Risky Business

Chapter Six

After their talk, things became tense and awkward between Camila and Lauren. Lauren had her hopes too high when she thought they could still be friends. She wasn't sure if it was her or Camila who distanced themself first, but it had happened.

Now, they both spend all their time at work—having picked up extra shifts to avoid each other—and if they happened to both be home at the same time, they refused to be in the same room. They weren't necessarily fighting, they just didn't know how to act around each other.

When they ended their "arrangement", it was because Chris was being negatively affected, not because the attraction left or they fought. Both women were painfully aware of that fact. Being in the same room was hard—for Lauren, literally—since all they wanted to do was rip each other's clothes off.

At some point over the past few weeks, Lauren realized she missed more than Camila's body. She let herself believe she missed her friendship, but that wasn't true. Watching Camila and Chris, Lauren realized the tightening in her chest wasn't only guilt, but jealousy.

It was one week before the concert that she finally admitted it to herself: she was in love with Camila.

She honestly wasn't that surprised. The "friends with benefits" relationships never work out in the end. Lauren had always had the mentality that she wouldn't be like one of those losers that fell for the other person. But...she had no such luck.

Now, they're both getting ready to head to Tampa  for the weekend. Lauren was tossing her bag in the back of her car as she waited for Camila. She was seriously not looking forward to this trip. Well...she was, but only because she missed spending time with Camila. She was not looking forward to how awkward it was going to be.

"I'm gonna miss you." Chris mumbled into Camila's hair. Lauren hadn't even noticed they had come out.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Chris." Camila giggled. Giggled.

Lauren hated that she wasn't the one making her giggle. She hated that she wasn't the one with her arms wrapped around her. She hated that she wasn't the one breathing in her scent. She hated that she wasn't the one Camila loved.

"We're gonna be late." She grumbled, climbing into the drivers seat.

"Geez, chill, Laur," Chris laughed. "I haven't been away from Camila for this long in...ever, actually." He pulled Camila back into his chest. "Don't forget me." He joked dramatically.

"How could I ever." Camila kissed him deeply, and Lauren almost thought it was on purpose to make her jealous.

Finally, they were on the road. Lauren had played her music, letting it play as she drove down the highway. Neither one said anything. At all.

Three and a half painful hours later, Lauren pulled into the hotel's parking lot. They went inside to check in, and that's when Lauren remembered...

"The suite with one king size bed?" The clerk asked. She had reserved it before they ended things.

Lauren bit her lip and nodded. She almost laughed at it all. This was just like the cliché stories she read in high school. One bed, two women who have feelings for each other. Well, at least one that has feelings.

Getting to their room, they walked in and stopped in front of the bed. "So..." Camila swallowed. "I can take the sofa."

"No, it's fine." Lauren waved her off. She knew she should have agreed with Camila, but the part of her that was in love with the smaller Cuban couldn't pass up the chance of being that close to her.

They got ready for the concert, Lauren in ripped jeans and a t-shirt, Camila in a skirt and crop-top. And just as the ride to Tampa was, the walk to the venue was awkward and uncomfortable. Lauren wanted to say something but she didn't know what. Her hand brushed Camila's once and she pulled it back. She could have swore that Camila followed her hand.