Page 29

Rosie found Jessica at the fancy sinks, washing her hands, a small and knowing smile playing on her gorgeous lips as the black-tie event took place outside.

“You were very quiet,” Jessica said, smirking, with those lips that Rosie could not resist.

“That makes a first.” Rosie smiled, still trying to regain her balance. They’d just had the most intense and unexpected sex in one of the cubicles. Jessica had been staring at her all evening, with that look in her eyes, and once an opening had allowed, had dragged Rosie in here, pushed her up against the back of a cubicle door, and fucked her.

In the mirror, Rosie’s cheeks were flushed through. As she washed her hands, she became aware of a light layer of sweat. Her hair was in a classy up-do for tonight’s RIBA event. Many strands had fallen. She’d have to fix it before they went back out, lest it could be more obvious they’d been in here together. She put her hands behind her head for the serious task of fixing her hair and pretending to be a professional person who would potentially be collecting an award tonight.

Jessica smiled, her eyes crinkling at the sides a bit, and tucked the wayward strands behind Rosie’s ear, helping her. “Do you remember,” Jessica said, softly, gently holding her eyes. Her face was aglow with the soft lighting behind the mirrors. “When I found you crawling around the floor in here?”

Rosie faced her girlfriend. “You were so nice about me being weird. I think it was the first time I caught a glimpse of your softer side.”

Jessica held Rosie’s wrist. “You were looking for your late grandmother’s bracelet.” She ran her thumb over the key pendant. “Of course I was going to be sympathetic and help.”

“I was surprised that you did. I was low-key terrified of you back then. You can come across as pretty fucking fierce Jessica Frost.”

Jessica moved closer. “And now?”

“Oh, you’re a real-life boss-bitch, that’s all very much true.”

Jessica laughed and pulled Rosie in close, her voice a gentle scold, Rosie’s favourite. “That’s right. I’m still your ice queen, and don’t you forget it.”

Rosie laughed. “You love it.”

Jessica leant towards her and put her hand gently on the side of Rosie’s neck and jaw. “I love you, Rosie. I think part of me knew it two years ago in this very bathroom and I didn’t even really know you then. It’s hard to explain.”

Rosie’s breath caught. Jessica had told her she loved her many times before. This one felt particularly special. “I love you, too.” Jessica leant forward to kiss her, but Rosie stopped her at the last second. “You have my whole heart, Jessica Frost.”

Jessica pulled back and slid her hand down onto Rosie’s chest. “And you have mine, Rosie Patterson.”

“Ah.” Rosie tilted her head back and looked toward the ceiling and then back at Jessica. “Thank you, life!”

The kiss was slow and thoughtful. Rosie’s entire being felt held and safe. Happy and loved.

Someone came into the bathroom, so they pulled apart.

Jessica held out her hand. “Shall we go see if we win this award for Clydebank?”

Hand in hand they rejoined the award ceremony and walked to their table, front and centre, proudly together as a couple. The fact that Jessica had taken so well to them being out together as a couple and that it had all gone so smoothly would never not be a wonderful thing in Rosie’s eyes. And that she too had brushed off the murmurs and rumours about her promotion and moved forward with Jessica and in her career was a major turning point in Rosie’s life. Tonight was them showing the architecture world that it was true, they were a couple, and all was well and good.

Jessica held out Rosie’s seat for her. Rosie took it, as elegantly as she could. Jessica was always going the extra mile for her like this, treating her like a queen. She felt very much like royalty around Jessica, that was for sure.

Carla grinned, in the seat next to Rosie, having watched their whole catwalk back to the table and Jessica’s chivalry. “The it-couple returns. What took you so long?”

Rosie blushed. She felt it spread across her whole face knowing that Carla would put two and two together and make four. “We were just having a chat.”

“Is that what it was,” Carla said, under her breath while resisting a laugh by the looks of it.

Jessica just made it to her seat next to Rosie after chatting with Rich, as the lights dimmed and the ceremony resumed. Rosie couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the two years since she was here last. There were the obvious things, yes: she was in a relationship with Jessica and she had advanced her career like she wanted. Things were going well. She was happy. But the biggest change of all was inside. She believed in herself more now. Back then she was so unsure of her abilities.

Health and wellbeing in Clydebank had improved a bit as a result of the completed waterfront regeneration, according to their recent follow-up survey. Happiness levels had increased by sixteen percentage points. Rosie vibed with the findings so much. Hazarding a guess, her own happiness levels had increased by about one hundred percent.

Receiving a RIBA award for the project that had given her so much would be the icing on the cake.

When the presenter called out JF Architecture for the Best Urban Innovation Award for Clydebank, Rosie felt like she was flying high, like in the best flying dreams she’d ever had, but only better.

Jessica stood, signalling to all three JF Architecture tables. She spoke loudly and assertively, like a military leader. “Come on, everyone, let’s go. Whether you worked on the project or not, get up there.”

Their whole three tables stood, smiling, hesitant, as if not expecting to be asked to go on stage as a company. Rosie fell a tiny bit even more in love with Jessica because of this one gesture.

The audience continued to clap as they all made it to the stage. Rosie’s heart swelled. Everyone was dressed up smart and smiling widely. Carla was by her side as a new principal architect herself now, having smashed her Paris project. Amelia was even wiping a tear from her eye.

Jessica accepted the award from the presenter, her eyes sparkling and confident and full of energy. She was a fucking queen.

Rosie stood with her colleagues behind Jessica, watching as her girlfriend commanded the stage, pinching herself that she was hers.

Jessica turned around and found her. “Rosie, get up here with me.”

Life had its moments, and this was surely one of the best of them.

~ THE END ~