Chapter 2

Paige sat side-on, slouched back against the couch. Juliet and Caz spoke animatedly between themselves while Hannah just stared lovingly at Caz. God, when had they all become so lovesick? Had it been anyone else, Paige would have gagged, but this little unit was perfect. She'd never felt a part of anything before. But here at The Hideout and in Liverpool? It had been home from the moment her feet touched the pavement at Lime Street Station.

She leaned in towards Hannah's ear. "Any sign of you two tying the knot?"

"I'm trying to find the right moment to ask," Hannah said, shifting closer to Paige. "I'm terrified at the thought of her saying no."

"Caz? Say no? No way! You've got more chance of Rachel leaving Andi and then walking in here to claim Juliet. Neither of those things are ever going to happen."

"Everything is just so perfect, and I'm scared of ruining that. Caz has been through so much, and I'm not sure she would ever want to get married again."

Paige understood that. She couldn't say she was bothered if she ever remarried. A marriage didn't define a relationship. Wasn't she the very proof of that when it came to her marriage with James? And Caz, with her terrible marriage, too? "Would it change anything for you if she said no?"

Hannah shook her head. "No. No way. What we have is so much more than a piece of paper."

"Then I wouldn't worry about it. You guys are in a good enough place that you can be honest with one another."

"I know." Hannah smiled as she crossed her legs. "I just don't know what to do for the best. But I'll figure it out. It's not as though it's a make-or-break decision for me, so it doesn't really matter at the moment." Hannah sipped her wine, smiling when Caz shifted her gaze towards her. "The others joining us tonight by some miracle?"

"They're…not available tonight. Something about Rachel cooking Andi a fancy meal at the loft."

"Isn't it crazy how everything worked out? I mean, I know all of you for different reasons, but it's so nice to see everyone happy and in love."

"It really is." Paige would have liked to see more of Rachel and Andi, but something kept holding them back. They'd agreed to memberships several months ago, but it was yet to actually happen. Paige could count on one hand the number of times they'd all been together since Rachel met Andi. Still, so long as they were happy, that was the main thing. "I'm so lucky to have all of you guys around me."

"I think we're all equally lucky. Considering how some of us know one another, it could have been very awkward."

Paige had to agree. Hannah had once been Juliet's escort, but Paige and Hannah were joined at the hip. The very best of friends. Wasn't life a funny thing?

"Anyway, never mind all of that. Tell me about the next part of this tour."

Paige puffed out her cheeks. "I still can't get my head around the fact I'm supporting Soraya again! "

"Paige, she should be the one supporting you . And if Edie has anything to say about it, it'll happen."

"Has Edie been watching my sets online?" Paige didn't know why the thought of that warmed her so much, but it did.

"Watching them? I think she has, like, a YouTube-style book club thing with her friends. They all sit on Zoom together, dissecting your performances."

"Shit. I'd better not fuck it up then."

"And she asked me this morning if I'd get your autograph for her while I was here tonight." Hannah rolled her eyes. "She's insufferable."

Paige's eyes welled a little. "She really said that?"

"Um, yeah."

"Then I'm going to come to your place one day after school and sign whatever she wants myself. In front of her. Even though she's like the God kid I never had, and I see her all the time."

"You should both come ‘round. I'll cook!"

Paige tipped her cocktail towards Hannah. "You're on. It's a date."

Caz's head whipped around. "What's a date?"

"Paige and Juliet are coming ‘round for dinner one night before she goes back on tour."

Paige shifted her attention to Juliet. She'd seemed a little quieter than usual tonight. "Fancy it, babe?"

Juliet regarded her with her signature smile, but Paige saw through it. Something didn't feel right. "I'd love to."

Worried because Juliet never seemed off, Paige got to her feet and took her phone from the table. She quickly brought up her messages and typed one out to Juliet.

Meet me in the office x

"Need the loo. Should I get us more drinks on the way back?"

They all agreed, and then Juliet's phone lit up beside her wine glass. She eyed Paige, nodding ever so slightly.

Paige squeezed out from between the table and Hannah, making a beeline for the office. No sooner had she gone inside than Juliet was behind her.

"Is everything okay?" Juliet asked, frowning.

"Shut the door."

Juliet's frown lines deepened. "Paige, we don't have time for this. Not now. We have friends waiting outside for us."

Paige scoffed. Did Juliet really think she was about to pull a Rachel on her and have her way with her against the office door? "You're worth far more than a quick fuck in the office, babe. Just close the door, please. I need to speak to you."

Juliet softened, closing the door slowly. "Paige, what's going on?"

"I'm going to ask you the same thing."

