Lauren had been staring at the clock on her wall during what felt like the longest office hours ever. She didn't even know why she was such a nervous geek at the moment. She hadn't promised Bo anything, and Bo hadn't promised her anything, either. It's why Lauren didn't mind that she never heard from the other woman all weekend. It would have been super busy at the Dal, and Lauren didn't really go there on the weekends for that reason. Not getting a call was a good sign that Bo had followed doctor's orders, too, so that meant she would be healing fine.
Still, she could admit she was a bit excited to see the other woman again. Ever since Tamsin had brought Bo to her attention, Lauren could also admit she was intrigued. Slowly, over the weeks, she had moved closer to the bar area so she could get a better view. Not that she was glad it happened, but if Bo hadn't been stabbed, Lauren probably would have been content with just watching, never making a move and not sure what to do if Bo ever did. She was glad that they had finally officially met because Lauren didn't think she could keep up with the stares, which were getting more intense by the day. If they had gone on much longer, Lauren would have seriously started to allow herself the courage to give into what she was feeling. She knew herself well enough to know that meant she would have panicked and stopped going to the Dal completely, which was why she was glad that they didn't have to worry about that flight mode she was so used to in the past. She didn't want to lose the Dal; it was her home away from home and had given her several hours of companionship over the past year.
She wasn't sure what to make of this "date" that Bo requested. It was even more surprising that Lauren let herself agree to it at all. Her canned response was already leaving her lips, "I'm not available," but something in Bo's eyes had caused her to pull back and just go with it. Tamsin was right; Lauren really did need to get laid. The lack of sexual activity was clouding her concentration and apparently taking care of herself was not enough anymore. Without being aware, Lauren started craving physical contact with another person. It was all Bo's fault, too, for being so damn gorgeous and hard to ignore. It was hard not to think about that body all weekend; the soft skin she had felt, the smooth timbre in Bo's voice, and the natural yet awkward flirty charm the woman possessed. Feeling herself flush again, Lauren shook her head to clear her mind and laughed at herself; she would need to buy more batteries on the way home.
Ciara peeked her head in the door, interrupting Lauren from her thoughts. She smiled at her friend, looking at the time again and sighing when she realized there was still an hour before she could leave and go to the Dal. Even though Bo never called, Lauren still was concerned; for a purely professional reason, of course.
"Wow. I don't think I've ever seen you smile and daydream at the same time." Ciara walked in and gracefully placed herself in the chair that zero students had occupied today. "I'd normally ask what wacky science experiment caused this, but I know that look. I've seen that look millions of times; just never thought I would see it on the Great Dr. Lauren Lewis."
"I don't have a look." Lauren let her hair fall from behind her ears slightly to frame the sides of her face, as she pushed her chair back from her desk so she could see her friend better.
"Well, look or no, it's good to find you smiling." Ciara crossed her legs in her designer suit. She was about six years older than Lauren but dressed like Lauren's mother. Ciara was probably the one who understood her background the most, especially more than Tamsin, because she came from old money and a high profile family, too. She was teaching because she loved it; not because it was necessary. That was something to which Lauren could really relate. Still, Tamsin held her heart. "I have reservations to that new fine Italian place tonight, and Dyson had to cancel on me for a case. Would you be interested?"
"I…uh…" Just last week, Lauren wouldn't have hesitated. She loved trying new places, even if she was consistent in her routine. The opportunities just weren't as often as she could warrant, and she liked that she could be home in under five minutes walking from the Dal. That was its original appeal, and that appeal had held true even a year later. Now, there was just an added Bo bonus.
"I see." Ciara had the biggest smile on her face, almost like she was going to bounce out of the chair. Lauren knew she wouldn't, though; it wasn't proper.
"You see?" She nodded her head to the side and narrowed her eyes, encouraging her friend to explain.
"You have a date tonight." Ciara smiled even bigger and seemed to relax more. "I have to say that it's about bloody time. I was starting to think you were considering hermitage."
"You sound like my mother."
"Dr. Lewis is a wise woman." Ciara looked as a few students passed. She would probably leave if they needed in here. Lauren knew they wouldn't stop, though.
"And I don't have a date." Lauren felt a smirk surfacing and had to fight it. Ciara still noticed.
"Alright, it's not a date, but you are either meeting someone or are excited to see someone. You even did your hair in extra curls, so you are trying to impress someone." Ciara let out a deep breath and arched an eyebrow. She just stared at Lauren, like she was trying to read her. Then, she narrowed her eyes and frowned in contemplation. "You're not messing around with Tamsin again, are you?"
