Chapter Text
Petra’s breath catches and she tries to still the reaction on her face. Wait, no more games. She doesn’t need to pretend anymore. She lets the look of adoration reach her eyes, the corner of her lips, and release the tension in her posture. She sighs into it, she has permission now.
Petra is used to holding everything close to her chest, everyone has ulterior motives after all, and after the life she’s had and what she just went through with Krishna she can’t really trust anyone can she?
And yet.
Jane looks beautiful as ever, her Jane not “Jane” Jane. Her Jane. It has only been a few days but the butterflies have yet to subside, the ones that turned her into a complete mess and also had her giggling at just the thought of J.R.. She hasn’t felt this light since she first met Milos, before all the lies... and the acid.
J.R. watches Petra from across the lobby, she is talking to the concierge- a look of total control and authority on her face. J.R. had said she found vulnerable Petra way hotter, but Petra, in command and in her element, is also a sight to behold.
J.R. sees the moment Petra notices her, the flash of excitement, the attempt to stamp it down, then the release. She tilts her head knowingly as she holds her gaze. Yeah, vulnerable Petra is fucking hot.
All versions of her are hot, which is why it took her so long to confess about the blackmailer. She knew how these straight girl crushes could, well- crush. She was immediately drawn to Petra, the audacity of this woman calling her a crook with a straight face, then the honesty and vulnerability in her voice when she asked her back. She was hooked from the start and steadfastly resolved not to fall for it. She was meant to be setting this murderer up. Well... that didn’t last long.
She needed to be sure she was seeing clearly, not just falling for a very beautiful and very compelling act before she made herself and her career vulnerable. Now she was all in. How could she not be after witnessing the adorable mess that Petra dissolved into outside the restaurant? Straight girls may be trouble but that was real, she wanted real... and she really wanted Petra.
When Petra had called J.R. to arrange this meeting this morning she adorably powered through with that authoritative tone, “We’ll be having drinks with Jane and Rafael tonight.”
“Oh, is that what we’ll be doing?” Petra could hear the amusement in her voice over the line and let out a sigh.
“Care to try again?” The smirk now evident in her tone.
“Will you have drinks with Jane, Rafael and I tonight? They want to meet you since you met the girls this morning and… I’ve been missing you all day… I want to see you too.” Petra can feel her tone slipping into the goofy lovesick territory but the satisfied hum she hears from the other line melts her immediately and she doesn’t care that she is now wearing the goofy lovesick smile on her face too.
“I miss you too… so what is this? The Petra Solano version of meet the parents? Will I be graded at the end?” J.R. tries to stay in the playful and comfortable place Petra’s confession had brought her to but she hated this part.
“There will be no grade, it is just a family rule. You met the kids, now you meet the whole mess.” Petra giggles nervously, “it is too soon for this isn’t it? You know what I’ll call it off and tell them to wait.”
“Petra! Don’t spiral, I know that you come with the girls and a… complicated family. I’ll be there.”
Petra smiles softly, “Thank you, and maybe you can stay over again. Raf has the girls tonight so” she trails off and bites her lip.
J.R. takes a breath and then, “I’ll see you tonight.”
When they reach each other they are both itching to immediately close the distance; but, they are in the middle of the lobby and they haven’t had the talk with the girls yet- even though this morning was pretty damn obvious the girls still deserved an actual sit down. It’s what Petra wants and she is a badass parent and J.R.isn’t going to mess tonight up by rushing her.
Petra relents and reaches out her hand first and leans in for a kiss on the cheek, “Hi, J.R..”
“You know, I’ve slept at your place three times now. I think you can call me Jane,” she leans in closer with that smirk that drives Petra crazy, “you had no problem saying it the other night... in your bed.”
Petra’s breath hitches and her hand grips JR’s a little tighter and JR’s eyebrow shoots up. Point J.R.
Once her heart settles Petra leans in again and, lips brushing her ear, she murmurs “Hi, Jane” and just as a pleased shiver runs through JR-
“I’ve never heard you say my name like that before!” A fidgety voice utters from Petra’s side.
Petra jumps back and a mile high. J.R. doesn’t move, she has been at this for a while. Yes, they are trying to be discreet until Petra speaks to the girls, but she is not jumping back like she’s been caught doing something wrong. In fact, the reaction the other Jane just elicited from Petra in jest irks her immediately.
“Well, she typically saves that tone for me.” She drawls then smiles a bit too wide, “Hi Jane.”
Petra glances between them as she gathers herself then takes control, “Hi Jane, hi Raf., Raf this is J.R... Jane.”
Rafael had been hanging back behind Jane, watching the encounter with awe at seeing Petra so affectionate with J.R., then total amusement at Jane sort of experiencing the confusion that took over him the day he told Petra about Xo.
“Hi… Jane, it is so nice to meet you.” Rafael leans forward and shakes her hand with a genuine smile on his face.
“This is going to be fun!” Jane squeaks a little more enthusiastically than is probably necessary, clapping her hands together.