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Going to the supermarket was Alex’s least favorite activity, and having to do it with her four-year-old son, Jay, made it even worse. Jay was usually very well-behaved, but just like his mother, he strongly disliked this particular task. Normally, Alex would leave him at her sister's house and go shopping alone, but Kara was stuck at work today and Alex had already run out of groceries. So there they were: Alex pushing the shopping cart with Jay seated in the baby seat, twisting and whimpering as he became increasingly restless.
“Mommy!” He whined. “Wanna go home.”
“We will, Jay. Let’s just grab the essentials and head out.”
”I’m hungry!”
“I know, baby. That’s why we need to buy some things so that I can cook dinner tonight,” Alex explained patiently. “What would you like Mommy to cook?”
“No, Mommy, I wanna go home now!” Jay demanded loudly.
Alex stopped in her tracks and looked seriously at her son. “First grocery, then home,” she said in a gentle but firm tone.
Jay lowered his head in defeat and remained silent. For a few minutes, Alex was able to gather some things in peace and silence.
Unfortunately, such peace and silence didn't last very long.
“Mommy, done?” He asked, looking at her with puppy eyes.
“No. We've only just arrived, sweetie,” she replied, trying to decide between two different brands of bleach.
“But I’m bored! I wanna go home!”
“And we will,” Alex repeated patiently, choosing the one on sale and moving on to the breakfast aisle. “Right after we finish here.”
Jay huffed and pouted. Alex couldn’t help but smile tenderly at her son’s antics.
“I love you, you know? Even when you get so cranky,” she teased, pecking his temple. “So, which cereal would you like?” Alex then asked, looking at the variety of brands on the shelves.
“No, home.”
“Oh, no cereal?” She raised her eyebrows. “What are you gonna have for breakfast tomorrow?”
“I don’t want cereal! I wanna go home!” He started whining again.
To be fair, it was well after 4 p.m. and Alex had just picked Jay up from pre-k, so it was reasonable for him to be this grumpy and restless. He was probably tired and starving by this point.
“I'll tell you what. If you behave like the good boy I know you are, we can go for ice cream afterwards. What do you say?” Alex suggested, clearly catching the little boy’s attention, as he fell silent.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Jay looked thoughtfully at his mom, as if considering the offer. With a firm nod, he accepted.
“Alright.” Alex smiled. “We'd better hurry up, then.”
The deal had mostly worked out, but eventually Jay started to get restless again.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie?” She replied, reading the description of a product.
“Down?”
“No, baby. We’re almost done.”
“But Mommy, I wanna walk.”
“Just five more minutes,” Alex insisted, her tone remaining patient throughout.
“Maaaa.”
“Whaaaat?”
“Down?”
“Nope.”
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.”
“Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay!” Alex mimicked, smirking as Jay's frown deepened. She was amazed at how much her son was taking after the Danvers.
Jay frowned harder at her mother's teasing, so he insisted.
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!” He started getting louder and the few people around them started staring. Jay didn’t seem to care, though, and continued with his playful tantrum, throwing his hands up and waving them around aimlessly. “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Momm--Woah hey…” He suddenly said to a woman walking past them in a voice Alex had never heard before, his head snapping as the woman passed by.
When Alex glanced up, her eyes landed on the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.
At the realization, all Alex could do was splutter a barely comprehensible 'What!' As she started laughing, she wasn’t sure whether it was in response to Jay’s antics or due to the sudden nerves she felt when the woman passing by stopped to look at them with an amused grin.
As a doctor, she had met many people in her life. Unfortunately, there were times when she had to deliver bad news, but most of the time she had the pleasure of delivering good news, which was usually reciprocated with all kinds of smiles. But she had never seen a smile quite so bright, broad or incredibly beautiful as the one she was seeing right now. Never before had she been smiled at by someone with not one, but two pairs of deep, beautiful dimples.
“Hi!” She replied to Jay with a charming smile. She then looked at Alex. “Hey,” she said, her voice more serious, but her smile just as kind.
“Um. Hi,” Alex murmured, suddenly lost into the other woman’s gaze.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, until Jay’s voice brought them back to the present.
“I’m Jay.” He extended his hand.
Alex was astonished, not sure how to react to her four-year-old son openly flirting with this beautiful woman.
The woman chuckled and shook his tiny hand. “Nice to meet you, Jay. I’m Maggie.”
Just when she thought the situation couldn’t get any more bizarre, Jay spoke again.
“You are so pretty, Maggie!” He blurted in his sweet, childish way.
“Jay!" Alex exclaimed, mortified. "Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” Alex apologized to the woman —Maggie— feeling utterly embarrassed by her son’s bluntness.
Maggie laughed, waving away Alex’s concerns. “It’s okay, he’s cute."
Alex was mortified, but she couldn't bring herself to disagree with her son. Maggie was very pretty. After a few more moments of grinning at each other like idiots, the brunette cleared her throat.
“Anyway, I’m just gonna…” She gestured around with her free hand. Giving Jay a farewell smile and a wink, Maggie walked away, both Danvers staring at her as she disappeared down the aisle.
Alex shot her son an amused look. “Did you just flirt with that woman?” She asked, still astonished.
He just shrugged nonchalantly. “She was pretty, mommy.”
“I can’t believe you just did that!” She laughed, shaking her head at her son and the surreal situation.
~
After paying at the checkout, Alex struggled to carry Jay —who was clinging to her like a koala— while holding the bags in her other hand, trying very hard to keep her balance.
“So you’ve been buzzing my ears off asking me to put you down, and now that you actually have to do it, you don’t want to?” Alex complained.
“Mhm,” Jay hummed carefreely, prompting an eye-roll from his mom.
She groaned. "Great."
"You're strong, Mommy."
"And you, little mister, are too lazy."
“Do you need a hand over there?”
Alex and Jay both turned their heads towards the soft voice coming from behind them, spotting the beautiful brunette from earlier.
“Maggie!” Jay greeted her as though he had known her all his life.
“Hello again, buddy!” She offered the same big, sweet smile as before. “You seem a bit overloaded there,” she said to Alex, pointing at Jay and the bags. “Can I help you with the bags?”
Alex was taken aback and it took her a minute to react.
“Um, yeah, ok, thanks.” Alex nodded but just stood there.
“No problem.” They held a lingering gaze. Maggie approached closer hesitantly, pointing at the bags again. “So, should I...?”
“Oh, right! Yes, of course, thank you!” Alex extended her left arm, on which several heavy bags were hanging.
Maggie took all the bags, insisting that Alex had enough with the little guy in her arms.
“Much better.” She sighed with relief, flexing her arm, which had almost cramped up. “Thanks.”
“Maggie, Mommy’s buying me an ice cream. Would you like one too?” Jay asked as they made their way to the car.
“Jay!” Alex squeaked.
Maggie beamed with delight at the little boy’s antics. “Why, thank you, sweetie! I’d really love to, but I'm afraid I can’t today.”
"Oh," he murmured, sounding disappointed. “Okay.”
“Maybe another time?”
He nodded politely and rested his head back on Alex’s shoulder.
“So, I see you’ve got a mini Casanova here, huh?” Maggie teased.
Alex chuckled, and blushed a little. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry about him. I still don't know what that was all about.”
“Oh no, he’s fine! It was actually pretty hilarious. Not to mention extremely cute,” she assured.
When they got to the car, Alex put Jay in his car seat before opening the trunk. Once all the bags were in, she closed the trunk and turned to face Maggie.
“So,” Maggie began, her eyes softening. “I never got your name.”
“Alex.” She held out her hand. “Alex Danvers.”
“Nice to meet you, Alex Danvers.” Maggie smiled, shaking Alex’s hand.
“Yeah, likewise.” For some reason, she didn’t let go immediately, holding Maggie's hand a little longer than necessary. “And thank you for…” She gestured vaguely at the bags in the car.
“Of course, no problem. Actually, I should be thanking your kid. He sure knows how to make a girl feel special.”
“That little smug,” Alex chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure you're used to it anyway. Getting hit on, I mean.”
“By a kid? It was definitely the first time.” Maggie laughed. “I was really flattered. Though personally, I prefer it when the attention comes from a woman,” she said resolutely, fixing her eyes on Alex’s.
Alex was caught off guard. She had felt bold enough to imply Maggie's beauty; she had never really expected an actual answer from the brunette. Now, unable to think of anything to say, all she could do was stammer out a nervous laugh.
“Well, I suppose I'd better be off,” Maggie said, and Alex wondered if the disappointment she saw on her face was just her imagination.
“Yeah, I should too,” she smiled. “It w--”
“I re--”
They stopped and chuckled together.
“You go first,” Maggie granted.
“It was nice meeting you,” she said, lowering her head bashfully. “A bit random, but nice.”
