So...this story...
If this story has taught me anything, it's that working out the couple of 'key moments' I have in my head before I start writing, actually takes a lot longer than I think it will. Case in point, I thought this one would be about four to five chapters in total and it's turned into ten very long chapters that I could have easily made into twenty...
Oh well...;-)
So...when I tell you gals and guys (Are there guys here?) that I've decided to postpone going back to 2018 for another chapter, perhaps even two...you aren't really surprised huh?
...
That's what I thought...;-)
Everyone ready for winter cheer during the Summer months?
You are?
Awesome...
you rock! :-)
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Replies to review as always below! :-)
A Christmas Date: Chapter 10
Lauren's POV
"Tamsin, what the hell are you doing?" Bo's voice grunts out behind me.
"What? Someone has to play daddy with the shotgun protecting his little girl, and I am already licensed to carry a gun!" Tamsin grins.
"Tamsin..." Bo shakes her head. "Good grief, I'm not sixteen! Leave Lauren alone, and please don't go toting your firearm around!"
"Sure," Tamsin grins and drops her fork. "Thanks for breakfast, doc. It was awesome!" Tamsin says with a wink and reaches for her vest. "I'll give you love birds some time to talk. I'll be back in like an hour or so, maybe we can do something together?" Tamsin nudges Bo in passing, and says with a smirk. "I have a good feeling about this one, Bobo. She's a keeper."
I see Bo shake her head at Tamsin, but a small smile emerges from her lips. When she looks back up and our eyes meet, we both chuckle.
"Sorry about that. Tamsin, she can be a bit much sometimes."
"She's just being a good best friend."
"She is, and I love her, but her idea of subtlety is a sledgehammer to the face."
Bo and I both chuckle. Mine is a little awkward as I'm now quickly wondering how much Bo heard of that conversation. Bo isn't bringing up the subject though, so I don't either, and instead I just ask what pops up in my head.
"How was your nap?"
"It was uhm...good. I didn't realise how tired I was."
I nod. "Your body is still recovering, and it needs somewhere to recuperate that energy from."
"But, I'm not contagious anymore?"
"You're not," I confirm. "You have bacterial pneumonia... Which in itself, unless you have mycoplasma pneumoniae or tuberculosis, isn't very contagious and the incubation period is only a few days after treatment. I wouldn't have brought you here if you were still a potential health risk."
"Good to know. So, seeing as I'm on the mend and not a danger to public health, maybe we can stop thinking and talking about me for a bit? I've been meaning to ask you how your uncle Nathan was doing."
I chuckle softly at Bo's words. I suppose she's getting a little fed up with my constant concern for her health, and I get that. I'd be exactly the same.
"Course," I nod with a smile. "How about I tell you all about it over a cup of tea on the couch?" I say and she offers to help with the tea. This time I don't refuse and the two of us grab the things we need from the cupboards. I also pull out some biscuits and cake I picked up from a local bakery the first day we were here. About ten minutes later we're seated on the couch, and we both have a cup and a slice of cake in our hands.
"This is pretty good," Bo says taking a bite from the cake.
"It is," I nod I glance over at Bo and smile. Bo is slowly but surely getting better, and her skin is a lot less pale than it has been in days previous. Even her cheeks have started to have color again, she's beginning to get back to being her radiant self and she's got me stealing glances at her again because she is stunning, not because I am worried about her. Bo and I chitchat a little about cooking and baking and I tell her how I usually bake my own cookies and cakes, but that a local bakery is a good alternative. We somehow land on the topic of uncle Nate and I tell her about the talk we had, how it's keeping my nightmares at bay now. Bo moves closer to me, we're holding hands, and she touches my arm, my leg just briefly sometimes, just to keep the physical connection open, to let me know she is there for me, listening to me. She's all about protection, Bo is, her touch is meant to soothe me, instead it has my heart thumping.
"I'm just so happy he's doing better," Bo says once I'm done talking, and I nod.
"Me too, he makes me realize what's important in life," I say and I think back to the conversation I had with Nathan about leaving the Navy, about being happy, about there being more than just work and duty. More is what I want to have with Bo, what I feel I have a shot at every time I look at her. I'm about to say something when there's another knock on the sliding door. I'm expecting to see Tamsin when I glance upwards, but instead I see my best friend's face.
"Ladies," Ben says jovially as he walks inside. He's wearing a tracksuit, and is a bit sweaty. "I just went for a most invigorating run, and found out that the resort has mini golf here. I thought that might make for a fun family afternoon seeing as Lauren has taken skydiving and rock climbing off of the list of appropriate activities."
I roll my eyes at Ben as I see Bo's brow furrow.
"Appropriate activities?"
"Oh yeah, before we came here, Lauren researched the resort to make sure that-"
"Ben," I say sternly interrupting him. "I just checked a couple of references..."
"Actually," Ben says cutting in. "First, she harassed the hotel staff to check their medical protocols, then she took the different activities the resort offered and made a list of appropriate activities for you to engage in," Ben says cheerfully ignoring my grunts of protest. "We are not to deviate from said list."
"I'd love to see it!" Bo pipes up and at her words Ben reaches into his pocket.
"Let's not give her any ideas, shall we?" I say snapping up the piece of paper he pulls out of his back pocket before he can give it to Bo. The last thing I need is for Bo to see what a complete control freak I am. "Miniature golf sounds good to me!" I exclaim a little too enthusiastically as I turn around and reach for my coat. I'm in the process of buttoning it up when Bo suddenly exclaims.
"Badminton and bowling are off the list?"
I turn around and see my best friend standing next to Bo glancing over a sheet of paper with her. He has a big grin on his face.
