Chapter 10.
Lauren stepped out of The Dal into the cooling night air and leaned against the building. She wasn't sure her legs would keep her upright if she continued walking.
What was Ryan up to? How could he know? Did he know? Could it be just some crazy coincidence?
Her mind swirled with questions and she took deep breaths trying to clear her head.
Bo's hand on her arm startled her so that she actually yelped.
"Hey. Hey, it's just me. What's going on?" Bo's eyes were filled with concern. "Talk to me, Lauren." She nodded toward The Dal. "What just happened in there?"
Kenzi stood a few meters away, keeping an eye out on the door, presumably watching for Ryan.
"Why did Ryan freak you out so much?" Bo prodded when Lauren remained silent.
"Because I don't trust him. And neither should you." Lauren pulled away. "He's trouble, Bo. At least for me." She snorted. "God, it never ends." She started walking toward the car she had taken from Lochlyn's garage. "Like I said, get Hale and Dyson—we need to meet with Lochlyn."
She had opened the door when Bo's voice stopped her. "So, how long does it take to drive to Prince George, anyway?"
She dropped her head with a sigh and pushed the door shut. "Three days with a few sleep breaks scattered in."
"Didn't leave a lot of time for romantic reconnections, did it?"
Lauren looked over the roof of the car as the woman drew closer. Bo's face was taut with frustration and maybe a hint of anger.
"Bo. Let me explain."
Bo let out a sarcastic grunt and shook her head. "If I had a loonie for every time I've heard you say those four words I'd be able to buy a round for the joint." She looked at her watch, "Wait, let me guess. You'll explain later, first we have the world to save, blahblahblah."
Lauren beat her hand on the window in frustration. "Something like that. Yeah." Her gaze faltered. "How did you know?"
"Well, looking like you'd seen a ghost at the mention of Prince George was a helluva clue." Bo worked to control the anger in her voice. "Your med uni t-shirt…UBC. And, I saw how many kilometers you put on my car's odometer." She waved her smart phone. "Gotta love google; the mileage is just about perfect for Prince George. How did you enjoy your dip through Michigan?"
Lauren was silent.
"Honestly. I don't understand why you just can't talk to me." Bo's voice was tired and hurt.
It shattered Lauren's last wall.
"Because, I'm a human!" Tears spilled down Lauren's cheeks and she angrily swiped them away. "I'm little more than a dog to most of the fae around here and five years of that kind of disregard takes a toll on a person, okay? There's been no one I could talk to-no one to trust-not until you, but by then I was so good at holding it all in! The only thing that kept me moving forward was the one thing I thought I had control over-it was the light at the end of the tunnel…making Nadia better! She suffered because of my dreams!" She pounded her chest in time with her litany. "My adventure! My curiosity! My arrogance!" She was breathless. She couldn't breathe.
She knew she was hyperventilating, and the clinical part of her mind recognized the symptoms, while the Lauren side of her was mortified at the realization that her legs were slowly losing the ability to hold her weight. She turned and sagged, her back against the car, while trying to slow her breathing. White dots danced at the edge of her periphery and she made a clinical note to remember this feeling of panic. It could help her bedside manner.
As she was sliding toward the ground she felt Bo's hands on her arms, trying to hold her upright. She dimly heard Kenzi call out in concern. She was beyond caring; all she wanted to do was stop feeling.
Cool hands cradled her face, and then her chin was lifted and Bo covered her mouth with her own. Lauren felt air on her back as Bo pulled her forward and into the kiss. She felt a warm tingle and then a delicious sensation began to spread through her body. She began to return the kiss, almost unwillingly at first. And then, as her body gained strength, more desperately. Her hands buried themselves in Bo's hair and she pushed her body back toward the car to gain leverage. She needed to reverse their positions. She needed to be on top.
"Uhm. Guys. Gals. Bitches!" Was that awe in Kenzi's voice? "I don't mean to interrupt, but get a room, geez!"
Bo pulled back, panting. "Lauren?"
Lauren blinked. She struggled to catch her breath, but this time it wasn't due to hyperventilation. "God." She looked at Bo, dumbfounded. "What the hell did you just do?"
"I'm not sure. I think I gave you some of my chi." Bo ran her hands up and down Lauren's arms. "You're shivering. Are you okay?"
Lauren nodded and stood on trembling legs. "Yeah. Thanks."
Bo leaned in and planted a kiss on Lauren's forehead. "Don't you ever do that to me again. God, Lauren….do you know how much you scared me?"
Lauren swallowed. "I'm sorry. I just—it's all—I don't know—I've forgotten-,"
Her words were covered with kisses as Bo pulled her into a fierce hug. "Shhh."
Kenzi mumbled, "Good Grief, Charlie Brown." She picked up the car keys that Lauren had dropped to the ground and set off the car alarm.
The two women sprang apart looking around wildly.
Kenzi shook her head in mock sadness. "Don't be hating on the messenger." She deactivated the alarm and tossed the keys to Lauren. "Come on, we've got a world to save."