Chapter 39 - Curtain Call
Saturday 17th March –08.15 am
Victoria's Secret, New Bond Street, London
Lauren stood at the counter and counted seven more boxes added to the toy and two items of underwear she had picked out. The assistant was taking her time to gift wrap each one. Waiting in line when an arm snaked around Lauren's waist and a kiss was planted on her cheek. "I'll get this, and I picked up a few more bits."
"I can see." Lauren leaned back into a quick embrace. The assistant was completely oblivious to them.
"So, Miss Dennis. Did you get everything you wanted?" The assistant finally looked up and smiled. Bo and Lauren secretly parted.
"And more." Bo gave a lopsided grin. Lauren's cheeks turned pink. "Thank you again for opening early and allowing us to shop privately."
"Anytime, Miss Dennis." The assistant smiled. "Your security detail was very precise on your requirements for the full shop, with no assistants present."
"Thank you." Bo smiled, "I will return."
"We hope to welcome you again." The assistant walked around the counter.
Picking up the bags, Bo and Lauren followed her out of the shop. A waiting car was parked down the side road, Lauren walked Bo to it. The driver jumped out and took the bags, placing them in the boot of the car.
"We need to leave soon Miss if we are to arrive on time at the studio." The driver spoke.
"Thank you, George, I'll be a few minutes." Bo waited till he had returned to the driver's seat, and turned to Lauren. "Bubba, you were fantastic in there."
"So was you, and rather unexpected." Lauren buried her head in Bo's neck.
"I couldn't leave it as it was. I know it wasn't a fight but it felt like it, and I wanted to see you." Bo took Lauren's hand, "Are we okay?"
"Christ yes, I was an idiot. I didn't understand Cleo, and then you were in your underwear, and I went all childish and probably got jealous."
"That's why I have new underwear today. I promise that only you will ever see me in it." Bo grinned, "Or be the one to take me out of it. My, my wasn't the poppers fun?"
Lauren blushed. "Holy hell Bo, I nearly died when you put that popper in your mouth. I will never forget that moment."
"You said sex in public was a fantasy of yours that you had never experienced. I didn't know anyone dead, so the funeral closet will have to wait." Bo lightly bumped Lauren.
"I don't deserve you." Lauren hugged Bo close.
"I'm sorry about last night," Bo whispered in Lauren's ear.
Lauren moved a stray piece of hair from Bo's face and tucked it behind her ear. "No, don't. It's me, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left like that, and it was wrong of me not to answer your messages."
"I should have told you about meeting Cleo-"
"No," Lauren interrupted, "you don't have to tell me anything. We are only a few weeks into dating. You don't owe me any explanations about who you meet and what you do."
Bo shook her head, "We're not just dating, Lo. I am exclusively yours, and I want you to be mine. I told you that you were my girlfriend. Does that not mean the same for English girls?" Bo added.
"Yes, sorry it does."Lauren smiled, "I didn't handle that well. Bo, you are my first actual girlfriend. I have dated girls, yes, even seen them more than once. I was on and off with someone for a year and might have been the closest I got, but never a girlfriend status."
"That both surprises me, and at the same time, doesn't." Bo kissed Lauren's cheek, "If that makes any sense."
"Because I'm such an easy and uncomplicated woman?" Lauren laughed.
"Something like that. And Lauren, I won't see Cleo again." Bo stepped back a little, "but my life is very public. So I think we need to hold back announcing our relationship until you have met with my team, and they can talk you through it."
Lauren nodded, "Okay, I agree. You don't need to stop seeing Cleo if you don't want to."
"Thank you." Bo wrapped her arms around and kissed her neck. "Can I ask, was Sasha too much?"
"No, I liked her. How was Emma?" Lauren asked.
"The shy shopper, seduced by the temptress sales assistant." Bo smiled at the memory; arms linked around Lauren's waist. "and one I think we need to revisit again soon. Vivienne Westwood has amazing changing rooms."
"Where did you get the uniform?" Lauren asked, loving the feel of Bo's arms around her. It felt comfortable. It felt right.
"I was offered a coffee in the staff room, and I spied it on a hanger." Bo admitted, "So when I heard the sales assistant let you in and then leave, I decided to put it on, with a few minor adjustments."
"Minor adjustments?" Lauren laughed, "You cropped that shirt and rolled up the skirt."
Bo shrugged, "Like I said, minor adjustments."