I open up the piece of paper I snatched from Ben seeing only numbers and exhale. "This is some guy's phone number, isn't it?" Ben wiggles his brows.
"It is and I'm gonna need that back." He smirks.
"Right, I'm tossing this," I reply.
Ben sticks out his tongue.
"Walks no longer than thirty minutes at a time?" Bo asks aloud. I groan inwardly.
"Canoeing only permitted with a professional handler/instructor and only if she dresses warmly?" Bo asks incredulously.
"Oh, and I like this one!" Ben pipes up. "Darts allowed only if they have plastic tips." Both Bo and Ben start laughing hard mumbling out something about the metal points. It's at my expense, so I just turn around and head out the door.
"Marvellous," I sigh. "Come along, children!" Ben and Bo are trailing behind me with Bo still reading off the list. I huff, but stay quiet.
"Avoid crowded places?"
"That one is fair. Ben, back me up!" I say whirling around, no longer able to keep my protests at bay. "Do you know how many germs circulate amongst the population? We don't want you getting another infection or a virus right now."
Ben just shrugs his shoulders. "Fair one," he concedes and I 'hah!' triumphantly.
"But, the next one is classic overdrive Laur. Wash your hands after every contact with a person and/or surface. Lauren likes to take quarantine measures when it comes to your health it seems," Ben comments to Bo, and they both laugh again. "You know she gave us a full physical to check if we were all 'safe' to be around you?"
"No way!" Bo exclaims.
"I'm texting Tamsin to meet us at the mini golf," I say just to change the subject.
"Best wash your hands after that," Ben jabs and Bo can't help but laugh again.
I grunt, but quietly I don't really mind Bo and Ben laughing at my expense. I've only ever been comfortable around Ben before as a friend, but to see Ben, Bo, Tamsin and I hit it off so well as a group has me smiling.
Tamsin is waiting for us at the mini golf course. As soon as she sees us she shouts and waves at us, brandishing clubs and golf hats above her heads. enthusiastically. "This is an awesome idea!"
We start with the 18 holes and I smile stealing glances at Bo and Tamsin interacting. They finish each other's sentences, harp on one another in good jest, and then land from one pun into the next. Their sense of humor feeds off of one another and then mingles in with Ben's sass for another round of laughter. Tamsin is always in Bo's vicinity making sure she's okay. Tamsin and I exchange a couple of silent glances letting each other know we're watching out for our girl. It's about forty five minutes in that both of us start realising that Bo is fine and she's actually using our worry for her to win the game.
"That's cheating," I comment with a smile calling Bo out on her tactic.
"I can't help you two being distracted. It's not cheating, " Bo says with a wink.
I chuckle. "You're going down, McCorrigan."
"I'd love to see you try Lewis. Put that big brain of yours to work and work out those angles, trajectories and forces needed."
"Science trumps instinct anyday," I say with confidence as I lay down my ball and line up my shot at the number 16 hole. Just as I'm about to hit my ball, Bo leans in, and whispers.
"I'd love to kiss you again." At her words my ball goes whizzing through the air and lands over at hole number 12. When I look up again I see Bo looking at me mightily pleased with herself and unable to contain her laugh.
"Great shot Lewis, " Bo grins out smirking.
I shake my head at her grinning.
Bo wins the first round closely followed by Ben and Tamsin and I horribly behind, but we make our comeback in the second round and Bo and I go head to head until the very last hole. I get it in two while Bo needs a total of three shots to putt her ball.
"Well played doc," Bo offers up with a grin. "You beat me fair and square," she says and extends her hand. I look down at her hand for a second then look back up. Instead of shaking her hand, I pull Bo in by the lapell of her jacket and plant a quick, but solid kiss on her cheek. Behind me I can hear Tamsin and Ben holler, and I grin laughing as I pull back.
"Actions are louder than words," I whisper at Bo with a wink. She has a stunned expression on her face, but it quickly transforms to a beautiful smile.
It's late in the afternoon when we walk back to our homes on the beach, Bo catching up with her bestie behind me and me and Ben walking just a few meters ahead of them with the sand of the beach pushing back under our feet, and the sun keeping us lazily warm.
"You and Bo seem to be getting along nicely again," Ben comments.
"We've been talking," I say, and I know Ben notices my smile. It's hard to keep at bay. "Slowly."
"She also has color back in her cheeks, looks a lot better," Ben observes. "Healthy enough to kiss I would say."
I shake my head. "I can't think about that. She's still recovering, and we only just started talking again."
"Don't tell her that. She's been stealing glances at you all afternoon."
Curiosity gets the better of me and I chance a look at Bo. Caught, she immediately looks away shyly.
"I don't want to mess things up," I say feeling my chest tighten slightly at my words. "By rushing things, by saying something I shouldn't."
"Laur, Tam tells me she feels as gutted about your fight as you do. She's crazy about you."
"That doesn't change the fact that she passed out in front of me five days ago."
Ben inhales. "She gave you a fright, huh?"
I don't say anything. Ben pats me on the back. "I get that, just don't keep her waiting indefinitely."
It's late afternoon when we get back, dinner is in the works with Ben as our chef delegating. Bo and I cut veggies as Tamsin is in charge of snacks and making sure everyone's glass remains filled: red wine for Tamsin, Ben and I, and a soda for Bo. After one glass of wine, I switch to sodas and Bo smiles softly at me. Her smiles makes me feel more giddy than four glasses of wine ever could.
Soon enough we're chatting and laughing, humming along with Christmas carols in the background. The casserole dish, an old recipe from Ben's nana, is a success. We spend the rest of the evening playing board games and chatting about the New Year's party that the resort is throwing: it's Gala themed and Ben and Tamsin are enthusiastic enough for the both of us. We all agree that we should at least check it out.
