Chapter Eight: The Tale of the Wingmen
"Everybody deserves a fresh start every once in a while." Bugsy Siegel from Bugsy
Ever since Bo had stopped by the office, Lauren found herself smiling more openly at her and saying things to her in a casual manner outside of the meetings whenever they crossed paths in the hallways of the compound. Bo was being particularly flirtatious, and Lauren found she enjoyed the attention. She would be lying if she said she didn't think about Bo in that capacity anymore, but she knew better than to encourage the other woman, so she tried her best not to flirt back. "Tried" being the operative term.
This just seemed to persuade Bo that she needed to try even harder, which meant extra touches and sexier leers. At the meeting today, Lauren was forced to sit by Bo on the couch since there were no other options when she arrived. It was the first time Lauren had not been extra early, and even though Trick didn't mind when she sat to the side away from everyone, Dyson actually used her tardiness as an opportunity to take her spot today. Lauren would've cursed the man for taking her seat if she weren't so occupied with cursing herself for getting caught in traffic on the way here, meaning she had to sit by Bo. It was the very thing she tried to avoid, and Bo took complete advantage of their physical proximity with "accidental" touches.
Trick and the capos and soldiers had seemingly handled the wine order situation the past few weeks, and Lauren was glad she didn't have to see anybody else lose a finger. While she had seen and treated worse, especially while on the battlefield and in the rainforest, she realized it was a bit harder when the situation didn't exactly require you to lose a limb for survival. It was the first act of extreme violence she really witnessed since working for Trick, and the bad thing was that she knew she would see a lot worse as the years progressed. Lauren rarely had to talk in these meetings, and today, she was glad for attention being focused elsewhere. Bo only had to report that the orders were back up and some had even doubled, which seemed to please everyone in the room and calm some of the tension from the past month. Lauren was actually glad they were sitting away and out of the line of fire, since everyone was looking ahead at Trick most of the meeting instead of back at them. The only two that could really see them were Trick and Dyson. Trick was preoccupied with the meeting, and Dyson was too preoccupied with being proud of himself for standing next to Trick to really care what was going on in the back.
The tension was diminishing in the business. The tension had not been ebbing between her and Bo, though; it just continued to escalate and was slowly becoming too much pressure. Lauren knew deep down there was a logical explanation for her desire; it was a natural human response to crave intimacy after experiencing something traumatic, like everything changing around her and her being alone through most of it. For some reason, Lauren felt like she owed Bo an explanation, or at least that they should talk and she should make it clear that nothing was going to happen again. While Lauren did want to take Trick's advice, she knew that the friendship portion of their relationship would be a slow process, especially since it was clear to her that they both still had some residual feelings.
That was part of the problem, actually. Lauren couldn't tell if Bo was being honest. This skepticism came from a combination of their history and the fact Bo was a naturally major flirt. She was extremely charming and hard not to notice. Lauren even caught Dyson staring at Bo like a lovesick puppy today. She had heard enough from Hale to know that Dyson and Bo had a fling once upon a time, and that thought actually made Lauren sick to her stomach. For some reason, it made her want to irrationally walk up to the man and smack him across his overly smug face.
When Bo kept brushing her knees or hands against her today, Lauren thought she was going to start showing signs of being affected by the woman. It was one thing to keep her calm while in her presence, but it was another when she was forced to keep her calm when they were brushing against one another in front of a group of elders. A group of elders who would probably throw a fit if they got back together, or if they found out they were ever together at all. Trick was a lot more ruthless and scarier than people actually knew, but Lauren had done her research and had seen the look in his eyes. Her father used to say the same thing: Trick was not a man you wanted to mess with. No wonder her father discouraged her relationship with Bo when he found out. If he was afraid back then what Trick, his oldest and best friend, would do to her for dating his granddaughter, then Lauren knew to be wary of that same thing now. So, she tried her best not to be affected or let Bo know she was affected, but damn it if Bo didn't have to be so damn difficult.
One good thing that came from their encounter today was that Lauren finally felt the need to work on getting closure. She didn't want to pry because that was never her, but she needed to know the story about Bo and Hale and Bryce. So, she called Hale to arrange for a dinner, hoping she would have the courage to bring up the topic.
When he arrived at her house, Hale handed her a drawing of a naked woman. Okay, so it was art, and it was great, but it seemed like an odd thing to bring as a hostess gift. Then again, they used to sneak nudie magazines when they were teenagers; that's how they found out they had similar tastes in women. It's why Hale hooking up with Bo was not a far stretch to her. At least his gift wasn't a drawing of a naked Bo, though that would have given her a place to start the conversation. She kissed his cheek in greeting and accepted the picture, placing it on the dining room table that she never used except for organizing work documents.
