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It’d been 35 days. 35 days without any contact with Bradley. Alex knew she had no choice but to fly to the airport herself and pick her up. No one else was going to do this for her. This didn’t seem to mean as much to anyone else. Alex had been the one to put her entire life and career on the line for Bradley once again. She’d been the one to hold that press conference in hopes that she could free Bradley, but knowing it could destroy her own self if it didn’t work. It could destroy her credibility. But for Alex, if it got Bradley back… it would all be worth it.
Alex fastened her seatbelt as tight as it would go when she returned from using the restroom. No matter how many flights she took, it never really got easier. Especially this flight though. Flying into Minsk. The prospect of bringing Bradley home. The thought that she could potentially be detained as well if it all went awry. She needed this to go exactly fucking perfect. In… she looked at her watch… 3 more hours, Bradley could be in her arms again, on that plane with her, heading home. Heading to safety. She didn’t know why it felt like one of the biggest moments of her life.
This would all be so worth it if Bradley was returned safely to her.
Bradley sat on the hard concrete. She’d seen nothing but blinding lights for days and her bed had been taken what seemed like months ago. There was no sense of time in that place. If she had to guess, she’d say she was fed about once a day and had spent 3 to 4 months in that place. She was so fucking tired. She’d passed out from pure exhaustion only a handful of times, but each time she was woken up by someone walking in, or her food tray being slid in. She could feel her body shutting down from the lack of sleep on top of being on guard the entire time.
“Get up.”
Bradley stayed huddled in the corner, her hands up in a defensive position.
“I said get up.” The guard said, and he walked closer.
Bradley tried to back away, but her back was already pressed against the wall and she couldn’t escape when he grabbed her arm and yanked her forward. This was it. No one was ever going to see her again. They’d had enough of her. Or, they were going to inflict some worse torture on her in the hopes that she’d give them a name. She couldn’t put that woman’s life in danger though. She knew it’d only provide her with some temporary relief and then they’d want more information, they’d want to know details that Bradley didn’t have because she wasn’t who they thought she was. It’d only spread the pain further if she gave them a name.
“Get dressed.” He threw the clothes she’d been wearing at the airport at her.
She only looked at each of the men standing guard. As if she needed that many men to keep her in line. Plus, they’d brought her out of the privacy of the cell. Wasn’t there a restroom she could use?
“What's the problem? Are you shy?”
Bradley flinched as the guard moved closer to her.
“Do you need help?”
Bradley shook her head and swallowed her pride and changed into her own clothes. It wasn’t like she hadn’t already had to take multiple shits in front of these men. She’d never been more grateful she’d managed to stay out of prison for January 6th because she would not have survived years of this. She wasn’t even sure how much longer she’d last as it was. Without sleep, she was practically useless.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her and dragged her to a car that was waiting outside.
She climbed in the back. Maybe she could sleep in the car. It looked dark and comfortable. The seat was the most comfortable thing she’d ever sat on after all that time with nothing but concrete and metal. But she couldn’t sleep. She was on high alert. “Where are you taking me?” She asked more than once, but no one answered her. She tried to see anything out of the windows, but her view was obscured. The car stopped and all Bradley could see was a giant plane out of the window and several guards. Where were they taking her? “What’s going on?”
“Shut up and sit back.”
Bradley did as she was told, but when she sat back, she couldn’t see shit and she was panicking. What if they moved her to a worse prison? What if she was being sold to a rich family… Did that happen in Belarus? It did, right? Maybe?
Inside the plane, Alex waited for permission to step out, being extra cautious to follow all the rules so she wouldn’t fall to the same fate as Bradley or ruin the entire thing and never see her again.
She was given the go-ahead and began her descent down the steps. She saw the car. The one Bradley was supposed to be in. It was happening. She feared if she moved too fast or breathed too hard, they’d call the entire thing off, so she took her time, and fought the urge to sprint down the stairs, across the tarmac and throw open the car door and swoop Bradley in her arms. But she calmly walked to her mark and held her breath as she waited to be reunited with Bradley once again. She looked around. Why wasn’t Bradley coming out? Was something wrong? What was happening? A door. A man. Alex felt the disappointment through her entire body. Then, he walked to the back door and opened it. Alex saw the blonde hair first. It was really her. She could feel the lump in her throat. The car door closed and Bradley stood in front of her. She looked so tiny and so tired, but she was there. She had no idea the impact she’d made on everything back home.