It's around 10pm that Bo pushes her chair back and tells us that she's heading in if she wants any chance at staying up past midnight tomorrow. I rack my brain looking for a valid excuse to join her, but Bo is perfectly capable of getting into her pajamas and into bed by her own now.
Not for the first time, I push back my annoyance at not being Bo's girlfriend who gets to fuss over her without needing a good excuse, who gets to join her to bed without anyone questioning why.
The next morning
December 30
Bo's POV
I love the morning routine Lauren and I have slipped into of having breakfast together just the two of us, and then going for a walk, sitting on that same white bench we did the day before and enjoying the view. Lauren tells me about the island.
How you can mail a coconut, you decorate it and then mail it how you would a postcard. Neat!
And how the island houses the biggest active volcano in the world. I knew that.
And that the last eruption was in 1790ties. I didn't know that.
Also, the island doesn't have any snakes. Well, not any big snakes. Good to know!
And oh yeah, bananas grow across the island, and you can always pick some for personal consumption. Hawaians don't like wasting food. Neat!
I wonder briefly is she researched all of this stuff before we docked or if this is just active knowledge. Any which way, I think it is mindblowing. I love how she geeks out, how her voice and demeanor changes when she does, how she always knows these things and how she likes to share them with me.
My favorite part though is where I get to hold Lauren's hand.
After the bench we carry on walking, and even pass the thirty minute mark. I'm tempted to tease her with the list, but I don't. I just keep on walking. Ben teases Lauren with her OCD qualities enough as it is, and I personally think they are friggen adorable, and wildly fascinating. We pass beach volley ball, tennis and padel courts. It's early in the season and in the morning still, there's only a few people on the courts, but I have no doubt that in the afternoon this place will be packed. It makes me wish for Summer, being fit enough to play. Most of all it makes me wish I could come back here with Lauren. I could see me here with her; we would have breakfast in the morning together and we could take a walk after that, maybe play an hour of tennis or padel. Then in the afternoon go lay on the beach, explore the island, or go diving. I've never been, but I would like to try.
In the evening, I would take her dancing. I would want to see her in a cocktail dress and perhaps even get a bit possessive on the dance floor. I think once I have permission to touch this woman, I will always want her in my arms. We could drink cocktails or shots or even lukewarm beer and then afterwards we would go back to our beach house and we would make love.
"Bo, do you like diving?" Lauren asks pulling me out of my day dream. Did she just read my mind? I shake off the thought with a smile. We chat more, she congratulates me on the interview with NASA and she tells me how things are going with Nadia and the patents. She has a hearing the same week Eve and I are in Virginia for our first round of interviews and tests. Lauren has gone through the recruitment process already, so I ask her about it at length. Listening to Lauren spurs me on to brush up on a few things before I head over to NASA myself. When we get back to the beach house, I grab Tam's iPad and nestle onto the sofa to do just that.
In the background, Lauren is making tea again and I smile at the domesticity of it all. If her breakfast is anything to go on, Lauren is a great cook, and I can't help but revel in that. My mom was a great cook, and I remember her taking great pleasure in preparing meals for my dad and I, but after her death a home cooked meal, family meals were a rarity. I was a teenager when I landed in the system and the foster parents I was sent to never bothered with trying to provide a home, let alone meals. I would run away and sneak off to Tamsin's house, stay there for a couple of days until the system collected me again.
When I got to college, I had no cooking skills to speak of. Tamsin and I lived off of Rahman noodles, and on the weekend we would eat at the pub I worked at. When I enlisted, my meals were prepared for me, and in all the years until now I've never gotten much further than being able to whip up a decent spaghetti. But now, as I see the ease with which Lauren moves about the kitchen, I remember a different time, a happier and homelier time in my life, and I find myself wanting to learn how to cook.
I offer to help, keen to do so, but am thwarted in my attempt to even offer. Lauren tells me instead to stay seated on the sofa, that she'll be right with me, and that she'll interrogate me on what I need to know for my interview. I laugh lightly when I see that Lauren is being quite serious.
When Lauren comes back with the tea, I pat a seat for her next to me. There are two couches, both equally as large and positioned in an L shape connected through a small side table, yet Lauren doesn't hesitate taking her seat next to me.
The atmosphere is relaxed, easy, and yet excitement bubbles just under my skin the way it always does when I'm this close to her. We chat more, but Lauren is quickly telling me to continue with my iPad research while she reaches for a book she's got laying on the side table.
Lauren's POV
She falls asleep like I knew she would. It takes about half an hour. When she does, she slumps against my shoulder. She doesn't snore, but her breathing is heavy, reminding me that her lungs are still not back to their normal operating capacity.
I watch her.. Not long, just a glance or two or three. Long enough to marvel at her, long enough for my heart to fill with her. It never takes too long.
I reach for the fleeze blanket on the other couch and drape it over her. I give a soft kiss to her temple. When I do, Bo shifts and turns her upperbody into me. Instead of resting on my shoulder, her head now lollygags somewhere halfway up my arm uncomfortably. If she stays like that for long, she'll strain her neck.
"Come on, honey," I coax gently. I get Bo to swing her legs over onto the couch and lower her head even further: it now lays in my lap. I reach for my book again, return to the page I was reading, and smile at my happiness.
It's an hour or two before my morning bliss with Bo is broken and Ben and Tamsin knock on the sliding door. I wake up Bo to let our friends in.
"Ben and I rented a jeep," Tamsin announces and twenty minutes later the four of us are out front, standing next to the jeep with a picnic basket, swim attire and everything else we could possibly need today.
"Are you two ladies up for exploring the island?" Tamsin asks holding up the keys to the Jeep.
