Page 25 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
Lauren shook her head. “I write on my phone. A laptop is definitely on my wish list, though, especially if I’m going to try to publish that book I’ve been working on.”
“Which I wholeheartedly support,” Mia said. “Although I can’t imagine writing anything more than a text message on my phone. I’m that old person tapping along with one finger.”
Lauren grinned, picturing it. Mia was so effortlessly cool and competent at pretty much anything Lauren had seen her attempt, so the thought of her tapping at her phone with one finger was too adorable for words. “I’d hardly call you old.”
“I feel that way sometimes.” Mia pressed a hand to her forehead with a grimace.
“You were married a long time, right?” Lauren asked, eager to seize this chance to know more about Mia, since she didn’t seem to be in a hurry for Lauren to leave.
“We were together for a long time,” Mia confirmed. “Eighteen years, although we couldn’t legally get married until 2011. We started dating when we were twenty-four, still in law school.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” Lauren couldn’t even imagine spending that many years with someone and then having it fall apart.
“Me too,” Mia said with a sigh. “Have you ever been in love?”
“No, not even close.” Lauren had spent most of her life looking out for herself and Craig. There hadn’t been time for love.
“Want to?” Mia asked.
“Oh, sure.” Lauren leaned back in her chair. “I love the idea of finding that person who completes me, you know? I want the whole romance novel experience.”
Mia rubbed Lola, who had jumped up beside her. “Any prospects?”
Lauren shook her head. “I wish, but no. I’m going to straighten my life out this year, though, get a real job and an apartment. Then I can look for love.”
“Have you ever tried online dating?” Mia asked. “I downloaded an app the other day, but I have no idea what I’m doing. The whole concept feels so impersonal to me.”
“Yep,” Lauren said. “I’ve used dating apps. Did you know Sarah and Quinn met online? I have a lot of friends who’ve found love that way.”
“I guess I need to learn, then,” Mia said. “Maybe you can give me pointers.”
“Sure,” Lauren agreed, even if the thought of helping Mia master online dating sent a pang of regret through her chest. She needed to get over this crush on her friend, because Mia obviously didn’t feel the same way, and Lauren had to get her life together before she could think about dating anyway.
“Want to watch something with me before you head out?” Mia asked. “Or are you eager to get started on that fic?”
She was much more eager to spend time with Mia than to work on the fic, but… “I don’t want to keep you up if you’d rather be sleeping off that migraine.”
“I’m not ready for bed just yet. I just want to lie here on the couch and relax. Maybe we could watch theIn Her Defenseepisode with the kiss for inspiration for your fic?”
Lauren grinned. She didn’t have a subscription to the streaming service right now, and while the kiss itself had been uploaded to YouTube, she hadn’t seen the entire episode except that day in the Airbnb. “Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
“Great.” Mia picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. She queued up the episode and gestured for Lauren to sit beside her.
Lauren moved to the cushion next to Mia so she was facing the TV. She toed out of her shoes and curled her feet beneath her the way Mia had done, getting comfortable. As soon as the episode began to play, she found herself smiling. “I really love this show.”
“And its leading lady?” Mia gave her a knowing look.
Lauren shrugged playfully. “I cannot deny my celebrity crush.”
Mia leaned back with her head against the cushion behind her, damp strands of hair curling around her face. Lauren had never seen her like this, makeup-free in her lounge clothes, hair still damp from a shower. It was a world away from the carefully put-together appearance she presented to the world each day, and Lauren could hardly take her eyes off her.
They chatted on and off during the episode, falling quiet during the more intense scenes, especially Sam’s showstopping courtroom performance. By the time Sam and Claire were at the bar near the end of the episode, Lauren was overcome with anticipation to see that scene in the alley again.
Tears rose in her eyes as she watched Sam battle her panic attack. The fear on her face was so visceral, Lauren could hardly breathe. She’d had enough panic attacks of her own over the years to know that Piper’s portrayal was spot-on.
Lauren leaned forward, arms clasped around her knees, so caught up in the show, she almost forgot she was on Mia’s couch. When Sam and Claire finally kissed, Lauren felt a tingle in the pit of her stomach, a gut punch of emotion for these two characters she was so invested in.
She’d spent years hoping for this moment. These characters had reinvigorated her love of writing, had inspired her to write a book-length fan fiction about their love for each other. And now their attraction was canon on the show itself.