Bradley looked at the guard as she stepped from the car, expecting him to give her some sort of direction, but he didn’t. She finally looked past him and… Alex? Alex Levy was there in front of her? She was… safe? Alex had come to… She could barely begin to wrap her mind around it, her feet instinctively moving her closer to safety. No one was stopping her. Her exhausted body not allowing her to move as fast as she wished, but Alex moved towards her as well. The tears took over as she saw Alex getting closer and closer. She was really safe. She saw Alex’s open arms and she used every bit of energy to push herself forward into them, not able to wait a second longer. Alex’s arms soon enveloped her and Bradley held on and sobbed. She was real.
Alex could see the pain and relief on Bradley’s face and she couldn’t put her arms around her fast enough. The past month plus had been absolute hell knowing Bradley was being held where she couldn’t have contact with her, and knowing she would not be treated right. She could feel the relief in Bradley’s grasp on her. The weight Bradley put on her as she broke down in her arms. Alex was grateful she’d gone there herself because she would not trust anyone else with Bradley. She would not yet have this knowledge that she was safe. She wouldn’t feel her in her arms, her heart beating and breath heavy. She was never going to let anything happen to her again.
“It’s okay. I got you. I got you.”
The words hit Bradley’s ears and she knew they were the truth. Just as Bradley had said the same sort of thing to Alex on the floor of that trailer bathroom. Bradley had meant it back then, and she knew Alex meant it now. She could not have been more grateful that Alex had taken the time to fly all the way there to get her because she would not have felt nearly as safe if it’d been anyone else. If Alex Levy was there, she knew she was on her way back home.
“Thank you for coming to get me.” Bradley’s voice was weak and strained. I’m sorry I fucked it all up.”
“You didn’t. I was wrong. The story’s out there. You don’t understand. You changed everything.” If only Bradley knew everything she’d accomplished with her actions. Sure, Bradley had been through hell, but Alex knew Bradley, and she knew she’d think it was all worth it if she knew what all had taken place because of her.
“I did?”
“Yes.” Alex said. “Let’s get you home.”
“Okay.” She said barely audible Alex wasn’t quite sure she even heard it.
“You’re okay.” Alex said, still hearing Bradley’s small whimper and it still shattered her heart each time she heard it. She held Bradley’s hand as they walked up the stairs together, Bradley first, Alex putting herself between Bradley and the men who’d been holding her as the only way she could find to offer protection from them. Almost, an apology for not protecting her from them sooner.
Bradley let go of Alex’s hand as she boarded the plane and the bright lights blinded her and the white furnishings did nothing to help. She turned back and searched for Alex, grasping her hand and squeezing it. She was still there with her.
“You’re okay.”
Bradley nodded and took a seat in one of the big comfy chairs and her body melted into it. She looked up at Alex and furrowed her eyebrows when Alex continued on to sit in the chair across from her. She couldn’t hide the disappointment written across her face.
“You’re safe, Brad.”
She was exhausted and plagued by memories of not being able to sleep and yet, there she was, with Alex, and the lights were blinding her. All the emotions came to the surface and a new wave of tears flowed down her cheeks. She gasped for air, sitting alone in her chair and Alex felt like a world away again.
Alex couldn’t take it. She couldn’t go the entire 9 ½ hour flight back home staring at Bradley in shambles. She had to be next to her. She had to wrap her arms around her. She felt the plane begin to move, but she couldn’t wait that long. “Fuck it.” She threw her seatbelt to the side and moved to Bradley’s seat, Bradley giving her space instinctively. “Here. Come here.” Alex first fastened the seatbelt around the both of them and then took Bradley in her arms. “Shhh. Shhh, you’re okay. You’re okay.”
“I’m so tired. The fucking lights.”
That was it? Alex turned to the nearest person. “Hey. Can you turn the fucking lights down?”
“Off.” Bradley corrected.
“Off, if you can.”
On Alex’s command, they turned the lights as close to off as they could.
“That better?” Alex ran her fingers down Bradley’s hair while Bradley’s head was rested on her chest. She looked down, and saw the tears still on her cheeks that ran from her closed eyes. Alex gave her a kiss on the top of her hair. “Get some rest.” She settled in, the weight on her chest oddly comforting and causing her to dose off as well. She’d not gotten sleep on the way there, she’d been to anxious about it all going right that she’d mostly… panicked on the flight over.
