Chapter 9

The harsh sound of ball against bat could be heard throughout the quiet room, the said ball occasionally hitting the table. The two women went at it relentlessly and if the poor ball could talk, it would lament and probably lay curses on it's players. Life of a tennis ball.

"I see you like Nov", Cameron commented, hitting the ball back to Rachel who had her eyes trained on it and ready to hit back.

"I thought you wanted to play tennis", Rachel grunted as she hit the ball.

"Apparently we are playing tennis. Don't be a bore, make small talk", Cameron whined.

"How is Sarah keeping up with you? must be a hassle", Rachel shook her head and Cameron gasped and let herself lose.

"I must remind you of what an angel I am and my girlfriend sees what an amazing soul I am", Cameron boasted proudly and Rachel scoffed.

"Heard she used to wear glasses in eleventh grade", Rachel commented offhandedly and Cameron stared at her, knowing the woman was unto something.

"Yeah. And?",

"She needs to see a good optometrist this time", Rachel smirked as she saw Cameron glare at her from her peripheral vision.

"Asswipe"

"Thanks"

"Idiot"

"I appreciate"

"Doofus"

"Colorful vocabulary, remind me to learn from you. I appreciate the names", Rachel held back a snicker as Cameron hit the ball so hard it flew past her.

"I wonder why I'm playing nice with you. Back to the topic, I can see how much you are engrossed in Nova", Cameron adopted a serious expression, something Rachel considered a miracle.

"Yes, so?", She adopted the same expression and Cameron sighed, Rachel knew where this was going, she was about to be warned not to hurt the woman.

"Just don't get hurt", Cameron spoke clearly yet Rachel didn't understand.

"I won't hurt her Davis", Rachel snapped at her, unsure why but she didn't want anyone to tell her how not to hurt the woman, not today and it's not like she planned to do that.

"You're too dumb for a lawyer. I said not to get hurt, not the other way around. Nova is a sweetheart and you my dear friend is a bitterheart but I see your pain. Hurting her will hurt you too because let's be frank, you care so much about her so try not to hurt yourself and think it's best for everyone, you deserve to love and be loved. Don't jinx it", Cameron stated firmly and while Rachel was feeling grateful that someone cares enough to tell her all that, Cameron ruined the moment by sending a ball flying at Rachel's stomach.

"Really, Davis?", Rachel scoffed and sent the ball back to her.

"Yes darling", Cameron drawled, knowing that she was annoying the blonde who unfortunately was short fused.

They played for a few more hours, Cameron annoying Rachel and Rachel trying really hard not to combust from all the frustration that only Cameron could cause her, she as always, rethought her relationship with the artist.

~

Nova Matthews: "only if you ask nicely :)"

She stared at the text over and over again and groaned, she knew what the woman was doing and she blamed herself solely for the situation she found herself in. She didn't have any reason to go into the office so she decided to stay at home and maybe go over a few files here and there but she had gone and invited the siren of a woman for dinner at her house, she just couldn't help herself, she wanted to spend time with the woman and when she had told her that Jasmine had gone to her parent's home for the weekend, she grabbed the opportunity to see the woman. She didn't have problem with the child at all strangely, she just wanted to get the mother comfortable around her and know the woman without any interruptions. She huffed again and glared at the screen of her phone as if the device will automatically command the woman to be at her house for dinner. It had been twenty minutes since Nova had sent her the text and she didn't want the woman to think she had a hold over her but who was she kidding, she dialed her number and Nova picked on the second ring.

"Barrister Sanchez"

Nova called into the receiver and Rachel felt a sense of calm at the sound of her smooth voice and also another feeling she would like to ignore, for her sanity's sake, the seduction in her voice. The way she addressed her, it made her think wicked thoughts.

"Hello?"

Nova called again and Rachel snapped out of her trance.

"Hello", she muttered stupidly, in her own opinion and Nova chuckled.

"For a moment I was thinking you were just going to keep breathing hard, not that I mind though. How are you?"

The raw talent of making innuendos look innocent and then throwing a random question into the mix that Nova possessed was something Rachel found enticing.

"I'm good. Dinner?", She went straight to the point in her usual way.