“It was so random!” She agreed, smiling broadly. “But hey, it's not every day that a kid boosts your self-esteem, is it?”
There was something about Maggie that left Alex dazed — her beauty, her attitude, her smile and those perfect dimples — and she didn’t want to say goodbye just yet. They locked gazes for a few more seconds in comfortable silence, completely oblivious to their surroundings.
Eventually, Jay — growing impatient once more — brought them back to reality.
“Mommy!” He called from his seat. "Hurry!"
“Ah, that’s my cue.” Alex said with regret.
“Right. I heard he was promised some ice-cream.”
“Yeah, and I shouldn’t keep him waiting any longer. He’s already had a long day.”
After saying goodbye, Alex was unable to tear her eyes off the brunette. Her gaze followed Maggie until she stopped by a pick-up truck parked a couple of empty slots away. Squinting slightly, Alex noticed the Sawyer General Contractor caption on the side of the truck.
“You work in construction?” She found herself asking seemingly out of nowhere.
Maggie turned around with a genuine look of surprise on her face. “Um, yeah. I actually have my own business.”
"That's great! What kind of work do you do?"
"Well, I've done everything, really. But now I only manage residential projects," she told Alex. "Why? You've been thinking about doing some home remodelling, Danvers?”
Maggie clearly meant it as a joke, but Alex's words got to her before her common sense did.
"Actually, yes."
The brunette blinked twice. “Oh. Really?”
“Yeah," she went on. "I mean, I haven't actually had the time to do anything about it yet, but I have been considering the idea.”
“In that case,” said Maggie, walking back to Alex and reaching into her back pocket to take her business card out of her wallet. “Here.” She handed it to Alex. “That's my website. If you like my work, give me a call.” When Alex took it, Maggie didn’t let go. “Deal?”
Alex glanced up at Maggie, meeting her playful yet expectant gaze. She bit the inside of her cheek as if considering the offer and finally nodded. “Deal.”
"Alright then.” Maggie smirked and Alex nearly faltered on her feet. “Hope to see you around, Danvers."
Sharing a farewell smile, Alex really hoped they would, too.
“I didn’t know you wanted to renovate your house,” Kara commented as she poured herself and Alex some coffee. Meanwhile, Alex visited Maggie’s company’s website on Kara’s laptop.
“I didn’t,” she said absentmindedly, scrolling down the page. Seeing her sister's confused frown, she sighed. “The other day, the strangest thing happened to me.” Without leaving out a single detail, she told her sister everything that had happened at the supermarket on the day she had met Maggie.
“That Jay did what?!”
“What you heard,” Alex chuckled, remembering the whole deed. “It was hilarious! You know how that guy in Friends flirts with every single girl by saying ‘How you doin’?’ Well, it was just like that!”
“Oh my Gosh! How did I miss that?!”
“I swear to God, I thought I was going to faint with embarrassment. But then she started laughing too and thought it was cute.” Playfully batting her eyelashes, she felt proud of her little boy.
“Which it clearly was!” Kara agreed with amusement. “Anyway, back to the topic in question. Let me see if I understand correctly. You’re saying that you want to remodel your house because you met a woman--”
“A beautiful woman,” Alex interjected, taking a sip of her coffee.
“…at a supermarket, who happens to be a contractor?”
“Okay, you make it sound like it doesn’t make any sense.”
“It kinda doesn’t,” Kara said, fixing her glasses.
“Why not? Turning the second extra room into a playroom for Jay would be a great idea, don't you think?”
“Yeah, sure.” Kara snorted.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“I just think you’re making excuses to see this woman again.”
“What?! No! That’s– You’re–” Alex babbled. “No.”
“Right.”
Alex scoffed with annoyance. “You know what, never mind.” She closed the lid of Kara’s laptop.
“Alex, come on.” Kara relented, sensing that she had hit a nerve. She took a moment to look at her sister intently. “Hey, what is it?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just forget about it.”
“Don’t be silly. I know you. I can see that something is bothering you.” Kara insisted. “So talk to me. I want to help.”
Alex considered it carefully before sighing deeply. “It doesn’t bother me as much as it confuses me,” she said, absentmindedly fidgeting with her cup of coffee.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“You’re right. I am making excuses to see her again.”
Kara frowned, looking confused. “Why would you need an excuse?”
“I don’t know, I just…” She exhaled, sounding just as confused. “It’s been so long since I felt this way, you know? Since I liked someone that way. And it got me thinking."
Kara nodded, encouraging her to continue.
“I know that I’ve only just met this woman and that I don't know the first thing about her. But honestly, this isn't even about her.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Me,” Alex claimed. “And my intimacy,” she added. “Or lack thereof, I suppose.” She then huffed out a derisive laugh. “Do you have any idea when the last time I had sex was? Or even went out on a date? It's been ages, Kara.”
Sure, she hadn't been actively looking for it, but that didn't change the fact that Alex hadn't connected with that part of herself for a long time.
"And the other day, the way Jay interacted with that woman made me realize that sometimes he might get lonely, too."
"He's not lonely, Alex. None of you are," Kara disagreed.
"Sometimes I am, Kar."
Kara looked at her with understanding eyes. "You want a partner," she said.
Alex sighed and lowered her gaze. "I just wonder if that's what Jay would want, too. I mean, does he need another parental figure?" She paused. "Am I enough for him?"
"Of course you are, Alex! What are you asking?"
She shrugged, looking uncertain. “I've always thought I had my life figured out. I never really minded my non-existent love life because I always did just fine in the other areas of my life. I have a wonderful son and amazing friends. I have a job I love. I have everything I need. But does Jay have all that too?”
“He has you, Alex. You're the best mother he could ever have wished for. He has a family who would do anything for him. He's the luckiest kid in the world.” Kara asserted. “Never doubt that again.”
Alex remained silent. She took another sip of her coffee, but it had gone cold.
She never doubted her competence or suitability as a mother. However, having grown up with two loving parents herself, she knew how valuable it was to have two different people with whom to share different things, moments and hobbies. She worried that her son might be missing out on that experience.
So it wasn't about a lack of love, but about having someone else to rely on.
Eventually, Alex waved her sister's concerns away. “Like I said, it's been a long time,” she said. “This is probably just a temporary crisis. It might not even be real.”
But Kara took Alex's hands in hers and held them firmly.
“Of course it's real, Alex. You want what's best for Jay, and your doubts and fears are valid.” Kara reasoned. “But you are important too, and you shouldn’t have to make excuses to be seen as a woman, not just Jay’s mom,” she said, her voice laden with understanding.
Alex understood that better than anyone, but above all else, she was a mother, and so it was very hard for her to prioritize herself over her son.
When she remained silent, Kara continued. "You are allowed to live your life, too. You can't miss the opportunity to love and be loved just because you are comfortable with your life as it is. You could get so much more than just comfort, Alex. You could get happiness.”
“It’s not that easy, Kara.”
“I’m not saying it is. I’m just saying it could be worth it.” Kara offered her an encouraging smile.
Since that day at the supermarket, it had been all Alex could think about. Not just as a woman, but as a mother, too. But it was precisely the latter that scared her the most. What if she met someone and Jay became too attached to them, and then the relationship didn’t work out?
It wasn’t just complicated, it was scary, too.
Alex looked at the time and groaned. It was almost time to pick up Jay from pre-k.
“I have to go now, but thanks for hearing me out.” She moved over to hug her sister dearly.
“Of course.” Kara hugged her back with her usual abnormal strength. “Just think about what we talked about, okay? And if you really like this woman, go for it. Give yourself a chance. Life’s too short and beautiful to miss out on it.”
Alex smiled, biting the inside of her cheek, and her heart softened at her sister’s words.
“I’ll think about it,” she promised. “I love you, Sis.”
“I love you, too. And I want you to be happy.”
Alex never doubted that.
And she did think about it. A lot. For days and nights on end, Alex couldn’t think about anything else. But she never found the courage to call Maggie. She dialled her number dozens of times, but backed off every single time.
It was Monday night and Alex had just finished her shift. She was in the locker room, changing out of her scrubs, eager to go home after a long, tiring day at the hospital. As usual, she first had to stop by Kara's apartment to pick up her son. Hearing her stomach growl, she took her phone out of her back pocket and texted her sister.
Hey
About to leave work. Fancy some Chinese?
Sure!
I should warn you, it's an extra potstickers kind of night.
When is it not? 🙄
Alex smiled at the teasing remark and put her phone away. She was just about to leave when the door suddenly opened and a nurse came in.
“Oh, good! You’re still here,” the nurse said, breathing quickly.
“No I’m not,” Alex said, already knowing why the nurse was there.
