. misbehaving for days

[jane ridley]

It's as if they'd never left Mexico, Jane's toes curling deliciously on top of the covers. Infinitesimal time apart already made up for, body lax and languid as he pulls out from underneath her. It was what she enjoyed most about Freddie, sometimes - the easy flip from carnal to curious, laughing as she buries her cheek further into the pillows he'd now left her on. "I bet they were jealous," she admits easily, a playful yelp sounding from her lips before she flips over and accepts the bottle of champagne. Swigging a big sip, bubbles fizzing on her tongue, before reaching for the discarded robe of her own at the end of the bed. "Malibu for a booty call's never a bad idea," Jane mentions aloud, phone already in hand to flick through notifications that had compounded from both work and this impromptu trip. Nothing interests her until the end, screenshots of various gossip sent along from her hometown best friend when it pertained to her with question marks and required explanations. Back in Ohio, Savanna was simultaneously in and out of the loop at all times, exposed to what the rest of the world said and the tidbits Jane could supply when she felt like it, or wasn't bound by a document she'd signed. The first blind she sends a thumbs up, her friend immediately speed texting more questions. The second gives her pause, isn't this your friend??, eyes flicking up to Freddie. Hoping he was sated and oblivious, tone curious and neutral. "When you were at Cornell, who was all in that group? You, Tate, didn't he have a girlfriend then? I bet you all were up to no good there, too."

[freddie beaumont]

"Of course they were jealous," Freddie laughs when he hears the playful yelp that comes out of her lips, from the smack of his palm. "No doubt they will be horny themselves, when we go for round two." He finishes the remainder of the drink in his cup, before reaching for a water bottle. He tosses Jane a cold bottle as well, it lands to the pillow opposite of her, before opening his own. Using the material of the sleeve of the robe, he wipes the sweat, Freddie felt piling up on his forehead. Maybe next time he'd suggest the walk in shower, thinking back to all the trouble they'd gotten into with a good set of jets. He gulps down the entirety of the water bottle, finishing with a loud sigh and tossing it into the nearby trash can. "Sure is some booty call. You ever been to this Beaumont before?" Freddie asks in between the commotion he makes with digging into the ice bucket placed on the counter. He plops a few cubes in to his glass before joining her again on the bed. She was typing away on her phone when he grabbed her tanned legs, tossing them over his lap, closing the any bit of space between them. He loves the smirk that tugs on her full lips, as Jane has always loved their bodies touching as much as he did. Freddie reaches for his own phone when she asks him a question. Ah, the Cornell days. He smiles thinking about all of the shenanigans himself and Tate got themselves into. "Rosie, that's Tate's ex-girlfriend. She has a friend Nora who was always hanging around us too. Our friend Matt and Luke were there too. You'd probably recognize them."  Both of the guys were Los Angeles based and joined Freddie out often. "Why do you ask?" He tilts her chin up in his direction, knowing Jane always had a secret agenda.

[jane ridley]

"Just giving the people what they want," she sing-songs, grateful for the bottle that smacks the pillow next to her. For something so unattached he was often in tune with her needs - maybe developing some sixth sense on how to please a complicated woman after so many falling between his sheets. Regardless she's thankful, head a wonderful mix of fizzing champagne and the crisp flow of water she sips down. Curling back into him the second he hit the bed, unfazed as he shifted them together. Close was good, close meant guards were down. Because she did always have another hand to play, a card hidden against her wrist. Patience in spades, Jane could bide her time for a long game, wear people down for the curiosity of it all. But this one was personal, making it all the more appealing as she clued in on his answer, smooth leg dragging along his thigh. Grin only growing when he pushed further, tossing him a bone in the spirit of companionship. "Do they still talk? Does she have insta? A friend of mine sent me something about them being seen together maybe, just want to protect Liv in this all." It's a bit of a reach but she continues on, arranging her features in an artful attempt at concern. "He's not the cheating type, is he?"