"So, I feel like I owe you an apology." Hale removed his jacket and hat and placed them beside the picture on the dining room table as they walked into the kitchen area. "Figured the best way to do that was through artwork, since last time I talked to you, you were trying to figure out what to put on these creepy, bare walls."
"Thank you. It's appreciated." Lauren let out a deep breath through her nose before smiling. She didn't realize how much she missed her friend until just now, and she felt silly and overdramatic for avoiding him. "And you don't owe me an apology. At least, I don't think you do."
"I'm sorry about Kenzi. She can be kind of…protective and intense." Hale moved to sit at the counter, happily accepting the beer Lauren handed him.
"I was going to say mildly crazy, but protective and intense works." She took a quiet swig from her own bottle, hoping this worked as liquid courage. "And you don't need to apologize for Kenzi. You love her; I can tell that. And she makes you happy, and that's all that matters."
"She does, and I do." Hale's smile was infectious, and Lauren rolled her eyes in self admonishment, upset for even entertaining the idea of being upset at her best friend. "I always wanted that intense, epic love like you and Bo seemed to have, but I think I found something more fitting for me."
"Well, Kenzi is one of a kind." Lauren took another drink, her smile faltering a little bit. She didn't like to think about her and Bo as having some epic love. It was an enormously flawed and destructive love, and she couldn't believe she allowed herself to give Bo the chance to sneak in there again today. If they had been alone, Lauren wasn't sure she would have trusted herself not to replay some of their steamier moments on that couch. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Bo."
"Finally! I knew you couldn't keep it in your pants around her for too long." Hale seemed triumphant, almost like he had won big on the slots machine after putting in several rolls of quarters. "It's about damn time. I'm tired of Kenzi freaking out about it, too."
"Kenzi freaks out about me and Bo?" Lauren was sidetracked from this information, not entirely sure what it meant or what to think about it regardless of what it meant.
"Well, yeah. They're best friends, and you and I are best friends, and Kenzi keeps thinking you're going to steal everything from her. You can imagine how a thief may be a bit more possessive about her own things." Hale leaned back in the stool and couldn't hide his laughter. Lauren wanted to laugh with him, but she was still so confused. "Apparently, Bo can't stop talking about you. Neither can Bryce. You seem to make and leave a big impression on people. Kenzi just feels threatened by that. Don't think too much into it because I can see it in your face. I know you, Lauren. Just be with Bo and stop overanalyzing everything about it. If you're not still a little bit in love with her, you at least still like her a lot."
"What about you, though?" Lauren felt the need to correct him because she realized he was assuming she and Bo had gotten back together. She didn't know why she didn't just tell the truth. Honestly, she wasn't sure she knew the truth anymore. Suddenly, it would feel like lying if she said anything or tried to deny anything was going on. Today, it was clear that something definitely was.
"What about me? Kenzi will get over it." Hale chuckled, as he picked up a piece of bread and chewed it as though nothing was wrong with the situation. This took "keeping it in the family" to a whole new level.
"I meant with Bryce. How does this work with you and Bryce?" Lauren took a deep breath, prepared for the worst. It was one thing to suspect something; it was another to have confirmation, and she was finally going to get it. She felt her heart racing, and she knew her cheeks were starting to flush deeper.
"What do you mean? He still gets Uncle Hale time. I'm not the one worried about you stealing my time with the little man." Hale stood and moved to help Lauren in the kitchen, ushering her to sit down at the counter while he brought over the pizza. She just stared at her beer, playing with the labels and not quite processing what he was saying. She was focusing too much on getting the confirmation, but as soon as he placed a plate in front of her, everything clicked. Bryce wasn't Hale's kid. Hale and Bo didn't have a kid together. There was no overly dramatic situation, and Lauren had made it all up in her mind. She couldn't be too sure that she had let her mind create that scenario just so she could avoid her feelings for Bo. Part of her probably hoped it was Hale because she knew she could deal with it being Hale. "Avery may not like it if you become a permanent fixture, but he'll get over it. He only has Bryce a few times a month. Don't get me wrong; he's actually not a bad guy, considering, but it's not an easy situation. He leaves us alone, so we leave him alone."