"Only if Ben drives," Bo replies promptly. "I don't have a death wish."
"Let's not let Ben drive," I say quickly, and snatch up the car keys that Tamsin is holding up. "Last time he drove a stick shift it was 2008 and he drove it straight into the college campus fountain."
"Did the car need a rinse, Snoops?" Tamsin asks, making Ben laugh.
"It was a hot day?" Bo offers earning a few chuckles.
"The fountain was offensive looking?" Tamsin asks as we all move to get into the car.
"What? I've driven over things before cause they were ugly," Tamsin offers when she sees us frown.
"Hence why I'm not letting you drive, Tams." Bo pipes up, and gets in the passenger seat.
"It was hot...Also, it was my boyfriend's car, and he had just cheated on me," Ben says. "He loved that car."
"Oh classic move, Snoops!" Tams cheers and high fives Ben in the backseat of the car. "Bobo here did a similar thing when she broke up with Stella.."
"We don't need to go there Tamsin," Bo interrupts quickly.
"Greg was the worst," I comment. "And to be fair that fountain was very offensive looking." We all laugh, and I turn the ignition.
Ben has done his research on the island and written down some of the landmarks we have to visit. First up is Diamond Head National Park: it's the site of an inactive volcano that created a crater when it last erupted. You can hike up onto the crater, but that hike takes at least two or three hours and Bo isn't fit enough for that. Instead, we drive up to the crater as far as we can, and then follow the winding elevated wooden footpath that takes us all the way up to the ridge of the crater. The views of the ocean, the crater underneath and the ocean that stretches out before us is breathtaking. We all stand there with goofy grins on our faces until Tamsin pulls us out of our revery.
"So...it's just like this big ole pit in the ground with sand?"
"Actually, it's 500,000 year old tuff cone crater." I pipe up in awe, and elaborate when I see Tamsin's furrowed brows. "Tuff cones are a small monogenetic volcanic cone produced by phreatic explosions directly associated with magma brought to the surface through a conduit from a deep-seated magma reservoir. They're characterized by high rims and steep slopes greater than 25 degrees. It consists typically of thick-bedded pyroclastic flow and surge deposits created by eruption-fed density currents and bomb-scoria beds derived from fallout from its eruption column. The tuffs composing a tuff cone have commonly been altered, palagonitized, by either its interaction with groundwater or when it was deposited warm and wet. The pyroclastic deposits of tuff cones differ from the pyroclastic deposits of spatter cones by their lack or paucity of lava spatter, smaller grain-size, and excellent bedding. Also, typically, but not always, tuff cones lack associated lava flows."
"Uhm, yeah...What now?" Tamsin says.
"'This is where they held the Hawaiian version of Woodstock," Bo offers. "The Roling Stones and the Grateful Dead played here in the seventies to like 75,000 people."
"The Grateful Dead? Seriously? I bet the acoustics are awesome here. This is officially the coolest pit of sand I have ever seen!" Tamsin says in awe.
Hanauma Bay
Although Bo insists she's fine, I can see the hike up to Diamond Head asked a lot of her, so when we get back to the car, and we all climb back in, I set course towards Hanauma Bay, one of the most popular beaches in Hawaii. It's known for its richly diversified marine animals, most especially the indiginous green sea turtles. Because we're here off season, it's actually not that busy. The sun's come out too, allowing for an almost perfect balmy day of 25 degrees celsius. As Bo and I unpack the towels, the windscreen, the parasol, and get out some of our picnic, Tamsin and Ben are unpacking their scuba and swimming gear and are already heading towards the water. Bo and I laugh as we look unto the pair of them throwing water at one another, Ben having some very colorful words for Tamsin as she tackles him and he surfaces again gurgling up water.
"You should join them," Bo says from her spot in the shade. "Take a dip."
"Snooper Cooper and Tamsin are perfectly fine on their own," I reply. "Besides, I have my book," I say pulling out the novel I'm reading from one of the bags we brought.
"You love snorkling, Lauren. The weather is perfect, the water is warm enough. I know you're only staying with me here on the beach cause you feel sorry for me that I can't join you, but honestly...I don't want you to miss out."
"I don't feel sorry for you.." I say, but Bo raises her eyebrows at me amused. "Yeah, okay...I don't like the thought of you being here alone on the beach while we're off frolicking."
"Frolicking?" Bo laughs. "Oh dear, I think the fifties called wanting it's vocabulary back," Bo grins.
"Are you making fun of me, McCorrigan?" I ask amused.
"No, no.." Bo says barely able to contain her chuckle. "Frolick away."
"You're horrible," I chuckle back.
"Yes...yes...I am... It's a sickness. Now go!" Bo says laughing and shooing me off.
Bo's POV
My eyes go wide as Lauren smiles at me and then takes off her top and shorts confidently. My jaw almost hits the sand as I see Lauren's tiny black bikini emerge from under those layers. Lauren's body is gorgeous, even more gorgeous than I remember and without realizing it, I'm blatantly staring and holding my breath.
"It's rude to gawk, Bo. Even in the new millennium."
I'm a bit late in the game before Lauren's words register, when they do I laugh out loud. She's already halfway down the beach and into the ocean. "Can you blame me?" I shout. "With a body like yours?" Lauren turns around and flashes me a bright smile, the sun shining down on her making her even more beautiful. When she turns towards Tam and Ben again, she wiggles her behind knowing full well I'm still staring and I inhale sharply.
"Damn, that woman is going to be the death of me.." I mumble out with a sigh. I remember vividly having my hands and fingers on this woman and the memories of that stir a familiar longing between my thighs.