"What if the employee had come back while we were in the cubicle?" Lauren whispered, looking around to the near-empty high street, "she would have caught us at it."
"It was fine, she left her number, and I called her while you redressed," Bo answered, and fidgeted.
"Are you okay?" Lauren asked, feeling Bo move.
Bo smiled, "I will be, just the aftermath of a very steamy session has left me a bit sore."
"Sorry Bubba if I took it too far, I-I, sorry." Panicking Lauren attempted to step back, but Bo had a firm hold of her.
"No, if I didn't want something, I would have said something." Bo corrected, pulling Lauren back into her embrace.
"Succubus?"
"If that is our safe word, then yes." Bo took Lauren's head in her hands, "I feel safe with you, and you are safe with me. I am sorry about what Cleo said, she doesn't always get it right. She told me that I lived many lives all ending on the same day. She sometimes makes zero sense. And if it makes you feel better, she claims not to remember what is said during the sessions."
"I know. Just Cleo hit a nerve with mum." This time when Lauren stepped back, Bo let her. "I know clairvoyants go through your phones, mail and whatever they can, but still she hit a nerve."
"She was wrong, and I don't know how she knew your mother had died, or that water was involved." Bo confessed, "All I can say is that you will never see her again."
"Thank you." Lauren sighed a breath of relief, "I can't stand all that hocus pocus. I never take notice of star signs, fortune tellers, spiritualists or clairvoyants. All a bunch of-"
Bo walked towards the car.
Lauren stopped speaking, she could see that Bo was a believer and didn't want to insult her. The realisation that Bo may have spent thousands of dollars on these scam artists, however, upset her. But it was her money after all, and Lauren would learn to stay out of it. "Just not for me, but I get that it is for you."
"Is it really against your realms of possibility of any paranormal life?" Bo asked, "Do you really believe it's only us here and nothing more?"
"I'm not religious either Bo, so don't take it personally that I don't believe," Lauren answered truthfully, and took Bo's hand. "But I do believe in you and if you are, then I will respect that."
"Thanks." Bo knew Cleo didn't resonate well with her circle. Bo had the same arguments with Kenzi and Tamsin over the years. Bo didn't know why she thought Lauren would be different. Maybe it was because she imagined they shared a special connection. But alas, she was wrong. Bo decided that she would see her only one more time, however, just to make sure.
Lauren saw Bo, her eyes moving rapidly. She was deep in thought, so decided to change the subject.
"Do you have a busy day?" Lauren asked.
"Yes, sorry. I have to go. I have two interviews, then a work dinner, the play and after all that an early night," Bo replied, snapping back into the conversation. "What about you?"
"Working all weekend. Got a new assignment starting Monday and I'm the Tactical Advisor." Lauren answered.
"For the British Government," Bo raised an eyebrow. "or Jack?"
Lauren smiled in return, "British Government. Believe it or not, I don't work for Jack often."
"Good, I prefer knowing that you are behind a desk than in front of a gun." Bo leaned in and kissed Lauren lightly on the lips.
"There will be a party tonight at the Sparrow, St Patricks Day so will be crammed. Will you come after the play?"
Bo kissed Lauren again, this time the tip of her nose, "No, I don't think so. Tamsin officially dumps me today, so I will be surrounded by the press. But I want you to go, have fun. Tamsin and Kenzi will be there, they have a free night and said would hang out with Vex."
"Did they, my flat will be the epicentre. I have work, and I may not get back in time. We'll see." Lauren stepped back, "I best let you go. I will message you later."
"I hope so." Bo opened the rear door to the car, and the driver immediately jumped out.
The door was closed, and the driver nodded acknowledgement to Lauren before driving off.
Saturday 17th March –18.55 pm
Laurens' Flat, Croydon
Lauren walked into the room and was immediately approached by Kenzi, Tamsin and Vex.
"What the fuck happened last night with Bo, Lo? BoLo? That's so their mashup name." Kenzi added high fiving Vex and Tamsin. "Have you spoken to Bo today?"
Lauren rubbed her temples and placed her bag down on the bench, "Yes, we met up this morning for a bit of shopping."
"Last night Bo was upset that you didn't think you were exclusively dating? So, what's up?" Tamsin stood defiantly in front of Lauren; she was going to get answers. "Are you stringing her along?"
"We sorted that this morning, a misunderstanding that's all." Lauren pulled the milk from the fridge and switched on the kettle. "Bo and I are really good. We are both happy, really happy, and in a good place."