"I'm fine too thank you so much. Are you asking or commanding?"

"Which would you prefer?", Rachel mused, waiting to hear what the woman had to say.

"While you sound sexy when you are in your element, I'd like to be asked to dinner with some manners, a magic word will do"

Rachel sighed as she willed her mind not to think of the first part of her sentence.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Please",

Nova supplied but Rachel smirked.

"But I've not touched you yet princess, want it that bad?", Rachel taunted, giving Nova a taste of her own medicine.

"Idiota, I want you to say please"

Nova snarked and Rachel chuckled even more.

"I don't beg, princess"

"Fine, be that way and you'll eat dinner alone"

Nova whined, knowing she was being petty but she couldn't care less.

"Have dinner with me Nova", Rachel asked calmly and when Nova didn't respond she found herself bending and it was not because she wanted to satisfy her, she really wanted to spend time with her.

"Please", she spoke so calmly and Nova couldn't have been more shocked at what she heard. She was playing around with the woman and was just expecting her to lose her cool and give her just what she wants but she got a very genuine plea instead and she found herself agreeing.

"Ok"

She found herself muttering lowly.

Rachel hung up, feeling light, with a ghost of a smile on her face and went into her home office with more vigor than usual, anticipating dinner with the woman and at the same time making arrangements for food delivery since she didn't cook much, to put it lightly.

Nova on the other hand went about her day all giddy and with a spring in her step.

"You seem to be in a good mood today", Caroline pointed out and Nova grinned at her but only hummed an answer.

"Mind telling me who it is?"

"I'm sure it has something to do with a blonde lawyer who locked Cameron up some two years ago", Drew muttered loudly and Jase slapped the back of her head.

"It was for good cause", Caroline defended and Drew gaped at her.

"Didn't you see her that day? That woman does not have a heart I tell you", Drew whined and the others laughed, remembering the day at the hospital when Sarah, Cameron's girlfriend attempted suicide and Rachel had stormed the hospital with the cops and had Cameron arrested on charges of attempted murder.

"That's my sister you moron", he made to smack Drew again but she dodged this time.

"Babe, will you tell me about Rachel sometime?", Rebecca asked him quietly, making it just between the both of them and Jase sighed, not wanting to remember but he had to fill his curious girlfriend in so he nodded and kissed her forehead.

"Whipped", Drew mocked before she could get a hold of her tongue, her eyes widened as she looked at Caroline who had a death glare directed at her.

"At this rate you will not get any for the whole year bro", Chucky nudged her as Caroline turned her attention to Nova and Drew knew she was in for it this time.

"So is it true?", Caroline nudged Nova who smiled subtly, remembering her kiss with Rachel.

"Nova have you guys done the nasty?", Jase asked with a horrified expression, not wanting to imagine Rachel with Nova, two people he considered family.

"I'll be sure to give you the details when we do", she winked at Jase who gagged and walked out of the room while the others had a field day laughing at him. Cameron and Sarah walked into the room with big smiles on their faces and all of them groaned.

"We've been waiting for Cameron to get laid bro", Legend cackled and the others joined but Cameron paid them no mind since she was busy doting on Sarah.

They had the meeting they came there to have and discussed the past events and how they could move forward as a family while Nova was seriously waiting for them to be done so that she can rush home and get prepared.

"Didn't know you had such tastes", Legend threw his hand over Nova's shoulders at the parking lot.

"What tastes?", Nova looked confused but Legend only looked at her amused.

"You'll find out soon"

"Lee can you just let it out?"

"My little curious cat, you'll find out yourself. She has a lot of darkness in her though, maybe you could expel it and show her some light", he commented seriously.

"Hold on, you know Rachel?"

"Mmm, let's just say that we run in the same circle", he winked at her and stalked to his own car, leaving a confused Nova but she shrugged it off and drove home to prepare for the dinner.

She chose a simple dress with flower patterns and paired it with sandals, no make up, just chapstick but she curled her black hair and let it fall around her shoulders in waves and took a blue purse where she put her phone and keys, she was ready to go. Stopping at a store she got a bottle of wine and drove to the address that Rachel sent to her, a huge smile on her face.