71. Chapter 71

When their chests are still heaving from Alex’s pacing, Alex’s yelling; from Maggie’s biting her lip and sullenly going quiet, seething, until Alex breaks, until Alex cries, until Alex doubles over and Maggie grabs her and holds her and apologizes, until they both apologize and breathe and fumble for each other’s hands and kiss each other’s knuckles;

When Maggie inhales sharply as Alex’s lips graze her hand, and their wet eyes meet headily over their intertwined fingers;

“Can we have make-up sex now?” Alex will ask, and Maggie will laugh, Maggie will smile, and a relieved tear will splash onto her cheek.

“Yeah, Alex. Yeah, we can.”

And when Maggie comes home from a long day and Alex has flowers on the table waiting for her and an omelette – because Maggie is a massive fan of breakfast for dinner, or breakfast any time, really – on just this side of overcooked, Alex turns off the burner and walks to the door to take off Maggie’s jacket, to take Maggie’s gun, to run her fingers through Maggie’s hair, Maggie will put her hands on Alex’s elbows, on Alex’s hips, and she will smile, and she will ask, “Can I kiss you now?”

And Alex will answer with her beaming eyes, her eager smile, and her slightly parted lips.