after this night (camren)

12. Lauren

I was damn near ready to launch myself into her arms.

......

Sometime in the last few weeks I'd decided several things.

That she might be lying. That she might be trouble. That I might be about to become the poster child for fool me twice, shame on me.

But most of all, I'd decided that my gut told me she'd meant what she said. Even though she hadn't given me the details of why there'd been a man with a gun demanding her presence, I'd made the choice to believe her.

Blind trust, maybe. Or possibly blind something else. Either way, my instincts said she was telling the truth. My gut had served me throughout my career, so I'd decided to listen to it.

Now that I was here with her, I wasn't thinking with my gut. I wasn't thinking at all. I was feeling.

My whole body was humming, vibrating at a frequency only she could sense. My skin sizzled, and blood rushed hot through my veins. Nearness to her was an aphrodisiac.

"I like your suit" she said, going first.

"I like your dress"

"You're here" she said with wonder in her voice as she eyed me up and down. I didn't think I'd ever tire of the way she looked at me with hunger, need, and passion.

"I'm here" I said, quirking up my lips. We stood gazing at each other, but we hadn't touched yet. We were inches apart, and there was something almost fragile about this moment. As if we might break if one of us moved. I didn't know who would make the first move, but I hoped it would be her since I'd made the effort to show up.

"How?" she asked, still breathless.

"Your best friend and her wife"

"They invited you?" she asked, her lips curving into a wide, gorgeous smile.

"invited. Or insisted. take your pick"

"Really?" she asked, and a breeze blew by, making the soft little tendrils of her hair flutter against her neck. I wanted to bend my head to her neck, layer her skin in kisses that made her shiver in my arms and melt into me, that turned her so hot inside her knees went weak and she nearly buckled with desire. I'd catch her, hold her, make sure she didn't fall, except into me.

I did none of that. My hands were stuffed in my pockets, or else I'd be touching her, wrapping my arms around her, running my fingertips along her hip bone, covered in the fabric of her black dress.

"Yes. Really. Normani invited me a week ago, and said she needed her lawyer here, Which was about the worst case of acting I'd ever heard, since no one needs her entertainment lawyer at her wedding, so Dinah grabbed the phone, reprimanding her, and then laid it out"

"What did she say?"

"She said she thought it would make you happy if I were here, and that you being happy was the greatest gift she could have on her wedding day. Well, besides marrying Normani" I said with a shrug, "Far be it from me to deny the bride of my newest client her greatest wish"

I watched Camila process my words. She swallowed, drew in a sharp breath, and clasped her hand over her mouth, covering a sob. A tear slipped down her cheek.

Instantly, I reached for her, swiping the tear away and leaning in close, "You okay?"

She nodded, "I love my best friend so much" she said in a broken voice, "But she's wrong"

I stiffened. No. Not now. Not after I'd taken this big chance. This big leap. Not after all our texts and calls, "Why is she wrong?"

Camila shook her head, "Because I'm not just happy. I'm unbelievably happy that you're here"