That stirring isn't helped much about half an hour later when she exits the water and goes to lay down next to me on her towel. Drops of seawater linger on her already tanned skin and sets it in soft goosebumps. That soft cold also has its effect on Lauren's chest area and I chide myself for letting my eyes linger a moment too long. With a sigh I avert my eyes all together.
Lauren's hand suddenly brushes against mine. Her fingers slide in mine and she brings my hand up to her lips. I turn to see her kiss the back of my hand. Our eyes linger staring, and I don't know how her heart is doing, but mine is again hammering out of my chest.
Several hours later
Bo's room
"So Bobo, is tonight the night? Should Ben and I clear out so you can have your own fireworks with the doc between the sheets?"
"Can't I just be getting pretty for New Year like a regular person?" I say huffing a little as I look in the mirror for the umpteenth time checking out my outfit.
"Sure, so you asked me to help you squeeze into the dress with extra cleavage just for everyone huh?"
I grit my teeth at being found out. Tamsin is like a police dog, she sniffs out my intentions immediately.
"I just want to look nice. Wait...it's not too much is it? The cleavage, I mean?" I ask suddenly worried looking at the black dress that clings to my hips, and cuts down low in the V neckline.
"Bo, you could be wearing a sack and that girl would still drool over you like my teenage self drooled over Agent Scully.
"You think?"
"With the rack on display like that?" Tamsin scoffs. I turn around looking at myself in the mirror again. It's true that the dress does accentuate the assets Mother Nature gave me, and I've never been shy about them before, so I guess I shouldn't start now.
"You look gorgeous Bo," Tams smiles. "The doc won't know what hit her."
"I hope so," I say while putting in my earrings.
"My girl, all done grown up and in love," Tams mocks, fake wiping a tear away.
"I uhm.. I don't know if I'm in love..I mean LOVE is uhm big..." I say uncomfortably, suddenly very intimidated by the L word. "I mean I like her, and I think about her all of the time," I mumble inaudibly already rolling my eyes at myself and my attempt at self-deception.
"Sure, so if I told you that one of the bartenders from the hotel asked her out for tonight, you wouldn't be bothered?"
"What?" I exclaim stunned. "Who the hell asked her out? Who is it?" I narrow my eyes. "Who asked her out, Tamsin?"
"I'm not telling you! Have you seen you and your flaring nostrils right now? You're worse than a Pamplona bull."
"Who was it, Tamsin?" I demand again.
"I don't know her name! I just know a pretty redhead that works at the hotel asked when we were having drinks before at the bar."
"A redhead?"I ask, and rack my brain trying to recall a redhead, but drawing a blank. "Is... is she prettier than me?"
"Oh relax, Lauren turned her down."
"She...she did?" I ask relieved.
"She did, so you can put away those murderous thoughts. Although I'm not so sure she's entirely out of the picture yet, Lauren didn't have to pay for her drink."
"Son of a bitch," I curse. "Does that hussy think she can just pay for Lauren's drinks like that? If there's someone that's going to be paying for Lauren's drinks, it's going to be me! Ya feel me?" I huff.
"Sure," Tamsin says. "The gall of that woman!" she adds laughing which I ignore cause its irrelevant and rude. No, seriously, no redhead is going to be paying the drinks for my woman!
"Good thing you only 'like' the doc, huh?"
"What kind of a person does that, Tam? Move in on someone's someone like that."
"Whaddaya mean?" Tamsin says scrunching her brows.
"Lauren is my someone. I mean? that's obvious for everyone to see!"
"Uhm sure?"
"The chemistry, Tams! It's electrifying! I mean when Lauren came back from her swim in that bikini and the water was just clingi-"
"Eww, stop right there!" Tamsin says quickly putting up her hand. "Why are you picking on the waitress? She wasn't there on the beach, how is she supposed to know? You can't go all rampant on her!"
"There were glances when we were having drinks too," I protest in a petulant huff.
"Glances?"
"Of the longing kind!"
"Of the longing kind?" Tamsin questions, and even without looking at her I know she's rolling her eyes at me. "Dude, this isn't Downton Village, Abbey or what is that cry-from-your-vagina-show you like so much? People need more these days than just a longing stare! Just take the leap already! Cut the girls cutting in on your girl off!"
"It's not a cry from your vagina show! It's a period dra-..."I cut my sentence off seeing Tamsin's eyes roll. "It's a lot more informative than that Temptation Island shit you watch."
"Dude, don't make me cry! I'm still hurting at the fact that they cancelled that. You used to watch that show with me! Thursday nights at Tammy's with popcorn and beer."
"Yeah okay, it was entertaining," I grin. "I do kinda miss that..."
"Thank goodness for Sports at Bo's and Tamsin's." Tamsin says referring to our Sports Entertainment Nights where we basically invite everyone we Know, watch tennis, football or baseball, and get rowdy with popcorn, beer guzzler helmets and team outfits.
"Good times," I say with a smile. "We should have Lobster over again."
"I think the neighbor has a restraining order out on her."
"Really?"
"She did kick in his door."
"I could get over that."
"And threatened to cut off his balls."
"I do like her."
"Love her."
"You should get her restraining order cancelled."
"I should."
"She always brings excellent dip."
"Good dip people are rare."
"Treasure them."
"She shaved his balls."
"I could get over that."
"You don't have balls."
"True, and that's a good point."
"She nicked him, didn't she?"
"Yeah, he sure was a bleeder."
"Whatever happened with that?"
"Not sure," I shrug.
"Imma invite her again!"
"Excellent idea," I nod my head. "Maybe you can invite your new girlfriend too," I say not bothering to keep the teasing tone out of my voice.
"I don't do girlfriends, I mingle..." Tamsin smirks. "And I see what you're doing here, trying to deflect the topic off of you and the Doctor Commander. Make your move already, stake your claim, plant your rainbow colored flag!"
