Page 5 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
Lauren would be visiting Josie and Dragonfly on her own next week to make things right, but she couldn’t get into any of it with Mia, not without losing her friendship and potentially putting her in a legally awkward situation. “I have, um, history with the owner.”
Mia hesitated, looking like she wanted to push the issue, but then she nodded. “Sure, no problem. There’s a quiet bar a few blocks over with great whiskey and cheap beer. Does that work?”
Lauren exhaled in relief. “That sounds great, if it’s okay with everyone else.”
“Works for me,” Quinn said, and the rest of the women agreed.
As everyone got ready to head out, Lauren used the moment to compose herself, pushing back the emotions that had risen over the last few minutes. Not that she’d intended to confess her secrets to Mia, but now that she knew Mia knew Josie, she also knew that if Mia ever learned the truth, she’d take Josie’s side. She’d hate Lauren for what she’d done. Of course she would. Lauren couldn’t even blame her. She hated what she’d done too.
She felt self-conscious about bringing her backpack to the bar, but there were things in it that were too valuable to be out of her sight. So she slung it over her shoulders, hoping no one would ask her about it, and luckily, no one did.
The bar Mia had suggested was indeed quiet, or it was until their group arrived. They clustered around several stools near the back, laughing and talking. Lauren settled on a stool and ordered a beer, her mood buoyed by the women around her. It had been so long since she’d been out with friends like this, and it fed her soul, as if a withered spot inside her had just bloomed for the first time in over a year.
She’d needed this nightsomuch.
“Laur, I just rereadSkin Deepfor like the eighth time,” Ashleigh said. “You should be writing books. I’m serious. You’re that good.”
Lauren smiled into her beer. “Thank you. That’s actually my dream…to publish a book.”
“Oh, you should,” Mia said from where she stood behind Sarah and Quinn, tumbler of whiskey in hand. “Youarethat good, Lauren.”
Her cheeks heated. “It felt unachievable when I was a teen writing stories in my notebooks at school, but fanfic has given me some courage, and self-publishing is an option now, so it’s definitely something I’ve thought about.”
“Have you written an original story?” Fatima asked.
Lauren nodded. “I’ve started too many to count, but I finished writing my first novel earlier this year.”
“If there’s anything you want me to look at for you, I’d be happy to,” Mia offered.
“Thanks. I really appreciate that.”
“Speaking of books, I just read anamazingsapphic romance,” Quinn said. “It’s calledOn the Flip Side, and both heroines are so smart and sexy. I’ll send you all the link.”
“Oh, I’ve read a few of that author’s books,” Lauren said, nodding. “I love her style, and I’ve been meaning to read that one.”
From there, the conversation turned to the topic that had brought them all here this weekend:In Her Defense. They spent the next hour or so discussing theories and hopes for the new season. They all thought an on-screen romantic relationship between Sam and Claire was a long shot at best, but they were at least hoping for more of the semi-flirty scenes they’d gotten in season four.
Lauren rested her elbows on the bar, relaxed and happy. She’d just met these women, but already she felt comfortable with them. And then there was Mia, looking just a little bit more sophisticated than the rest of them, but every bit as enthusiastic about the show.
There was a magnetism about her, something Lauren couldn’t seem to look away from. She knew what it meant. Lauren had been attracted to a friend before, and it hadn’t ended well. But generally, if she ignored it, the inconvenient attraction would pass with time.
As if she’d summoned Mia with her thoughts, she slid onto the vacant stool beside Lauren, giving her another one of those intense looks. Her rich brown eyes were a striking contrast to her pale skin and blonde hair. It was darker at the roots as if she dyed it, or perhaps it lightened naturally in the sun.
“So are you going to tell me what went down between you and Josie?” Mia asked, her voice low and smoky.
Lauren had been nursing her beer since they got here, hoping to make it through the evening without ordering another one since she was pinching her pennies, but suddenly, she wished there was alotmore alcohol in her veins. “It’s…complicated.”
Mia gave her an assessing look, lips pursed as she twirled her whiskey glass idly in her left hand. “Were you and Josie an item before she married Eve?”
“Eve,” Lauren repeated, her mind whirling. “Josie married Eve Marlow?”
“Yeah,” Mia said slowly. “You didn’t know?”
Lauren shook her head, brushing back a strand of hair. No, she hadn’t known, but when she thought back on her time at Dragonfly, she remembered Josie being starry-eyed over a new woman in her life, which had been during the time that Eve was filming her TV show at Josie’s bar. The idea of them being married now made Lauren smile. “I had no idea, but that’s great.”
“You aren’t jealous?” Mia asked, still watching Lauren closely, reminding her that Mia thought she and Josie had been a thing.
“No. Josie and I weren’t together. I actually used to work there,” Lauren spluttered. “It ended badly…because of me, not Josie. Josie’s great.”