"No, I'm not messing around with Tamsin. She's my best friend; we're not like that." Lauren rolled her eyes when she saw Ciara's knowing look. "Anymore. There's a reason we didn't work; we're just too close and familial. We don't…we're very clear on our feelings for each other. There are no residual leftovers from either of us. I'm not meeting Tamsin."
"But you are meeting someone." Ciara let out a happy sigh before smiling slightly again.
"I'm not meeting anyone." Lauren swallowed, suddenly feeling like the room was closing in on her. The office wasn't large, but it wasn't so small she ever felt claustrophobic in here. No, she liked her office neat and minimal. Just the wraparound desk that took up most of her wall and front of her office, bookshelves full and abundant, and the couch, tree, and floor lamp by the large window so she could have natural sunlight when she read her medical journal articles in the mornings before her first class. She hadn't ever put up art or decorations here, either, despite being quite adamant about adorning her condo with various pieces.
"I can do this until you confess. I'm done for the day; you're the one with somewhere to be." Ciara relaxed further into the seat, challenging Lauren with both her posture and her expression. She rolled her eyes at her friend's obvious amusement. Lauren just felt flushed and uncomfortable.
"The bartender at the Dal, Bo, was stabbed the other day. I gave her stitches and just want to check that she's healing properly." Lauren took in a deep breath as she steeled her jaw. It was a trick her mother had taught her to help prevent her from smiling inappropriately.
"Bo at the Dal Riata? The bartender who's been checking you out for a year now?" Ciara seemed surprised at the confession. Lauren was surprised her friend even knew the woman; it wasn't like she frequented the Dal as often or hung out in the same crowds as Lauren. Did everybody know about Bo but Lauren herself? "At your birthday dinner, Dyson mentioned he used to date her when Tamsin pointed out she was looking at you again when you went to the bathroom. Walked right in her line of sight, too, and still you were clueless. I'm glad to see you finally met."
"I just helped her with her sutures." Lauren wasn't going to lie to her friend; she did feel the attraction to Bo. Who wouldn't? The woman was beautiful and awkward, which wasn't far from the goofiness Lauren had associated with her to that point. "I want to make sure she's okay."
"You know it's okay to have feelings; it's human." Ciara had been married for years and had only been divorced a year when Lauren met her. When they met, the older woman had been in a relationship with a man who liked to control her too much and hated when she talked to other people. Lauren only saw a strong, intelligent, and powerful woman who was being locked away by an overly controlling and insecure man, which was a shame. She was very glad when not long after that, Ciara had dumped that Caden guy. She had dated a few guys here and there but none seemed to stick until Dyson came along. Apparently, they had known each other when they were younger, when she had dated Dyson's best friend. It seemed to be a theme with them to date within their group, though Lauren could tell that Dyson and Ciara actually had a lasting romantic chemistry. There were days when she wished that she and Tamsin did have that, and Tamsin had confessed as much several times, too. It would have made things so much simpler for them both, but it was nothing more than mutual admiration, respect, and loyalty for them with a quiet awareness of physical attraction left over from memories of being together. Leave it to Tamsin to point out things Lauren felt better not knowing; like the way Bo looked at her.
"She's beautiful and nice, sure, but…I just can't." Lauren had spent so much time by herself that she didn't think she'd know what to do with somebody else demanding her attention. Tamsin was already a handful, and she wasn't even that needy. The fact that she was even considering a potential future with this Bo woman was more than she'd ever done with anybody that had asked her out in the past few years. Even then, the few she did date for a while, she would always find something wrong with them just so she wouldn't have to fool with them anymore.
"Don't tell me it's because of your parents. That never should play a factor in your love life." Ciara had heard her use that excuse before, so Lauren wasn't that surprised it resurfaced as a possibility now. It was strange that Lauren had never even considered it. Actually, she hadn't really been thinking much about Bo's potential flaws or the deal breakers. "You love who you want and don't worry about them. When they see how happy you are, they will learn to accept whoever it is."
"It's not that. I just…I'm not good at relationships. I'm better at doing my own thing." She realized this was her only excuse. Usually, by now, she would've imagined a cornucopia of potential deal breakers.
"Lauren, everyone's better at doing their own thing, but imagine how much better it would be if you had someone to share that thing with." Ciara was always the one urging Lauren to date for longevity; Tamsin seemed to want Lauren to just feel something with someone, even if it didn't have longevity. Since Tamsin had been the one encouraging her to go after Bo, was Lauren supposed to think Bo was only good for one thing? She seemed too nice to be only good for one thing, though looking at Bo, there was no doubt that one thing would be amazing.
