that, muchas gracias...but do you want to also stay at my place for dinner and a bottle of red wine? I bet we could finish it off!"
"You're speaking my language!"
She raises an eyebrow at Galina. "I thought you prefer vodka with soda?"
"Eh, I've had it plenty of times."
"Oh, okay!"
So, Galina drives them to Gloria's apartment and they go inside. Gloria turns on the heat right away and lights a few candles on the kitchen table, which has pink roses as a centerpiece. They both cook an enchilada casserole and Gloria pours a glass of wine for each of them. She takes off her hat and removes the pin from her hair. Her dark, wavy locks swirl around her until they cascade down her back and she notices Galina staring at her. The oven door slams closed as it slips out of Galina's hands.
"What?" Gloria asks, confused.
"Nothing, I...I just…I've never seen you with your hair long like that." The older woman glances at the floor and blushes. "I-it's beautiful. Er, not that it wasn't before, but it's always up, and I'm amazed that you let it loose."
Gloria messes with her side bangs and toys with a hoop dangling from her earlobe. "Well, thank you. It's down because my scalp was starting to hurt." She scratches the back of her head.
"That makes perfect sense. I wonder how ladies in the fifties did it."
"I do, too." Gloria folds her arms across her chest. "You really like that era, don't you?"
"Huh?"
"You brought it up twice today!"
"Nicky and Shani have gotten me into Carol, which is set in that time period. They mainly watch it for the lesbians, especially Sarah Paulson."
Gloria quirks up an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
Galina nods. "Yes. I was strangely addicted to it, too. The romance between women around our age. I suppose because I've never seen that sort of thing before. It's quite interesting."
"I'll take your word for it!"
Twenty minutes later, their meal is piping hot and ready. They sit back, relax, eat, and sip their drinks in front of the television and watch Anne with an E. It's a cute family friendly show. Gloria sighs with happiness at the feeling of being buzzed and having company. They also allow themselves an episode of Sex and the City on HBO Max.
"Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis still have not aged, they're just gorgeous!" Galina comments.
Gloria beams. "I know! Miranda kinda looks like you did when we first met."
"That touches my heart, thank you, Gloria."
"You're welcome!"
When it's over, they exchange a grin. "I had a great day with you," Gloria says softly.
"I enjoyed myself, too. It was fun." Galina fiddles with her keys in her purse and then drops them back in. "I'll help you with the dishes."
"Thank you."
"Are you drunk?" Galina washes a dish and hands it to Gloria.
Gloria snickers as she dries it and puts it away. "A little! How about you?"
"Mm-hm. It's nice to unwind."
"I'm totally with you there."
Galina sighs. "Should I get going? I can't overstay my welcome...you must be getting tired."
"I'm not," Gloria says too quickly. "Um...please, stay a while longer, won't you?"
"You really want me to?"
"Of course! Well...I guess you can't go home now. It's unsafe, you got alcohol in your system...and besides, the wind is howling...I think it'll be a bad blizzard tonight," Gloria predicts.
Galina moves the curtain slightly to reveal the frosted window and falling snow. "You're right. These flakes are practically whirling themselves silly out there." She sighs and takes her phone out of her purse. "I need to call Tricia and let her know I won't be there until very late...perhaps midnight or one in the morning."
Gloria nods. "You'll be exhausted, though, why not spend the night? I have a guest room."
"I suppose that would be fine with me. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm going to get into my pajamas. I could find some cozy clothes for you, if you'd like to change?"
Galina beams as she puts her phone to her ear and takes a seat on the sofa. "Yes, please, these jeans are becoming uncomfortable and the blouse a wee bit tight."
Gloria walks into her room, removes her clothes, and slips into her magenta pink nightgown. It has long sleeves and reaches to her ankles. She goes through her drawers until she discovers a pair of black and white flannel pants and an oversized dark purple sweater that she almost never wears. "Perfect," she murmurs to herself, smiling.
As soon as Galina is in her borrowed pajamas, Gloria makes them cups of hot cocoa. They play cards and Dominoes. In the middle of the game, the lights flicker and shut off.
"Oh, shit! There goes the electricity," Galina mutters. "Do you have a lantern?"
"Yes, and a flashlight, too." By the time Gloria takes them out of her closet, though, the lights are back on. She blows out the candles. "I think it's a sign we should go to bed."
"I agree."
They wash the makeup off their faces and brush their teeth-Gloria has a spare toothbrush for Galina-and then they're prepared to crash.
Thirty minutes of lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, and Gloria still can't close her eyes and drift off. She's unable to stop thinking about how Galina's fingers felt intertwined with hers, she can't take her mind off Galina complimenting her in a way that sounded flirtatious, and how those blue eyes pierce into her soul. She knows she's bisexual, but she's never felt a woman's passionate touch before. She's always wondered what it would be like. Galina's hugs are warm, tender, comforting, and Gloria remembers how she'd melted into the older woman's embrace when Galina had rubbed soothing circles on her back while she cried at Fahri's funeral. Of course, Gloria had been like that with everyone. Without warning, an image of Galina kissing her deeply flashes through her head.