I sigh, "I'm gonna love when you fall in love, and I get to butt into your love life on a regular basis."
"Yes, yes, we'll cross that bridge when we never come to it."
"I want to Tams, I'm like teenager horny at this point, but the thing is... The thing is I pushed her before too. I blurted out my feelings, then got her into this mess with the fraternization and Stacy. I just don't want to push her anymore. I want everything to be on her terms, her time frame."
Tamsin sighs. "Bobers, my misguided friend..."
Half an hour later, 10pm
Bo and Lauren's kitchen
Lauren's POV
"Well, don't you look dashing Dr. Cooper, " I comment smiling seeing Ben standing in the kitchen. He's dressed in a black tux that perfectly fits his broad shoulder and yet has the elegance of hanging about him as if casual. The colorful pink bowtie is a nice touch.
"You think I could be voted prom Queen?" Ben says flipping his hair as I chuckle. I lean into Ben and straighten up the bow tie just a bit, then brush off his right shoulder.
"Perfect, you'll be the belle of the ball."
"I don't know about that Laur, " Ben says smiling interlinking his hand with mine, stepping back and glancing at me. "You're gonna give me a run for my money. You make that dress even more stunning than it already is." With a smile I do a twirl for him. Ben and I picked out this golden sequin evening dress almost a year ago when I was in town and Ben insisted we go shopping for something decadent. I'd been in a mood at the hospital the week prior and my glamorous shopping spree with my best friend had been just the ticket to lift my spirits.
"Gorgeous," Ben says with a grin as he looks me up and down: his keen and critical eyes raking about my form. The dress is simple enough: a princess line cut tailored and fitted. The top hangs assymetrically off the shoulder while from the waist down, the long tresses of silk flow elegantly about me.
"You wouldn't want to be trying to catch someone's attention, would you?"
"I wouldn't be opposed to some-"
"Ready to ring in the new year, bitches?" Tamsin interrupts walking in through the sliding door dressed in a rainbow colored sequin cocktail dress, matching rainbow high heels and a tiara that spells out. "Kiss me, I'm gay!"
"Slamsin..." Ben shakes his head. "I have no words."
"Too subtle?" Tamsin asks smirking and as she does, the tiara on her head lights up in rotating rainbow colors. "Cause I can put the sound on."
Ben's quick-witted reply is lost on me as I am stunned into silence. Behind Tamsin Bo has walked in, and she looks...she looks...she looks...
Ben's voice sounds somewhere in the distance, but it's not registering. "Dr. Lewis," Ben whispers. "Stop drooling."
"Lauren!"
"Wha?"
An hour later, 11pm
The New Year's Party
Bo's POV
The air is sweltering, stifling from too many people grinding, twirling and shaking on too few square feet, and I'm glad I get to observe it all from our own little tropical 'booth' to the side of the dance floor. There's about twenty of them, they line the swimming pool and look like small huts with straw roofs and walls. Inside there are some very comfortable, white couches. In the background a reggae band is playing, but I don't really pay it any mind. Instead my eyes scan the crowd, zooming in and out.
"Is that her?" I ask my eyes trained on one of the waitresses for tonight. A young woman with reddish hair tied back in a bun, she has a kind, inviting face and the demeanor of a cheerleader: all peppy, and happy, pleasant-like...
I pull my face into a scowl and take another sip of my Virgin Mojito with an umbrella. Stupid peppiness. Stupid cheerleader. "That's her, isn't it?"
"No Cujo, that's a teenager I would have to put Lauren in jail for if she moved in on that."
"Oh."
"That's her though," Tamsin says and I look up following Tam's gaze, scanning for the enemy.
"The one in the red dress?" I ask, eyes narrowing. "That's not a waitress, thats the hotel manager!" I blurt, recognizing the woman that welcomed us when we arrived. What the hell! Tam can't even be bothered to hand me decent info on the enemy?
"Oo, is it?" Tamsin nods her head watching the hotel manager as she goes from group to group, table to table saying hello, shaking hands with a wide smile "Wow, she sure fills out that dress nicely."
I slug Tamsin in the shoulder. "Seriously?! You're gonna compliment her now? Do I have to remind you of your best friend duties?"
"Uhm, well, I mean she's not ugly looking," Tamsin shrugs. "But, uhm, you've got a nicer ass."
"I do?" I ask surprised.
"I don't know! I just wanted to say something nice! I don't go around looking at your ass!"
"Well, have a look at it! I'm right here!"
Tamsin glances over to my backside. "This is so wrong," Tamsin says grimacing. "Me checking out your ass like this."
"You started this whole ass thing, so suck it up! Look at it and just give me your objective opinion," I say rolling my eyes.
"Fine!" Tamsin bristles, and then obliges by checking out my ass in earnest, then looking back up at the redhead. "Okay, yes. You do have a nicer ass."
"Thank you, was that so hard?"
"Yes!" Tamsin says without missing a beat. "You owe me, I'm traumatized," she grumbles.
You still owed me for that time you had me pretending I was your girlfriend to get rid of what was her name... Lesley?"
"Oh yeah, I did." Tamsin agrees."Loco Lesley. Gods, that bitch was insane! Can we say 'stalker'?"
"Yes, her, " I say nodding, my gaze returning from the woman in the red dress to Lauren again who is still dancing with Ben. With a wistful sigh, I suck on the straw of my drink.