"I'm just not available that way." The excuse even sounded stale to her now. She really needed to clear her head and not worry about this so much. Overthinking things is what kept her alone in the first place. That intimacy or camaraderie was never something she desperately needed to survive; she got enough from her friends.
"If the right person comes along, you will be." Ciara stood and moved to lean against the doorframe instead of leaving. She crossed her arms and smiled again. "You like strong, confident women. When you do allow yourself to let go, even for a second, that's your thing. Bo fits that description, if what Dyson tells me is true."
"Why are we even talking about this?" Lauren looked at her clock and realized she would get to leave work soon. The fact that she was eager to leave work these past few weeks should have been a red flag that she was letting too much of her feelings surface and control her life.
"Why are you fighting what you're feeling?" Ciara knew her too well, and it pissed Lauren off. She wanted to just stay in her happy bubble by herself.
"I'm in the middle of six research projects, have an overload of classes that are at capacity this semester, and have twelve research assistants to supervise. I don't have time to date." Lauren looked out the window of her office, loving the way the sunset fell over the skyline. She loved looking out her condo window at the steeples during sunset and sunrise, but she rarely got to enjoy them because she would already be or still be working.
"Stop hiding behind work, Lauren. You like this woman; it's written all over you, and that's rare to see you even admit that much. So, take a chance. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised." Ciara uncrossed her arms and pushed away from the doorframe, obviously ready to leave since she would need to get ready and find a new dinner partner. Maybe Lauren should go with her; not going to the Dal tonight could really help her neuroses about this entire thing. Maybe she needed a break from her feelings, even if she knew they would just stew even more if she didn't at least go see how Bo was doing since the attack.
"She did ask me out for dinner." Lauren felt herself smiling and shook her head to clear the expression, but it was too late, and Ciara saw it.
"And you accepted." Ciara knew enough to understand she wouldn't have said anything if she hadn't. "Good. That's a start. Now, actually go on the date. Surprise yourself."
Bo sat on the stool, painting patterns with the salt she had poured on the bartop, and watched Kenzi struggle to carry the boxes from the cellar. She sighed, just wishing she could help but not really wanting to do anything to open up her stitches. While the promise of having an excuse to call and see Lauren would be pleasant, Bo didn't think getting stitches again would be, so she was following doctor's orders and not doing any heavy lifting.
Kenzi had been great and didn't ask too many questions about what happened. Bo didn't think she was ready to tell her best friend she was right or about Lauren. She didn't even know if the woman was serious about accepting her dinner invitation, though she did give Bo her number, so that was a good sign. Nothing in Lauren's expression or aura indicated she wasn't into her, but the seemingly stoic doctor did seem hesitant. Now that her senses weren't being bombarded by the other woman's close proximity, Bo could think more clearly.
Kenzi dropped the last box on the piles, and Bo got up to come help her put the bottles away to restock from the weekend. Mondays were usually tedious for this reason, even if it was a task they did every day. She was restocking the well when she noticed that she had written "LL" in the salt; she couldn't help but laugh and smile at how much of a school girl she was being about this. She was one step closer to writing "Mrs. Bo Lewis" on cocktail napkins when she thought no one was looking, and she was slightly embarrassed for herself yet also giddy at the prospect of having finally met Lauren. She was even giddier about the potential of actually going out with Lauren.
"Okay, what gives? You've been all smiles and rainbows since Friday. Trick told me about what happened, since you weren't exactly forthcoming on the deets. I didn't think getting stabbed with a broken beer glass would leave you this chipper, but I guess I've seen you get your rocks off on crazier." It was actually surprising that Kenzi hadn't bombarded her for the details yet. The young girl wasn't exactly known for her tact or her patience. "I know for a fact you've not been laid. Actually, come to think of it, you've not been laid in the past month, since that cupcake threw scotch in your face. Well, the last one that did that; unless more have happened since the art festival." Kenzi shook her head to get back on track. "So, what gives? Are you sick? Have you lost your mojo? Should I start asking around on the street to find out if anybody's selling some lady Viagra?"
"Kenz, I'm fine." Bo chuckled, actually bouncing as she went back to grab more bottles from the box to start stocking the beer cooler. "I'm healing, and Lauren said she'd help take out the stitches in a few days, so there's nothing to worry about."
