House Of Cards

19. "Act on the temptation."

"Are you ever going to tell me about New Orleans?" Normani asked.

"What about it?"

"You saw Lucy and never told me how that went. All I know is whatever Dinah told me and she didn't even get details."

"Well I saw everyone, the entire group, and then Lucy alone. Well she brought someone but not like that, it wasn't weird. Actually, I really didn't feel anything and she seemed genuinely interested in talking to me. I felt over it, a little past it all." I explained.

"Lauren!" Normani exclaimed, rolling onto her side in my bed to face me, where I leaned against my bed frame, sitting up. "That's amazing."

"I know, it was refreshing." I couldn't help but mirror her excitement, it was a lot of progress.

"Is it because you and a certain Cuban are getting closer?"

"Closer?" I questioned, getting a little worried.

"Well, with you two working so closely on the team."

"Oh, yeah," I tried my best at being convincing. "It's Camila, you know how I am with that."

"I know, oldest crush in the book."

I threw my head back in laughter. "I don't think that's the saying."

"Whatever," Normani seemed unimpressed. "You know what I mean."

As the topic of conversation ended, I was considering telling her about Camila and I. It was so unlike me to keep anything from Normani. Sure, I was a private person in general, but that went out the window when it came to Normani. Even when I was in New Orleans for school, she was the first to hear about anything and everything.

It didn't seem fair that Dinah knew and she didn't but, at the same time, Dinah found out on her own.

I wasn't worried about Normani's reaction, she'd probably be as excited as a teenage girl, but I hadn't spoken to Camila about it whatsoever. We would go from one person knowing, to three (I wouldn't have the heart to keep Ally out of the loop). It just seemed messy and I was already keeping one thing from Camila.

"And the job," I continued. "You're liking it?"

"Loving it," she corrected. "It feels like I fit, Lo, I feel like we're both in a good place right now."

"I have to agree with you," I expressed. "Are you sure you can't stay over?"

"It's my cousin's birthday, my mom would kill me." Normani replied, getting up off my bed. "But I see you all the time now."

"Lucky you," I teased, wiggling my eyebrows for emphasis.

"You're too cocky." Normani replied with a smile on her face. She slid her bag over her shoulder before walking back to where I was.

"And you're not arguing it." I countered.

"You know, if you and Camila ever lose that sexual tension, you and I are pretty good at flirting." She joked, reached out to give my hand a squeeze.

"Laurmani?"

"Oh, exactly!" She threw her head back in laughter. "I'll see you later, babes."

"Text me!" I called out as Normani exited my room and made her way out of my house.

I had very loose plans with Camila tonight but had found myself with an empty afternoon, having finished everything I needed to do. Next thing I knew, I found myself calling Camila.