"Just ask her to dance already," my bestie says catching onto my staring. The band is playing their version of 'Red, red wine' and in the middle I see Lauren dancing with Ben obviously thoroughly enjoying herself as she moves to the beat. She's so graceful and beautiful that my lips involuntarily curl upwards. There's not a brow that creases in stress, or in that overassuming sense of responsibility that she seems set upon shouldering. Lauren is one hell of a Commander, one hell of a doctor, but in this moment she's carefree, and I can easily picture the kind of child this woman was: eager to learn, a little geeky, but with an indomitable spirit, a zest for life I am in awe of. I briefly wonder if she had more carefree moments like these before Nadia, before her dad.
I'm aware I'm mildly stalking, but I just can't seem to be able to tear my eyes away from her. I catch myself thinking I could happily watch her all night.
I never lost myself in Dyson. I was attracted to him, don't get me wrong. I can still remember feeling like the cheerleader swooning over the quarter back when I first saw him. He was confident, gorgeous and had this ruggid, quiet strength about him I found highly appealing. He made me feel pretty, and wanted. He was dashing about it and he soon charmed into his bed. He is a wonderful man, a kind, loyal and brave man, that I truly and deeply care for, but I never caught myself staring at him like I am staring at Lauren now, wanting to know everything about her, wanting to give her a life supply of careless moments.
I need to dance with her.
The music changes from UB40 to a Merengue, I put one foot in front of the other. Moments later, I tap Ben's shoulder and quick as he turns around, he steps aside with a grin.
"Bo," Lauren says a little startled.
"Can I dance with you?"
"Yes."
I waste no time pulling her into. One hand to her back, the other to her waist. The Merengue is a simple dance, one step to every beat of the music. Step, close, step, close and shake those hips in time. It's definitely a sensuous dance, but it keeps us at a little bit of an apprehensive arm's length for the first minute or so.
"You look beautiful,"
Lauren smiles making her even more beautiful. "So do you, Bo. You wore the necklace."
"Yeah, I uh. I love it."
She gives me an even brighter smile. "I was hoping you would, it looks good on you."
"I agree." Full smiles from the both of us.
Our grips tightens, no more shyness. We move as if it's all we've ever done before. Each step is perfectly in sync, our bodies fit perfectly, she feels so right in my arms glued to me. I know I need to breathe, but I keep forgetting to. It seems trivial around her. The music sweeps us up in it's cadance, every beat is a breath, is a hand that shifts, that holds her closer, is a wanting to get closer to her. My eyes fall to her lips. I tear them away in favor of her eyes. I can read everything in them, most especially that she doesn't want me to stop dancing with her.
I agree.
The dress she's wearing is killing me: gold, light fabric that hugs her skin, that beautiful bare shoulder as the top cuts down sideways. The perfume she has on has me in a daze. Actually, it's none of that, all of that. It's just her. It's Lauren who has me in a daze.
Gods, she's a good dancer, and Gods is she gorgeous.
The music pulls at us again. This time a tango, the dance of lovers.
Fuck, I'm so glad I learnt how to dance.
She's smiling at me; that smile from before, with Ben. It's a smile filled of joy, and freedom, like one of those smiles you would get as a kid, but forget about when you're older. She's bold in her movements, there's a confidence there, a skill and a grace that betrays she's been classically schooled, there is a passion there that says that she's loving this. Tables and chairs pushed to the side, mom would teach me in the living room, spinning me around endlessly.
Lauren turns, we part by the length of our arms only to come back together again, pressed up against one another. My hand glides down her thigh as it wraps high above my hip.
I forget to breathe again.
Her thigh is soft, and warm, makes me shiver or is that the look in her eyes? My hand sets to her jaw, she leans in, her head tilts to the side, it's part of the dance, but as the last notes of the tango die out and another song starts up, it might just as well be foreplay.
Good grief this woman...She's exquisite.
There's a voice in the distance, it's the lead singer of the band I suppose. "We're getting close to midnight ladies and gents, so time to slow it down and pull that special someone onto the dance floor with you."
I'm still staring at her, and I'm a little confused when she suddenly wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me in close.
Then the music filters in. It's a countrysong, an old one at that. One I think I remember from college, one I may have scoffed at, like I used to scoff at every country song that came out then. Some of the lines flutter over the dance floor.
There's a different feel about you tonight
It's got me thinking lots of crazy things
I even think I saw a flash of light
It felt like electricity...
One arm comes down, wraps around my waist, the other stays draped around my shoulder. It gives me a nice view of her slender neck, allows me to close my eyes and inhale her scent deeply. My arms wrap around her waist, surrendering to this feeling of having her close. She's letting me lead; giving me control, like I could take her anywhere if I wanted to. Truly though, where would I want to go now? This is perfect. Me, her...here, in my arms...
You shouldn't kiss me like this
Unless you mean it like that'
Cause I'll just close my eyes
And I won't know where I'm at
Her cheek presses against mine, I'm so aware of her hand that's now interlinked with mine, and the gentle weight of her other hand on my hip now that it has settled there. In comparison to how we moved and used out hands and bodies in the tango, these touches seem innocent, lame almost, but I love how everything has slowed, how I get to linger in her now, how she gets to rest into me now, how she feels wrapped around me. I don't need more.
She's comfortable with where I am taking her, as if the destination doesn't matter. And she's right. With her in my arms, I don't care where we are going as long as it's together somewhere, I'll take it.
We'll get lost on this dance floor spinning around
And around and around and around
Someone bumps into Lauren and it breaks us apart as the last lines of the song sound through the speakers.
Everybody swears, we'd make the perfect pair
But dancing is as far as it goes.
Girl, you never moved me
Quite the way you moved me tonight...
