I Built This Home For Me, For You

Chapter 11

Lauren woke up early the next morning, dropping a kiss on the top Camila's head, before rolling out of bed and padding over to the bathroom to shower. The hot water relaxed her, and she could've stayed under it forever, but the sound of the shower door opening startled her out of her numb position under the showerhead. She looked over her shoulder, taking in the sight of Camila, who was bleary-eyed and looking a bit grumpy as she pulled off her pajamas and climbed into the shower. With a small smile, Lauren reached out to cup her face, running a thumb over her cheekbone as she watched Camila blink away sleep.

"Morning," Camila mumbled after a few moments, splashing some hot water onto her face.

"You should've stayed in bed longer," Lauren said, picking up the shower gel and squeezing some into her hands. Camila made a noncommittal mumbling noise as Lauren began to wash her back for her, and they were both silent for the rest of the shower.

Dressed in warm, casual clothes, they both went downstairs, Lauren flipping lights as they went, while Camila made a beeline for the kitchen - more specifically, the coffee. A squeaking sound caught their attention, and the clicking sound of nails on the floor announced the presence of Artemis, and Lauren smiled as she breezed past Camila and turned the coffee machine on, watching as her wife fuss with the puppy. By the time they had two cups of coffee set down before each of them, the sky was starting to lighten outside, and they could see the snow coming down.

"Mm, I might take the girls to school today," Camila murmured, "Not that I don't trust Daisy, but it's going to be a bit icy."

"That would make me feel better too. I should check on the horses too," Lauren said around the rim of her cup, taking a sip and letting the warmth of the cup seep into her hands.

Camila gave her a small smile, reaching across the table with her hand outstretched for Lauren's, which was readily put into the waiting hand. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather me stay home today?" Camila quietly asked.

Laughing, Lauren gave her hand a quick squeeze, "First of all, my mom's a workaholic and will hardly be able to relax with you at the office, so imagine what she'd be like if you were both home. I think I'll be fine though, love. It's not like we're going to be at each other's throats - she'll probably just stay in bed. I'll have the house perfectly clean by the time you get home."

"You need to relax as well," Camila sternly told her, "It's almost Christmas and you've got a lot on your plate."

"Don't worry, the Christmas gala's coming up, and I fully intend on getting drunk enough to ruin at least four business deals," Lauren said, giving Camila a smile, and rolling her eyes when she saw her wife's narrowed eyes and thin lips. "That was a joke. My party girl days are far behind me. I promise I won't do any work today – not a single piece of paperwork or anything."

Smiling, Camila tilted her head to the side as she gazed lovingly at Lauren, "Good. Just ... spend some time with your mom."

"You sound worried," Lauren weakly joked, a wry smile on her lips as she raised her cup of coffee and took a small sip.

Rolling her eyes, Camila drained her own cup and climbed to her feet. Rounding the table, she stopped to drop a kiss onto the top of Lauren's head, "What I'm worried about is that you both work far too much, and you're going to waste your opportunity to bond while you're both off over the holidays."

Lauren let out a quiet laugh, draining her cup and holding it out to Camila when she held out a hand for it, "What would you like me to do, paint her nails? Do her makeup?"