ALL BECAUSE - LOUBBIE

CHAPTER 1: After Heist

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DEBBIE'S POV
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A MONTH AGO
I would have loved to keep one of those necklaces for myself, you know? They were exquisite," Daphne confided in me during our conversation.

Now a director, she graciously invited Tammy and me to visit her film set. During a brief coffee break, our conversation naturally drifted to what had transpired after our daring heist. The long-haired blonde rolled her eyes at the brunette's comment. "Yeah? And leave a footprint for them to easily catch you?" She said, unamused by Daphne's unserious remark.

"Um, no way you took that seriously? Can't I joke around anymore?" Daphne defended herself.

"Being a director suits you. Stay in fiction, all right? You'd be a pain in the ass in reality. In fact, you actually are," Tammy replied bluntly. I was left laughing quietly at the banter between these two. 

Eventually, the two laughed it off before Daphne asked, "So where's your blondie, Debbie? Busy?"

I scoffed in disbelief. "My blondie?" I asked, caught off guard. Tammy playfully hit my arm. "Daph could be referring to me, but it seems like you were thinking of someone else?" She teased, raising an eyebrow mischievously.

"Fine. Name drop it is? By that, I meant Miller. Why's she not here?" The brunette asked. Tammy beside me, I could see her swooning through my peripheral vision. I lightly pinched her; she groaned in pain. "Oh. Well, she's out for a ride today. She always said she'd do that more after everything, and so she did," I explained. 

 "Okay, but she never actually told anyone about that," Tammy rebutted immediately."Maybe she did. You just never paid attention," I replied."Or maybe you just pay a lot of attention to Lou," Daphne backed up Tammy. I laughed as I realized how the two actually teamed up. At what cost? To embarrass the hell out of me. 

I guess they do share the same interest at some point.

"See, Hers and Lou's partnership always seemed smoother than what we had back in the day," Tammy observed, a hint of wistfulness in her tone. Daphne nodded, her agreement silent but evident. I took a slow sip of my steaming coffee, the warmth spreading through me. "Lou's always been good at being part of a team," I responded, pondering the complexities of old alliances and the ease of some compared to others.

Daphne and Tammy burst into laughter. Confused, I wiped at my mouth, checking for errant coffee spills, but it was clean. The brunette, didn't miss a beat before chiming in, her tone half-joking, half-serious. "You sure about that? 'Team'? Lou literally prefers her side projects with you—just you. None of us were surprised when you two managed to maneuver behind our backs."

"I'd wager Tammy's kids on it, this isn't just any 'best friend' scenario, Debbie," Daphne declared, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Both of us noticed Tammy rolling her eyes at the mention of her children. "Leave my kids out of this, for heaven's sake!" Tammy exclaimed, half-exasperated, half-amused.

As Tammy and Daphne continued their playful banter, time seemed to slip away swiftly, leaving me lost in a sea of thoughts. Lou has always felt like my other half, but in what sense exactly? She's the least romantic person I know; it's hard to picture it being that way. Yet, as I sift through the memories—those vivid flashbacks of my dearest best friend—the doubt begins to blur. Lou has stood by me through thick and thin, always understanding the reasons behind actions when others were quick to judge. 

Could there be more to our connection? Is there an aspect of our bond that I've overlooked all these years?

Pulled back from my reverie by Daphne's announcement, I realized the afternoon had slipped into evening. "I need to head out; my actors are arriving soon for tonight's rehearsal," she said, gathering her things. Tammy and I also prepared to leave, noting the lateness of the hour.