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie most often lead his life with a course of selfishness. This night and the several in between the sheets moments he enjoyed with Jane, a clear case of his selfish tendencies. He couldn't get enough of her and her ability to always satisfy him. He was struggling to stay away. Though a certain woman and his daughter filled his mind too, but those responsibilities were far and no use of creeping up on his mind. The two of them sip on their respective waters as they continue to scroll through their phones. Their nights together often went as the following- relieving their buzzing sexual tension, having what they referred to as 'girl talk' and making out like teenagers. Which then lead to having to deal with that lovely tension again. Freddie's hand leaves her chin and slips in between her thighs, to touch the outer portion, closest to her knee. His fingers graze the skin as she speaks of the latest gossip column. There it was. Tate and Olivia. and now Tate and Rosie. A lazy smirk fills his lips as she lets her finish speaking, a bit curious himself on what was all going on in New York. "Okay, let me see this gossip section," Freddie murmurs as Jane hands him the phone. His fingers that were beckoning closed around the device and he focused. A deuxmoi screenshot in her messages, probably sent from a friend. He skims the post. "Yes they talk still. Pretty sure that Liv knew that too." He offers, knowing that Tate had once mentioned Olivia teasing him about his roster. "No. He's not the cheating kind. I think Rosie sort of made him better with relationships, actually." He laughs at the memory of his friend before he'd been in a serious relationship. Freddie scrolls through his instagram, typing in a familiar name and clicking on the profile. "Here you go, Miss. Nosey." Rosie's private instagram now in the hand's of Olivia's best friend.

[jane ridley]

Sometimes, this became her favorite part of the night. Not that the sex had ever been bad, far from it, but the in-between of their comedown and sweet, juvenile goodnight routine often made her smile the most when she looked back. Unexpected laughs and sometimes honest advice, she knew she'd always get exactly what was on Freddie's mind or his true opinion. He wasn't one to be vague, or make excuses. He told it how it was - she could only imagine how harsh that could probably come off to girls he'd kicked out of his bed. Lucky she seemed to defy his typical habits, a pleasing temporary foil as she curved to rest her head against his chest. Jerking suddenly at the touch skittering up her leg, tilting her face up to offer a stern look. He knew she was ticklish there, another thing he'd used to his advantage before as his hand finally trailed down, eyes glued to his own screen. Though, as expected, they slowly shifted over to hers. As well trained as people might be with ignoring the media, dangle something small, enticing, right in front of them, and they might indulge for a second. A theory Jane had bet on at this moment, happily handing her phone off for him to peruse. It felt nice to not even care about any notifications he might see, strings untied and line of communication open, drinking in everything he said about Rosie. Matching it back to Thompson's quick commentary, other passing mentions she'd put together at work. Finally, finally striking gold when he offered her all access to the girl's private Instagram. Jane takes her time scrolling, now equipped with a last name and quick social background, totally aware of what she'd spend hours doing the second she was alone as she clicked into an old photo of her and Tate. Eventually she hands it back, content with the new knowledge she subtly types into Tate's page on her Notes app. "She's really pretty," Jane adds nonchalantly, playing it cool even if she felt anything but. Trying not to get caught up on the subject she switches it, phone screen fading to black. "You've never dated anyone seriously, right?"

[freddie beaumont]