“Please, Dr. Danvers. I have a patient with a broken wrist waiting in the clinic. Dr. Hamilton was in charge but she was called into the O.R. We’ve already taken an X-ray but--”
“Are you kidding me? Ask an intern.” She interjected.
“No one is available, Dr. Danvers. It’s an all hands on deck situation in the E.R.”
“Isn’t Olsen on shift?”
“He was paged with Dr. Hamilton.”
“What about Dr. Lane?”
“With a patient in the delivery room.”
“Schott?”
“In the E.R.”
“Vasquez?”
“Off today.”
Alex groaned. She really wanted to go home. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered. “Okay, fine. I’ll take care of it.”
She swore under her breath, put her things away, and trudged back to the clinic.
It was just a broken arm. She would put it in a cast and send the patient home. Then she would finally be able to go home.
As she walked into the clinic, she spotted the patient: a dark-haired woman sitting on the bed with her back to her, holding her right arm protectively with her left hand. She sighed heavily one last time, put on a pair of latex gloves, turned back into doctor mode and started walking towards the patient.
“Alright, I’m Dr. Danvers. What do we have--”
But when she met the patient, she stopped in her tracks. It was the woman she had spent days and nights thinking about.
“Oh,” Alex uttered, her face showing genuine surprise.
“Hello, Dr. Danvers.” The patient greeted her, a big, dimpled smile on her face. “It’s been a hot minute.”
“Hi. Um, Maggie, right?” She asked casually, as if the name hadn't wandered on her mind for weeks.
Maggie’s brow raised. “You remembered,” she replied.
“Sure.” Of course I remember, Alex thought. “May I?” She carefully took her patient’s injured hand. “So, how did this happen?”
“At work. An asshole didn't warn me the ladder had a loose step, and I fell flat on my arm.”
“I’m sorry about that. How high?”
“Um, about 10 feet? It wasn’t that high, but I did land over my wrist.”
Alex snorted. “Not that high?”
“Could’ve been worse, I guess.” Maggie shrugged. “These kinds of risks come with the job.”
They fell into a surprisingly comfortable silence for a moment while Alex carefully assessed Maggie’s injury, gently pulling and twisting her right wrist. When Maggie winced, Alex glanced up at her, but couldn’t hold her gaze.
“That hurt?” She asked, refocusing her gaze on the wrist.
“Kinda.”
“Kinda?” This time, Alex raised her eyebrows and looked at her.
“I mean, it’s not broken, right? It doesn’t seem broken.”
“Oh, excuse me. Are you the doctor here?” She asked sarcastically.
Maggie looked down at her lap. “I’m sorry. It’s just—it can’t be broken.”
“Relax. It doesn't seem broken, but we still have to wait for the X-ray. Does anything else hurt?”
“No. The other doctor examined me thoroughly. I’m good, it’s just my hand.”
At that moment, a nurse entered the room and handed Alex the X-ray results.
“Let’s see.” Alex placed the sheet on the glass sheet and switched on its light.
After studying the X-ray for a moment, she turned to her patient and smiled gently.
“The good news is that it’s definitely just sprained, not broken,” Alex asserted. “Lucky for you, that means you’ll only have to wear a splint for a few weeks, and it’ll heal nicely.”
“And the bad news?”
“You'll have to keep your hand completely still for at least a week. By that, I mean absolutely no movement.”
“Shit.” Maggie grumbled.
“Come on. It's not that bad.”
“Well, I work in construction,” she explained, as if it were obvious. “And I’m also a lesbian. So, yes, it is bad.”
“Right.” Alex swallowed, taken aback by Maggie’s comment.
Maggie chuckled at Alex's reaction.
“Relax, Danvers. I was joking,” she said with a grin and a twinkle in her eye. “I mean, not about being gay. But I was joking about all this being such a big deal since, one, I’m single, and two, I’m left-handed.” She smirked and winked at Alex.
“Oh, that's, um, good. Yeah, that’s great,” she spluttered, feeling her cheeks start to blush. “For you, I mean.”
“Well, not just for me, but yeah,” Maggie agreed, still smirking and clearly enjoying teasing Alex. “So, what now?”
“What-- Uh, what do you mean?”
Maggie raised her injured arm in response.
“Oh. Right. Of course, um.” She giggled nervously. “Now you’re going to stay here while I go for the splint, yeah?”
“Not going anywhere, Doc.”
Alex knew that there was a perfectly located supply cabinet right in front of them, but she needed to get out of there before she embarrassed herself any further. Once in the supply room, she grabbed her phone and texted her sister again.
You won’t believe what just happened
What?
OMG did you crash? You should be here by now.
No, Kara!
Though I don’t know what’s worse tbh
Tell me!
She’s here
She who?
Maggie!
Do you remember Maggie?
Oh
Oh!
And by here you mean at the hospital?
Yes
OMG is she okay?
Or did she come see you?
Wait
Did you finally ask her out?!
No!
I mean, yes she’s OK
But no, of course I didn’t ask her out
Okay, then I’m confused
She came here because had an accident at work
But she’s okay now
Okay, good
So are you on your way here now?
No, she’s still here. We’re not done yet.
Done? Done what? 😏
Ugh. KARA!
Lol okay don’t shout at me
Why are you texting me when you're with her?
I left her room for a second
I was making a foul of myself in there
LOL
Totally imagine it
🤣🤣🤣
I hate you
So what are you going to do?
What do you mean?
Seriously Alex… 🤦♀️
Ask her out
Are you crazy?!
I’m her doctor now!
Oh please
That's a lame excuse.
Shut up
Whatever. You know I’m right
Ask her out.
No!
I’m gonna go. She’s waiting for me
I’m sure she is
😏😏
GROW UP!
GROW SOME!
Rolling her eyes, she decided not to dignify that last text with a reply. She put her phone away and grabbed the splint and the wrapping bandage she had come for.
“Okay, are you ready?” She asked Maggie, moving around the bed to stand in front of her patient.
Maggie nodded and extended her right arm to Alex.
“So, I take it you didn’t like my work?” Maggie asked, as Alex began to fix the wrapping bandage to her wrist.
Alex glanced up. “I’m sorry?”
“You never called.”
“Oh.”
“It’s alright, though. If you didn’t like it, I mean.”
“No, it wasn’t that,” Alex hurriedly assured her. “I actually really liked it,” she said honestly.
“Yeah?”
“Of course. It's just that... well, I've been kind of busy. That’s all,” she lied, hoping it sounded believable.
“Right. Kids, family, work. The whole package, right?” She asked, and Alex noted that Maggie had emphasized the word ‘family’.
“It’s just me and Jay, really. And my job can be a bit unpredictable and all-consuming sometimes,” she said. “But never as unpredictable or consuming as a four-year-old. So yeah, ‘busy’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“I see.” Maggie nodded slowly, a subtle look of satisfaction in her eyes. “How’s the little smug doing, by the way?”
An absentminded smile lit up Alex’s face. “He’s doing great.”
“Still flirting around?”
“Oh, apparently that was just a you-thing.” Alex laughed as she finished wrapping the bandage and started on the splint.
“Good. I wouldn't want to be just another one of his conquests,” she joked, winking at Alex.
“Nah, you could never,” Alex murmured as she finished putting the splint in place. When she finally realized what she had said, she looked up to find an amused pair of raised eyebrows. “You’re done!” She blurted out, quickly getting up from her stool and avoiding Maggie's gaze.
“You should rest your wrist and avoid any unnecessary movement. Apply ice for 20 minutes, two or three times a day. If it bothers you or you feel any pain, take Advil every eight hours,” she recited in her doctor’s tone.
“I will. Thank you, Danvers.” Maggie smiled.
“No problem.” She nodded. “You should come back in a week for a follow-up, though. Just in case you’ll need P.T.”
“Am I going to see you again then?”
“Uh, no. You should probably make an appointment with a traumatologist,” she said, giving a slight twitch of her mouth.
“Oh, okay,” Maggie replied, disappointment evident in her eyes.
Alex knew that now was the time to be brave and ask Maggie out. She really wanted to do it, and she knew it was her last chance. Maggie had been showing an interest in her the whole time.
“Would--”
“I’d--”
Once again, they both spoke at the same time. Maggie gestured for her to go first.
“I was wondering if you’d like to--”
“Excuse me, Dr Danvers?” They both turned to look at the nurse who had just entered the room. “Could you please sign the patient’s chart?” She asked, holding up the document.
She gave Maggie an apologetic smile, then turned to the nurse and signed the paper.
Once the nurse left, Maggie eagerly picked up where they left off. “So, you were saying?”
But all the courage Alex had felt a moment earlier was suddenly replaced by an overwhelming sense of trepidation.
