Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Seventeen: Cardinal.

"And I am yours." I shouldn't. "Can I give you a hug?" This time, Wilhemina nodded without thinking twice.

Please don't touch my spine.

Billie Dean leaned closer and held Wilhemina tightly. She took a deep breath against her fiery hair, arms wrapped around her waist while Venable's were close to her shoulders, holding her just as close. I'm falling for you. It wasn't fair to tell Wilhemina that; not when she had whatever she had going on with Emma. I need a friend, after all. Gently, Billie allowed her hands to caress Venable's waist. I wonder what her skin feels like. Lavender invaded her nostrils, bringing her comfort. In her emotional state and with the confirmation that Billie Dean's hands wouldn't slip up, Wilhemina allowed herself to relax. She took a deep breath, body going soft and eyes closing. Once again, her fingertips caressed the straight curvature of Billie's spine. She smells divine. Floratta Blue was indeed a good perfume. Neither of them moved; they enjoyed the much-needed affection. And, after a minute or two, Wilhemina finally opened her eyes again.

"You give good hugs," Venable murmured, low and small.

Billie Dean held her just a little tighter. "So do you."

With a small smile, Wilhemina sighed. Lisa was the last person to ever hug me like that. How long had it been? 15? 20 years? She missed it. She missed that affection and the comfort a good hug could bring. I don't trust people. But she somehow had trusted Billie Dean to hold her like that, feel her like that, see her like that. It was natural, easy, organic... and a little scary. In those four walls of their hotel room, Venable felt she and Billie Dean could simply be. And so, taken by that feeling, she slowly pulled away to stare at brown eyes. "I... I haven't received a hug like that i-in a long time," the words were still quiet, still low.

Billie Dean stared at brown hues. Wilhemina had been letting her know a lot about her, in a way. With soft fingertips, Billie hesitantly reached to tuck a lock of Venable's fiery hair behind her ear this time. "I can always give you hugs," she said quietly. Don't do it. Her eyes fell down to Wilhemina's lips anyways. Billie gulped. Venable was quite sure she had seen that look before. On Emma. But it made her feel different than when Emma did it; she didn't feel anxious, didn't feel scared. Her stomach didn't twist and her head didn't scream for her to run away. And her body could move perfectly this time, could stand up and walk, she just didn't... want to. It was comfortable, being this close to Billie Dean—cherry, again. She could smell it in Billie's breath. Wilhemina's lips seemed to have cast a spell on Billie Dean, for she couldn't look away from them. Did Emma kiss those lips? The thought broke the spell, and Billie Dean blinked twice before looking at brown eyes again.

"I do enjoy to know that," Venable said sweetly when they stared at each other. Billie Dean offered her a smile that didn't really reach her eyes and pulled away. Wilhemina felt something off, but blamed it on the weirdness of receiving a hug after so long. They both stared at the TV again. Venable caught herself longing for something she couldn't quite point to.

Billie Dean chewed on her bottom lip. She looked at the movie, but didn't really watch it. Her hands played with the sheets, and her mind ran with thoughts and questions. That'd be prying. But she needed to know. And so, almost spitting the words out, she turned to Venable after a minute of silence. "How are things between you and Emma?"

The question came out of nowhere. Venable frowned for a second before gathering her thoughts; talking about that with Billie Dean wasn't something she enjoyed doing, she had noticed. "Uh... what do you mean?" It was best to ask rather than give too much information.

Careful. "Just... in general." Billie Dean noticed Wilhemina didn't really look at her. I hope she doesn't shut down. She looked back at the screen.