"I'm sorry?"

Paige took Juliet's hand. "You've been really quiet tonight. That's not like you. If something is bothering you, then I need to know."

"I just feel out of sorts. You're going away, we're about to start building work, and I feel a little off."

Paige nodded slowly. She'd suspected it had something to do with the tour. But Juliet hadn't felt this way last time. Yes, she'd panicked and missed Paige, but she wasn't quiet beforehand. "It's just another month."

"I know. I told you this morning not to worry about me. I just miss you when you go."

"And I miss you when I go, too." Paige lifted Juliet's hand and kissed her knuckles. "You do know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Then why did you ask me before if I was all yours…forever?" Paige searched Juliet's eyes, knowing she had something on her mind. She could always tell. Juliet was wasting her time trying to hide it. This felt like more than simply missing Paige when she left. "Babe?"

"You know I'm proud of you, and you know I only want you to be happy," Juliet said, her voice trembling. "I just have a bad feeling that one day, this will all be too much for you. For…us."

"Too much? You do realise I'm only her support act, don't you?"

"You're so much more than a support act. One day, it'll be you looking for a support act. And when that day comes, I'll be the proudest woman in the world."

"Okay and say that day did happen. Hypothetically ." That day wouldn't arrive. Paige was quite content with being the support act. What she wanted was to be here with Juliet…taking care of the bar. A normal life doing normal things. "What's the issue with that?"

"Oh, Paige. There's no issue with that. None at all." Juliet squeezed Paige's hand, smiling weakly. "But it would be an entirely new chapter for you. I don't want to become a hindrance. I don't want to imagine for one second that you feel torn because you had a life here…and a life potentially on the road. It would be your time to explore and travel the world."

Paige's stomach roiled at that. Was Juliet insinuating that Paige wouldn't want to be with her anymore? God, that thought alone had Paige wanting to cancel the upcoming tour with Soraya. Everything Juliet was saying had rendered her speechless.

"If it did happen, I couldn't blame you for that. You're already on your way to success, Paige. Just think of the opportunities and the people you'll meet."

"I had my opportunity. I met the person I wanted to meet. And that's you, Juliet. I don't give a fuck who is out there. It's you, okay?"

"I know." Juliet drew Paige in, kissing her slowly. Her lips would never not feel good against Paige's. They reminded her of the safety and comfort that came with this relationship. They reminded Paige of…home. Here, where she belonged. "I just want you to know that it's okay if things change and this doesn't work for you anymore. If you had to choose between a shitty bar in Liverpool or world tours…there's no competition."

Paige swallowed as she slowly took a step back. The last thing she expected tonight—after agreeing and signing off on plans with Juliet for the future of the bar—was to be given an out. At least, that's what it felt like was happening here. "Right."

"Things change, Paige. People change, and life can turn in a split second. All I want for you is happiness. Whether that is with or without me is irrelevant."

"Y-you think you're irrelevant?" What the hell was going on here tonight? "You really think that?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying. God, I'm getting this all wrong." Juliet's shoulders slumped. "You know what, it doesn't matter. What will be will be."

Paige wanted to vomit every time Juliet spoke. This was so far from what she had planned tonight. Drinks with friends, the woman she loved, then home to their place. Not…this. Not Juliet contemplating their future. As far as Paige was concerned, their future was set in stone. "I think we need to discuss this properly. Not here, not now." Paige had a million and one plans she wanted to make with Juliet. She didn't want to think about something ending when it couldn't possibly. "Can we just enjoy the rest of the night with our friends?"

"I'd like that."

"And then go home to the place where we live…and love? Just you and I."

"Paige, I'm not saying this is ending. God, I don't see my future with anyone but you. I just think it's sensible to put it out there because I don't want you to feel stuck one day."

"The one thing I've never felt with you is stuck." Paige opened the office door and guided Juliet towards it. "I have plans for us, babe. Plans that mean nothing at all unless you're involved."

"W-what plans?" Juliet stopped dead in the doorway.

"Plans we don't need to discuss right now. Plans that mean the world to me but can wait until I'm back off this leg of the tour. Plans…that I'm not giving up. I don't care who wants me as their support."

What kind of idiot says what you did tonight?

Juliet forced their apartment door open, feeling emotionally drained even though they'd had a great evening with friends. It was only eleven, and the bar was still open, but Hannah and Caz had plans early tomorrow morning, so Paige and Juliet had called it a night, too. Right now, Juliet wanted to climb into bed and sleep off the horrid feeling she had. The ridiculous thoughts, too.