“Uh… I, um, just wanted to know if you’re still interested in the remodelling job?” It was the first thing that crossed her mind. “Like I said, I did like your work.”
Maggie looked taken aback, perhaps for the first time since they had met. So much so that she remained silent.
“It’s okay if you’re not. I mean, you’re probably swamped with work anyway.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that I thought that you…” She trailed off but waved it away. “Never mind. Yeah, sure, I’m interested. Not for at least a couple of weeks, though,” she said, holding up her hand as to make her point.
“Yeah, no, of course.” She cleared her throat. “Should we set a date right now?”
“Just tell me when you are available and I’ll make it work for me.”
“It would have to be a Saturday. I'm more likely to be able to make it than on a weekday.”
“Sure, no problem.” Maggie agreed. “Actually, how about next Saturday? I probably won't be able to start doing anything until I've fully recovered, but you could show me what you have in mind.”
“Sounds good.”
“Still have my card?” Maggie asked.
“I do.”
“Good. Let me know the time and place, and I’ll be there.”
“I will.” Alex smiled kindly.
She watched as Maggie carefully put on her black leather jacket.
“Gotta run now, but it was nice seeing you again, Alex.”
“What, you got a hot date or something?”
Maggie glanced up and smirked. “Interested in my love life, Danvers?”
“What? No! I—You—I--“ Alex short-circuited. “I was just kidding.”
She scoffed as if Maggie were talking nonsense.
The brunette nodded, still smirking. “Anwyay, no hot date. I just want to go home and rest for once. It’s been a long day,” she said, her voice sounding tired. “Thanks again for fixing me up.”
“Of course.”
“See you around,” said Maggie, before turning on her heels and walking away.
When Maggie disappeared, Alex exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. ‘What the hell just happened?’ she whispered to herself, throwing her head back and closing her eyes.
She shook her head softly, letting out a quiet laugh, as she walked back to the locker room to collect her things and finally head over to Kara’s. It was time for her to start figuring out what the hell she needed to remodel in her house.
The week had passed in a flash. Saturday finally arrived, and Alex was at home waiting for Maggie. Kara had offered to take Jay for lunch while Alex showed Maggie what she had decided to do in the second spare room.
Alex knew this was ridiculous. In fact, Kara had made it clear how ridiculous she thought it was. But now there was no turning back. Alex sat on her couch, fidgeting with her phone and feeling anxious. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted Maggie to hurry up or call to say she wouldn’t make it. What she did know was that she wanted this charade to be over.
The doorbell rang, bringing her out of her thoughts and filling her with a sudden sense of dread.
Maggie made her nervous. There was something about her that made Alex feel and act in ways she never would have before. This unsettled her. She liked Maggie —that was an understatement— but none of the women she had dated before, especially before Jay, had made her feel the way Maggie did. The fact that Maggie made her question everything she was so sure about in her life terrified her. What made it worse was that she had the feeling that Maggie could see right through her.
Alex went still for a moment. How could a virtual stranger make her feel so nervous? She felt so stupid. For a moment, she even considered not answering the door. This was stupid anyway, and it wasn’t like she would ever have to see Maggie again.
A second ring hit her like a slap in the face, making her see sense. She was being ridiculous and disrespectful. She had put herself in this situation alone; no one had forced her. She hadn't been brave enough to ask the woman out, so now she had to take responsibility.
Shaking her thoughts away, she forced herself to pull her shit together and walked to the door.
“Hi,” she greeted, opening the door and already feeling her cheeks grow warm.
“Hey, Danvers!” Maggie greeted her back with a broad smile on her face, a tool bag hanging off her shoulder.
The moment Alex saw the smile on Maggie’s face, she knew she was a goner.
“I thought maybe you weren’t home. Or that I might have the wrong address.”
“Sorry about that, I was… busy, with something,” Alex lied, closing after Maggie.
Maggie turned to her. “Would you prefer it if we rescheduled? I can come back another time if you’re too busy.”
“No!” Alex exclaimed, suddenly realizing how her excuse might have sounded. “No, I meant I was just… Never mind, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of time,” she said lamely. “How, uh, how’s your wrist?”
“Much better! It hardly hurts anymore.”
“Glad to hear that.”
Maggie looked around the house. “You’ve got a nice home here, Danvers.”
“Thanks. Come on, I’ll show you around.”
“So, is the little guy around?” Maggie asked, following Alex.
“No, my sister took him out for lunch.”
Maggie pursed her lips. “Pity. I would have liked to see him again.”
“I’m sure he would have liked that, too.”
Alex guided her to the spare room that she had decided to remodel. It was full of things that neither she nor Jay used anymore: clothes, toys, an old desk, and a stationary bike that she had only used twice before forgetting all about it. Alex thought it would be a good idea to finally get rid of all this stuff and put the room to better use. After all, it was a waste of a nice, big space.
“I like your style, Danvers,” Maggie acknowledged, resting her hands on her hips. “You have good taste.”
“Thanks.” Alex smiled kindly.
“So, what did you have in mind?”
“Well, for starters, I’d like to get rid of all this stuff. Send it all to Goodwill.”
“Good idea. If you want me to take care of it, I can,” Maggie offered.
“Sure, that’d be great. Then I thought it would be nice to turn this place into a playroom for Jay.” Alex had an excited grin on her face, as if expecting some kind of approval from Maggie.
For her part, Maggie merely nodded and looked around the room, assessing the possibilities.
“I mean, it’s a good idea, right? I think Jay would really like it. What do you think?”
“What do I think?” Maggie chuckled at the question. “Alex, it’s your house. It’s your son and your money. I’m only here to follow orders and, eventually, advise you on certain aspects of the job. Everything else is your call,” she said, her tone quite professional.
“Yeah, no, of course I know that,” Alex sputtered, taken aback by Maggie's response. “I was just--”
“Can I ask you a question?”
Alex nodded, her expression resembling that of a deer in the headlights.
“Do you want to remodel your house at all?”
“Wh—What do you mean?” Alex stammered.
“I’ve been doing this job for a while now. I can tell the difference between someone who knows exactly what they want and someone who has no idea what they want. And even when I have to work with someone who doesn't have the slightest idea what they want, I know they want something done, and I can guide them through it eventually. But you...” Maggie trailed off, shaking her head slightly. “I don’t think there’s anything you actually want to change in your house, nor anything that needs to be changed for that matter.”
Alex stood speechless, blinking and gaping. She was unsure what to say or do in response to the other woman’s precise assessment.
“I mean, your house is clearly new. The rooms are spacious, the walls and furniture look like no one even lives here. I’m pretty sure the plumbing works perfectly, too. And your kid’s room has its own playroom in it. So please, Alex, tell me. What am I really doing here?” Maggie finally asked, arms crossed on her chest and gaze fixed on hers.
Alex had been caught. There was no point in pretending anymore. She owed Maggie an explanation and a huge apology for messing her around and wasting her time.
But she didn’t know what to say. She was genuinely embarrassed. So she did what she did best: she acted on impulse. And her impulse pushed her to step closer to Maggie, cradle her face in her hands and lean in to kiss her.
When Alex realized what she had done, she froze. She was afraid that Maggie would think it was all a charade and that she had set it up to take advantage of her. Alex wouldn't even blame her for thinking that. But just as she was questioning her actions and about to pull away to apologize and wish she could vanish from the face of the earth, Maggie rested her left hand on Alex's cheek and her right hand on her waist, and returned the kiss.
The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, but it was enough to turn Alex’s world upside down.
As they pulled away, Alex found herself starting to panic for the third time in less than thirty minutes. However, when she felt Maggie’s fingers gently caressing her jawline and saw how kindly Maggie was looking at her, she calmed down.
“Wow,” Alex breathed, grinning numbly.
“Yeah,” Maggie whispered back.
“Was that okay?”
“You kidding me? It was more than okay, Alex.” Maggie smiled.
“Really?” Alex asked, sounding surprised by Maggie’s answer.
Maggie tilted her head slightly. “Alex, in case you hadn't noticed, I've wanted to do that ever since we met.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I guess I was just waiting for you to take the initiative. I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way.”
“Oh, come on!” Alex exclaimed in disbelief.
“Okay, I kind of suspected. You always seemed a bit flustered the few times we met.”
Alex covered her face with her hands, feeling bashful. “Oh my gosh, I’m such a mess!”
“Hey, you’re not.” Maggie laughed and, in a softer tone, added, “You seem pretty wonderful to me,” smiling softly.
Maggie reached up and kissed her again. Unlike their first kiss, which had been soft and almost chaste, this one was much more intense. Things escalated quickly from there, and before long, they were lost in a passionate, lustful kiss.
It had been a while since Alex had felt this way, since she had desired someone so intensely. It didn’t make sense; she barely knew the woman. But at that moment, as Maggie kissed her wantonly, all Alex could think about was giving in to her desire.