"If you say so." Kenzi bent down to get to the bottom shelves of the cooler, as Bo started handing down more bottles. As Bo handed her another one, Kenzi gripped her wrist to keep her from moving to get another one. Her eyes were gradually narrowing more and more as she just stared at Bo, who arched an eyebrow in response. "Wait, Lauren is going to help you with the stitches? Lauren, as in Doctor Lauren, Nate's professor? Dr. Hotpants? That Lauren?"
"Yeah. She's the one who patched me up, good as new." Bo was glad when Kenzi let go of her wrist, as she went to hand another bottle to her. The sooner they finished this, the sooner they could take a break before the dinner rush started pouring in and the bar got crowded. She felt her smile return to its dreamlike state again, not really paying much attention to what she was doing. It was Monday; the one good thing about Mondays was that it was the first day Lauren usually came in for the week. Actually, she would probably be here soon, which made Bo feel nervous all of a sudden. They actually had a real conversation now and not one of her fantasy ones. Would they just go back to the quietly intense and longing stares they shared the past few weeks, or would Lauren come and talk to her? If she didn't, would Bo go to her?
"Dude, what the hell?" Kenzi slapped her leg, which caused Bo to buckle a bit. She gripped the bottles in her hand a little tighter, almost dropping them from the sudden attack. "You tell me this shit. You finally met Hotpants, the girl you've been mooning over for the past year, and you don't say anything to your best friend? I feel like I should be extremely offended, or at the very least take your name off the best friend mailing list."
"Sorry, it just happened Friday, and you've been busy with Nate. I didn't even get to show you the stitches; they're a work of art." Bo lifted her tight black tank top to show Kenzi the wound, realizing now she wore this today in anticipation of seeing Lauren again. No harm in working with what the good goddess gave her.
"Seriously? 'A work of art,' Bo? Oh no; you've got it worse than I thought." Kenzi was seemingly fighting whether she wanted to be happy or to be frightened. "What happened?"
"I got stabbed, I refused to go the hospital, she's a doctor, so she patched me up. End of story." Bo handed Kenzi the last beer bottle in the box before tossing the box to the side and opening another one with the pen knife she kept tucked into her boot. She had started carrying it after the first time somebody had tried stabbing her in the alley behind the Dal.
"You know that's not what I mean." Kenzi decided that sitting on the floor would be more productive, so she crossed her legs like a little kid and accepted the bottles Bo kept handing to her.
"We talked." Bo stared into the box, watching her hands grab and move. She wasn't sure she wanted Kenzi to see her eyes flash, which she could tell was happening. How was she already smitten? It was probably from a year's worth of fantasizing about the woman.
"Geez, Bo, I shouldn't have to pull teeth with you. I've earned that much." Kenzi stood from the floor, dusting off the front of her pants, which made no sense considering she wasn't sitting on the front of her pants. Kenzi moved to pull herself to sit on top of the bar. Trick hated when she did that, but Bo never scolded her for it because she had done worse on this bartop over the years. As Bo began removing the hard liquor from the box Kenzi had used to carry the variety, she let out a deep breath before turning to lean against the back of the bar and look at her friend.
"She's smart and nice and funny and even prettier up close than I thought. Her hands are super soft. She smells great, and her voice…her voice…" Bo was scared. Normally, she was an emotional person, and that's what made her shut off her emotions so much and just deal with one night stands. The few people she had tried dating weren't out of desire to be in a real, mature relationship. It was what she wanted now; Bo realized that. Strange as it was for her to admit it, she wanted to live a normal life; no matter how much she loved this one. The opportunity for maturity in this place was limited, though; it's why Lauren seemed so out of place sometimes, and Bo knew that was part of the other woman's appeal.
"Did you ask her out?" Kenzi's light blue eyes were sparkling, even as she was trying to hide her genuinely happy smile. Bo knew she didn't have to say "I told you so" because Kenzi already knew.
"I asked her for dinner; anyplace but here." Bo loved this place. She grew up here, she worked here, and she lived here. Anything and everything she ever needed was here. The idea of going out with Lauren was beyond anything she considered being a reality, so Bo didn't want to be surrounded by the comforts of home on her first date. If they did end up dating, there was no doubt they'd spend a lot of time here. They already did, so it wasn't anything new for them; it would just be them doing it together. The first date set the tone, though, and Bo didn't want to be reminded of her many conquests when she was actually trying for something more.