Alex fell into one of the best sleeps she’d had in years. The steady rise and fall of Bradley’s chest pressed against her and synced with her own. Then a sudden jolt from the body on hers. Alex’s eyes flew open in a panic.
“Sorry.” Bradley apologized.
“Bad dream?”
“It’s fine.” She nestled her head into Alex’s shoulder, too tired to give anything much thought and her body craving more sleep, finally able to let her guard down and know she’d be safe if she closed her eyes.
Alex could feel her own heart racing and she knew her own sleep was over. She’d be up the rest of the flight. She hoped they only had an hour or so left. However, the longer Bradley remained cuddled against her, the more times she stroked Bradley’s back to keep her calm, and kept the rhythm steady so it wouldn’t wake her… her eyes grew heavy and she found herself falling asleep once again. Until she once again felt Bradley startle. “You’re okay.” She resumed rubbing her hand down her back and Bradley let out a small sob, her tears resuming down her cheeks, but only for a moment, and she was out once again. Alex held her tighter, wishing she could bring Bradley a tiny bit of comfort.
The next time Bradley startled awake, Alex decided it was her chance to use the bathroom after holding it for a couple of hours. She started to stand, but Bradley grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Now?” Her voice shook when she said it. “Please. Please don't go.”
Alex noted the fear on her face and she couldn’t leave her. She couldn’t do it. “I can wait.” She moved Bradley’s head back to her chest and checked the time. They only had an hour left. She could wait an hour. She held Bradley in her arms while her mind wondered what all Bradley had been through while being detained. It seemed… brutal. It wasn’t some Orange is the New Black prison experience. It seemed more like she had slept in days and had been threatened or worse… Little Bradley Jackson. The same fiery little brunette woman who used to drive her insane. Her desire to report hard news and scream the truth. The same Bradley who’d been genuinely terrified to go back on air after mentioning her abortion and looked at Alex with her big blue eyes, wondering how she did it.
Alex could finally understand Bradley’s desire to report the tragic shit. People needed to be aware of this. Know what Bradley had gone through just to inform the public about the truth. They needed to know how vile the people who’d done this were, and how heroic Bradley was. Every person on the planet should know this.
They began the descent and even that barely disturbed Bradley, while Alex held on a little tighter, with it being one of the scariest parts of a flight. She always imagined a wheel not functioning so when they hit the ground, the actual plane scraped the runway with a loud screeching sound. Then it caused sparks to fly and the sparks caused the plane to catch fire and maybe she made it out by the grit of her teeth and maybe it exploded. But whatever happened, it’d be terrifying. So, just in case, she held on to Bradley.
Bradley’s eyes opened at the contact with the runway and it hit her that she was home. She was safe in New York City. Finally. The relief came in the form of tears and she buried her head in Alex. “Thank you, Alex.”
“Welcome home.” Alex kissed the top of Bradley’s head, but as she did, she got a look out of the window and saw a line of cameras pointed to the plane. “Oh hell no. What are they doing out there?”
“This was reported every day for the past 36 days. They’re going to want to see Bradley coming home.”
“36 days?” Bradley questioned. “Was it not newsworthy or did it take you that long to figure out I was gone?”
“What?” Alex looked at her confused. “We reported every day you were gone.”
“36 days.”
“That’s how long it was.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, honey. It was too long, but I was doing my best.”
“Felt longer.”
Alex turned to the security team. “Can you clear the tarmac?”
“No. It’s fine. It’s fine.” Bradley said. She pushed herself out of the chair and got to her feet.
Alex brushed Bradley’s hair with her fingers, trying to make her as camera ready as she could. She licked her thumb and wiped the dirt from Bradley’s face.
“Al, I’m fine. It’s fine.”
Alex would hope someone would do the same for her if she ever had to go on camera without makeup, without her hair done… “here.” Alex took her coat off and put it over Bradley’s shoulders.
“Thank you.” Bradley slid her arms in the sleeves and pulled the coat tight around her. It smelled like Alex. Comforting. She took Alex’s hand and made her way to the door and stepped out to a hundred flashing lights the second she felt the New York air on her face. She closed her eyes and took in the feel for a moment before she descended the stairs. There was a small podium facing the sea of reporters in case Bradley wished to stop for them. She held Alex’s hand up to the podium and finally let it go, Alex standing slightly off to the side behind her, as if she were her bodyguard and Bradley was the president.
