If I lose myself

Chapter 2. "Something like that." ✔️

"Can I see it again?" Dinah asked eagerly, one hand automatically reaching out across the table for the blue velvet box which contained the engagement ring that Lauren had bought for Camila.

They were sat together in a quiet corner of a bustling café, Lauren nursing a large black coffee in an attempt to combat the hangover which had slowly started to resurface as the morning had progressed. The two of them had spent the best part of three hours searching jewelry stores across town together and after numerous deliberations and what had seemed like endless discussions, Lauren had finally found Camila the perfect engagement ring. It was a small platinum band curved into the shape of a wave; a white diamond set beneath its crest and aquamarine gems, Camila's birthstones, accenting the sides.

"Sure, just... please be careful with it." Lauren entreated, passing the small velvet box to Dinah who wasted no time in taking it from her.

"Of course I'll be careful with it," Dinah promised; a large, ecstatic grin appearing on her face as she slowly opened the box to reveal the beautiful ring contained inside it. "You don't think I'd risk losing this thing do you?" She asked, lifting her eyes to meet Lauren's. "I need you to put it on Mila's finger or else I'm going to be left paying a very expensive bill for a vacation for five people to Hawaii."

"Oh come on," Lauren said, chuckling lightly as she leaned forward and wrapped both her hands around the coffee mug on the table in front of her. "You don't honestly believe that Mani would hold you to that stupid bet that you made with her back in high school, do you?"

"Probably not," Dinah conceded, "but now that I know that I'm going to win it I'm definitely going to be holding her to it." She finished, her grin broadening at the realization that she'd soon be able to rub her victory in her friend's face. "This is so great," she said happily to herself, the fingers of her free hand moving down to pluck the ring out of the box so that she could get a better look at it. "I mean, not only are you and Mila going to get married but I'm also going to get a free vacation to Hawaii." She finished, lifting the ring up in front of her, her eyes falling to the sparkling piece of jewelry and inspecting every inch of it in admiration. "God, this is going to be the best Christmas ever," she sighed, sloping back in her chair and lowering the small platinum band again.

Lauren smiled half-heartedly at Dinah's remark but didn't say anything, instead opting to take a long, slow sip of her now lukewarm coffee. The strong, bitter taste of it made her shudder slightly as it passed her lips but she was already starting to feel the effect of the caffeine on her hangover; the headache which had been pressing at the edges of her eyes and the fatigue she'd been feeling as a result of her late-night, slowly beginning to diminish.

"Yeah, I hope so," Lauren finally said before lifting the mug to her lips again and draining it of the remainder of her drink.

Dinah frowned slightly at Lauren's response and turned her attention to her, watching as the brunette lowered her now empty mug and slid it into the middle of the table, away from the edge, apparently concerned about knocking it on to the floor accidentally.

"You don't sound too convinced," Dinah pressed gently on hearing the solemn inflection in Lauren's voice. She leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table and crossed her arms in front of her, Camila's engagement ring still securely in her grasp. "Is everything alright?" She asked, sensing that Lauren's sombreness was more than likely related to her mom's health problems rather than the impending engagement.

"I'm fine," Lauren said dismissively. "I'm just a little nervous about the proposal that's all."

Lauren relaxed back in her chair and brought one hand up to firmly rub at the back of her neck as though she were trying to release a lifetime's worth of pent up tension from her muscles.