"Why is it not an easy situation?" Lauren actually found herself tense even more with this revelation. She now had some back story, and she realized she couldn't hide behind excuses anymore. She knew this meant she would have to face herself and face Bo, and that terrified her.
"Bo slept with the enemy. They had a kid together because of it. I'm pretty sure the only reason there's even a semblance of truce between us and Bo's dad's family is because of Bryce." Hale came to sit down beside her, as he served her for a change. He must have sensed that she was in shocked mode right now. He used to bring over pizza and they would sneak her dad's beers whenever she and Bo were fighting, or whenever Bo had been particularly mean to her at school that day. Hale was an amazing best friend, and Lauren actually wished he was Bryce's father now. He would have been a great father, and Lauren knew she could deal with Hale. Plus, if this guy had a son with Bo, what would stop him from trying to get back with her? "I know everyone expected it to be Evony or Bo's dad messing with us, but I'm honestly not surprised it was Lachlan."
"Okay, I think I'm confused." Lauren shook her head lightly out of some physical need to clear it. She looked back at Hale, now more alert and ready to discuss this more. It seemed her mouth was finally catching up with her Speed Racer brain.
"Dr. Lauren Lewis confused? I wish I had recorded you saying that just now; it may never happen again." Hale chuckled openly as he tried to chew his pizza without spitting it all over himself.
"I'm serious. I feel like an idiot. I thought you and Bo…and Bryce…" Lauren was surprised she admitted that, but it would do well to break some of her tension.
"Oh. Oh! No." Hale couldn't stop his deep laugh from emanating the entire space. It startled Lauren a little at how strong his laughter was. She didn't really find it funny. "She kissed me once at a party. Actually, it was more like she licked my entire head, but that was because of the alcohol. I could never go there with Bo. Even if you weren't around, she was still yours. Honestly, Lauren, she still is."
"I can't go there again, Hale. I can't do that again, and this time, it would be so much worse. This time, there's so much more at risk." It was the truth. If anything ever happened between them, they would be risking so much more. Bo had a kid now, for one. They were both in position of power within the family, and Bo was going to be don one day. It wouldn't be proper or good for business if the don and consigliere were sleeping together, in secret or in the open. It just made them that much more vulnerable to attack.
"You may want to deny it, but I see how you look at her; even now, you can't hide your blush. That's saying something because you've become even more controlled and careful. She still makes you do that, and that's saying something." Hale put down his pizza and wiped his hands before placing one of his large hands across her knee. He was one of the only people who could ever touch her so openly and make her feel relaxed. Even Bo used to make her tense whenever they touched, particularly in public places. Lauren always had that nagging feeling they would get caught. When they were, her fears only manifested.
"It's too dangerous. Trick could kill us both just for even thinking about it." Lauren could remember when boys and girls would hit on Bo. Even if they were from the family, if they weren't high enough in the ranks, Trick would do something that made them stop coming to Bo. Lauren wondered if Bo knew what really happened to her first boyfriend; that Kyle guy she lost her virginity to before she started dating Lauren. Maybe that's why Bo was so adamant and needy for attention when she pursued Lauren. Maybe that's why she was doing it now that Lauren was consigliere. "I won't go there again. I just can't."
"You can, though. That's why you're so freaked right now." Hale moved back before arching an eyebrow at her. It was like he was trying to scold her but couldn't stop smiling that damned knowing smirk at her. "You can and you want to. There's nothing wrong with that, Lauren."
"There is so much wrong with that; I can't even begin to explain how much is wrong with that." Lauren just narrowed her eyes back, fighting her blush again. She picked up her pizza slice, hoping Hale would get the hint that she wanted to stop talking about this.
"Look, you know Bo's persistent. She has her eyes on you, and she's not going to give up. We both know that. Having a kid may have calmed her down a lot and may have made her grow up, but she's still that same predator we both adored. We both know you looked at Bo long before she talked to you, and we both know you never would've done anything about it if she hadn't approached you first." Hale and Bo became good friends after he had caught her and Lauren together. They could act couple-y around him, and Bo seemed to like sharing her affection and lust for Lauren. Hale was encouraging, too. It's another reason Lauren believed he could have had a kid with Bo: There was a level of trust and honesty there. "Why fight it? It'll be different this time; you know that. She has no reason to be mean to you. In fact, I think she wants to make nice with you. Really, really nice."
"What if nothing has changed, though? I can't be that person again, Hale." Lauren just gave up on her pizza, realizing her appetite had gone long ago. "I won't be that person again."
"Nobody said you had to be. At least give her a chance to show you. What's the harm in trying?"