“Bradley!” “Bradley!” “What was it like in Belarus!?” “What made you investigate Wolf River?” “Is Celine Dumont responsible for having you detained?”
Bradley wished she’d allowed Alex to catch her up to speed beforehand because why the fuck was the CEO of her network’s name being thrown out there? “Hi. It’s great to be back. Um… I’m not sure what you know, but I was investigating Wolf River, and flew to Belarus to chase a lead. There I was detained for information I had on my laptop. The charges were fabricated. I was detained for no true reason, under harsh conditions.” She could feel the lump in her throat growing. “I will speak more on it when I am ready, but for now. All I ask is that you please respect my privacy. And thank you, for those responsible for bringing me home.” She looked to Alex and took her hand again, walking to Alex’s car hand in hand with her.
She could feel her bottom lip quiver the second they were alone in Alex’s car. The world moving past her as they drove off. Just as the world had continued on while she was being detained in Belarus. But she’d been brought back. She wondered how many people had not been so lucky. Who’d been detained for longer than she had, and didn’t have a public platform or friends who could borrow a private jet to pick them up. People who just… disappeared. Other journalists. People who didn’t have an Alex on their side to fight for them.
They pulled up at Alex’s and Bradley looked over at her.
“Come on.” Alex said. “You’re staying with me. I’m not gonna let you be alone.”
She cracked a smile and stepped out of the car. She took Alex’s hand for the elevator ride up. The doors opened and it smelled like Alex. Like home. Like safety. And she smelled a hint of… She held her own shirt up to her nose. Ugh. “I smell like shit I need to shower.”
Alex hadn’t even noticed Bradley’s stench until Bradley pointed it out. She’d just been too ecstatic to see her that nothing else really mattered. “Did they… let you shower?” She asked as she grabbed a pair of sweats and a tank top for Bradley.
Bradley shook her head. “There was a sink but… that’s all. That’s all I had. Not even a bed by the end.”
Alex gave her a confused look. “No bed?”
“I just wanna shower, Alex.”
“Do you want my underwear? Or none at all?”
“I don’t know if yours will fit.”
“Take a few styles, see if something works.” Alex piled a few pairs on top of the pile of clothes and took it in the bathroom for her, making sure everything was in order and Bradley had a fresh towel to use. “Holler if you need me.”
“Thank you.” Bradley gave a sad smile and closed herself in the bathroom. The grand, luxurious bathroom that was probably triple the size of the cell she’d been in for over a month. No bed. A dirty sink. The blinding lights. Those fucking lights. Bradley stripped down and saw her malnourished body in the mirror before she stepped into the shower. The water felt like heaven on her skin. Her bruised skin. She’d made herself forget what life was like before, but finally remembering made her realize just how bad it’d been in that place. The tears flooded her eyes and she sank to the floor. The floor that was still softer than the concrete she’d been subjected to during her time in Belarus. All the time she spent wondering if anyone would even miss her, if anyone would care. Sometimes, it felt like no one would. After a week in that place Bradley was convinced they’d stopped fighting for her and had accepted their defeat. But Alex hadn’t. And she’d flown all the way across the world to make sure she got home safe, then gave her clothes and place to stay. It’s like they say, you find out who your friends are when you’re being wrongfully detained in a foreign prison.
She covered her mouth when the sobs escaped her and she was sure Alex could’ve heard if she’d been nearby. Sure enough, she heard the knock on the door.
“You okay in there?”
“I’m fine!” Bradley shouted back, her voice strained and contradicting her words.
“I’m here if you need me.”
“Thank you.” She whispered so quietly she knew Alex wouldn’t hear, but the emotions overwhelmed her. The kindness she was being shown for the first time in over a month. Kindness without a motive as far as Bradley was aware. She pulled herself off the floor, still sniffling back silent tears, but not sobbing anymore. She turned off the water, wrapped a warm and fluffy towel around her. She’d never appreciated all the normal things. The fluffy towel, the soft tile, the warm water, the great smelling soap and shampoo, the dimmable lights, the fuzzy bath rug and a creamy lotion that hydrated her skin. The feel and taste of freshly brushed teeth from a brand new toothbrush. The warm air of the hairdryer. Alex’s soft clothing. A choice of three pairs of underwear… in which Bradley skipped past the thong and the grandma pair, going for the cheeky bikini cut. It fit her well enough. She opened the door, turned the light off, and walked out to Alex’s bedroom. There, Alex had a corner of the sheets pulled back, an eye mask and earplugs and some more lotion and it smelled glorious in there.
