Page 45 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
Lauren guided her down the stairs to the subway, grateful to find an empty seat, because there was no way Mia would be able to stand on a moving train right now. Lauren stood over her, keeping her safe until they’d exited at their stop. She exhaled in relief when Mia’s building came into view, because the journey had done nothing to sober Mia up. If anything, she was sloppier than ever as Lauren half carried her down the street.
Without warning, Mia lifted her hand, extending her middle finger toward the building next to hers. “Fucking lawyers.”
“What?” Lauren looked from Mia to the building. There was a sign in the front window for a law office. Did Mia know the lawyers who worked there? Thankfully, the office was empty due to the late hour, because whoever they were, they probably wouldn’t appreciate Mia flipping them off, drunk or not.
“Can’t get away from them,” Mia said. “Lawyerseverywhere.”
“Okay.” Lauren laughed as she pushed her key into the door. She held it open for Mia, who somehow managed to crush herself against Lauren in the doorway as she tried to walk past her. Their breasts pressed together, and she could feel Mia’s heart pounding. Mia could probably feel hers too, because Lauren’s heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.
Mia’s eyes met Lauren’s, blazing with heat, and a faint whimper escaped her lips. It was all Lauren could do not to kiss her. Seriously,whathad gotten into Mia tonight? Did she always fling herself at whoever she was with when she got drunk? Well, until recently, that would have probably been her wife, so maybe she did. Either way, Lauren needed to get her sobered up ASAP for the sake of their friendship.
Lauren tugged her up the stairs to her apartment, where Lola greeted them at the door with a loud meow. “Were we late with your dinner, spoiled girl?” Lauren asked the cat, hating how breathless she sounded, but she’d lost the ability to breathe properly the moment Mia looked at her likethat.
Mia bent to pet Lola and keeled over in the process. She landed on her butt on the floor, staring up at Lauren with a stricken expression. “I don’t feel s’good.”
“I bet you don’t.” Lauren managed a laugh, because at least they weren’t in danger of kissing anymore. “Let’s get some water and pizza into you.”
Mia closed her eyes, swaying slightly. “The room’s spinning.”
“Yep. Come on. Let’s get you off the floor.” Lauren took Mia’s hands and hauled her to her feet.
“Shit.” Mia pressed her lips together and bolted toward the bathroom. The door slammed behind her, and Lauren could only hope she made it to the toilet before she puked.
Well, this evening had taken a turn. Several of them, actually. Now that Mia had looked at her out of lust-glazed eyes, had stared at Lauren’s lips like she was dying to kiss them…Lauren could never unsee it. She’d never forget that for a moment, Mia had feltsomethingfor her. She would always wonder if Mia still wanted her. Oh God, how was Lauren supposed to get over her infatuation now?
She walked to the kitchen and poured them both a glass of water, pondering their dinner options. Pizza probably wasn’t the best choice for Mia’s stomach at this point. After drinking her water, Lauren rummaged through the pantry, deciding French toast might be a better idea. She’d wait to start cooking it until Mia was ready to eat.
In the meantime, Lauren fed Lola, who rubbed herself enthusiastically against Lauren’s legs while she scooped cat food onto a plate. The Solano girls were extremely amorous tonight. Lauren rolled her eyes at herself for the thought.
She heard the sink running in the bathroom and then the sound of Mia moving around in her bedroom. Probably, she was changing out of her work clothes, and Lauren sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t need help, because that might be more than she could handle right now.
Mia emerged from her bedroom a few minutes later, face scrubbed free of makeup and dressed in lounge pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. At least she looked steadier on her feet now. She plopped onto the couch with a grimace. “Remind me to never drink this much again.” She looked up, wearing a hilariously tragic expression. “Ever.”
Lauren smiled as she took the glass of water she’d poured for Mia and brought it to her. “You didn’t really have that much, but I’m guessing you were drinking on an empty stomach, and it’s still more than you usually drink.”
“Guilty.” Mia took the glass and dutifully gulped down about half of it, grimacing again. “God, my stomach hurts.”
Lauren sat in the chair across from her. “The ulcer?”
Mia nodded. She closed her eyes and then opened them again quickly. “Room still spins if I close them.”
“Those Midnight in Manhattans are pretty sour, if memory serves. Lots of lemon juice. That probably made it worse.”
“Learned my lesson,” Mia said, her words still slightly slurred.
Lauren pointed to the glass. “You finish that, and I’m going to make us some French toast.”
“Mm, no.” Mia shook her head, and several unruly blonde strands fell across her face. “Not hungry.”
“But you need to eat anyway. You’ll feel better afterward, trust me.”
Mia didn’t respond to that, so Lauren went into the kitchen and started cooking. A few minutes later, she had two plates of French toast ready, which she brought to the living room. Mia hadn’t moved. She sat on the couch with her feet tucked underneath herself, staring blankly at the window to her left.
“Dinner’s served,” Lauren announced as she handed her a plate.
Mia picked at her food, but Lauren was starving. She inhaled hers, pleased to see that Mia picked up speed after her first few bites too. In fact, by the time Lauren had taken her empty plate to the kitchen and brought Mia a refill on her water, she’d cleaned her plate.
“You’re right. I do feel better,” she said, as quiet now as she’d been flirty earlier.
