Deadly Devotion

VII

She didn't plan on it, but Mamrie got drunk. Super drunk. Seeing Grace triggered something in her head and she couldn't stop having flashbacks from that night but the alcohol seemed to tame her. At first, she was just sitting in the booth downing shot after shot but then, despite protest, Hannah pulled her onto the dance floor where the music made her feel electric and alive. It had been years since she set foot in a club like this but it didn't matter because the alcohol in her veins helped guide her across the dance floor. Grace ended up leaving around midnight claiming she didn't feel good when in reality, she hated seeing Mamrie out of control like this. Especially when Grace knew it was her fault that Mamrie was acting like this. Hannah, however, stayed to look after Mamrie. Mamrie can't recall when exactly but eventually, Hannah put her in a cab and told the man her address while the short blonde got into her own cab, heading the opposite direction to her apartment on the other side of town. 

The cab ride home caused Mamrie to think. She was at the stage in her intoxication where she was getting overly emotional so of course tears came along with the thoughts. Thoughts that consisted of Grace flooded her mind as she stepped out of the cab. She stopped in her tracks, however, when she saw a figure sitting on the steps of her apartment building. She couldn't quite make out the person's face but she could see the blonde hair glowing through the darkness. She sighed and walked towards the silhouette she knew was Grace. Grace stood up as Mamrie pushed past her and unlocked the door. Within seconds, the door swung open as a result of Mamrie pushing it a little too hard. She looked at Grace and held her arm out towards the door.

"After you, Madame."

Grace stared into Mamrie's eyes before nodding and stepping into the building.

"Up twice and to your left," Mamrie slurs.

Grace follows the directions and finds herself at the door of the apartment she assumes is Mamrie's. She looks behind her and Mamrie is staring back at her with a look of sadness in her eyes. It breaks Grace's heart to see her all gloomy and depressed. And it's all Grace's fault, Mamrie just doesn't know that yet.

Once Mamrie gets the door open, she throws her keys in the bowl on the counter and takes her shoes off quickly. Grace shuts the door behind her and stands there, watching Mamrie. The apartment smells exactly like Mamrie has since she first met her. Lavender.

"How'd you find me?" Mamrie asks, leaning against her coffee table.

"Oh, uh Hannah told me about you. She said her boss lived across the street from the coffee shop she worked at and so I just figured th-"

"Right," Mamrie nods while wiping a tear from her cheek.

Her fingers trace the edges of the table that she's leaning on as she furrows her brows in deep confusion. She doesn't believe that this is actually happening. It feels like some sort of dream. Why is Grace in France? And why would Hannah make friends with her? And why would Hannah introduce them to each other? It all just doesn't make sense. How this situation could be so perfect. It's too perfect. She thought she was never going to see her again but here she is, standing in the middle of her apartment. 

"Can I hug you? Please? I need to just-"

Before Mamrie could finish her sentence, Grace engulfs Mamrie in her arms and starts crying with her. Grace embraces her touch. She hugs her like she's never hugged anyone before. She swears that she will never let go because Mamrie is too precious to lose again. All of those years not knowing where she was or if she was even alive, tore Grace apart and now she finally has her back in her arms where she's supposed to be. 

After about five minutes of crying on each others shoulders, Mamrie pulls away and looks into the deep brown eyes she's missed so much.

"I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, Gracie. I never wanted to leave you, it's just," Mamrie sniffles, "they would've had too much evidence against me and I couldn't stay and risk being locked up for something I didn't do! But I swear I was gonna come back for you and-"

Mamrie pauses because she's crying even harder and now she can barely breathe.

"Shhhhh, look at me," Grace puts both of her hands on Mamrie's cheeks, "you do not need to explain right now. This is not your fault, okay?"

Grace wipes her own tears before leaning in and pushing her lips against Mamrie's. The sparks are still there from the first time they kissed in Grace's apartment four years ago. They both sigh because it's been nearly three years since they've done this and they've missed it terribly. A few seconds go by before Mamrie pulls away.

"I still love you," Mamrie blurts out, "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," Grace says, tucking a piece of brown hair behind Mamrie's ear, "but I must say, I like your red hair and green eyes better."

Mamrie chuckles before reaching for a tissue. She's missed how Grace is able to crack a joke even in her darkest times just to make Mamrie smile. It's one of the many things Mamrie loves about her.

"My eyes are blue, asshole."