[Shaw's Bar]
Shaw's smelled like fried onions, cheap beer, and the kind of decisions people regretted in the morning.
Rosa sat in her usual booth with Gina across from her. A couple of empty shot glasses stood between them like fallen soldiers and two half-empty beer bottles.
Rosa tossed back another shot. "God, this day sucked."
Gina sipped her cosmopolitan with the smug ease of someone who did not understand suffering. "You say that every day."
"No, today was worse." Rosa frowned at the table. "I haven't seen Ray in what, four - five days? I feel like he left for war."
Gina raised a brow. "He went on a mission, not to Mordor."
"Same thing," Rosa muttered. She slumped deeper into the booth until her leather jacket almost swallowed her. "It feels like forever. I miss him. And I hate missing people."
Gina smirked. "Aw, you are turning into a real girlfriend. Gross. I love it."
Rosa did not argue. She just downed half her beer like it offended her.
They talked about the precinct, stupid criminals, Charles accidentally pepper-spraying himself again, and Holt's new rule about keeping the bullpen one hundred percent scent neutral. Rosa laughed at the right moments, but she was drinking too fast.
'Oh, yeah. Drink more. Gimme the 'Wasted Rosa'.' Gina watched her over the rim of her glass. "So, hey. Totally random. Have you ever noticed the way Amy looks at Ray sometimes?"
Rosa paused mid-sip.
Her eyes tried to focus. Alcohol was making the room sway a little. She lowered the bottle slowly and squinted at Gina. "Yeah. I noticed."
Gina leaned forward. "Wait. You knew? Like, knew knew?"
Rosa huffed. "Of course, I knew. I'm not blind. Amy has a huge crush on Ray."
Gina choked on her drink. "What? Since when?"
Rosa rubbed her forehead and blinked like the floor was moving. "Since before he and I even started dating. Actually… she was going to ask him out. And I messed up everything."
Gina's jaw dropped. "What? Reveal everything immediately."
Rosa groaned and covered her face with one hand. "Fine. Whatever. It was months ago. I walked into the precinct bathroom and she was inside one of the stalls practicing this speech. She kept repeating it over and over like she was trying to summon courage."
A short flashback slammed into Rosa's mind.
She had walked into the restroom intending to wash blood off her knuckles. Don't ask where that blood came from. Then she heard it.
Amy's voice.
"Hi, Ray. So… I was wondering if maybe you wanted to see a documentary about municipal zoning codes with me? No. No. Too nerdy. Ugh. Okay. Try again."
Rosa leaned against the sink, listening.
"Ray, I think you are really interesting and maybe we could go to a movie together sometime. Not a date. I mean it could be a date. If you want it to be. Or not. It is fine either way. I mean it could be a date. If you want it to be. Or not. It is fine either way. I mean it could be a date. If you want it to be. Or not. It is fine either way..." Amy was stuck in one of her infinite word loops.
Rosa remembered staring at the mirror, feeling her stomach twist because she had a crush too. A big one. And the idea of Amy asking him out made her body flood with panic. So, that day while in the cruiser, Rosa asked Amy for help, confessing her feelings about Ray. And she noticed how Amy took a step back.
End of flashback.
Rosa swore under her breath and shoved her beer aside. "Amy stepped back. Because I said I liked him. She just gave up. And I… I jumped in before she could even talk to him. Like expected her to fight back, and it'd be a fair fight. But she just gave up."
Gina stared at her as if Rosa had just confessed to murder. "Wow. Damn, Diaz. You… stole Ray?"
Rosa slammed her forehead into the table with a dull thump. "Yes. I stole Ray. I am the worst person alive."
Gina leaned back in her seat, grinning a little too widely. The moment she'd been waiting for was finally here. 'Wasted Rosa Mode Activated.'
"You know, Rosa, you're not the worst person alive," Gina said, trying to suppress her grin. "There are worse things than stealing a guy from your best friend."
Rosa lifted her head, squinting at Gina like she was trying to figure out if Gina had grown an extra head. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure I just ruined my entire life. She liked him first. I mean, I saw it in her eyes. It was obvious. And then I... I just swooped in like a damn vulture. Oh my god! I've become the Vulture. I'm the Vulture."
Gina shook her head and leaned forward, making sure her voice dropped to a soothing, conspiratorial tone. "No, no, no. You didn't steal him. You won him. And it wasn't like Amy was really doing anything about it, right?"
