Lauren was able to smooth things over with Sam. He was still frustrated by the situation. Lauren was leaving for her weekend with John tomorrow. Sam didn't know about it. He thought she was just going home. He was going on a skating trip with some friends. Lauren was in her hotel room waiting for Sam to come over. As she was waiting her video call logo popped up. She pressed the button and Ashley popped up on the screen.
"Hi." Ashley said.
"Hi." Lauren said.
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"No." "Sam's not here yet."
"Do you and him have plans for the weekend?"
"No." "He's going on a skating trip with his friends." "I'm going to Santa Barbara."
"What's in Santa Barbara?"
"I'm going away with John for the weekend." "We're going to The Rosewood."
"Is it The Rosewood I'm thinking of?
"Yeah." "John booked our suite."
"The beach house suite?" "The suite where you lost your virginity?"
"Yes."
"How did that even come to pass?"
"He was practically begging me to go away with him at lunch last week."
"What does Sam think?"
"He doesn't know." Sam came through the door. "I have to go Ashley." "Bye.."
"Bye."
Sam sat down next to Lauren.
"Hi sweetheart." She said.
"Hi." They kissed.
The next afternoon Lauren arrived at the suite.
"John?" She called. He wasn't there yet. She put her bag in the bedroom and went out on to the balcony. She loved the ocean view. She got a text. It read.
Hi baby. - Sam
Hi. Having fun? - Lauren
Yeah but I miss you. -Sam
I miss you to. - Lauren
I have to go but I love you. - Sam
I love you too. - Lauren
Ten minutes later John came out on the balcony and wrapped his arms around her waist. She jumped.
"Sorry baby." He said.
She turned to face him. "Hi."
"Hi." "Can I have a kiss?" They kissed.
Later that night they both came through the door quickly kissing intensely after dinner. They were both drunk. It didn't take much for Lauren to get drunk. Sam didn't drink so she rarely did anymore. She and John went into the bedroom.
Afterwards they were laying on their sides facing each other. They kissed.
"We need to fix this Lauren." John said. "I miss you." "I love you."
"I love you too honey." "You know how it goes when we keep trying this."
"I know but I want to be with you." "Nothing else matters." "Not the other guy you're seeing, just us."
"I know how much you want to be together but being with you hurts." "I'm so happy that you get all the opportunities that you do, but that leaves me all alone." "I'm not saying I never want you to work but I need you around at least a little bit." "i don't think that's unreasonable."
"It's not." "I've never intentionally hurt you." "I don't want to hurt you." "I want to be happy like we were."
"So do I."
The next evening Lauren and John were holding hands walking on the beach. The sun was setting.
"I don't blame you for leaving me." John said. "I wasn't there for you and that's my fault." "I need to have better time management of work and you." "I promise it'll be better if you take me back."
"John we've tried that lots of times and it always ends up with both of our hearts breaking."
He stopped walking and stood in front of her. "I know but this time is different."
"How?"
"When we were dating for all those years, there's something I never did and I regret it." "Now I get a chance to correct my mistake." To Lauren's absolute shock he got down on one knee. Her jaw dropped. He took a little red box out of his pocket and opened it revealing a beautiful sliver diamond ring. "I love you Lauren, I want you with me, forever." "Lauren Natalie Foster, will you marry me?"