Every Single Way (Laurinah)

Chapter 17

It was the morning after our date. Lauren was already up before me and sitting in a different part of the room watching TV. I hadn't gotten out of bed yet because after last night, I didn't know how to react to Lauren. Our date was amazing. She'd taken me to this great sushi bar, and then to see a movie afterwards. I was also treated to two more surprises along the way. They were little and cute, not too much seeing as how we still weren't together and she didn't want to "overwhelm" me.

"Lauren." I finally called, sitting up and seeing her give me her full attention.

"Good morning, sleep well?" she said as she got up and walked over to the bed where I was.

"I did."

"Yeah, you didn't even move that much when I got up earlier."

"I'm a bit of a hard sleeper." I laughed, and she smiled back.

Everything from last night had been innocent, we came back to the hotel room around midnight and watched Disney movies that Lauren brought with her.

"You had fun last night, right?" she asked.

"You know I did." I replied as I stood up in front of her, "It was great."

She leaned in to kiss me but I moved out of the way. I quickly saw her expression change, and she genuinely looked offended.

I fell back on the bed laughing.

"What?" I heard her asking in a dry tone of voice.

"Nothing, I just need to brush first." I told her, sitting up to meet her gaze. Her face relaxed again into that soft smile that she always gave me.

"Whatever you say, I'll be downstairs at breakfast." She said before sliding on her shoes and picking up her room key.

"Doughnuts?" I asked expectantly.

"You got it babe." She finished.

I watched her leave the room. I found myself looking at my surroundings. I was all in my own head again, as I often am now-a-days. Lauren was making me happy, and neither of us were ready for a relationship. I enjoyed having friend again.

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Lauren and I went shopping for the majority of Sunday. She enjoyed spending money as much as I did, which was great.

"I haven't had anybody to go shop with like this in forever. My mom always wants to leave." I told her as we finally settled into this little coffee shop on the corner of where we had been buying things all day.

"I'm enjoying my time with you regardless of where we are." She admitted.

"Same." I replied.

"I've been meaning to tell you that I have to stay a little while longer here in Miami."

"How long?" I asked.

"Just until Wednesday." She replied.

I didn't feel as sad leaving her here as I did when she left me, although I knew that I would miss not seeing her.

"Is that okay?" she asked.

"I mean, I can't change it." I answered.

"No, but you can facetime me every night until I can come home and see you."

"That means you'll miss my game Tuesday!" I had forgotten all about the game on Tuesday. I was excited about following up the game that I had last week, and I really wanted Lauren to see it.

"I'll be at the one on Thursday." She said picking up my hand and kissing it.

"Then can we go to the football game Friday?" I asked.