“I thought you might be tired. If you’re not, it’s set up for tonight.” Alex said. She’d wanted to ensure that Bradley felt comfortable sleeping in her bed above all else. Make it clear that it was a space for Bradley, and not make her feel like she was invading it.
“What time is it?”
“6.”
“I’ll wait for tonight. Otherwise I’ll be up all night. Thank you.”
“Yeah.” Alex shrugged.
“I could use some food though. They fed me mush and there was hardly any.”
“Yeah. No, of course. Should we order in? Or…” Alex rushed to the kitchen and opened her fridge, Bradley wandering behind her. “I have some chicken I can cook up. I can make a salad. What do you want?”
“Can we… get Chinese? From that place you got it from the first time I came over?” She wanted something comforting, familiar.
“Of course we can, honey. Let me order it and then I’ll meet you on the couch.”
Bradley nodded and made her way to the couch, pulling a big fluffy blanket over her lap. She could feel the lump in her throat again. God, she felt so fucking pathetic. She couldn’t go five minutes without tears making their way to her eyes. And over a blanket, in a dimly lit apartment, and soft instrumental music playing. It was… almost romantic. It was fucking perfect. As if Alex knew exactly what she’d experienced and had created the exact opposite just for her. She couldn’t hold it in. The tears flowed down her cheeks again and she let out a small sob.
“It’s all ordered. Now…” Alex stopped when she realized that Bradley was crying and rushed to her side, throwing her arms around her. “Brad. Hey. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re okay.” She rocked her gently back and forth. “You’re okay. Just breathe, honey.”
She couldn’t understand why she was still fucking crying. She pulled away from Alex’s embrace. “I’m not… upset.”
“Okay.”
“You’ve just made it so fucking perfect and… I don’t deserve all this. I was a fucking idiot and got into…”
“No, no Bradley. You were just following a story. A big fucking story. I almost had you out immediately, but fucking Celine… she stopped it.”
“Celine… Dumont?”
“Yeah. She fired me for trying to free you, for figuring her out. So I went to America myself. Announced I was suing her for wrongful termination... but also, to bring you back. She threatened me when I was on live TV. That’s how I got you back. Taking her down. But it’s all because of you. Otherwise, UBN would’ve continued reporting corporate bullshit propaganda. You restored free and unbiased journalism at UBN.”
“I did?”
“You did.”
“I think that might make it all worth it.”
“Yeah, but you paid a pretty high price, didn’t you?”
Bradley frowned. The memories coming back.
“You don’t have to tell me, but I’m here when you’re ready.”
“No, I can… I can tell you. There’s not much, I mean. It was small, concrete. So fucking dirty. They'd push me around sometimes, threaten me, grab my wrist, but... it wasn't like it was anything my own family hasn't done. They gave me a tray of mush. I didn’t eat first, but I was starving and gave in. I had a bed at first, but I complained about the light being on. They were so bright, just all the time. I was exhausted and… they dimmed them, and came in and asked me for the name of the person I was meeting. I wrote ‘fuck you’ on the paper.”
“Of course you did, Brad.”
“They took my bed, started playing this heavy metal music on full volume, kept the lights up. I didn't get any sleep at all after that.”
“What the fuck?” Alex couldn’t hold in the rage she felt. She was glad she hadn’t known all this when she went to pick Bradley up because she might’ve had words for them and got herself into her own trouble. “Do you know how fucked in the head you have to be to do that to someone? To you?” She couldn’t imagine anyone having it in them to treat Bradley that bad. She’d yelled at Bradley her fair share of times, but she’d always feel shitty afterward. Bradley’s little sad face staring back at her. Even if she attempted to mask the sadness with anger, Alex could still see how sad it made Bradley whenever she was yelled at. These people were the scum of the fucking earth.
The food arrived and Alex got up and brought the bags to her and Bradley on the couch, taking out the containers. “And I got you a Thai tea. I know you love it.” She held the plastic cup and straw out to Bradley.