"Wow, Bo. Big steps for you. You even offered to go someplace else for dinner? You didn't even bother with that much the past few times you dated someone. Definitely not with that Ryan douche, even though he did like to parade his fancy cars and money." Kenzi had seen Bo floundering more than anything while dating. There was no doubt that Bo loved to have fun, and sex was a major part of that. That's exactly what Ryan had been, but once he tried to convince Bo to get rid of Kenzi, he was out the door for good. The only complaints she ever got were directed at her hesitation with commitment. Would she be that way with Lauren, too? After all, old habits die hard. Had she been too far gone and scared of committing to someone that she would sabotage it before she even had a chance to enjoy it? "Of course, it being you, she said yes because who can resist the succubeast?"
"She didn't say no, but…I don't know…she almost seemed like she wasn't sure she should say yes." It was only for a second, but Lauren had hesitated. That didn't exactly instill the confidence Bo needed to psych herself into believing she could commit. She wanted it, but was she capable of it?
"Is she married? I thought Nate said she was single. One of his friends in that class has major lady wood for her, so we already Facebook stalked her. She seems normal, but you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Remember my foray into online dating? I still need therapy." Kenzi had been more lone wolf than anything, but she was still so young. Sometimes, Bo forgot that.
"I like her, Kenz." Bo let out a breath before finally resuming her task of putting away liquor bottles.
"Hello, Captain Obvious, have we met?" Kenzi was chuckling, probably knowing this was the closest she was getting to that coveted "I told you so."
"I'm great at the sex stuff, and Lauren is ridiculously hot. She's quiet, and good with her hands, too, so I'm going to say she's intense." Bo closed her eyes and huffed as she stared at the Grey Goose bottle in her hand. It was funny that now that they met, she kept imagining sexual situations for them. It was who Bo was, after all. Before, though, Bo had mostly fantasized about the various things they could do or places they could go, but since Lauren had touched her, it was all Bo could think about. It's where her brain always went. "What if that's all she wants from me?"
"Bo, despite what you may think, you're not just a sex monster. You're more than that. You're not your mom. You actually have a heart." Kenzi hopped off the bar and actually started working again, handing the bottles to Bo so she wouldn't have to keep walking extra steps. Her nervous pacing must have concerned her friend. "You always react emotionally first and apologize later when you've had time to think it through. You've had a year to think it through, sweetcheeks. Go with your gut and stop trying to suppress the non-sexually passionate parts about yourself. You may be a succubus in the sack, but you're more than that. You're Bo, and she's going to dig that about you."
"There's something about Lauren, though, that I just…can't not. It's like a pull or something, and I don't know what it is." Bo gripped the two bottles of Kentucky bourbon Kenzi handed her, wishing she could just open one right now and relax. She was getting more nervous as time passed because she knew Lauren would be here soon and she would have to deal with everything. She couldn't run anymore. "I was content with just looking at the menu and never ordering, but now that she's on the table in front of me? I can't decide if I want to completely devour her because I've been so hungry and she looks delicious or if I should savor her because I've waited this long to enjoy her that I should truly experience the moment."
"You lurve her." Kenzi handed her the last bottle in the box, tossing the box into the discard pile. Since Bo couldn't lift right now, even if the boxes weren't heavy, she was going to get Kenzi to take care of it while she talked to Lauren if she showed. Bo decided she was tired of running and wanted to belong to a world where even a succubus could find love.
"Nobody said anything about love." Bo put away the final liquor bottle, glad this task was finished, though that meant the dinner crowd would come in soon. This was actually Bo's favorite part of the day, and not because Lauren was usually part of the pre dinner crowd. It was right before all of the action of the night happened, and Bo liked that each new day brought new possibilities. "Besides, it'll be good to have someone to talk to when you're off sucking face with Nate."
"Am I spending too much time? I told you to hit me when that happens." Kenzi was trying to grip too many boxes with her tiny hands. Bo handed her one and felt the persistent itching on her side start again. She tried to ignore it, but it was really starting to bother her. She had scratched at it once yesterday, but the soreness around her wound made her stop from the pain. She had been fighting her urges since. Maybe she would call Lauren if she didn't show tonight; find out what that was about, or if it was just her hoping something was wrong so she would have an actual excuse to call Lauren.
"I'm a lover; not a fighter." Bo giggled as she watched Kenzi walk away with the boxes. There were still a lot of tasks to get the bar ready for the night, but Bo smiled and just kept watching the door, feeling her heartrate increase and an involuntary gasp when she noticed a familiar face enter. Lauren was even more beautiful, if that were possible. What had she done to her hair? It looked amazing. When Lauren smiled at her, Bo felt her insides completely give way. "Damn. I'm screwed."