Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Forty: Pink.

Billie couldn't help but smile. "She's a lady with strong personality."

"Indeed." Venable took a seat, and so did Billie Dean; they sat side by side this time. Wilhemina offered her a small smile. I'm so happy she's here. It all felt like a dream, and Venable was scared she'd eventually wake up from it.

Reaching for a fry, Billie Dean offered it to Wilhemina. "Fry?" She held it up to her lips. Venable nodded, carefully reaching for it with no hesitation. They stared at one another, and Billie felt her mouth going dry. Why does it feel so intimate?

With her cheeks tinting, Venable let out a hum. "Thank you." Billie Dean nodded and reached for more. Wilhemina smiled to herself as she began to open the box of her hamburger. She still remembered that time, during their trip, when Billie had fed her ice cream like that... the butterflies it brought to her stomach, the way she felt so weirdly cared for. It was a funny memory given everything she knew now. A small chuckle left her lips.

"What?" Billie Dean asked softly, already smiling to herself.

"Um?"

"What are you laughing about?"

"Oh." Their eyes met again. Venable shook her head, letting out another chuckle. Busted. "It's nothing, just... a memory."

"Would you like to share?" Billie took a sip of her milkshake.

Wilhemina bit her lower lip. I hope she doesn't think I'm weird. "Do you remember our trip?" Billie Dean nodded as she took a bite of her hamburger. "Well... you—you fed me ice cream once, like that." Another embarrassed chuckle made its way out. And Billie's eyes opened wide before she quickly covered her mouth as a loud, embarrassed laugh left her lips.

"I—" Billie Dean reached for a napkin. Venable watched her with a smile. Wiping her mouth clean, Billie swallowed her food before trying to speak again. "Oh, God... I was never very good at hiding my feelings."

Wilhemina frowned; she blinked once. "Hiding your feelings?"

Uh-oh. Billie Dean nodded slowly. "I... I had a hard time during that trip when it came to that..." In all honesty, Venable was speechless; she stared at Billie as if she were seeing something otherworldly. Billie Dean felt herself growing nervous as she licked her lips. "I—I realized I was falling for you, uh, back then..."

"You did?" Wilhemina couldn't wrap her head around it. But Billie nodded. "Why... you didn't say anything..."

"I know..." Honey eyes fell down to their food. "You know why I couldn't."

Do I? Venable did. It was the same reason Billie Dean had pulled away, after all. She always made sure to ask me about Emma... to know if things were alright, if things were okay... Even though it pained Billie, she made sure to support Wilhemina. She's the most wonderful person I've ever met. Gently, she reached to caress Billie Dean's knee, on top of her dress. "Billie..." Their eyes met again; Wilhemina found something awfully similar to embarrassment in Billie's. She smiled sadly. "You're the one I want." The words simply left her mouth, for Venable knew if she thought too much, she would end up not saying anything at all.

Billie's eyes lit up again. "You're the one I want, too." She reached to caress Wilhemina's hand, giving it a light squeeze. They smiled at each other. And then a faint chuckle left Billie Dean's lips again. "Didn't you realize?"

"No." Venable kept a permanent smile on her face. Hesitantly, she pulled her hand away to resume eating. Billie did the same. "I—I think I'd have done some things differently, if I knew..."