If I lose myself

Chapter 11. "I'll see what I can do." ✔️

Later that night when they'd returned to their apartment, Camila and Lauren called their parents to tell them what had happened. Camila was still on the phone to her mom now, recounting the story of how Lauren had proposed to her at the beach and Sinu was obviously overjoyed at Camila's news, although not in the least bit surprised by it.

Lauren had spoken with both Camila's parents about her plans to propose back in November. She'd wanted to ask them for their permission to marry Camila, even though deep down she knew that she didn't need it. Sinu and Alejandro had been treating her like a surrogate daughter for years now. They already considered her a part of their family, whether Camila wore an engagement ring or not. Lauren had still wanted to ask them for it though. Maybe she was just a little bit old-fashioned that way.

"Yeah mom, we'll see you tomorrow," Camila said when the conversation was coming to an end. She was pacing back and forth in the kitchen, feeling animated and lively following the events of the evening. "I will. Of course, I'll tell her. Ok, bye. Yeah, I love you too."

Camila disconnected the call and turned around to look at Lauren, who was watching her closely from the sofa. Jasper lay on the cushion beside her, his head resting on her left knee and Lauren was stroking behind his ear gently as he slowly started to fall asleep.

"My mom's really happy for us," Camila said, as she made her way across the apartment towards her fiancée. She put her phone down on to the coffee table as she passed it, and a large, elated smile appeared on her face when she met Lauren's eyes again. "She told me to welcome you to the family."

"Your mom 'welcomed me to the family' when we were in high school." Lauren laughed; Christmas Eve of their junior year of high school easily brought back to mind. "In fact, I very clearly remember the first time that she ever told me that I was a part of it." She informed her fiancée.

"You do?" Camila asked, standing just in front of Lauren, her eyes falling to the space beside her fiancée which was currently occupied by Jasper.

"Yes," Lauren laughed, following Camila's gaze. "Down Jasper," she said before Camila had the chance, but Jasper remained where he was, refusing to move.

"Jasper," Camila scolded lightly, "down."

This time the Springer Spaniel did as he was told, sloping off the sofa and over to his dog bed in the corner of the living room.

"Ok, what is his problem?" Lauren chuckled, raising her left arm in preparation to embrace Camila, who was already sitting down next to her. When she was settled, Lauren wrapped her arm around her fiancée's shoulders and pulled her into a relaxed hug.

"He just knows that I'm the boss in this family, that's all." Camila teased, lifting her feet up on to the coffee table in front of her as she placed her right hand on to Lauren's knee.

Camila reached up her remaining hand so that she could hold on to Lauren's, which was now hanging loosely over her shoulder.

"Oh, is that right?" Lauren asked, linking their fingers together.

"Of course," Camila returned, smiling mischievously at Lauren. "You didn't honestly think that you were. Did you?"

"Actually, I did," Lauren said, her eyes studying Camila's face and absorbing every detail of it in quiet admiration.

"Well, that's probably just because I let you think that," Camila responded cheekily. "I thought it might make you feel better about yourself."

"So, I guess that now we're engaged you're just going to be completely honest with me, huh?" Lauren chuckled at Camila's words, smiling brightly. "No more holding things back to spare my feelings? You're just going to say it like it is?"