𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧. 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵

The bar was crowded today, but we'd decided to celebrate our first win after our winter break and Caitlin's first game back from her minor knee injury. Jonas didn't want to put her on for a full 90 but after the two of us convinced him for half an hour in his office he finally agreed, though he did tell us that if he had to pull her off he would.

Caitlin and I sat beside one another in the booth, our bodies pressed close. We'd both been caredul to keep things casual, to not draw unnecessary attention, but the night was wearing on and we'd had a couple of drinks each. With each shared glance and subtle touch, the boundaries we'd set for ourselves in front of the team began to blur.

Beth and Steph sat across the table from us, deep in conversation, their laughter blending in with the music. It felt safe- like we were all just a group of friends out for a good time, but as the might wore on and the drinks flowed, that safety started to feel a little too secure, a little too easy.

As I take the final sip of my third drink, Caitlin leans in, her lips brushing against my ear, her breath warm making me shiver. "You want to get some air?" She whispers, her voice barely audible over the music.

I nod, my heart skipping a beat. "Yeah, let's go."

Careful not to draw attention by the team, we slipped out of the booth and weaved our way through the crowd. As we reached the door leading to the bar's outdoor terrace, I felt a thrill of anticipation. The cool night air greeted us as we stepped outside, a welcome relief from the heath and noise inside.

The terrace was quieter, with only a few people lingering around. Twinkling fairy lights were strung above, casting a slow glow over the space.

Caitlin leads me to a secluded corner, away from prying eyes and finally to face me.

"I've been waiting to do this all night," Caitlin murmured, her voice low.

Before I can respond, Caitlin closed the small distance between us, capturing my lips in a soft, lingering kiss. It was gentle at first, the kind of kiss that felt like a secret only we could share, but as it deepened, I found myself forgetting where we were, lost in the warmth and familiarity of Caitlin's embrace.

For a moment, It was just the two of us- no team, no secrets, no need to hide. But that moment was short-lived.

The sound of the terrace door creaking opening snapped me back to reality. I pull away from Caitlin, my heart pointing as we hear familiar voices.

"Hey, I think they came out here." I hear Steph's voice a lot closer than I'd like.

Panic surged through me as I realised Steph and Beth were just steps away from finding us. Caitlin's eyes widened and we both quickly turned, pretending to admire the view from the terrace.

Just as Steph and Beth round the corner, Caitlin and I stood side by side, a safe distance between us, as we stared out at the city lights.

"There you to are!" Beth calls out, her voice cheerful as she approaches us and throws her arms around both of our shoulders. "Thought we'd lost you."

I force a smile, hoping my face wasn't betraying the sheer panic I'd felt just seconds earlier. "Just needed a bit of fresh air." I reply, trying to sound casual.

Steph raises an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "Fresh air, huh? Funny, you both disapeared at the same time."

Caitlin chuckles, shrugging as she quickly jumped in. "Great minds think alike, right?"

Beth laughs, completely obvlisious bt the tension. "Well, good timing. We were just about to head back in for another round. You guys coming?"

I exhange a quick glance with Caitlin, relieved that we hadn't been caught. "Yeah, we'll be right behind you." I say, hoping my voice sounded steady because my heart beat certainly wasn't.

Steph lingers for a moment longer, her eyes flicking between Caitlin and I, but whatever suspicion she might have, she doesn't voice it. Instead, she nods and follows Beth back inside.

As soon as we we're out of earshot, I let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding. "That was way too close, I whisper, turning to Caitlin.

Caitlin nods, her expression a mix of relief and lingering adrenaline. "Yeah, we need to be more careful."

I can't help but smile, despite the close call. "You're right, but... I don't regret it."

Caitlin grins, leaning in to press a quick, discrete kiss to my cheek. "Neither do I." We linger for another moment, savouring the last bit of privacy before one of us speaks. "When do we stop hiding this?" Caitlin gestures between the two of us. "It's been a while now and we can pretend it's a newer relationship than what it is. I just... I don't want to have to hide us anymore."

"Me neither." My heart beats out of my chest. I was nervous out of my mind at the thought of having to tell the team about Caitlin and I, but it would make everything a lot more easier. "How about at Leah and Jordan's party?"

"Good idea." Caitlin smiles up at me and quickly pecks my lips again before we head back inside to join the team.

I could feel the thrill than ran between us at nearly getting caught, but soon we wouldn't have to worry about all that. We could be ourselves infront of the team and we'd slowly let the word know we're a thing aswell. That we're together.