And she probably would have given in if Maggie hadn't broken them off, albeit reluctantly.
“Mm, Alex,” she mumbled softly between kisses. “Wait, let’s just…” she trailed off, her voice breathless and her chest heaving.
“What? Why?” Alex blurted out, her breathing just as affected. “Was that wrong?”
“No, of course not.” Maggie assured her quickly. “It’s just that this was getting a bit, um, intense.”
Alex giggled shyly. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be, I was really enjoying it.” Maggie grinned convincingly. “But maybe we should slow down before things get… out of hand.”
“Oh. I mean, sure.” She cleared her throat and threaded her fingers through her hair, trying to compose herself. “Or, you know, we could just let them…”
A mischievous smirk formed on Maggie's face.
“If you want to, of course.”
Maggie bit her lip and tilted her head. “You sure?”
Instead of using her words, Alex pulled Maggie into another zealous kiss. This time, they both knew what they wanted and why they were there. For the first time, things were clear between them, and, as expected, once they started, they couldn’t stop.
Maggie grabbed Alex’s hips and pulled her forward until her back hit the wall. She immediately removed her black leather jacket and splint, assuring Alex between kisses that she was alright and that her wrist didn’t hurt. Alex knew it was against medical advice to remove the splint during the healing process, but she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to form a coherent sentence while Maggie was sucking her neck.
“Jesus,” Alex moaned when Maggie pressed one thigh between her legs and ground against her center.
Alex felt warm hands sneak beneath her shirt while the brunette kissed her neck fervently. Maggie’s hands confidently wandered across Alex’s stomach and up her ribs until they reached her breasts, caressing them gently but intently through her bra.
She groaned with pleasure when Maggie pressed slightly harder against her center while hitting a particular spot on her neck. Gaping with arousal, Alex marvelled at how right and familiar Maggie felt.
“Can I take this off?” Maggie asked, pulling at Alex’s shirt. When she nodded —quite desperately— the brunette immediately took off her denim shirt and unclasped her bra.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” Maggie exclaimed, her eyes fixed on Alex’s bare breasts.
Alex threw her head back in pleasure as Maggie began to kiss her chest. She could feel Maggie’s tongue flicking across one nipple while her hand fondled the other breast eagerly, driving her wild.
“Maggie,” Alex panted, running her fingers through Maggie’s hair while her breasts got all the attention. “Come here.” She found Maggie’s lips again and started kissing her passionately once more.
Eventually, they pulled apart to catch their breath. It was only then that Alex realized that Maggie was overdressed, so she seized the opportunity to do something about it. Unable to hide her awe, Alex nearly drooled as she pulled Maggie’s shirt off and took in her toned body.
“You’re…” She swallowed hard. “Really hot.”
Maggie smirked confidently and pressed herself against Alex again. “You’re hotter, Danvers.”
They started kissing again, reigniting their passion and desire. Alex circled her arms around Maggie’s neck, losing herself in the ardent kiss, while Maggie’s hands trailed down her back to the small of her back, sneaking under the waistband of her jeans. Without hesitation, she grabbed and squeezed Alex’s buttocks, shifting her thigh between her legs and pressing firmly against her center.
Alex let out a loud moan through the kiss; the pressure in her centre and the heated make-out session were driving her crazy. Desperately aroused, she unconsciously dug her nails into Maggie’s back before clumsily trying to remove her bra. Once it was finally off, Maggie began kissing her way down Alex’s neck, across her chest and onto her stomach, slowly kneeling in front of her.
Seeing Maggie on her knees, unbuttoning her jeans and looking up at her with lascivious eyes, Alex felt an unfamiliar, irrevocable desire spark in her core.
Alex never imagined that the remodelling project would turn out like this. Now that it was actually happening, however, she wasn’t about to stop or second-guess it. Not by any chance. Especially not when Maggie was fucking her so thoroughly and so hard.
“Are you okay?” Maggie asked as she buttoned her jeans.
They were getting dressed, feeling utterly satisfied. Alex felt herself flush; she still couldn’t believe what had just happened—what they had done.
“Yeah, I’m just…” She trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek.
Maggie tilted her head, prompting her to carry on.
“This isn't how I pictured it going,” Alex giggled sheepishly. “I mean, it was a thousand times better. But still, I feel… weird.”
“Good ‘weird’ or…?”
Alex opened her mouth, then closed it again, pausing. “I don't know yet,” she said.
“If it makes you feel better, I don’t usually do this. It took me by surprise, too,” Maggie assured her.
She would have time to think about all this later — and boy, she wouldn’t think about anything else!
“Your hand okay?” She asked.
“Yeah,” Maggie said, slowly moving her wrist. “Feels okay.”
“Good. I worried that after all that…”
“Feels good,” she assured her quickly.
“Good,” Alex repeated. “Because, um, it sure felt good a few minutes ago,” she said, biting her lower lip.
Maggie smirked, her ridiculously sexy dimples flashing brightly. “That so, Danvers?”
She nodded coyly and closed the distance between them once again, meeting Maggie in a warm kiss. It was supposed to be tame and gentle — reassuring. Alex didn’t yet know how she felt about this whole…experience, but she did know that she liked Maggie. The brunette drove her wild, and having her still half-naked in front of her wasn’t helping.
So ‘tame and gentle’ lasted less than a sigh because, in a matter of seconds, the kiss grew with renewed desire.
They would probably have taken it to Alex’s bed this time if it hadn't been for the familiar shriek of laughter that she suddenly heard coming down the hall.
“Fuck!” Alex exclaimed, recognizing the voice of her son. “It’s Jay! They’re here!”
“Shit!”
“Clothes! Quickly!” Alex ordered, trying to find her own clothes amid the jumble on the floor.
They got dressed as quickly as possible, and once Alex was sure they were both presentable, she strode out of the room to meet her son.
“Mommy!” Jay ran towards her, throwing his arms up in the air for her to pick him up.
“Hi, baby!” Alex hoisted him onto her right hip. “How did it go?!”
“Great! Auntie Kara bought me a Happy Meal and took me to the amusement park!”
“Yeah? Did you have fun?”
“So much fun!” He chirped.
“That’s great! Auntie Kara is the best, isn’t she?” She winked at her sister and offered her a grateful smile.
“Yeah, we had fun, didn’t we, JJ?” Kara tickled her nephew. “So, how did it go with Maggie?” She asked suggestively.
“Maggie?” Jay chimed in, the name catching his attention.
Before Alex could answer, Maggie cleared her throat at the back of the room. Jay and Kara both turned to look at the brunette who was walking shyly into the living room.
“Maggie!” Jay literally jumped out of his mother’s arms to greet her.
At that moment, Alex caught her sister glancing at her, as if taking in her dishevelled appearance for the first time. She looked away bashfully, quickly recognizing the judgement in Kara’s gaze.
“Hey, buddy!” Maggie smiled as she squatted down in front of him, welcoming him with a hug. “How are you doing?”
“Good! My Auntie Kara bought me cotton candy in the park, but don’t tell my mom!” He hissed.
“Oh! I won’t say a word.” Maggie winked at him, amused by his antics.
“And look!” He chirped, holding up a book to show her. “We won this book!”
“Really?! That’s awesome, buddy! I love books — they’re so cool!”
“Me too! Do you want to read it with me?” Jay asked, smiling broadly.
“Jay, why don’t you go wash your hands first?” Alex suggested before Maggie had a chance to answer.
“And then we can read the book together?” He insisted.
“Maybe some other time, yeah?” She tried to be careful. She didn’t want to disappoint her son, but she also didn’t want to put Maggie on the spot.
“Okay, Mommy…” He pouted, but his pout quickly turned into a cheeky grin when Maggie winked at him as he headed to the bathroom to wash his hands.
Alex didn’t miss that. She felt a warmth inside at how easily these two had hit it off.
“Kara, this is Maggie, my… um, contractor.” She mentally slapped herself for being so awkward. “Maggie, this is my sister, Kara.”
“Nice to meet you, Kara.” Maggie extended her hand politely.
“You too, Maggie. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She smirked, shaking the offered hand.
Maggie raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Alex glared at her sister.
“You know, about the remodeling thing,” Kara clarified, suddenly feeling a little threatened by her sister’s angry stare.
“Right.” Maggie nodded, trying to hide her smugness. However, she wasn't doing a great job at it, as evidenced by Alex’s reddening cheeks. “Well, I’d love to keep chatting, but I should get going,” she said, adjusting the strap of her tool bag.
“Maggie, you’re not staying?” Jay asked when he came back from the bathroom.
“Sorry, buddy, but I can’t be late for work,” she said, pursing her lips regretfully.
