Beyond Home

Lauren

"She shot you down Lauren," Sam says before biting down on his fist to keep from laughing.

"Yeah, you assholes didn't help matters much," I grumble. I should've known better than to bring them here.

"She the one you met that night?" Jackson asks.

I nod. They know I met a girl and was shot down, no thanks to Max. He, of course has been bragging all week that he took her friend Vanessa home with him and that I struck out. I've had to listen to his replay all damn week when all I wanted to do was come here to see if she was working. Just wanting a chance to see her again. A chance to change her mind.

"Here you go," Camila says, appearing beside us. So lost in my thoughts of her, I didn't realize she was here. She serves each of us and steps back from the table. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Yeah," Jackson speaks up. "Can you please put our girl here out of her misery and go out with her? Or at least give her your number?"

A soft smile pulls at her lips. She opens her mouth to answer him, and her eyes find mine. She looks at me like she's trying to put together a puzzle but doesn't quite have all the pieces. "Trust me Lauren." Her voice is soft, almost fragile, as if one wrong word could break her. "I have more going on in my life than you want to take on. You should count this one as a loss and and focus on someone else." That last part is whispered so low I can barely hear her.

"What if I don't want anyone else?" I'm fully aware we're in a crowded restaurant and people are watching. I'm aware that nine chances out of ten this will more than likely end up in the tabloids tomorrow. I also know I don't give a fuck about any of that. All I care about is letting her know I'm serious when I say I want to take her out and get to know her. I'm drawn to her. The need to know more about her is just that- a need. The want is there too.

She shakes her head as if she can't believe my question. "Maybe not," she finally says. "But you also don't want me." She stands to her full height and looks over at my three teammates. "I'll be back with some refills," she informs them before turning on her heel and walking away.

"She's a tough nut to crack," Sam says.

"Her friend, not so much." Max adds.

"Hey guys," said friend greets us. Vanessa smiles over at Max before making eye contact with each of us.

"Hey gorgeous, Max greets her, reaching out and grabbing her hand.

"What kind of trouble are the four of you getting into tonight?" She asks.

"No trouble," I assure her. "Just having dinner."

She laughs. "Right. I've heard that one before. You giving my girl a hard time?" She asks me.

"More like she's giving her one," Sam speaks up. "Help our girl out, would you? She's been moping around all week since she shut her down, after tonight's loss, I'm afraid she's going to get a complex."

Vanessa turns her attention back to me. "Don't give up on her." She looks over her shoulder, then back to me. "She's got a lot going on, and she's jaded from life itself. If you're serious and want to get to know her, don't give up on her."

Her attention is pulled away when Max asks, "What time do you get off tonight?"

"I don't know you tell me," she flirts back.

He throws his head back in laughter. "Text me when you're done. I'll swing by and pick you up."

"I'm out of here at eleven tonight."

"What about Camila?" I ask.

"She's off at eleven as well." She says with a knowing smile. She's walking away before I can thank her for that little information.