"Fancy a glass of red?" Paige asked as she moved into the kitchen and reached for the bottle already open on the counter.

Juliet would love to sit around drinking wine with Paige, but she wasn't sure she wanted to get into any sort of discussion. That was where it would end up going—it always did when they had things on their minds. "Just a small one."

Paige smiled, pouring two glasses. Juliet watched her from across the island, enamoured by the very woman she was. This Paige was a monumental difference from the Paige she had initially met. Her confidence was at an all-time high, those grey eyes always giving away the love she had for life. "Do you think Cara and Stephen will be okay locking up? It was really busy when we were leaving."

"They'll be fine." Juliet groaned when she slid her heels off and pushed them out of the way. Barefoot and at home was her preferred night lately. She was getting too old to care about which heels she wore. "Stephen has been in management for a long time."

"I know." Paige nodded, lifting the wine glasses and rounding the island. "It's why you employed him. So we can enjoy nights like this."

Juliet took a glass and walked towards the couch. The lights of the city shone outside the window, the quietness of their home comforting her. "Were you happy with the building quote earlier? We didn't really have time to discuss it at length."

"I think it was a great price. And the plans look amazing. I can't wait to see it all finished and filled with people. You did an amazing job in telling them exactly what you wanted." Paige stopped in front of Juliet, where she sat on the couch, staring down at her. "But you've always been very good at explaining what you want, haven't you?"

Juliet frowned. "I'd…like to think so."

"You know so." Paige got to her knees, uncrossing and spreading Juliet's legs where she sat. She shifted between them, palming her thighs beneath her dress. "That's just one of the things I love about you."

Juliet softened at that, gazing into Paige's eyes. "Yeah?"

"Mmhmm. I think it's kind of hot when a woman tells you what she wants. Why do you think I was so drawn to you when we met? You made your intentions known, and I was all in…even if I shouldn't have been."

With her head resting back on the couch, Juliet moaned as Paige's hands slid higher. And higher. Until…Paige hooked her fingers around the waistband of Juliet's underwear and brought them down her legs. Their eyes locked, gazes unwavering, that unspoken promise burning in Paige's eyes. Juliet had nothing to worry about. This woman wasn't going anywhere in the future.

"If you think for one minute that I could give up this…give up you …" Paige cocked her head, brushing the back of her hand against Juliet's sex. "Then I'm not sure you know me very well at all."

"Paige." Juliet shifted further down the couch, spreading her legs wider.

"All I think about when I'm away is the next time I'll have the pleasure of touching you. The next time I can look into your eyes and tell you I love you, rather than doing it over the phone. The next time I'll taste your lips…and other things."

Juliet grinned, gripping the couch cushions when Paige pressed a fingertip to her clit. "Baby, please."

Paige sat back on her knees, wrapping her hands around Juliet's thighs and pulling her closer. "We belong to one another. There really is no more to say about it." Paige pushed Juliet's dress up, her lip between her teeth when she stroked a finger through Juliet's wet folds. "This is where I want to be. Right here, in this position, always ."

"Oh, God." Juliet lifted her hips, desperately craving Paige's touch.

Paige kissed her way up Juliet's leg, inching closer. She loved to tease, she knew exactly what it did to Juliet, but tonight, she just wanted to come for the woman who would do anything to make her happy. For the woman Juliet would give up everything for. God, she really needed a release. The pent-up tension of the day was slowly working itself away and out of her mind. As Paige dipped her head and licked her way through Juliet's warmth, nothing else mattered. This was who they were. Incredibly in love…and usually aching for one another.

"Y-yes." Juliet pressed a hand to the back of Paige's neck, encouraging her. When Paige sucked Juliet's clit between her lips, flicking the tip of her tongue, Juliet lost herself entirely in everything that Paige was. In everything she represented. Love, a stable home and relationship, and someone who knew every last inch of Juliet's body. "Oh, fuck. Paige…I…" Juliet bucked her hips, thrusting against Paige's mouth. "Fuck, right there. Y-yes, right there."

Paige hummed, only forcing Juliet towards the edge. She sucked harder, lashing her tongue, and dipped two fingers inside Juliet.

That was all it took to have Juliet releasing around Paige. She shook, still rocking her hips, willing this night to go on forever. She didn't want to imagine the days when Paige wouldn't be here. She didn't want to long for something so beautiful. She just wanted to stay like this…forever. "O-oh, Paige."

Paige drew back and licked her lips, her fingers slowly massaging Juliet's walls. "Fuck."

"I may miss you when you're gone, but I know exactly what to expect when you return." Juliet forced herself up, leaning in and tasting herself on Paige's lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too."