Jay pouted again, his cute little face showing his disappointment.
“But,” she continued, “if your mom agrees, we could meet up one of these days.” She suggested, looking hopeful. “Maybe for some ice cream?”
Jay’s face lit up with excitement. “Can we, Mommy?!”
Alex stood speechless, wondering what to do. Should she say yes and give her baby boy false hope, or say no and disappoint him once again?
“Please, please, pleaaaaase?” He pleaded.
Who was she kidding? She could never resist his puppy-dog eyes. If this was just a ruse for Maggie, though, Alex could only hope that Jay would forget about it.
She smiled at her son. “Yeah, okay, we can.”
He started jumping with excitement. “Yay!”
Maggie grinned and held up her hand to hi-five Jay. Her phone then chimed, prompting her to hurry off. “Shoot! Gotta go now. Alex, would you walk me out? I’d like to discuss the final details on… you know.”
“Sure, of course,” she said, choosing to ignore the snort that Kara had tried and failed to hide.
Once they were sure they were far enough away from prying ears and eyes, they both smiled at each other.
“Hey, so… that happened, huh?” Maggie commented.
“Yes, it did.” Alex nodded slowly, pursing her lips timidly. Then, making a funny face, she added, “Twice!”
They both laughed in unison.
“Hey, listen. You didn’t have to do that with Jay, by the way,” Alex said, giving her an opportunity to back out.
“I know, but I meant it,” Maggie replied genuinely. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”
“Of course it is. It’s just that he’s a child, you know. He likes you very much, and I wouldn’t want to get his hopes up if… you know.” As she said this, Alex wondered whether she was actually talking about Jay or herself.
“I understand.” Maggie nodded, her gaze earnest. “Look, Alex, I know this was…” She scoffed, lost for words. “Honestly, I don’t even know what it was, but I like you.” Her phone pinged again and she sighed. She genuinely looked in a hurry. “I really have to go now, I have a client to meet like ten minutes ago. But, um, would you like to go on a date with me? A real date.”
“Really?”
Alex wasn’t exactly surprised, but her body was still tingling with desire — she could still feel Maggie’s hands roaming all over her body. On top of that, she was still processing the fact that they had just fucked in her dusty spare room, and then arranged an ice cream date with Jay five minutes later.
“Like I said, I don’t know what any of this means, but I’d like to find out if you’re interested, too.”
Alex smiled and bit the inside of her cheek. “I'd really like that.”
Maggie smiled back, her dimples reigniting Alex’s desire. “Great. I’ll call you.”
Alex nodded and lowered her head bashfully, hoping that her renewed arousal wasn't obvious.
“Hey,” said Maggie, reaching out to lift Alex’s head by the chin. “I had a really good time today.”
“I did too.”
They both shared another complicit smile before Maggie leaned in and left a sweet kiss on Alex’s cheek.
“See you around, Alex.”
“See you, Maggie,” she whispered hoarsely.
After closing the door, Alex rested her head against it, grinning like an idiot and feeling utterly dazzled.
“What the hell was that?!” Kara asked, appearing out of nowhere.
Hiding her face in her hands, she exclaimed, “Where do I even start?!”
That same night, they exchanged flirty messages and shared a few silly smiles as they agreed to meet on Tuesday. Alex couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. She was so excited that she couldn't wait for Tuesday to come around.
However, by the time Tuesday night arrived, Alex was so nervous that she began to doubt her decisions.
“Do you think I’m being reckless?” Alex asked her sister, pacing up and down nervously. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
“Alex, you had sex on an old, dusty desk in that dump room during a supposed work meeting. That was reckless,” Kara said. Alex rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop her cheeks from reddening. “Going on a date like normal people is the first wise idea you’ve had since you met.”
“I’m just so nervous.”
“You’ve got nothing to be nervous about. She’s the one who should be nervous.”
“Excuse me, have you seen her?” She scoffed.
“Alex,” Kara said seriously. “You’re a gorgeous, wonderful woman and an incredible catch. Own it.”
Alex smiled lovingly. “I love you.”
“I love you too, dummy.” Kara hugged her tightly. “Now hurry up! She’ll be here any moment!”
As if on cue, the doorbell rang, announcing Maggie's arrival.
“Shit! My hair!” She hissed, bringing her hands up to her hair.
“Your hair is perfect! Relax and enjoy it, Alex,” Kara said, pushing her sister towards the door. “Oh, hey! Don't forget your clutch!”
“Thanks. Wish me luck!”
“You won’t need it. Come on, don't keep the lady waiting!” Kara winked at her sister, gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and ran upstairs to Jay’s room.
Alex took a deep breath, then opened the door.
“Hi!” She greeted Maggie with a big smile. The brunette was standing with a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
“Wow,” Maggie gasped, appreciating Alex’s floral dress. “You look beautiful, Alex.”
“Thanks.” Her smile turned bashful. “You look good, too,” she said, taking in Maggie’s leather outfit.
“Here.” Maggie handed her the bouquet. “Dare I say your favorites.”
Lilies. Alex’s favorites indeed.
“Oh my gosh, I love them! How did you know?”
“I had a feeling,” she said casually. “But then again, you have vases full of them in every other corner.”
Alex giggled — of course Maggie noticed that. “Why, thank you. They’re beautiful.”
Alex invited her in while she arranged the flowers in a vase.
“Is Jay home?” Maggie asked as Alex grabbed a bell-shaped vase from the cupboard and filled it with water.
“He is. Kara’s with him upstairs,” she said, cutting the stems with delicate precision. “He doesn’t know you’re here, otherwise he’d be all over you.”
“Aw, he’s so sweet.”
After placing the flower in the vase, they headed over to Maggie’s car. The brunette stopped by the passenger door, offering Alex a full, dimpled smile as she opened it for her.
“Ready?” Maggie asked.
Alex grinned. “As I’ll ever be.” She eagerly got into the car.
~
When they arrived at the restaurant — a fancy Italian place — the waiter showed them to their table. By the time he had taken their orders and excused himself, Alex felt a little more relaxed and let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Wow, are you already hating it?” Maggie joked.
“No!” Alex exclaimed, unconsciously placing her hand over Maggie’s. “Of course not. I just…”
“Tell me,” Maggie said softly, tracing her thumb over Alex's hand.
“I was really nervous about tonight,” Alex confessed.
“And now? Are you still nervous?”
Alex answered with a slight shake of her head. “No, it feels nice to be here with you.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“Good. Feels nice to be here with you, too.” They shared a broad smile. “To be honest, I was feeling a bit nervous, too, until you opened the door and I saw how stunning you looked.”
Alex blushed, lowering her head. “Stop it, you’re making me blush.”
“I’m just stating a fact.”
“How’s your hand healing?”
“Don’t change the topic!” Maggie laughed.
“I’m not! I’m genuinely interested!”
“Oh, yeah? Any particular interest in it?” Maggie teased.
“Oh my Gosh! Are you ever gonna stop making me blush?!” She squeaked, covering her face with her hands.
Maggie burst into laughter at Alex’s reaction. “Okay, okay! My hand is fine. Perfectly fine. It's one hundred percent healed.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“I’m sure you are,” Maggie teased, winking at her.
The waiter interrupted them by bringing their dishes. Alex had ordered gnocchi alla sorrentina and Maggie had opted for the lasagna vegetariana.
As they enjoyed their meal, they got to know each other better by sharing things about themselves. Maggie told her about how she had ended up in the construction business, and how she had started her own business after moving to National City. In turn, Alex told Maggie that she had always known she wanted to be a doctor, just like her parents. She told her about the surgical residency program, and how her mentor and Chief of Surgery, Dr. Jones, had inspired her to specialize in general surgery.
Alex learned that Maggie was born in a small town in Nebraska, but that her family had moved around a lot when she was young, meaning she grew up all over the place. She also learned that Maggie settled in Metropolis once she was old enough to leave home, before moving here a couple of years ago.
“Tell me about Jay,” Maggie eventually asked, speaking casually but with genuine interest.
“Jay…” she began, wiping her mouth with a napkin as she searched for the right words. “He’s the most important thing in my life,” she said, her eyes shining with pride. “He’s just… everything.”
“Is he biologically yours?”
“No. He’s adopted.”
Maggie nodded attentively.
“Did you adopt him on your own or is there someone else?”
“Just me. We sort of found each other,” Alex said. “I wasn’t exactly planning on becoming a mother in my second year of residency, but I guess life had other plans for me.”
The brunette tilted her head in interest. “I sense there’s a story there,” she said.
“Oh boy!”
Maggie grinned, encouraging her to continue, and Alex began to share Jay's story.
