"I still can't believe you took I love you from me," I said, climbing back into the hospital bed with Fenix.
It was a little past lunchtime, and everyone had already seemed to visit before deciding to give us some alone time and return for dinner.
Well, everyone except for Gia—who I instructed to come a little later so she could meet Fenix one-on-one.
Gia was an important figure in my life, and she deserved a proper introduction.
Along with my parents—who have no idea about Fenix.
But I plan to tell them, excluding the fact that she's an assassin of course.
It'll be kind of hard to fill them in on how we met, but I think they'll manage.
Fenix shrugged, "I couldn't let you have it," she determined.
I gave her a narrowed look, "Keep playing and I'll go get a ring to propose to you first," I said, raising a sharp brow.
Fenix only hummed, "Who's to say I don't already have a ring, Rossi?" she said, clearly set on winning this little game we had going on.
I gave her a tilted look, "And who's to say I don't either?" I challenged back.
Fenix raised a brow, "Where is it then?" she questioned, clearly trying to win the argument.
But I definitely wasn't letting her have it.
"It's invisible," I said, smiling proudly to myself as I grabbed her hand and pretended to slide it onto her finger, "But still very meaningful," I added.
Fenix tilted her head, "Well, that's just not going to work," she concluded, holding my eyes, "Perhaps a real one," she said, looking down at my left hand.
I hummed, "Perhaps," I breathed out, watching as she gently held my left hand that she analyzed precisely.
And even if we were joking, it felt like our words held some sort of truth.
Like we both subconsciously meant it?
"Did we just get engaged?" I questioned, furrowing my brows as I met Fenix's eyes.
Fenix pursed her lips, "I don't know... did we?" she questioned, clearly as confused as me.
"We don't even live together," I pointed out, laughing slightly to myself.
But Fenix only remained serious, "Move in with me," she offered, and it was clear by her unusual seriousness that we were actually having this conversation, "I mean we practically lived together these past few weeks," she pointed out.
I nodded, not even giving the idea a second thought, "I do love your house," I subtly admitted, shyly meeting her eyes.
Fenix hummed, "And you would look so good all over it," she said, allowing her lips to twitch up into a smile, "And I don't just mean sexually—I mean, your belongings, like your hair dryer or that lip gloss you always seem to wear."
I unconsciously smiled, realizing that she really paid attention to such small details about me.
"Guess I'm moving in," I murmured, feeling my chest grow warm with happiness.
Fenix hummed, "And maybe get a ring without an engagement," she suggested, still not letting go of the fact that she wanted me to be openly claimed.
I laughed slightly, "A ring without an engagement?" I questioned back, clearly amused by what she had suggested.
Fenix hummed, "Maybe just a band, so I can propose with a real ring later on," she concluded, and it was so odd to hear her talk about something with so much certainty.
Like she had already traveled to the future and knew without a doubt that it would all happen.
"Fenix Ellis on one knee? Yummy," I murmured, leaning into her to peck her lips. "Just you on your knees in general..." I trailed off as we pulled back from the brief kiss.
Fenix raised a brow, "Awfully bold today are we?" she teased me.
I nodded, not even bothering to shut the suggestion down, "Once we're out of this hospital, I'll show you how bold I can really be," I said, lowering my tone as I carefully held her eyes.
Fenix raised a brow, "Not if I show you first," she countered, gripping my waist into her warm body.
I hummed, "I'd like that... perhaps after we get our ring bands," I said, giving her confirmation on the ring idea.
And just like that, Fenix's lips were twitching up into a soft smile, "Really?" she questioned.
I didn't hesitate to nod, "Really," I repeated back to her, pecking her lips as I said, "I'd love to be your trial fiancé before becoming your real one."
A laugh fell from Fenix's lips, "I don't like the word trial—no one's taking your place, Rossi," she said, shutting down the term, "Maybe just pretend fianceé who almost killed someone for me."
I couldn't help but giggle, "You're not letting that one go are you?"
Fenix only laughed again, "Definitely not—a hot FBI Agent was really about to kill someone for me," she said, easily earning a laugh from me as well.
—
"Devora?" I heard her familiar voice call, hearing a gentle knock on the hospital door.
I felt my lips grow into a smile, "Come in," I called out, feeling my body suddenly course with excitement—meanwhile, Fenix seemed slightly nervous.
But I knew that was only due to the fact that this would be her first time meeting someone from my life other than Yelena.
Even laying eyes on Gia, I couldn't even begin to stop myself from sitting up from the bed beside Fenix.
"Hi," Gia greeted, shyly handing me the flowers as she pulled me in for a hug.
I hugged her back, "I've missed you so much," I said, passing the flowers over to Fenix who gave Gia a grateful smile.
"Thank you," Fenix said, motioning to the flowers that she sat by the bedside.
Gia nodded, "Anything for my best friends..." she looked at me, and I could see the sudden excited smile dangling on her lips, "Girlfriend," she whispered happily.
And I couldn't help but laugh when she clapped to herself, causing Fenix to laugh as well.
"I'm sorry, but you—" Gia suddenly looked to Fenix, "—She dodged a major bullet with the literal stalker she used to work with," she said, initiating a conversation with her.
Fenix lazily raised her brows, "Tell me about it—and get this, she was in love with her too," she added, easily making Gia's brows raise.
"Oh that's tea that Yelena didn't spill—" Gia crawled to sit crisscross at the end of the bed, "—I need to hear more," she added, facing us as she made herself comfortable.
Fenix laughed, "More? Well, I hope you have time to kill," she said, clearly about to spill everything and anything to my best friend.
My heart immediately swelled with relief, watching the two most important people in my life connect.
And as we all began to chat and laugh, creating a harmonious atmosphere that made the sterile hospital room feel a little less clinical—I couldn't help but feel grateful.
Not even with just how quickly Gia and Fenix seemed to get along, but also for the fact that everything was becoming... oddly normal?
Like my life had room for Fenix—and hers had room for mine.
It was always a huge worry of mine that our lives would clash, but right now they definitely couldn't have gone together any better.
"She was willing to shoot Devora? Someone she claimed to be in love with?" Gia questioned, clearly finding the entire situation with Wynn insane.
Fenix nodded a few times, "Insane right? She was over here offering the best surgeons," she said, laughing to herself.
I couldn't help but shake my head, "Like she wasn't the one about to shoot me," I deadpanned, actually finding the situation to be entirely entertaining.
Gia and Fenix both let out laughs, adding to the quiet hospital air as we managed to bond over the insane situation that Wynn managed to create.
And soon the conversation about Wynn changed entirely to Fenix and I—how we ended up working together or when we knew we had feelings—it was all these different questions that somehow left me smiling so sorely that I questioned if my smile would ever fade.
Thinking back to those times genuinely made me realize how far we have come.
And I couldn't be prouder or happier about our progress.