The Secret - Alexia Putellas

23.

Thank you Eliza!!!

What?

Erin's whole body froze. Unable to avert her gaze from her ex-girlfriend's dark green eyes, her lips were still slightly parted. Had she heard correctly? She couldn't formulate words. She couldn't speak. Her mind was blank.

"How?", was the only sound coming out of her mouth as she was staring at Lauren in shock.

She couldn't believe this was really happening.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

"Believe me... I know how you look at someone you love. The way you were looking at Alexia, that's how you used to look at me...", Lauren murmurs softly, tugging on Erin's cold hand as the therapist takes a quick look to the side, fearing someone might hear them.

"Hey... Erin", Lauren says softly and lifts the blonde's chin with her index finger as she realizes how uncomfortable Erin was after that statement.

"Is it... really that obvious?", Erin frowns, even though she noticed how Lauren's expression softened.

"It's not, don't worry. I guess I just... know you", the winger chuckles, swaying them in rhythm as she glances at Erin, observing how the blonde was taking one deep, shaky breath after another.

Erin obviously felt uncomfortable. As if she was about to throw up.

Unable to follow the beat properly, Erin raises her hands and holds Lauren by the waist, steadying herself.

"Why can't I shake the feeling that I'm not supposed to know that there's something going on between you guys?", Lauren wonders as she carefully wraps her arms around Erin's shoulders and snuggles closer against the therapist, lowering the volume of her voice.

"Because... no one should", the blonde swallows and tries to calm her breathing, but it was in vain. She feared that the minute one person found out, the whole world would know about their secret.

That could never happen.

"Oh...", Lauren nods understanding. Erin shuts her eyes and breathes in deeply as she tries to organize her thoughts and think of a way to convince Lauren of keeping this secret.

And how the hell was she going to explain this to Alexia?

"You know... I've always been reliable. I would never want to upset you. Ever. If you want me to keep this to myself, you have nothing to worry about. I promise", Lauren assures her softly, and rests her chin on Erin's shoulder while they dance.

She felt her ex-girlfriend holding her breath.

"I trust you, Lauren. Please don't disappoint me. Because if you do, we're in big trouble", Erin whispers dejectedly, closing her eyes for a moment to let it all sink in.

"I promise I won't", Lauren whispers.

Meanwhile, Alexia is chatting with Leila, Mapi and Lucy. Just when Leila turns her head to check on her girlfriend, she spots Lauren and Erin dancing together on the other end of the room.

Bending her head to the side, Leila smiles.

"What are you smiling at? Oh...", Mapi gasps and takes a quick look at Alexia, who had not yet seen the scenery behind her.

"Isn't that cool?", Leila shrugs her shoulders in relief, leans back in her seat with her arms crossed in front of her chest and smiles softly as she watches her girlfriend and Erin dance.