“It was a cold November night, and it was pouring with rain. Two police officers entered the emergency room carrying a newborn baby wrapped in a windbreaker. They said they had found the baby wrapped in a bundle of soaked blankets by a dumpster. He was barely alive when they found him, but by the time they arrived at the hospital, he had no pulse. He was cold and blue and just… dead.”
Alex rarely told anyone Jay’s story. Recalling the details of that night, of Jay laying dead in a hospital bed, really broke her heart. But it was different with Maggie. She found it easy to talk to her and share this unique and personal story.
“I started CPR, but after a few unsuccessful minutes, my attending ordered me to stop. He was already dead and there was nothing else I could do. But I couldn’t stop. He was just a baby. So I kept massaging his chest and performing CPR for God knows how long, until I felt a pulse. And when I heard his little heart beat again at that moment, I felt my soul come back to my body.”
With teary eyes, she smiled at the memory. She would never forget the sound of his feeble cries when he came back to life — she could still hear them sometimes.
“We kept him in the NICU for over a month. I visited him at least twice a day, every day, until he had fully recovered. Not once did anyone come for him during that time.” She shook her head in disbelief. “How could anyone be so cruel? They threw him away like garbage, leaving him to die alone in the rain.”
“Some people are messed up.”
“There’s a big difference between being messed up and being a fucking monster, Maggie,” Alex snapped. She quickly apologized, however, for coming off strong.
“No one ever claimed him?” Maggie then asked. “No relatives? No one?”
Alex shook her head. “Not a single person. As time passed, I grew closer to him until I couldn’t stay away anymore. I just fell in love with him,” she said, her eyes shining brightly. “Eventually, I filed for adoption. The process was tough, and being a single mother certainly didn't make things any easier. But thankfully, I had my sister and my mom, who stood by my side from day one and never let me give up.”
“Kara seems to be a great aunt,” Maggie commented.
"She's the best. So is my mom. They both love Jay more than anything. I’m so grateful to them. Honestly, I don’t think I would have made it without them.”
Maggie rested her hand on top of Alex’s on the table. “It’s a beautiful story, Alex,” she said. “You saved him.”
“He changed my life,” Alex asserted. “Sometimes I try to imagine what my life would be like without him in it, and frankly, I can’t picture it. He’s honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I just love him so much.” She smiled broadly. There were no words to describe how much she loved him.
“Happiness suits you, Alex Danvers.” Maggie smirked and gently squeezed her hand.
They changed the topic to a lighter one as they finished their meals. For dessert, they shared a large portion of tiramisù. Maggie had mentioned it was her favorite dessert, but Alex hadn’t realized how serious she was about it until the brunette ordered another portion to take away.
At one point, they were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t notice they were the only customers left in the restaurant until the waiter came over with the check. After Maggie had paid, they walked out of the restaurant holding hands.
“I had a really nice time, Maggie,” Alex said, walking down the street. “Thank you.”
“I did too. Thank you for saying yes.” Maggie smiled, and Alex knew there wasn’t a universe in which she would have said no. “And thank you for confiding Jay’s story to me.”
“It’s the first time I share it with someone that isn’t my family,” Alex confessed.
“I appreciate it.” After a pause, Maggie spoke more hesitantly. “So, um, does that mean there hasn’t been anyone since Jay came along?”
“No one that mattered.” She realized what she had said as soon as she had said it. “Not that—I mean—fuck.”
Maggie's soft laughter settled Alex's sudden nerves.
“I feel like I can trust you. Is that weird? After all, we don't really know each other that well.”
Maggie shrugged nonchalantly. “I’d say we know each other pretty well,” she joked, smirking.
Alex rolled her eyes and poked her playfully.
Stopping by the car, Maggie looked at her. “Hey,” she said softly. “Can I kiss you?”
“You’re asking for permission now?” She teased, stepping closer to Maggie.
Maggie lowered her gaze shyly to their linked hands. “I feel like we did everything backwards. First sex, then dating,” she said. “But as much as I enjoyed what happened between us the other day, I’d really like to do things properly this time. So, yes, I suppose I’m asking for your permission now.” She looked up and smiled gently. “Would it be okay if I kissed you? I’ve been dying to do it ever since I laid eyes on you tonight.”
“Well, I wouldn't want you to die on me tonight,” she said, leaning down and meeting Maggie’s lips in a tender kiss.
They pulled away, simpering, and got into the car. Although it had been a fairly chaste kiss, it was enough to ignite Alex’s desire. She felt like a hormonal teenager, but she couldn't be bothered to care. She really liked Maggie, and the brunette drove her crazy.
Just as Maggie was about to start the engine, Alex leaned over the center console, cradling her face and pulling her in for a passionate kiss. Maggie immediately reciprocated, slipping her tongue into Alex’s mouth and prompting a low whimper from her.
After a while, kisses alone were no longer enough, and their hands began roaming freely over each other's bodies in a desperate search for more.
“Are you okay with this?” Maggie asked, taking a breath. “As I said before, I really want to get this right, and I'm happy to go at whatever pace you want.”
“Maggie, I’m so okay with this. I really want you right now.”
The brunette smirked sultrily. “My place, then?” She offered.
“Yes!”
A few more kisses later, Maggie drove them to her loft apartment. When they arrived, she stopped just before opening the door.
“Shoot! Did I mention that I don’t live alone?” Maggie asked, grimacing.
Alex blinked, taken aback. “Oh?”
“She can be a bit overwhelming, but I promise she's adorable.”
She opened the door and a giant ball of fur jumped at Alex. Far from backing off, Alex welcomed the greeting with a huge smile.
“Oh my goodness, a puppy! I didn’t know you had a puppy!” She exclaimed, kneeling down to pat and play with the excited puppy.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not! I love dogs! What’s her name?”
“Judy.”
“Aw, Judy! You’re such a cutie! Aren’t you a cutie?” Alex cooed at the puppy. “Oh my gosh, she’s so fluffy! I love her!”
Maggie chuckled. “She is! I think she’s some kind of Leonberger mix. She’s only six months old, but she already looks like an adult dog.”
“She’s only six months old?!” Alex gaped.
“I know, right?”
“She’s huge! But she’s so furry and fluffy and cute that I wanna hug her all day!” Alex cooed again. “How did you get her?” Alex asked, getting up.
“She was a gift from a client.”
“Must have been a very satisfied client,” Alex teased suggestively.
She meant it as a joke. Mostly. But part of her couldn’t ignore the circumstances that had brought them there.
“Damn right he was. I did an excellent job,” Maggie stated proudly, emphasizing her client’s pronoun. She then paused, looking for Alex’s gaze. “Alex, what happened between us the other day was the first time that had ever happened to me. I’ve never done that with a client before.”
Alex nodded. She wasn’t implying anything on purpose, nor was she accusing Maggie of anything. What happened the other day was because she had wanted it to happen. Alex was well aware of that. However, hearing Maggie say this did make her feel reassured.
“I believe you,” she said.
They slowly gravitated towards each other, resting their foreheads together. Alex liked their height difference; it made her feel like they were a perfect fit. Of course, she kept this to herself and tried not to dwell on it, lest she scared Maggie away.
Admittedly, it was still too early, but she really liked Maggie and couldn't stop herself from having these thoughts.
Opting for action over thought, she leaned forward and took Maggie’s lips into hers. As their kisses became more heated, she wondered how on earth she had managed to go so long without feeling this good.
“You still up for it?” Maggie asked, sliding her arms around Alex’s waist.
“Mhm.”
“Good.” Maggie smiled predatorily. “Because I want to make you feel good tonight.”
Alex pulled Maggie in for another passionate kiss. Their hands moved up and down each other’s bodies as Alex welcomed Maggie’s tongue into her mouth. It was gentle at first, but grew more confident in time with Alex’s lustful sighs.
“Come with me,” Maggie said. She took Alex's hand and guided her up the stairs to her bedroom.
“I really like your place,” Alex commented, surveying the living area from upstairs.
The loft was spacious, with towering ceilings and large windows. Alex could only imagine how bright it must be during the day. She really liked the open-concept layout and industrial-chic style, and couldn’t help noticing that it was clearly the home of a single, childless, carefree woman.
“And I really like you,” Maggie replied, resting her hands on Alex's waist. “And this dress,” she said, glancing over. “The moment I saw you in it, I went crazy, Alex. But right now, I think it would look better on the floor.”
Gently turning her around, Maggie unzipped her dress and let it slip down her body to the floor. And just like that, she was standing completely topless in front of Maggie.
“Jesus, Alex,” Maggie exclaimed, turning her back around and gaping at her.
“Figured you’d like the surprise.” Alex smiled, pleased. “And that it would save us a step.”
“You’re a vision.” Maggie cupped Alex’s breasts and started fondling her nipples, turning her into a gasping mess.
