Behind Closed doors

Chapter 18

Lauren remained curled on her bed, staring blankly at the wall. It had only been a couple of hours since Kamala had left, but the ache in her chest felt like it had been there for days. The silence in the room pressed down on her, making her body feel both numb and unbearably heavy. Her mind raced with everything that had happened, every word exchanged in their final conversation. She wasn't ready to face her. Then, the sound of the front door clicking open broke through her daze.

"Lauren? It's me." Tina's voice was a welcome sound, breaking through the fog in her mind.

Lauren didn't move, but she felt her heartache soften just slightly. A moment later, Tina walked into the bedroom, hands full of treats. "Damn! Your colleagues are really annoying, you know that?" she complained, setting her bags on the dresser. "Do you have any idea how many security checks I had to pass just to get in here?"

Lauren huffed a small laugh. "I can imagine," she muttered, burying her face further into her pillow.

"Well, you better appreciate this," Tina continued, pulling out a pint of Lauren's favorite ice cream, a spoon, and a DVD case. "Because I came prepared. Your favorite ice cream, your favorite movie, and guess what? You're taking a day off." She grinned, holding up the items like a proud warrior showing off her loot.

Lauren sighed, finally shifting to sit up against the headboard, her eyes red-rimmed. "Tina, you didn't have to do all this."

"Of course I did!" Tina said, plopping down next to her. "That's what best friends are for. Now, tell me what's going on, because your text sounded like a nuclear-level meltdown."

Lauren bit her lip, feeling the emotions rise again. "It's just... everything." Her voice cracked. "Kamala and I, we can't... We had to break it off."

Tina's expression softened, her teasing demeanor dropping instantly. "Oh, babe," she murmured, pulling Lauren into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you cared about her."

Lauren clung to her, eyes welling up. "I don't know how to move past this, Tina. I love her, and it's real. But everything's so complicated. Her career, the scrutiny... Doug basically threatened to expose us. Kamala is caught between me and her presidency. And I... I told her to let me go."

Tina rubbed her back gently. "You did what you thought was right, even though it's breaking your heart. That takes strength, Laur."

"I feel like a coward," Lauren admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I should have fought harder. For her. For us."

"No, no, no." Tina pulled back, looking Lauren square in the eye. "Don't you dare think that. You were thinking of her future, her dreams. You did the opposite of being a coward. You were selfless."

Lauren wiped her eyes, but the tears kept coming. "I don't know if I can keep pretending everything's fine. I'm trying to be strong, but it just feels impossible. What if she regrets me? What if I'm just a phase?"

Tina shook her head. "Stop. You're not a phase, Lauren. You've been there for her in ways no one else has, and Kamala knows that. But you also know how big the stakes are. This isn't just about the two of you. It's about the entire country, her career, her responsibilities. You didn't fail her—you made the hardest decision because you love her."

Lauren sniffled, her breathing unsteady. "It just hurts so much."

"I know." Tina squeezed her hand. "And I'm here for all of it. Hugs, Ice cream, movie marathons, crying into pillows, whatever you need."

Lauren gave a watery smile. "I don't deserve you."

"Damn right you do," Tina teased, opening the ice cream and handing her a spoon. "Now, eat up. You're taking this day off whether you like it or not." She took Lauren's phone to contact Smith.