Reunited

I26I

☆Lauren☆

Nick opens the door of the limo and gestures to me to go in. I climb in and make sure to sit as far away from Roger as I can. Nick closes the door and takes the seat next to mine. It's not a very big seat, so we are sitting pretty close together. His knee brushes mine causing my heart to beat rapidly. Why does he have this effect on me?

"How have you been Lauren?" Roger asks kindly like he completely forgot what just happened seconds ago.

"I've been better," I say, matching his smile. I see his jaw tick and mentally high five myself.

"Well hope you're hungry we'll be going to the steak house," he says composing his facial expressions.

I don't respond and turn my gaze to look out the window.

We finally pull to a stop after 10 minutes of awkward silence. The limo driver opens the door for us and I climb out first thanking him.

We walk up to the very expensive looking restaurant and head in. My eyes widen from seeing the interior. This is by far the fanciest restaurant I've ever seen. Back at my old home the fanciest restaurant I went to was Red Lobster.

The hostess shows us to our table and it's a booth in a secluded area. Everyone was staring at us and broke out into hush whispers. I start to feel uncomfortable under all the gazes. Noticing my discomfort, Nick places his hand on the small of my back.

I should shove it away but honestly it's really comforting and I Iearned to pick my battles.

Roger takes the seat across from Nick and I with Nick on the aisle seat. I'm literally cornered by the Carver family, literally...

Our waiter comes and literally pisses his pants when he sees Mr Carver sitting in the booth. His hand is physically shaking as he writes down our order. Poor guy...

"So how are you guys liking your new apartment?" Roger asks. I spit out the water I'm drinking and start violently coughing.

THE WHAT!?

Nick hands me a napkin with an apologetic expression. "That reminds me why were you at your brothers house when we picked you up and not at your new apartment?" he asks me. I just stare at him with my eyes wide.

"We like it just fine dad. Lauren and her brothers had a lacrosse game last night, so it was easier for her to stay at her house than the apartment," Nick effortlessly explains.

We have an apartment and he didn't tell me? He lied to his father for me? He must've known I would've been uncomfortable living with him. He did all of that for me?

A warm feeling travels throughout my body. I'm blaming the heat of the moment for reaching under the table and interlocking our hands.

He looks at me with a shocked expression probably wondering why I'm holding his hand. And I don't blame him.

That was probably the sweetest thing he's ever done. He knew the engagement was hard enough on me and didn't pressure me to move in with him so I could stay with my family. Ugh why is he making it so hard for me to hate him?

"Now that I have the two of you here together, I would like to inform you both that I'm hosting a party to announce your engagement," Roger says nonchalantly. I feel Nick's hand tighten around mine.

"You never told me this," Nicks says with his voice laced with venom. It causes me to squirm in my seat.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Roger shrugs his shoulders. "It will be hosted at the country club next Saturday night," he explains. Well damn, any other bomb you wanna drop?