He gives her the time to snoop through Rosie's instagram. Not one bit feeling guilty, for Jane always seemed to find a way anyways. She said it was for purposes related to Olivia but Freddie was aware that not everything was as Jane said. Once she knew Rosie's last name, she was free to go down a rabbit hole of both of his friend's pasts - various photos and articles that'd inevitably pop up with the former couple. It wasn't a secret, that's why he wasn't full of remorse. If one went a few scrolls down on his best friend's page could several photos be seen of the couple, his ex-girlfriend even tagged. Freddie sips slowly on his drink with his free hand (the other still placed on her upper thigh), as she proceeds with the digging. The screen lighting up on her face as she clicks through various photos.  "That's it? She's really pretty?" Freddie laughs as he sees his phone screen fade to black, her handing the phone back to him shortly after. She takes that moment to turn the conversation upon him. "Nope," he exaggerates the p in the word.  "I think my longest relationship was three months," he answers a bit unsure, piecing the timeline together in his mind. "In middle school." He gives her thigh another squeeze, in the spot he knows she sensitive about. A kick of the ticklish leg and a squeal from her lips, leaves him laughing again as well.  "So tell me, what do you think will be the outcome of this gossip? Based upon what you just learned." He was curious to know what was going on in that clever mind of hers.

[jane ridley]

In all honesty, Jane could have had this same amount of information forever ago. A quick scroll on Instagram here, a stray Google search there, and the pieces would have come together pretty quickly. But something about Tate had put her guard up even further from day one, unsure if she saw herself in him or just finally found a counterpart she couldn't crack. It's what had made her sit back, bide her time, let the information come organically and commit it all to memory. Sometimes, things felt a little sweeter if you worked just that much harder for them, body sinking in that much closer to Freddie's as he laughed. "Very," she reiterates, uninterested in giving away her true train of thought. That it still intrigued her how one person could change someone significantly, slotting Rosie into the gaps of Tate's before and after. Thinking of Thompson, and Princess, the thorn in his side he'd never remove even if it saved his life. Even stranger how these people could drift apart, or drive each other to the brink; love could really be fucking crazy. Jane was fully content to fall closer to Freddie's camp, preferring noncommittal and unserious. Here for a good time not a long time, knocking back another sip of her champagne as his touch ghosted her leg again. "Stopp," she whines, teasing, sly grin drifting into the hint of her shrug as she re-read Savanna’s still open messages. "I don't know, you know him best. Someone ends up getting hurt, I'd assume." Hoping that it's not her friend at the end of this all, shoulders pitching higher. "I think he lives Liv and they're having fun. But I don't know their," she points at his darkened phone screen, "relationship. So I kind of just have to have my girl's best interest at heart. Sorry to Rosie."

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie snorts at her 'very' addition in words to describe Rosie. He wondered what was going on in her head, where that information would be stored and how it would get relayed back to Olivia. "She is very gorgeous." Freddie wasn't immune to Rosie's appearance, having hit on the woman many times in the past especially in their Cornell days. None recently though, given that Tate had threatened him in the same breath that he had with his sister. Freddie refusing to abide by the second one, but forever loyal about the first request. He proceeds with his torture to her ticklish spots, until she whines for him to stop. A smile still coaxed on his lips as he pulls his hands away from her thighs. Their bodies were still touching though, just as it always seemed to be with them. Freddie listens to the devotion she had towards her best friend's wellbeing. Freddie hadn't asked Tate lately about his feelings or future intentions with Liv. Only aware that they two of them were just having fun and that he enjoyed their company when they all were in a similar place. Freddie sighs, "I don't know what to say," following pursuit and shrugging his shoulders. "It's obviously a little bit complicated. A lot of history between Rosie and Tate, he's got a hard choice to make there." Freddie didn't envy his friend, if this really was a decision he was making and the reason for their spotting together. He leans further back into the headboard, scratching the beard that grazed his chin. "I think Aisha is going to murder me for staying here longer. So If I disappear, you know why."