"Just by the fact you would even say that means you have no idea."
"I know more than you think. You forget that I had to watch you two; the constant tug of war. You never saw how upset Bo would be after she was mean to you." He took a visibly and audibly deep breath, and Lauren made eye contact with him again. It already felt like high school all over again. They were supposed to be adults now, and it was funny that Lauren was the one acting like a teenager. "You fell in love with her for a reason despite everything, so you know better than I do that wasn't her. The real her was the one who was alone with you, and I think you know that, and I think it scares you that you know it would be different this time. I think you know there's actually a potential future here, and I think you don't know what to do with that. I think you need to stop letting your brain tell you this is a bad idea and listen to what your heart really wants."
"You think too much." Lauren curled her lip slightly, surprised at Hale's impassioned speech.
"Yeah, well, you rubbed off on me too much."
"Better not tell Kenzi that; she may get the wrong impression."
"Or you could just start rubbing it off with Bo and save us both the trouble."
"You really just said that."
"I really just did."
"I can't make any promises. Everything in my nature now wants to fight it." Lauren gripped the napkin in her hand, pulling at the threads and wondering why she couldn't just use paper napkins. This was one of those things her mother's etiquette lessons had taught her, and it always seemed to stick. Even after years of being places where napkins were shirt sleeves and pants legs, Lauren found herself using these cloth napkins the moment she returned. It was in the familiarity.
"I know, but I also know just as much of you wants to not fight it. You can have what you wanted all those years ago, so why not give it a shot?" Hale was partially right, but he was treating this as some big epic love story, and Lauren had to remain logical for all parties involved.
"I'll think about it." She meant it, too, because she knew she wouldn't be able to think of anything but for awhile.
"I'd expect nothing less from you, but this time, why not try not thinking too much about it?" Hale went back to his pizza, and they just both non-verbally decided to change topics. They both seemed to be happy for the reprieve.
Honestly, she wanted to call Bo right now and have them clear the air right away so she wouldn't have to marinate in her anxiety any longer. Maybe if Lauren could get this more mature Bo to see reason, she would stop looking at her like she always did; like Lauren was some tasty meal and Bo had been starving herself for years. Instead, Lauren went to bed that night knowing she wouldn't get any sleep yet again because of stupid Bo McCorrigan.
Bo tried not to be overly excited that she would see Lauren very shortly, but her nervousness seemed to be taking control of her right now. She couldn't be too worried that Lauren was trying to avoid her even more this past week. Bryce was sick, and Lauren was the family doctor. Regardless of their feelings or whether she was avoiding Bo, Lauren would still be a professional.
Bo knew she was a little panicky, but she still wasn't used to the little things that came with having a kid; like sick days. Bryce seemed to be getting sick a lot lately, and Bo couldn't be entirely sure he didn't do something on purpose just so he could see Lauren again. If it was true, she was slightly jealous she hadn't thought of that herself. He honestly seemed way too excited that he was sick and could see Dr. Lewis again. Even though he was coughing and scratching at the bumps on his arm, despite Bo's constantly tugging his hands away, he couldn't hide the smile from his face. Bo had to hide that her own reaction mirrored her son's.
They were ushered back to Lauren's private office again, and Bryce immediately went to grab the picture of Maddie. He brought it over and held it in his lap as he climbed onto the exam table. Bo could only roll her eyes because he was too fast for her to stop him, and it was ridiculously cute and he was sick, so she had a hard time disciplining him in those moments. She got lucky to have a naturally good and smart kid because she didn't have to tell him things twice; he was way too scared to get in trouble, but he did try to test the limits quite a bit. Bo hoped that aspect stayed through his teenage years; at least the part where she only had to tell him things once.
Lauren's perfume permeated the room, mixed with that familiar sterilized smell that came with hospitals and doctor's offices, and Bo bit her lip as she stared over at Lauren's desk chair. It was tall and leather and plush, and it was hard not picturing the doctor being all doctor-y and sexy in that spot. Wearing nothing but her lab coat in that spot.
The door opening brought both of them to attention, and Bo knew she was blushing. She thanked goodness Lauren liked to work with low lighting because of her sensitive eyes. It always did make for some extra sexy times.
"Bryce. Bo." Lauren walked in, and she had obviously been warned this time they were coming. Bo couldn't pull a sneak attack on her anymore. While that move did help to break the ice a bit between them, there was still a lot of thawing before Lauren melted completely. Bo knew she had to be patient, and seeing Lauren looking all sexy in that white coat and watching her be so caring and friendly with her son, Bo fell a little in love with her again right then and there. She was so busy watching their interactions that she missed Lauren talking to her.