She sits up in her bed, gasping with her hand to her heart; she suddenly doesn't want to sleep alone. She really hopes Galina is still awake. Gloria shoves the covers off herself and gets out of bed before she changes her mind and wimps out completely. After checking her appearance in her long mirror, she fixes her hair a bit, combing and fluffing it out with her fingers. She cautiously opens her door and steps into the hallway. The floorboards creak under her weight.
"Gloria?"
She startles at Galina's voice and rapidly flips on a light. "You're still up...is everything all right?" she asks, rubbing her eyes.
Galina shrugs. "I can't sleep, if I'm going to be perfectly honest with you."
"Me neither." They come closer to one another until their hands are almost touching. "I was just overthinking…"
"So was I. I...realized today that I'm like you."
"Am I supposed to know what that means?"
"Interested in both men and women."
"Wait…" Gloria inhales and exhales as her heart pounds fast. "You're bi as well?"
Galina nods slowly, her eyes filled with a yearning. "I didn't make any moves because I wasn't sure how you'd take it, but since leaving Dimitri, I wondered what it was like to make love to a woman or at least lip-lock."
"Oh," Gloria squeaks. She clears her throat and stands taller, trying to appear confident, but she's almost sure that her face is turning tomato red and betraying her. "You kinda made subtle passes at me and it caused me to be curious. Do you like me...like that?"
"I'm crushing hard on you, I have to say." At Galina's confession, Gloria's heart stops and expands. "Out of all the ladies I've seen today, you're the most attractive. Why don't we try this? Only if it's okay with you."
Gloria nods. "I...I don't mind."
Galina carefully raises her hand to rest it against Gloria's cheek. The older woman tenderly rubs it with her thumb and her sweet breath fans Gloria's face. They look into each other's eyes with burning intensity and then things really start getting steamy. Gloria cups Galina's face, their mouths mold together a few times, they moan softly in unison, Gloria closes her eyes as Galina pushes her into the wall gently, and their tongues dance and tangle. Excitement flows through Gloria and she's nearly dizzy with bliss. She never thought she could feel this way again, but having two soulmates is definitely possible. When they break apart, they sigh contentedly.
"How was that?" Galina wants to know.
"Amazing," Gloria breathes out. She can't stop beaming. "Ay diós mio…"
"I loved it, too, darling." Galina smirks. "I've wanted to call you that for hours now."
"Really? Damn! It's a nice term of endearment."
"One of my favorites. It's not used much these days, which is unfortunate. I've told you about one of my past lovers before, correct?"
Gloria nods. "You sure did, my dear. Pavel, the one who gave you the best finger fucks in the world."
Galina snickers. "Yes...and I feel like you deserve the same treatment, Ms. Mendoza."
Gloria puts her hands on her hips and giggles. "Are you planning to top me, Galina?"
"That was my intention, yes."
Gloria purses her lips. "The flirty apple don't fall far from the tree…must be where Nicky gets it from."
Galina licks her bottom lip and bites it. She tilts her head toward the guest bedroom. "Come with me, sweet girl." She winks seductively. "Literally."
"I know it's a bit early to say this, but fuck yeah!" Gloria exclaims. She follows Galina and they both topple onto the bed, squealing and laughing. Galina straddles her and she hitches up the hem of her nightgown, revealing her white lacy panties. She would normally be shivering, but Galina's knees sandwiching her hips is making her hot and sweaty.
"Are you ready?" Galina asks.
Gloria nods. "I've been waiting very patiently."
"That's a good girl," Galina murmurs, stroking her hair. She presses her lips to Gloria's, and then moves down her jaw and neck.
Gloria whimpers beneath her and gulps as the redhead goes on to caress her thighs, but doesn't touch her between her legs. "God damn it...por favor, Galina, my pussy's so wet...tight...is this what he would do to you?" She plays with Galina's short, purplish-red curls. "Tease you until you couldn't stand it any longer?"
"Yes, and so much more. Don't worry, I'll get there."
Galina's fingers eventually find their way to Gloria's vagina-outside her undies. The older woman slides them down and circles her thumb over Gloria's clit-at an extreme snail's pace at first, but then her movements become much harder and faster as she inserts three fingers.
That's all it takes for Gloria to come undone. She shrieks through her orgasms-she has three in a row from this wonderful lady-and she's exploding with pleasure. "Ohhhh! Yes, Galina! Yes, yes, yes! Oh my...goodness, darling, please, more!" She bucks her hips and squeezes Galina's hand with her upper thighs. Her whole body shudders from desire.
"Did I do well?"
"Sí, you should be proud of yourself. Oh my, that was...real sexy!" They both chuckle and Galina wipes Gloria's juice on her pants. She lies next to Gloria and then they just cuddle. "Seriously, gracias for such a nice day and evening and…"
Galina interrupts her with a hot, open-mouthed kiss. "You're welcome."
Gloria blinks at her. "Has anyone ever mentioned how lovely your eyes are?"
"Not quite."
"Well, it's true. They are. So enchanting…"
Galina smiles broadly. "Thank you. I think your eyes are alluring, too."
"Thanks! I'm glad I fell for you and not Aleida, 'cause she's more like my sister! You're my best friend, and hopefully, this is the start of a beautiful romance."
Then they wrap their arms around each other and make out passionately again, bursting with warmth and happiness.