Chapter Text
“I really wish I’d brought more to wear for this wedding,” Keeley lets out a sigh of exasperation as she falls back against Rebecca’s bed, her little pink sequined dress riding up her thighs in a way that doesn’t seem to bother her. Not that Rebecca is looking.
“Like, the true curse of living this day over and over again is that I have to do it in the same fucking wardrobe,” Keeley continues. She props herself up on her elbows to look over at Rebecca as she fiddles with the clasp of her necklace. “You look well fit in that shade of blue though. Here, let me help.”
She hops off the bed to join Rebecca on the other side of the room, standing on her tiptoes to unclasp the chain. Her fingers ghost over the skin at the nape of Rebecca’s neck, and she involuntarily shivers under her touch. She doesn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until Keeley steps away.
“There. Absolutely stunning.”
As she looks in the mirror, Rebecca catches Keeley looking up at her with such adoration that her chest aches.
This morning, she’d woken up with Keeley curled into her side, her hair right under Rebecca’s nose smelling faintly of strawberries. Rebecca had enjoyed it too much, Keeley’s warm body pressed into hers. She hadn’t realized just how starved she’s been for any kind of contact. She found herself hoping she’d wake up again the same way tomorrow and perhaps on endless days to come. It’s a fine line, the difference between wanting and needing , and she knows she needs to tread carefully so as not to blur them together. Wanting Keeley’s company as they navigate this godforsaken loop is perfectly fair and reasonable, but she’s not going to let herself make the mistake of needing someone again.
“Ready?” Keeley’s voice pulls her away from her thoughts. She nods slowly, tucking her keycard into her clutch. For a moment, she’s overcome by a wave of dread, a reluctance to join Keeley this evening. She despises the chokehold Rupert still has on her.
Fuck Rupert .
She’s determined to have a fun time tonight.
Keeley’s full of animated chatter as they wait for the lift, and it eases the tension twisting in Rebecca's chest just a bit. There’s something so grounding about Keeley. Rebecca can’t help but to feel rooted in each moment that she’s with her. She has an endless optimism that makes Rebecca feel hopeful in a way she hadn’t thought possible for so long.
As they approach the banquet hall, Rebecca stops, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply. She needs a small moment to pause and collect herself - to make herself feel big .
She’s surprised to feel Keeley’s hand slide into hers. And she’s even more surprised that she doesn’t stop her, that she lets Keeley’s fingers lace through hers as they enter the reception hall. Right now, she deserves to give herself grace. She’s allowed to need this.
So far, Rebecca has avoided any direct interaction with Rupert any of the previous evenings she’s attended the wedding. She’s carefully stayed on the edge of the crowd, quietly keeping to herself. A silent, careful observer.
But tonight, Keeley leads her straight to the center of the dance floor, a wicked little grin on her face. And somehow, Rebecca finds herself dancing, perhaps not as freely and confidently as Keeley, but dancing nevertheless. She hasn’t even had a chance to scope out where Rupert is amongst the crowd. And as she looks at Keeley absolutely beaming under the soft glow of lights, she finds that in this moment, she truly doesn’t care.
She’s a bit breathless when Keeley suggests they get a drink, grabbing her hand yet again, and Rebecca still doesn’t stop her. She shouldn’t be surprised when Rupert ambushes them as they approach the bar. And really, she’s not surprised . Just a bit deflated, because letting her guard down had been so freeing.
“Rebecca, how lovely to see you enjoying yourself this evening.” She feels her body go rigid as the fake pleasantries seep from his lips.
She forces an uncomfortable smile. “Hello, Rupert.”
“I don’t believe you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my fiancé, Bex.” He loops his arm around the younger woman’s waist, almost possessively, without breaking eye contact with Rebecca.
Rebecca’s jaw clenches. Fiancé. Well, that’s news the tabloids haven’t gotten ahold of yet. She hates how smug he looks, knowing that he’s the one to break this news to her. She wishes she didn’t care.
“Charmed,” Rebecca manages a curt smile in Bex’s direction. She refuses to let her gaze linger on the enormous diamond that adorns her left hand.
“And who’s this you’ve brought with you?” Rupert looks curiously at Keeley, who still hasn’t let go of Rebecca’s hand.
Keeley clings to Rebecca even more fiercely as he turns to address her. “Keeley Jones. Pleased to finally properly put a name to a face - Rebecca’s had so many delightful things to say about you.”
Bex shifts uncomfortably next to Rupert, but she keeps a pleasant smile plastered to her face. In turn, Keeley presses herself closer to Rebecca, keeping their fingers tightly laced together. Rebecca’s not usually one to take comfort in physical contact, but there’s something so reassuring about having Keeley right here by her side.
“Ah, yes, I knew you looked familiar. The tabloids had quite the field day when you had that messy little fling with Jamie Tartt.” His eyes sparkle, the way they always do when he has the upper hand.
Keeley smiles sweetly. “Oh, that’s all over now that I’ve met Rebecca.” She presses her cheek against Rebecca’s shoulder, but she doesn’t break eye contact with Rupert. “She keeps me satisfied.”
Rebecca nearly chokes, her cheeks hot. “Keeley!”
“Just imagine how delightful she sounds when she screams my name like that in bed.” Keeley winks, and it’s a moment before Rupert can collect himself. Rebecca can feel the heat continuing to blossom in her cheeks, but she’s so delighted that Keeley has managed to render Rupert speechless. The fact that he won’t remember this exchange tomorrow leaves her feeling simultaneously relieved and disappointed.
“Well, well, isn’t she something?” Rupert finally manages, pressing his lips into a thin line.
“Let’s have a round of champagne,” Keeley proposes, latching herself fully onto Rebecca’s arm. “A toast - to our shared bliss.” She catches Rebecca's gaze, a soft smile on her lips, as if there truly is no other place she'd rather be right now.
“Actually, Bex will just have a water,” Rupert turns to look at Bex, who has shifted her arm to place a hand gently on her tummy with a shy little smile. “Silly me, I forgot to mention we were expecting, didn’t I?”
Rebecca suddenly feels ill, like a rug has been snatched suddenly from beneath her feet. She knows he intentionally withheld this, so it couldn’t just be packed into the blow from the news of his engagement. He wanted this to hurt all on its own. She blinks a few times, trying to ground herself, but she feels very far away as tears involuntarily prickle in the corner of her eyes. “But Rupert - I didn’t think…you never wanted children.”
“Things have changed.” He presses a slow kiss to Bex’s temple. “I do want a child. I mean, in the end, it’s all about being with the right person, isn’t it?
Suddenly, she feels so very small.
“Babe?”
Keeley’s voice draws her back to herself. She looks up at Rebecca, her gaze fierce, her eyes imploring. She reaches up to touch Rebecca’s cheek, to wipe away a single tear that has managed to escape.
And then she kisses her.