Was I humming?
“Ah—”
“How was it?” She grins.
I search for something to say, but I can’t seem to find the words.
“That good, huh?”
To my surprise, a laugh slips out of me. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“Oh, come on!” She whines. “At least tell me if he’s as deliciously big as his dick-print makes him out to be?”
“His what?” I sputter.
“You know.” She waves her hand. “Let’s just say the man can fill out a pair of briefs.”
“You’ve seen him in his underwear?”
“Only once. Maybe twice.”
Her words cause my chest to burn, and her smile drops. “Shit, you really like him, don’t you?”
My cheeks burn, and I look away from her, not knowing how to answer the question.
“You know I’m only messing with you, right? I might have seen him half-naked a couple of times, but it’s nothing like you think. He’s one beautiful man.” She sighs. “But I have no feelings for him, other than the platonic kind. And he has none for me, never has.”
“Oh.”
“He likes you too, you know?” she says.
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“He’s happy, Grace. Or at least,happier.He’s barely cracked a smile since his parents died. Until now. And the only thing that’s changed is you.”
She sounds so sure, but I still struggle to believe her.
Finding a smile of my own, I push down the uncertainties. “Is that why you’re here then? To find out the gossip?”
“Technically, I’m here to take Shadow out. But I suppose I don’t need to do that anymore.” She raises a brow at me, a glimmer in her eyes.
“I suppose not,” I say, but strangely enough, I enjoy her company.
I take another sip of the vanilla coffee, and surprisingly, it doesn’t taste as bad as it did to begin with.
Lauren hangs around a little while longer, and we chat about seemingly meaningless things while drinking our vanilla lattes. I find myself laughing at her humour and realise I’m actually having fun.
When she leaves to go back to the office, I’m left with a warm feeling in my chest.
Like I might have actually made a friend.