Sade POV:
I was happy to see her, of course. I don't think there will ever be a time where I wouldn't be, no matter if I was upset at her or not. Together or broken up, seeing her would always brighten my day, even just for a second.
And though my first instinct was to immediately pull her into an embrace and ask how she was doing, I had to know my place and have some restraint.
"Lauren, what're you doing here?" I asked softly instead.
Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, Lauren let her head fall as she played with her fingers. She let out a small breath before picking her head back up to peer into my eyes warily.
"Can I come in?"
Realizing she was still outside my front door, I immediately stepped back while shaking my head.
"Yeah, of course. I'm sorry-"
"No, it's alright," she fairly smiled, walking in.
Assuming she'd follow, I made my way to the kitchen. I'd have turned on the main light, but figuring the night light from the stove was enough, I left it alone. Although that probably wasn't the best idea given the second I turned to face Lauren, the lighting in here made her look extremely alluring. Even more than usual.
Looking around the room to recompose, I found myself standing on the other side of the island, near the kitchen area, while she stood across it, beside the high chairs.
We glanced at each other for a brief moment before Lauren's eyes absentmindedly wandered my apartment.
"I don't know if I ever told you, but I absolutely love you place," she said. "I'll have to pick your brain for interior design advice for my house..."
"Thank you," I said simply. Then, silence creeped in as her eyes continued to wander and refused to meet mine. After too long, I couldn't take it anymore. "Lauren, why're you her-"
"I've missed you Sade."
Hazel eyes were now gazing deeply into my own, halting my question along with her words. Intensity was well within her tone, which left me at a loss for a response. It seems she knew I needed a follow up from that, so she continued,
"I needed to see you," she said, looking down for a second. "I leave tomorrow and..." Inching closer to me, she stopped just at the edge of the counter, nearly coming to my side. "And I needed to see you, Sade," Lauren added, her eyes on mine again.
It was like she'd backed me into a corner and put her hand against the locker behind me. I felt heat arising beneath my skin and my cheeks warming. But again, have some restraint Sade.
"What're you trying to say Lauren?" I asked her, just barely above a whisper.
Letting the eye contact linger a bit before letting her head slowly fall again, she sighed.
"Do you know, that ever since seeing you at that restaurant in Tampa, I haven't been able to get you out of my head? And that everytime I look at you or you look at me, I feel like I'm on cloud nine?" Her questions were genuine, but rhetorical as if she herself wondered the same. Standing here and simply listening with a creased brow, I let her go on. Lauren then glanced away from my gaze and shook her head for a moment, chuckling dryly. "Seven years, and here I am engaged... yet two seconds after laying eyes on you again, and I... I can't get you out of my head-" she looked at me again, shaking her head. "And you have no idea how long it took to get you out of my head, Sade."
Wanting to say, 'I promise I do,' I tilted my head with emotion, hoping my gaze told it all.
It always did.
