Lainey and I dig in.
A soft moan vibrates in her throat as she devours a few bites, her eyes closed as she rocks back and forth. “Thank you for doing this. I haven’t had a meal like this in forever.”
“Cole never took you out?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
She scoffs. “As if. The only outings we did involved the team, and even then, I was rarely invited. Let alone a private meal at home? This is amazing.”
My fists tighten around my silverware as I look down and cut a piece of the mushroom. “You deserve so much more than that.”
“I know,” she whispers, and my gaze flicks her way, finding an unexpected sadness in her eyes.
She holds my stare for a long moment, and the sadness doesn’t fade. She turns her attention back to her plate, her excitement nearly nonexistent after the mention of Cole.
“That reminds me. Alec and Laura are hosting a team dinner tomorrow. Will you come with me?”
She nods. “I’d love to.”
I’m torn between pushing her to open up more or to keep it light and fun. I have so many questions I want to ask, so much I want to learn about our time apart.
But for the time being, I enjoy the warmth of our quiet company as we eliminate our appetizers bite by bite.
Auriella clears the plates before bringing out the dinner bowls, full of chicken, bacon, and broccoli Alfredo. That spark in Lainey returns as she takes her first bite.
“This issogood,” she moans, and I swallow hard, my dick twitching.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” My smile overtakes my face as I watch her bathe in the delicious pasta, savoring every pretty little noise she makes with each bite.
An uncertainty flashes in her eyes as her smile falters ever so slightly. I wish I knew what was bothering her. It’s most likely her apartment. That was an added stressor that she wasn’t prepared for.
“You know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like,” I try to assure her in case the living situation is what’s upsetting her. “Everything of mine is yours.”
For some reason, that makes her smile fall even more.
Am I saying the wrong thing?
Insecurity begins choking me.
She notices my distress and reaches out, grabbing my hand sweetly with hers. “Thank you. Seriously. I’d be scrambling right now if it wasn’t for you.”
Does she not understand that there isn’t a thing in this world that I wouldn’t do for her?
But I keep that thought to myself in case my intensity is scaring her away. The last thing I want to do is fuck this all up.
I squeeze her hand back before playing it cool, pulling away and taking a bite of my pasta. And, holy fuck, thatisgood.
The moment of tension passes as we relax, our playful friendship surfacing as we enjoy the food. I can tell something’s off though. She’s suddenly keeping me at arm’s length even though she’s trying to pretend she’s not.
She should know better than anyone that the last person we should lie to is one another. But for tonight, I’ll leave it alone.
If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then we won’t. But eventually, my patience will wear thin, and I’ll be begging for the truth.
After dinner and a decadent dessert—molten lava cake—we curl up on the couch for a movie, one that Lainey makes it about a half hour into before passing out on my shoulder.
I haven’t moved an inch or taken a deep breath since her head rolled onto me. I think there’s a rule for not moving when someone falls asleep on you. Although that may usually apply to animals, it also applies to a cute, sleeping Lainey.
Tonight was great. It reminded me of the reason we’ve been close for so long, of the friendship that roots us at the core. Nomatter where our relationship is heading, that will always be the base of it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The marriages and relationships that last the longest are the ones who find true friendship in one another. Lainey and I will be no different.