Vex held out his hand, and Kenzi sighed. "Okay, I'll pay you later."
"I'm always right when it comes to her." Vex fist-pumped the air, "Predictable, my sister."
"What? What did you bet." Lauren asked.
"Oh that nothing was said, nothing resolved and nothing was cleared up. You simply clam banged her and think it has fixed it all," Vex answered. "Your go-to when you're in the wrong."
"No, it isn't," Lauren punched him in the arm, surprised by his revelation.
"Since this morning, have you spoken?" Kenzi asked.
"No, but we both said we had busy days," Lauren answered.
"But you also said you would message her." Kenzi poked Lauren in the chest, "You break into her room, have a tantrum, storm off, don't answer your phone all night, but happily run along for a bit of Bo's booty at the first opportunity, but won't have one of your damn teas with her, or talk to her. Only answer her calls for a hookup!"
"It was Bo's idea to meet up," Lauren interjected.
"Because she feels you slipping away, so is trying to pull you back in." Tamsin replied, "She didn't know what else to do. She thought she was losing you."
"I would have called-" Lauren didn't have time to finish her sentence as Kenzi was still drilling her.
"When? When are you going to fit Bo into your life?"
"Calm down Kenzi, we only had a date a few nights ago, until then we were sorting stuff out, and now we are navigating this." The kettle whistled, and Lauren reached for her mug. She really needed her tea, but Vex was leaning against the counter blocking her access to the jar. "Vex, move."
"Navigating what?" Vex asked, sidestepping a bit. "You have been in love with her for five years. You are finally together, and you ghost her? And what happened this morning, I thought you were going shopping? When did you fit sex in? did you do the dirty in the back seat of her car? Was the driver there?"
"No Vex, what Bo did, or didn't do is none of your business." Lauren eyed up Tamsin and Kenzi who had lopsided grins. "But of course, you both know."
"Yeah, well, we have ways to get things out of her." Kenzi admitted, "Vex, all we know is that they hooked up in Victoria's Secret changing room."
"Great." Lauren flung both hands in the air.
"Don't get all high and mighty Lauren," Tamsin added. "She goes from cloud nine, to miserable in a few hours."
"I don't understand," Lauren replied.
"She arrived at the studio happy Lauren said you had an epic time together, briefly talked but you were going to call or message her later." Kenzi softened her voice.
"Bo stared at that damn phone all day, and you left her hanging. I don't know how you treated your other girlfriends, but that was shitty." Tamsin added. "Did you know I officially dumped her live on air today?"
"I – erm – I," Lauren looked down, she didn't know what to say. She had promised to call or send Bo a message, but the day had slipped away from her. "She said you had TV interviews, but didn't say that was going to happen."
"Yeah, on Loose Women, we announce we had separated." Tamsin waved her hands around the air, "It was a live broadcast, news spread like wildfire and it went fucking crazy. We were hounded as soon as we left ITV, so we split ways, and they all followed her."
"She needed you today." Vex pipped up.
"Bo wants a relationship, not a booty call," Kenzi added.
"It's not that, it is a relationship." Lauren defended herself.
"Sex is not a relationship, sis. Do you ever talk to her?" Vex asked.
"I – erm, well, we did talk for a few minutes." Lauren finally answered.
"And what did you find out about her today? Anything about her play, her reviews, what Cleo said to her." Kenzi stepped forward with every question until Lauren was backed up against the breakfast bar. "Did you ask why she looked tired, after sending you messages till gone two am, and then spending the remainder of the night asking me what she had done wrong?"
"Okay, okay. I get it. I'm a shit girlfriend, and don't deserve Bo Dennis." Lauren resided and left the kitchen area, and sat on the sofa with neither the fight in her nor her cup of tea.
Tamsin and Kenzi looked at each other and followed Lauren to the sofa, sitting on either side of her.
"I'm so scared of fucking it up with something stupid, that I don't do anything right," Lauren admitted, Tamsin and Kenzi both had their arms around her, and she didn't know what way to lean. Instead, her head stayed down between them both.
Kenzi answered her dilemma and pulled her into a hug. "Just be there, if not in person, then when you can. Show her you're thinking of her, ask about her day, tell her about yours." Kenzi added, "Make this normal, forget the past, what has gone on, or the future of what could happen. Focus on the here and now. It is the same thing I told Bo. You two are good for each other, but terrible at communicating."