“Oh my god. You’re a fucking angel.” She took the drink, stabbed it with her straw and took a sip, her head falling back and a little moan escaping her. “Oh my god. This is the best thing I think I’ve ever tasted.”
Alex gave her a smile, watching Bradley dig in, and show the same amount of enthusiasm. A part of her was glad she was able to provide Bradley with that joy with something as simple as a good meal. But another part of her was incredibly sad that she’d been deprived of that basic human need for so long that she was practically orgasming over some cheap Chinese takeout. “I’m never letting you go through that again.”
“I think I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t take off without telling you again.”
“Good.”
“I missed you.”
“God I missed you so much. Come here.” She brought Bradley in for a hug. “You’re a pain in the ass sometimes, but maybe I’m a little bit of a masochist because I missed it.”
Bradley chuckled at the words, a genuine smile on her face. A small one, but it wasn’t forced. She pulled back to look at Alex, Alex’s arms around her, and… the soft instrumental music… the dim lighting… maybe she was fucking delusional, or maybe Alex was actually… Bradley felt the pull and moved in closer, closer, until her lips were on Alex’s. God, they were fucking soft. She pulled back as much as she didn’t want to, but… Alex looked at her in shock.
“I’m sorry, Alex. If that’s not what this was… I… I misread.”
Alex was stunned frozen. She’d never kissed a woman before. At least… not when she was sober. Bradley was… traumatized but also, why was she kissing her? Why did she feel the pulse throughout her body? Why couldn’t her mind process words and think of anything besides doing it again?
“I should go.”
“No.” Alex managed to say. “Don’t. I- I didn’t know you liked me, you know, like- like that.”
“The dim lighting and the soft music and… the tea.”
“I was trying to make it comfortable for you. Make it calm and relaxing.”
“Yeah, I misread. I should go. It’s, um, it’s fine. I don’t- I just- I’ll be fine.”
“No, Brad. Please. Stay.”
“No, I should’ve known. I’m so fucking stupid, you’re not even gay!” She painfully laughed through the words.
Then why was she still thinking about the kiss? Why had it turned her on? “I know. But… You’re traumatized. You’re not thinking straight.”
“I just thought you wanted to make me feel good. But it’s so fucking stupid. Just forget it, please.”
“You’re not in the right headspace, Bradley, even if I was…”
“Okay, just drop it. God.” She hid her face in her hand. She always had to fuck everything up. Even this. Alex was going to be weirded out by it, and never speak to her again. Her lifeline, and she’d fucked it up. Fuck. The lump was coming back in her throat. “I think I’m just tired. I’m gonna go to bed.”
“Okay. I’ll clean up and then I’ll join you.”
Bradley’s knees weakened at the words. Fuck her. Sleeping next to Alex after kissing her was going to be fucking hell.
Alex… had always felt a special type of way about Bradley, but she never really understood it. Bradley always seemed to heighten her emotions, make her act erratically. It was never something she could quite identify. Until… what if what she felt was… romantic? But Bradley? Cute adorable Bradley? Fuck.
Alex climbed into bed, Bradley facing her, but not asleep. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Bradley’s voice was soft.
Alex reached over and cupped Bradley’s cheek. “Don’t feel bad about it, okay?”
“But…” Bradley began to protest, but before she could say much, Alex’s lips were on hers, and Bradley eagerly returned the kiss, it heating up until she ended up sucking Alex’s lower lip into her mouth and lightly biting it. “Fuck.” She whispered when Alex pulled back.
“Yeah, um, okay, yeah. I really fucking liked that. I didn’t think I was gay, but… who knows.”
“Who knows?”
“Maybe we can figure it out? Obviously, not now. But… once you’re back on your feet. I think… I might sort of have feelings for you?”
“You think?”
“Yes! This is a complicated thing, Bradley! I don’t know what’s going on, but when we kiss… I like it… a lot. I don’t know what that means exactly, but… I don’t want you to feel like you fucked everything up by kissing me. Because you didn’t. I mean, maybe you fucked up our friendship, who knows, but… when you’re feeling better, I’d like to kiss you some more.”
A smile spread across her face. “I’d like that too.” She held Alex’s hand that cupped her cheek. “One more? Goodnight kiss?”
“One more goodnight kiss.” Alex agreed, and they simultaneously met in the middle, Bradley’s head nuzzled into Alex’s neck after while they both dreamt of life after Belarus.