“I’m always in heat,” I tell her with a wink.
“No your skin is really hot,” she says, her voice rising in panic. I put her down and she puts her hand on my head.
“Do you have a thermometer? You feel really warm,” she says worriedly.
“No I’m fine,” I wave her off. I don’t feel hot, but when I put my hand on my head I do feel hot, I think.
“I’m good Lauren, you need to be heading to your class right?” I remind her.
“It can wait. I’ll go the store and get you a thermometer,” she says, simultaneously grabbing a bottle of water out the fridge.
“Don’t do that. I can go, you think about what we were about to negotiate,” I tell her and she frowns, thrusting the water at me.
“If I drink this and promise to go get a thermometer will you go to class?”
“What if something’s wrong and I leave you and you die while I’m in school,” she says dramatically.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy,” I tell her squeezing her on the butt before pulling her towards the door. She stands there in protest.
“I’m going to go throw on some clothes and I’ll head to the drug store and if I even feel a little bit abnormal, I’ll call you on the way to the ER, okay?” I tell her and she looks a little bit appeased.
“You promise. Because if you don’t I’m headed back here,” she warns me.
“Cross my heart and hope to die,” I tell her coaxing a little smile from her.
“Don’t say that,” she pouts and I kiss her, and she pulls away looking at me worriedly.
“If you stay any longer the clothes are coming off, since it’s hot and all,” I tease her reaching for the button on her pants, and she swats me away.
“Okay. Don’t forget,” she says heading out the door.
“See you gorgeous,” I tell her as I watch her walk down the hall to the elevator and don’t close the door until she’s inside. As soon as she is I grab my cellphone off the kitchen counter and dial Helen’s number.
“You didn’t mention one of the side effects being overheating!”
chapter 12
Lauren
It’s been almost a day since I’ve seen him. Really seen him. Both of us are avoiding one another I think. So much has happened in just the past few days. Things have changed so much. Things were never simple between Chris and me, never really easy either. But now it’s like the tension between us, and the awkwardness, has multiplied. We at least had easy moments, sweet moments and one intense one, which he doesn’t remember and it’s best for me not even to think about. So many things weighing on my mind, it’s been hard to sleep, hard for me to think. This whole thing with Lisa and then Mr. Crestfield threatening or blackmailing me, I’m not sure which, or who can I talk to about it? I can’t talk to anyone about it and the one person I feel like may be able to help me is Cal and, well, there isn’t even a point in thinking what a conundrum that is.
How did things get so messed? Why are things so terrible? Why can’t they just get better for once?
“Hey,” his voice knocks me out of a trance. I’m not even sure if it’s real or imagined until he steps inside my room and shuts the door behind him. The sick part in all of this, despite all the worry, stress and uncertainty he brings the sight of him and the sound of his voice sends shivers down my spine. I feel myself flush, my hormones obviously not getting the memo that there will be no relief in any of those ways. In fact I’ve been forbidden to, like a child.
“Caylen’s sleeping,” I say absentmindedly.
“Yeah, I see her,” he sort of chuckles. Of course he does, he’s not blind.
“I wanted us to talk,” he says, sitting on the far side of the bed. I nod, pushing out the thoughts of the last time we were both on a bed together.
“Things have been weird since Cal came back,” he says apprehensively.
“Yeah they have,” I admit with a chuckle.
“I haven’t been avoiding you,” he says quietly.
It seems exactly like that.
“I wouldn’t blame you so much if you have,” I tell him, because in all honesty I’ve been avoiding him too. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all the information I’ve gotten today, creating more questions and hardly any answers.
“I put in for leave at work today.”
I want to tell him he shouldn’t have, that he loves his job and should keep it, but I’m sure with all that has happened he has good reasons.
“I’m sorry. I know you liked your job.”
“They said I can come back whenever I’m ready,” he says, giving me a small smile.