Lauren kissed both of them, "I'm an idiot; I don't know what I would do without you."
"Okay." Kenzi playfully slapped Lauren's arm, "Then that is all good. As long as you know."
"Get dressed, we're out to the Sparrow." Vex put the milk back in the fridge and pulled out bottles of beer and handed them out. "Five minutes to get out of that suit and into something green."
Saturday 17th March –20.35 pm
The Sparrow Pub, Croydon
The 198 bus journey to Central Croydon only took five minutes. Another night with the place heaving, patrons spilling out onto the street. Again they squeezed in and made their way to the back of the pub, immediately pulled into the back section by Codeye and the gang. Drinks covered the table, everything imaginable, pints of Guinness, bottles of beer and jugs of cocktails. A different live band was playing, and all were up dancing and singing along. The atmosphere was charged, and soon Tamsin and Kenzi had drinks in hand. The song was Irish Rover, arms waved in the air, and people spun around, jumping and screaming the lyrics.
Kenzi smiled widely. This was really her type of place, "I fucking love it here."
"I know, you said that last night," Tamsin added.
"Well I still feel the same," Kenzi added, poking her friend.
Kenzi grabbed Lauren and pulled her in close, "Sorry if I was too harsh earlier."
"No, I need to be better," Lauren hugged Kenzi, taking her by surprise, "I needed that."
Dirty Old Town blared through the speakers, and the room lifted even more. "Come on, we need to be in there." Both Lauren and Tamsin looked at where she was pointing. It was the dance floor and a mesh pit of people jumping. They shrugged, "sure, why not."
Thirty minutes later, after Wild Rover was screamed at the top of their lungs, Kenzi and Tamsin returned to the table. Lauren had left just before them, saying she needed to sit. Still, no drinks had been bought, but the table was still plenty stocked. The group were on the shots and were handed some as soon as they arrived back.
"Great to see you all here," Codeye raised his shot. "We understand that Bo couldn't make it again, but let's cheers to Tamsin. We were all happy to learn that you and Bo have ended. Meaning happy days for her and Lauren. And also it means for you, and for reasons only you know, you can now officially date Dyson."
The table cheered.
"Did I hear my name again?" Dyson, who had just arrived, shouted over the noise.
"Hello, babe." Dyson leaned Tamsin down into a very public kiss. "I have wanted to do that all day."
"Hiya handsome," Tamsin blushed. "You ready for the world's press?"
"Been at the gym all day, pumping hard iron," Dyson replied.
"What, you think you can take them on?" Tamsin laughed, squeezing at his biceps.
"Take who on?" Dyson winked, "I meant for my red carpet photos or the walk past the window in my towel moment."
"Ahh, me jeez. Where have all the real men gone?" Codeye rolled his eyes at him.
Vex went to raise his hand, but was swiftly pulled down by Smithy, "Don't think so mate."
Everyone laughed. Vex pretended to sulk, then laughed along.
Codeye, raised his hands, this time beckoning them to quieten down. "It makes me all warm to see you all with the ones you want to be with. Now, hangs on, waits, where's Lauren?"
Everyone looked around. Dana jumped on the table. "Not again?"
Tamsin shouted, "She left." All eyes were on her. "A few songs ago she was telling me how she needed to be better involved with Bo. How she wanted to be more present in Bo's life, not for the sexy times, but also the boring domestic ones."
"Tell me she didn't go to Bo's hotel? Fuck, fuck, fuck." Kenzi interrupted, "When did she leave?
"Erm, maybe fifteen, twenty minutes ago."
Kenzi rang out the bar, Vex and Tamsin following. The rest of the group shrugged it off as champagne problems and continued with their shot train and St Patrick's day celebrations.
"What is it this time?" Vex asked as soon as they were outside.
Kenzi had her phone to her ear, "Pick up, pick up. Come on, Bo, pick up."
"What is it, Kenz?" Tamsin asked.
Kenzi lowered the phone, the dead tone altering her that Bo, again, had turned off. She would speak to her about that the next time they met.
Tamsin stood in front of Kenzi and shook her, "Kenz, what is it this time?"
"Bo isn't alone."
"What?" Tamsin and Vex both replied. "Again!"
"You got to be joking," Vex added.
"What the fuck is it this time?" Tamsin asked.
"It's fucking bad, that's what it is." Kenzi paced, "It's fucking bad."