So it was Saturday, the day of the triple date.
Princess helped her girlfriend do her hair, which was one of her favorite things to do with Faye.
She stood tall behind her seated babe, her hands working with surprising gentleness as she ran a black comb through the thick strands. Her chest rose and fell with a slow, calm breath, her thumbs smoothing down the flyaways until everything looked perfect. Even though they were only going to watch a play, they still took their time getting ready. They didn’t rush a single button or zip, enjoying the rare quiet moments together away from the usual chaos of the house.
Despite knowing his best friend had a date, Malo came to drop his baby sister, Charlie, off before heading off on his own adventure.
His parents were still in the hospital. His dad had undergone surgery on his fingers. Even though they had failed to fulfill their responsibilities as parents, Malo still carried out his duties as their son. He had paid for his father’s surgery and his mother’s hospital bills to help with their recovery. L
However, he had also told them never to set foot in his house again since Malo’s new guardian owned it, and once he turned eighteen next year, the ownership would be transferred to him.
So Malo set off on his adventure. He zipped his coat up to his chin, his sneakers clicking rapidly against the pavement as he headed toward the van.
To make things better, or worse, without Malo knowing, Faye secretly told Peamah to escort him in case he needed help.
Peamah hated the idea.
He had much better things to do on a Saturday than act as some boy’s secret bodyguard.
But he had no choice.
He always did whatever his sire told him to do.
To make sure no children ruined their date, Faye and Princess dropped the quads and Charlie off at Eriko’s house under the care of their little niece and nephew.
Those two had no choice.
It was playtime for them, and according to the deal they had made with Faye, they had to always say yes to whatever she asked for the rest of their lives.
Well, it wasn’t entirely their responsibility.
Eriko and Paye happened to be home, so they were the ones who would actually be watching five-month-old pups and two six-year-old kids.
While waiting for the others to meet them at the theater, Faye and Princess had a little time to themselves, sightseeing around the building.
Princess kept taking pictures of her girlfriend while Faye admired every sculpture she laid eyes on. Faye moved from one stone figure to the next, her eyes widening as she traced the carved lines with her fingers, her breathing slow and completely relaxed.
Then Faye would take pictures of Princess...
...only for Princess to discover that the photo was either a close-up of Faye’s face or taken from a terrible angle. The screen would just show a blurry shot of the ceiling or a strange view of Princess’s chin.
"You’re not very good at taking pictures, babe," Princess muttered as she scrolled through her phone, clearly unimpressed with the results. She tilted the screen back and forth, her eyebrows knitting together as she looked at the mess.
"There are many things I’m not good at. Maybe you can teach me later," Faye teased. She leaned her shoulder against Princess’s arm, a small, playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth as her heart gave a happy little thud.
Princess completely missed the teasing and remained focused on the pictures. Her alpha brain locked onto the problem instantly, her chest expanding with a serious breath.
She made it her mission to teach Faye how to take a proper photo. She explained the angles, the lighting, and when to press the shutter. She gripped Faye’s wrists gently, moving her hands up and down to align the camera lens with the edge of the building.
Every failed attempt meant another retake.
Faye eventually grew annoyed.
It wasn’t like she was some professional photographer.
"Okay, babe, if you want a professional doing this, then go find one because I’m not getting any better," Faye grumbled. She huffed through her nose, dropping her arms to her sides and letting out a sharp breath.
A quarrel was just about to begin when the second couple arrived.
"Hey, Faye," Tisha greeted as the two hugged. She stepped forward with a bright smile, her arms wrapping quickly around the girl’s shoulders.
Princess and Beam simply exchanged a friendly handshake.
"So Kiara isn’t here yet," Beam said as she looked around for the girl. She checked her wristwatch, her chest rising with a quiet sigh as she scanned the crowded entrance.
"She’s probably still looking for a fake date," Princess replied.
The two friends laughed. Their voices rumbled together through the cool evening air, their shoulders shaking with amusement.
"Wait, I thought she already had a girlfriend," Faye said. She tilted her head, her eyes blinking in genuine confusion as she looked at her partner.
"Yes, she does," Princess replied with a completely serious face...
...before bursting into laughter. She threw her head back, her lungs expanding with a loud, booming chuckle that made several passing theatergoers turn around to look.
The two friends were teasing Kiara because they both knew she was probably still searching for a date.
Despite having plenty of followers online, no one suitable was available, and the ones who were available weren’t to Kiara’s taste.
So the picture-taking continued while they waited for Kiara and her mysterious date.
Then Beam asked Faye to take a picture of her and Tisha.
Faye immediately refused. She took a step back, her hands waving in the air defensively.
"I’m not good at this."
"I’ll teach you then," Beam said. She smiled easily, stepping closer and reaching out to adjust the tilt of Faye’s phone with a quick tap of her finger.
On the very first lesson, Faye managed to get the angle right. The screen showed a perfectly framed shot of the couple, the lighting capturing Tisha’s smile beautifully.
"You’re a good teacher," Faye said happily. A bright, genuine grin broke across her face, her chest rising with a relieved breath.
The two of them laughed together. Their voices mingled in the air, light and cheerful.
Then Beam’s eyes met Princess’s.
No words were exchanged.
But Princess’s expression clearly said:
Stay Away From My Girlfriend.
Beam immediately stepped away from Faye and returned to her own girlfriend. She cleared her throat nervously, her posture going rigid as she quickly slid her arm back around Tisha’s waist to avoid any trouble.
"Oh, Kiara is here," Tisha announced.
The girls all turned toward the entrance. Their eyes locked onto the crowded walkway as the doors swung open.
Kiara was approaching...
...with her date.
Someone familiar.
Faye’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open.
"Isn’t that the girl from the store?" Tisha asked. She squinted through the dim light, her fingers tightening around Beam’s sleeve.
"Yes, baby. That’s her," Beam replied. Her voice dropped into a low, stunned whisper, her chest freezing as she stared at the approaching couple.
"Bambi Fucking Butcher!" Faye blurted out.