Alex pulled at Maggie’s clothes. “Now you,” she asked.
Maggie indulged her, and before long, she was wearing only her underwear. Without missing a beat, Alex removed the lasting bra and bent down to kiss Maggie’s breasts greedily. The brunette panted hard and threaded her fingers into Alex’s hair.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” Maggie growled huskily. “Now let me make you feel good too.”
“Oh, you will.” She smirked as she carefully pushed her onto the bed. “But me first.”
Alex climbed into bed on top of Maggie and began kissing her passionately. She continued kissing her, moving down her neck to her breasts and across her stomach until she reached the waistband of her underwear. Kissing and sucking the tender skin, Alex caused Maggie to buck her hips up, silently asking for more.
Alex obliged, staring into Maggie’s eyes as she took off the last of her underwear. Maggie was now completely naked, and Alex could see just how desperate she was for her.
“Fuck,” she growled at the sight of Maggie dripping with desire.
“Alex, please,” Maggie begged.
Seeing how desperate Maggie was, Alex moved between her legs, kissing her inner thighs and moving up towards her center, teasing her clit.
“I need you.”
Alex hummed with satisfaction as she looked at her, a devilish glint in her eyes.
She slid one arm around Maggie’s thigh and shifted into a more comfortable position. With her other hand, she began to tease Maggie's entrance through her wet folds.
“Fuck,” Maggie sighed with arousal.
“You’re so wet,” she purred.
“You get me like this, baby.”
Alex moaned as she licked through Maggie’s wet folds. When the brunette began begging more desperately, Alex stopped teasing and started sucking her clit, eagerly stroking it with her tongue while slowly inserting her index finger into Maggie.
Alex was rapt by Maggie’s taste and moans of pleasure. This was the first time she was going down on her, and she already felt as though she was developing an addiction to Maggie’s taste.
Once she knew Maggie was ready, she added a second finger and began to thrust faster and faster, all the while continuing to swirl and flick her tongue across Maggie's clit.
After Maggie came, Alex crawled up and kissed her thoroughly. The brunette moaned lustfully, tasting her own arousal on Alex’s tongue. Their tongues battled for control, their breathing becoming heavy and ragged as they kissed passionately.
But Alex wasn’t finished; she wanted more.
After receiving Maggie's nod of consent, she went back down and began fucking her again. She knew that Maggie wouldn’t last much longer this time — judging by her desperate whimpers and the pressure of her nails on Alex’s scalp, she was very close. So she quickened her pace, curling her fingers inside Maggie while sucking her hard.
As she felt Maggie’s strong hands tangling in her hair and pulling her desperately towards her, Alex’s own arousal built up deep inside her. Driven by brutal desire, she gently tugged at Maggie’s clit, causing her body to stiffen immediately. Maggie clenched hard on her fingers, climaxing with a strangled cry and bringing Alex to orgasm too.
“Fuck!” Maggie moaned. Alex helped Maggie ride out the waves of her second orgasm, while trying to ride out her own climax. “Did—did you just…?”
“You were so hot. I couldn’t help myself,” she confessed, not at all bothered.
“Fuck, Alex,” Maggie growled, her eyes showing renewed thirst. “Come here.”
They kissed languidly for several minutes until Maggie regained her strength and returned the favor.
After what felt like hours of sex, and once they were fully satisfied, they lay in bed in comfortable silence, enjoying the calm that had washed over them.
“Can I tell you something?” Maggie asked in a barely audible whisper.
Alex shifted onto her side to look at her. “Yeah.”
“After we met that day, I went back to the same supermarket a couple of times in the hope that I'd bump into you again.”
“Really?”
Maggie nodded and looked away sheepishly. This was probably the first time that Alex had seen her looking so vulnerable.
Alex now realized that the store was far from Maggie's house, meaning that it had been pure coincidence that they had met there that day.
“Oh my God,” Alex said, chuckling in disbelief. She felt Maggie stiffen.
“You’re mocking me?”
“No!” Alex rushed to deny it. “Of course not, Maggie! I just…” She took a deep breath, then sat on the bed and covered herself with the blankets. Maggie did the same, leaning back against the headboard.
“I felt so stupid when I blurted out the remodeling thing that day. Then, when I told my sister about you, she called me out for liking you. But how could I? You were just a stranger I'd met for five minutes at the supermarket. I mean, how much of a cliché is that?”
“You told your sister about me?” Maggie teased.
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Alex nudged her and smiled, but there was no reflection of it in her eyes.
“Hey,” Maggie said softly. “You can tell me.”
“She saw right through me. She immediately knew that I was just making excuses to see you again. And I just—I panicked.”
“Why?”
“Because I realized that I was missing something. You made me realize that I was missing something and that I wanted more.”
Maggie smiled slightly and tilted her head as if listening carefully.
“The whole thing made me rethink some decisions I had made. Not just about me, but about Jay as well,” she continued. “The way he interacted with you that day — I’d never seen him like that before. And it made me wonder if he was missing something too.”
Before Maggie could say anything in response, Alex spoke again.
“Please don’t panic. I’m not— This isn’t me looking for another mother for Jay. I’m just trying to…” She hesitated.
“Trying to what?”
Alex sighed. “To understand, I guess.” Another deep, despairing breath. “Because I don’t know how to do this, Maggie. I'm not supposed to fall for anyone. I'm a single mom, for God’s sake! I knew what I was signing up for when I took Jay in. I knew that I was probably giving up on that part of my life, and I was okay with it because that kid was all I wanted. But then you came into my life and made me question everything I thought I was so sure about.”
Maggie remained silent, her eyes wide open as she stared at Alex, trying to process everything she had just said. Honestly, if Maggie were to ask her to pick up her things and leave, Alex wouldn’t blame her at all. After all, she had basically just admitted to falling for her and reconsidering her life choices because of her.
“Please, say something.”
Maggie opened and closed her mouth several times, clearly taken aback by Alex’s confession. In the absence of a response, Alex made a decision for them both.
“I should go home.”
She moved to get out of bed, but Maggie put her hand on her forearm to stop her.
“Wait, Alex. Don’t go, please.”
“You don't have to say anything, Maggie. I just threw a bomb at you and got overly personal. I realize that was out of line.”
Maggie looked at her in earnest. “Can I speak now?” She asked.
Alex pursed her lips and nodded.
“I'm not afraid of bombs, Alex,” she said convincingly. “Especially when the bomber looks like you.”
Alex smiled and looked down coyly.
“Look, I get it. You’re scared. It’s not just your heart you have to protect; it’s your son’s too.”
Alex looked up in astonishment at how easily Maggie understood her.
“But you don’t have to worry about that with me,” Maggie promised, looking genuinely sincere. “I understand your fears, believe me. I may not know the first thing about being a mother, but I do understand the value of a family. And I would never mess with yours, Alex.”
Alex listened carefully. There was something more; something that Maggie wasn’t telling her. Nevertheless, Alex believed her. She felt she could trust her.
“I believe you.” Alex nodded. “It’s not so easy, though.”
Maggie smiled gently. “I know,” she said.
There was a pause. Alex wondered if this was the end of their conversation.
It wasn’t.
“I like you, Alex,” Maggie then said. “To be honest, I’m a little scared too because I’ve never felt this way about someone I’ve just met before. I mean, it’s strange, isn’t it? We met in such a random way.”
Alex chuckled and nodded in agreement. It certainly was a hell of a meet-cute.
“Wanna know what I think?” Maggie asked, and Alex looked at her expectantly. “I think you can have it all if that’s what you want,” she replied. “I think you don’t have to give anything up to be a good mother. You already are — you know how to put your son first. And I will always respect that, Alex. I promise.”
“So, what do you say?” Maggie asked after a moment, holding their hands together. “Should we give this a try?”
“Maggie…” Alex looked at her in disbelief. “Are you sure?”
“I’m crazy about you, Alex. And your adorable son.” Maggie flashed her dimples and tightened her grip, as if to emphasize her point. “You do things to me. You make me feel things I never felt before, things I never thought I’d feel. So, yes. I’m pretty sure about this.”
Beaming, Alex threw herself over Maggie and hugged her rather energetically. Between laughs, Alex settled on Maggie's lap, cupping her cheeks. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before Alex leaned down to kiss her affectionately.
Maggie held her firmly, her arms wrapped around her waist. When they pulled away slightly, with Alex still cradling Maggie’s cheeks, she saw genuineness in the brunette’s eyes. Her chest warmed with a strong feeling she couldn't quite name, but which felt very much like love.
She couldn’t shake off the feeling that Maggie was holding something back, but that was a conversation for another day. Tonight was about them. She was happy and excited to give herself, and hopefully her son too, a chance at love and happiness — things she had never imagined she would rediscover in her life until Maggie.