Rosa's eyes flickered for a moment, clearly buzzed but still processing what Gina was saying. "I... guess? She was always a little hesitant around him. It was like she was waiting for... I don't know... the perfect moment?"
"Exactly," Gina said, nodding enthusiastically. "She never made a move, and you did. You didn't steal anything. You claimed what was yours."
Rosa sat up a little straighter, frowning as she tried to piece it all together. "Yeah, but... she's my friend, Gina. I should've stepped back. I should've given her the chance."
Gina, meanwhile, was slowly tapping her phone under the table. She could practically feel her plan coming together, and this was the perfect opportunity. She angled her phone to and hit 'record.'
"You know, Rosa," Gina began, keeping her voice soft, "I think you're overthinking this whole thing. It's not like you have to choose. Ray... well, he's a great guy. So great, in fact, that maybe... just maybe... both of you should share him."
Rosa blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "Share him?" Her lips turned up into a dopey grin as she processed the idea. "Wait. You mean like... share? Like... a threesome?" The slurred words were full of wonder, like she'd just discovered the world's greatest invention.
Gina gave her a knowing smile. "Exactly. I mean, why not? Ray's amazing. And you two already get along. What's the harm in making it a little... fun? And, hey, I'll even volunteer to help. It could be like... a team effort."
Rosa stared at Gina for a long second, her mind clearly trying to catch up with the idea. "Wait... you want to be part of it?" The words were slow and unsteady, but there was a hint of curiosity in her drunken gaze. "Like... you and Amy, too?"
Gina's smile turned mischievous. "Sure. Why not? It's 2014. No need to keep things so... traditional, right? Plus, we all get along pretty well. Amy, Ray, you, and me—it could be a pretty epic team."
Rosa let out a giggle, a rare, high-pitched sound that didn't match her usual tough-girl persona. "Oh my god, Gina... this is so weird. So weird. But... also kinda... hot?" She lowered her voice a little as she leaned forward a little. "You know, I kinda imagined having a threesome with Ray and another girl, and it was so hot that I rubbed one off."
'Ha! I knew it!' Gina nodded slowly, feigning seriousness. "Exactly. It's hot. And you know what? You deserve it. You've been so... tense. Maybe this could be your stress relief, right? And, no one would get hurt. It's a win-win."
Rosa leaned back in the booth and took another swig of her beer, her grin growing wider by the second. "Oh god, if we actually pull this off... I'm never going to stop laughing."
"Exactly," Gina agreed. She was having a hard time hiding her glee. "And the best part? It'll make everything easier. There will be no jealousy or guilt, just fun. We can all get along, and if it works, maybe it becomes a permanent thing. Who knows? Love is a mystery, Rosa. It works in mysterious ways... And your situation right now is a sign from the universe. The universe is telling you to just go for it."
Rosa's eyes twinkled as she nodded slowly, her buzzed brain floating through the possibilities. "Yeah... okay... okay. I mean, if Amy's into it and you too... I'll do it. I'm in. I'm so in."
Gina couldn't help herself. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat, practically glowing with the success of her covert manipulation. "That's the spirit. We'll talk to her, make sure she's on board. If she's not, then no biggie. I'll be there. But imagine how wild it could be if we're all on the same page?"
Rosa's laugh was more like a chuckle this time, her drunken demeanor making her unusually giddy. "Oh my god. I'm going to have to text Ray and tell him what a great time he's in for."
"Maybe wait until you're sober," Gina suggested, barely keeping the excitement out of her voice. "You don't want to freak him out before we've even pitched the idea, right?"
Rosa thought about it for a moment before she raised her beer bottle and took a long, unsteady gulp. "You're right. Let's talk to Amy first. See what she thinks. If she's cool with it, then... hell, I'm not going to stop it."
...
[Morning]
Rosa woke up in her bedroom with a massive headache, and the bright light coming from the windows made her squint her eyes. "Arggg! Wha-" She slumped back and pulled the blanket over her face with a loud groan.
Last night, Ray and Amy were about to reveal to Rosa their proposal, but when they reached his house, Rosa was lying on the sofa, and Gina was drooling over the carpet. Both were completely wasted. So, Ray carried Rosa to the main bedroom and Gina to the guest room.
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