"I'm sorry. What?" Bo flicked her eyes back up, knowing she had been caught. It felt like that nightmare she used to have in school, when the teacher would call on her and she would be stuck and couldn't answer.
"I asked how long this fever has lasted. He didn't have this last time he came in here." Lauren actually smirked, and Bo read the knowing behind it. She still had that dumbstruck affect on Bo, and she seemed to both know it and like it. Perhaps those ice walls would melt faster than Bo originally thought.
"Oh, uh…two days? It's actually improved some, but the over-the-counter and home remedy stuff hasn't done much, so I'm worried." Bo didn't like admitting she didn't know something to Lauren; the other woman's level of knowledge was sexy as hell but could be intimidating at times. Bo felt embarrassed for her bout of "first mom syndrome."
"And these bumps?" Lauren lifted Bryce's arm to examine them again. Bryce just kept obliging to everything Lauren said; that much alone was enough to keep her. He also kept grinning up at her with his wide-toothed grin, his dimples clearly showing how happy he was despite being miserable.
"He started getting them yesterday at lunch; after they came back from the park, Mary said. I'm guessing just chicken pox or poison ivy, or something like that. I looked on WebMD, and I saw some things on there that made me panic, so I wanted to come and make sure he was okay." Bo cleared her throat, trying to not sound stupid but somehow sensing she was failing miserably. That was until Lauren just smiled warmly at her; it was the first warm and genuine smile she had seen on the doctor, and it was directed at her.
"Don't worry. Most first time moms stay with the panicked." Lauren marked something down in her chart and couldn't hide her smile anymore, Bo noticed. She glanced back up at Bo, and it was almost mildly flirty. Bryce being sick was a better wing man than Kenzi ever could be. "This is classic chicken pox, Bo; no need for alarm just yet. The cough is just him trying to clear his throat; it's sore. The fever will subside with some rest and plenty of fluids. He'll be fine. We'll get him fixed up in no time." Lauren turned back to Bryce as she started prepping something from her work station. "Sound like a plan, buddy?"
"You're funny and pretty, and my mommy needs friends." Bryce apparently needed a lesson on tact. Bo couldn't believe her son had just said that to Lauren, who just stopped and stood there smiling through the shock with a tube of something in her hand. Bo wanted to bury her face in her hands because her wingman had just failed her. "She never leaves the house except to work, and she's getting on my nerves."
"Bryce Davis McCorrigan!" Bo couldn't believe she was scolding her son in a doctor's office.
"What? It's true, Mommy. You need more friends, and I like Dr. Lauren. Plus, she's Maddie's aunt." How could this kid be so smart? He apparently had some elaborate romantic scheme going, and that thought made Bo laugh. Still, it didn't make the situation any less embarrassing. "Kenzi says you lurve Dr. Lauren, so why can't you hang out?"
"You need to stop hanging out with Kenzi." Bo risked a glance at Lauren, seeing her try not to openly laugh as she continued to focus on writing notes on her tablet. Bo could see her blush and smile clearly, though. That was the moment Bo knew she was finally in, and she had her son to thank for it.
"Mommy is going to take me to get ice cream after this. You should come, Dr. Lauren." Bryce's dimples showed big again, as though he had come up with the most brilliant idea ever. Lauren did openly chuckle a little before moving to place her tablet on the desk. For a second, Bo thought she was taking up Bryce's offer, but she pulled a pack of gummy bears from her desk and handed them to Bryce. Bo had to take a minute to appreciate that some things never change; Lauren was still a gummy bear snob, only eating the Haribo brand, and she kept a package in her drawer.
"How about I take a rain check and you put some of these on your ice cream? It'll be like I'm there in spirit. Sound like a plan?" Lauren put on a fresh pair of gloves and started to apply some cream to Bryce's exposed bumps. Bo just watched her work with such strong and steady hands.
"What's a rain check?" Bryce was kicking his dangling feet, and Lauren smiled at him and placed her wrist against his knee. He immediately stopped and smiled apologetically at her.
"It means I have to stay at work right now, but that one day in the future, I would love to have ice cream with you." Lauren was still applying the cream to Bryce's bumps, but she turned her head slightly to make strong eye contact with Bo. There was something in her eyes that made Bo's heart beat faster. Lauren had melted before her eyes, and Bo suddenly felt that familiar stir of anxiety and longing.