[jane ridley]

Jane's grin only widens as he looks at her. Knowing he was trying to piece it all together, figure out where her leading questions may inevitably end up. But a woman's brain was complicated and dangerous, thoughts never ending where they might think, intentions never truly reflecting their end goals. He'd give up soon enough, likely forget this conversation and her weirdly nosy moment. Only remember if someone jogged his memory down the line; at that point Jane would already be so many steps ahead. Not that she had anything malicious planned here to begin with. Just pressing enough, asking the right amount of questions, to be unsettling on the outskirts of Tate's peripheral. Tied up nicely in the form of a best friend's concern, shifting to tuck under Freddie's arm. Touch ghosting over the planes of his abs, watching them constrict under the gentle pressure. Lip tugged into her mouth at the mention of a long history, letting it go as he carried on. "Who knows," Jane finally levies, blowing some of the hair away that had fallen into her face. "Maybe she's ending it with him. Or they're like...I don't know, just getting dinner?" The mention of them holding hands foils the vision a bit but Jane knows she'll be prying Liv for any kind of update later. If she knew, if he'd told her. Trying to see what secrets he kept as the conversation falls quickly to his sister. "What is it with the McCarthy's?" Both siblings so closely tied into the same orbit, both inciting enough conversation that their ears must constantly be burning. "Why, because she wants you to herself or is pissed that you're with me? I have to give it to her, she's outspoken as hell. But also won't ever say what she wants out of you and gets pissed when you don't guess correctly."

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie gives another shrug of his shoulders at the entirety situation as he sits to think about it some more. Happy to be an outsider, except knowing he loved Rosie and enjoyed spending time with Olivia thus far. Whatever made his friend happy, he always said. Jane scoots closer to him, tucking herself under his arms. Freddie feels his pulse quicken ever so slightly as teases him with her palm running down his exposed chest. "Guess you're just going to have to wait to hear from Olivia what exactly went down," Freddie replies, losing interest in the subject already as his information was already somewhat limited. He lets out a loud chuckle, almost taking a sip of his drink and thanking god he didn't, otherwise he'd be choking on the liquid at her question about the McCarthy's. "Babe, you're never going to get the answer to that question. They're in their own league." he shakes his head, even knowing the siblings since their early days and he still couldn't give a reply. "We all are." The Beaumont's were intertwined with the McCarthy's in that particular category. "Hmm," Freddie thinks for a brief second on his answer before speaking, "I know the second one to be true. Who knows if she wants me for herself, it changes biweekly."

[jane ridley]

"So true - guys suck at debriefs anyway." Jane pivots from the topic too, understanding that was the end of that conversation. All too aware of the way their catch-ups flitted from topic to topic, never knowing where it would go until someone's eyes either fluttered shut, or darkened with desire again. It was that unpredictability that kept her excited, on her toes as she patted the side of Freddie's face sympathetically. "That's why that was a rhetorical question, babe," parroting the pet name that admittedly, had softened the blow of recognition they operated in a league all their own. That she didn't exist in their same orbit, rolling her eyes when he'd looked away as her way of shaking it off. Content with the fact that she could benefit from it without fully immersing herself into the family politics, picking and choosing which battles of Freddie's she'd commentate on. This one, lately, had been her favorite. "Sounds like a her problem," Jane starts, turning back to face him. "You're pretty direct about what you want. And like...you guys share a kid. There's got to be some common ground somewhere for you to figure things out on if you both want to. And if you don't, then you don't."

[freddie beaumont]

The babe she hands back to him sounds with a little bit of sass, that makes Freddie chuckle more. He tugs Jane closer into this side, her leg shifting onto his upper thigh as their bodies closed any remaining space that was between them. His palm caresses the small of her back as she's tucked further in. If his hand were to go any bit lower, he'd guess the spark of desire would be back in full force. Instead he proceeds with a little bit of light teasing. "It most definitely is an Aisha problem," he agrees, mind drifting to what the scene would be when he returned home. A cold shoulder, various threats and whole lot of apologizing on his end. "I am pretty direct. And doing what she says, she wanted to handle the co-parenting thing first. Then got mad at me when I didn't try to pursue her immediately."  Freddie's trying was selfish at times, for he was stepping into a different life stage and unaware of how to process feelings. Aisha stirred up a lot of confusion for the man. "When was the last time you were in a serious relationship?" While the gorgeous Jane liked to be a mystery, it didn't stop him from trying to pry some information out from her depths.