Mia sat on the couch across from Ashley, pulling her legs up and crossing them beneath her. Hugging a throw pillow to her chest, she fixed her gaze intently on the woman in front of her. Ashley swallowed hard under the weight of Mia's eyes, her pulse quickening. Why did I even admit my feelings for her? she thought, silently cursing herself.

Mia chuckled softly, running her fingers through her hair as her lips curled into a teasing smile. "So... all this, and you said it was for a friend, huh?" she teased, laughter lacing her voice.

Ashley flushed, her face growing warm as she cleared her throat. "You didn't believe me for a second, though," she said, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation.

Mia clicked her tongue, leaning back into the couch. "Why would I?" she asked, her voice dropping to something more contemplative. "Why would you turn down someone who already likes you, just to like someone like me?" She paused, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the edge of the pillow. "I mean... I'm not even sure what I am right now."

Ashley let out a dry laugh, her lips twitching into a self-deprecating smile. "Trust me, I've thought about that," she admitted. "Choosing someone who likes me would've been the safe bet, the practical thing to do. But... I wouldn't take a chance on something that's not real, even if it feels safe."

Mia chuckled, shaking her head. "And you're a hundred percent sure about me?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. She let out a sardonic laugh. "Have you figured it out yet, detective? My life is a complete mess—my issues, my confusion... I'm a walking disaster." She laughed awkwardly, the vulnerability in her tone unmissable.

Ashley nodded, her expression softening. "I'm not asking you to make any decisions right now, Mia," she said gently, her throat tightening as she spoke. "In fact, you don't have to decide anything at all."

Mia threw her head back, shutting her eyes for a moment as she stared at the ceiling. When she finally looked back at Ashley, her face was painted with a mixture of hesitation and sincerity. "I'll admit... there's this weird feeling I have about you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what it is, and I can't put a name to it."

Sitting up straighter, Mia dropped her gaze to her lap, her fingers twisting nervously. "It's not that I don't want to give you an answer, Ash. I just... I need time," she murmured. She glanced up, meeting Ashley's steady, calming eyes. "Can you give me that? Time to sort things out, to figure out what all of this means?"

Ashley tilted her head, her brows furrowing slightly as if processing Mia's words. Her silence prompted Mia to raise an eyebrow. "What's with that look?" Mia asked, her voice edged with curiosity.

Ashley scoffed lightly, shaking her head. "I'm just... trying to figure out how to respond," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

Mia let out a small laugh, her expression softening. "Look, I've only been divorced for... what? A little over a year?" She sighed, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. "If I ever decide to start another relationship, I want to be ready. I want to be completely untangled from my past."

Her voice grew quieter, almost hesitant, as she added, "And if I ever choose to be with you, Ash, I don't want you getting dragged into the chaos of my messy life. You deserve more than that."



Ashley frowned as she stared at Nyx, who was grinning at her sheepishly from across the room. Rubbing her temples, Ashley let out a long sigh and shook her head. Why the hell did I even think calling another idiot like me for advice was a good idea? she thought.

Nyx handed her a glass of whiskey before settling onto the couch opposite her. "Alright, spill. What's the meaning of this?" Nyx asked, her grin widening. "Don't tell me you messed up again and now you're too chicken to fix it?" She chuckled, clearly amused.

Ashley rolled her eyes and took a sip of the whiskey. "I might have messed up a little," she admitted, "but I'm not trying to run away."

Nyx tilted her head, raising a brow as if she'd already solved the mystery. "Wait," she said, holding up a hand as a mischievous grin crept onto her face. "Don't tell me... it's Mia?"

Ashley nearly choked on her drink. She tried to compose herself just as Vera walked into the room, carrying a tray of snacks. Vera placed the tray on the table and glanced at the two of them, her eyes flickering with interest.

"Don't mind me," Vera said, a playful smirk on her lips. "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that." She shook her head and left the room, leaving Ashley to squirm under Nyx's amused gaze.

Nyx burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with glee. "So, it is Mia," she declared triumphantly.

"I never said that!" Ashley protested, her face growing warm.

Nyx waved a dismissive hand. "You didn't have to. Your reaction said it all." She leaned forward, her grin turning sly. "So, what's the issue? Where did you mess up? And why the hell are you asking me for advice? I'm a retired player, not some relationship guru."

Ashley groaned, tossing her head back. "Unfortunately, I don't have a wide circle of friends to choose from," she muttered. She sighed and finally relented. "Fine, it's Mia." She paused, frowning. "But why... why did it have to be her? Why someone so much younger than me?"

Nyx raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're worried about the age gap?" she teased. "Shouldn't you be more worried about getting someone at your age? You're not exactly a spring chicken anymore."

Ashley grabbed a tissue, crumpled it into a ball, and hurled it at Nyx's head. "You're not helping, idiot!" she hissed, glaring. "And I'm not that old. I still look like I'm in my twenties, thank you very much."

Nyx sighed dramatically, leaning back and clicking her tongue. "Listen, Mia's precious to us," she said, her tone softening. "Not just because she's Riley's childhood friend, but because she's practically family. Like a sister."

Ashley's playful irritation faded as she watched Nyx's expression grow more serious.

"After her divorce, Mia changed," Nyx continued. "She's still kind and thoughtful, but she's... guarded now. That bastard really did a number on her." She met Ashley's gaze, her voice steady. "If you're going to pursue her, you better not screw this up, Ash. Don't hurt her."

Ashley scoffed, downing the rest of her whiskey. "I came here for advice, not a lecture," she grumbled. "Besides, it's not like she's agreed to anything. She just... asked me to give her time. To think things over."

Nyx blinked in surprise before breaking into a laugh. "She said that?" She shook her head, amused. "Isn't she supposed to be waving her straight flag?"

Ashley shrugged, her expression uncertain. "I don't know. She didn't exactly clarify. She just said she doesn't want me getting caught up in her messy life."

Nyx stood abruptly and walked over to Ashley, smacking the back of her head.

"Hey!" Ashley yelped, rubbing the spot where Nyx had hit her. "What was that for?"

Nyx threw her hands up in disbelief. "Are you serious, Ashley? She told you to give her time, and here you are overthinking it like an idiot. She's literally asking you to wait, and you're acting like it's some unsolvable case."

Ashley blinked, completely thrown off by Nyx's outburst. "What are you even trying to say?"

Nyx stared at her in mock horror, dramatically clutching her chest. "Oh my God, Ashley! I didn't realize you were this slow!"