Page 37 of Losing the Forbidden
“What’s happened?”
“She’s finally learnt the truth.”
“What? That you’re a weak fucking pussy?”
“Whoa. Who’s bent your knickers out of shape?”
“None of your fucking business. Just like Lauren is none of yours. You need to stay away from her. You’ve already done enough damage.”
“Whatever. Do you have any idea where she is?” Her eyebrows rise and she defiantly puts her hands on her hips. “Okay, well…it was nice seeing you.”
I let myself out of her fancy basement flat and find my car where I left it half parked on the kerb, thankfully without a ticket.
Resting back, I wonder what I should do now, but the only thing I can see is the dejected look on Lauren’s face as she walked away from me. I know she probably doesn’t want me chasing her down right now, but we just dropped two huge bombs on her. I need to know she’s okay.
Fighting my need to go back to the office and find her address, I drive to my favourite place. By the time I’m pulling up to the deserted car park that overlooks the city below, the sun is starting to set. Soft orange hues make the hustle and bustle in the distance look almost inviting. This place is the escape from reality that I need.
Disappointment hits me when I turn the corner and spot another car at the far end—that is, until I take it in properly.
She’s here.
Pulling up next to her car, I look inside and find it empty. Where the fuck is she?
Quickly getting out without shutting off the engine, the music continues playing behind me as I go in search of the woman who still holds my heart in my hands.
The moment I walk to the edge of the car park, I see her. She’s laid out on a blanket on the grass bank.
Walking over, I drop down beside her and stare at her peaceful face. Her eyelashes are resting down on her tear-stained cheeks. Her lips are slightly parted as she blows out shallow breaths.
She’s so fucking beautiful, my heart aches for her.
“I’m so sorry, Lauren,” I whisper. She can’t hear me, but the need to say it gets the better of me.
Reaching forward, I brush a loose strand of hair from her face, but I’m not gentle enough.
Her eyes fly open as she scrambles to sit up. “Jesus fucking Christ, Ben.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. You shouldn’t fall asleep out here. Anything could happen to you.”
“Like being scared to death by you?”
“I’m the last person you should be scared of.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Everything that’s happened in the last few days seems to hit her all at once because her soft, sleepy eyes suddenly turn hard. She looks away from me, cutting herself off.
“Lauren, please don’t do that. Can we just talk?”
“Talk? What would you like to talk about exactly? How you broke my heart? About how my dad apparently was intent on ruining my life along with everyone else’s that I care about? About how you promised to protect me and you just fucking left?”
I pause and stare at her for a few seconds. After imagining her for so long, being able to sit beside her, to breathe the same air as her, feels surreal.
When I don’t respond, she turns her blue eyes on me.
“The weather?” I ask, remembering that she asked me a question.
The skin around her eyes crinkles before the most amazing sound fills my ears. Laughter.
I can’t help but laugh along with her as she lets out some of the tension she’s been carrying around with her.
