The Womanizer

Chapter 53: This I Promise You

**play This I Promise You by *NSYNC when you see (*) for a better read

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Hollywood Hills- Los Angeles

"So... how are you feeling?" Megan's voice was smooth, her tone laced with the usual warmth that always managed to make Lauren feel just a little bit lighter. Megan leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she sent Lauren a bright, encouraging smile. It was the kind of smile that was meant to coax the truth out of you, to make you feel safe and seen.

Lauren managed a tiny half-smile in return, her lips barely curving up. It wasn't much, but it was more than she'd managed in a while. "I'm happy to be going home," Lauren mumbled, running a hand through her hair. The words felt heavy in her mouth, like she was trying to convince herself of them. "I mean, staying with Normani for two weeks has been... good, I guess. But I'm ready to be back in my own space."

Megan nodded, her expression understanding. "That's good to hear," She said softly. "But remember, just because you're going home doesn't mean you're on your own. I'm still here for you, and we'll continue our sessions. Only difference is, they'll be at your place."

Lauren shrugged, the movement casual, but Megan noticed the way her eyes flickered, almost evasive. "About that," Lauren said slowly, picking at a loose thread on her jeans. "I'm actually thinking about moving. Maybe back to Bel Air, or Pacific Palisades. Somewhere closer to Camila."

Megan's eyebrows lifted slightly at that, her professional curiosity piqued. "Closer to Camila?" She repeated, keeping her tone light, nonjudgmental. "Why is that?"

Lauren shrugged again, her gaze shifting away. "I don't know. It's just... we've gotten a lot closer lately. Camila even came to see me last night." She said it casually, like it wasn't a big deal, but Megan caught the undercurrent of something deeper in Lauren's voice.

"Really?" Megan asked, leaning in a little. "What did you two do?"

Lauren's eyes flicked back to Megan's face, almost as if searching for something. "It wasn't... like that," She said quickly, holding up a hand as if to ward off any assumptions. "We didn't have sex, if that's what you're thinking. Though, honestly, I wouldn't have minded if we did," She added with a lazy half-smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "We just... had something serious to discuss."

Megan kept her expression neutral, even as her mind raced with possibilities. "Something serious?" She prompted gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Lauren bit her lip, her eyes clouding over with thought. "It's... complicated," She said finally, her voice dropping to a murmur. "I just... I don't know where we stand right now. I know we've both got feelings for each other, but after everything that's happened, it's hard to figure out what's real and what's just... leftover emotions, you know?" She said, avoiding the whole Sean topic and talking about something that had actually been plaguing her mind.

Megan nodded, understanding the unspoken turmoil Lauren was dealing with. The lines between past and present, love and need, could blur so easily. "That's perfectly normal," She assured Lauren. "Sometimes, after going through intense experiences, our emotions can get tangled up. It's important to take your time and really listen to what you're feeling."

Lauren sighed, leaning back in her chair and staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah, maybe. It's just... when I'm with her, everything feels right, you know? Like all the shit I've been through doesn't matter as long as she's there. But at the same time, I'm scared. I don't want to mess things up again."

Megan smiled gently. "It's good that you're aware of those feelings, Lauren. It shows you're thinking things through. Moving closer to Camila, taking things slow, those could be good steps. Just make sure you're doing them for the right reasons. For you."