Instead of going back to our embrace, we just stare at each other in a haze. I'm panting, and feel unsteady on my legs. There's a tap on my shoulder, words are spoken to me, I'm not sure which. I only frown when the woman that was saying them to me suddenly cuts in front and moves into Lauren's arms for the next song. With a silent curse I notice it's the redheaded manager. I want to object, cut in, cut off all lines to Lauren except mine, but I'm too late, Lauren is already being danced away, and all of a sudden I feel how my body is starting to shiver, how my legs have difficulty keeping me upright, and how I'm struggling to breathe properly. I realise I've pushed my body past what it can perform physically at this point. I should have noticed before, but then in Toby Keith's words, 'I got lost on the dance floor spinning around'. I turn away, not out of petulance or jealousy, although I can admit I'm violently so not fond of the idea of Victoria dancing with Lauren, but simply because I need to sit down before I pass out.
I take a deep breath in the hopes it will stop my head from spinning. The heat of the crowd and the music blaring isn't helping. I semi stumble back to our booth barely making it there before Tamsin grabs hold of me to keep me upright.
"Bo, you okay?" Tamsin asks and I nod my head, but I'm shivering and my stomach contracts sickeningly. I have to breathe deeply to keep from throwing up on Tamsin's shoes. She gets me into the sofa and I take a few deep breaths. I can slowly feel my equilibrium return, my breathing even out. When I open my eyes I'm staring into the worried eyes of my rainbow flag cladded friend.
"Could you help me back to the house? I need to lay down."
"Course."
Lauren's POV
"I've come to collect my dance, " Victoria's voice says stepping into my arms.
"Of... course, " I almost stutter, still dazed from dancing with Bo. "I did promise."
"Two dances actually," Victoria reminds me, and I smile in acknowledgment.
"Thank you for keeping those seats reserved for us tonight," I offer. Victoria Del Arca is the manager of this great ressort. She was very accomodating on the phone. When we arrived here and I checked us in, Victoria was there welcoming us and we talked for a few. Earlier on today I asked if she could keep one of the booths reserved for us, I should say for Bo, because I knew I would have to make sure I had a place for her where she could get away from the crowds, where she could sit and rest a bit.
"The drinks were a nice touch," I say.
"Well, we like to take care of our guests here," Victoria says with a charming smile.
"You do a great job," I say sincerely. "It's a beautiful resort, and the staff is always friendly."
Vica smiles. "It is a great place to work, and I have wonderful people here, but when it comes to beauty, this place has nothing on you, doctor Lewis. You look gorgeous, " Victoria says and I smile a little uncomfortably.
"Thank you, you look beautiful yourself, " I say, and in truth she does. Victoria is wearing a red dress that hugs her curves where needed and offers up a generous amount of cleavage. She does look beautiful, just not as beautiful as Bo looked, but then I don't believe anyone will ever look as beautiful as Bo does. No one will ever intrigue me as Bo does, or dance like Bo does. Why did I have to promise Victoria these dances in the first place? They're a waste of time. The only one I want to dance with, be with now, tomorrow, next week,.. is Bo.
It's the end of dance two as I look over to Victoria's shoulder, trying to spot Bo, but I don't see her.
"Looking for that brunette you were dancing with earlier on?" Victoria asks as the song we were dancing to comes to an end.
"She just left with the other blonde."
I frown at Vica's words. Bo left with Tamsin? Why would she do that? Is she not feeling well? I ask myself. The music swells again, and Victoria and I are dancing again.
"I suppose she didn't really care which blonde she took home tonight," Victoria says a little haughtilly. "But, I care. I'd never leave you standing like that, Lauren." Victoria whispers into my ear as she tightens her hold on me.
"Why don't we get out of here," Victoria whispers as she strokes my hand, her voice soft and silky. "Celebrate the new year somewhere private. I have a luxury suite just waiting for us to explore."
I pull and step back from Vica with a halfhearted chuckle. "Oh boy..." I shake my head trying to think of what to pick to say out of all the thoughts that are running through my head from venting my annoyance at her words for Bo to how presumptuous she is thinking that a luxury suite would get me into bed with her.
"I'm not interested, Vica. I am getting out of here, but not with you. Thank you for making me realize how very much I don't want to be here dancing right now," I say and leave Vica in the middle of the dance floor, mid song to head towards Bo and mine's vacation house.
Bo's POV
Twenty minutes later
23h50
"What the hell am I doing here?" I think sitting on the couch where Tamsin left me ten minutes ago. It's ten to midnight, and I'm back here at the house alone when I should be dancing with Lauren still, should be kissing her by now. I try to shake off what little remains of my dizziness, and get up from the couch. I get as far as the deck before I look up in the beautiful eyes of Dr. Lauren Lewis. My heart hammers out of my chest as we stay frozen to the ground a few feet apart, staring.
"Lauren..." I say, and I swallow as she takes a step into me.
"Lauren, this new year...I want it to be with you," I breathe out, whisper out instantly deciding I've already waited too long to say what's in my heart and mind.
I take another step closer to her, I cup Lauren's cheek.
I can't breathe.
I search her eyes for only a sliver of a second, and chance it all again as I kiss her with all that I am, and all I feel I will ever be. She doesn't startle, instead she kisses me back without restraint. I get instant access to her mouth, and latch onto it greedily, loving the taste of her tongue. I can't tell how long we kiss, because time seems to halt around and spin out of control at the same time. All I know is that if it never stopped, I'd be fine with that, all I know is that when we finally do stop, we're both panting.
"I want to make plans with you, Lauren," I say catching my breath, leaning my forehead against hers.
Lauren nods. "Take holidays together," she says.
"Walking, "
"Karaoke, " she adds. I chuckle over her lips.
"Breakfast, " I add, and Lauren smiles.
"Diving," she says.
"You'll teach me?"
"Ah huh," she mumbles and our lips find each other again. We continue kissing, breathlessly and desperately with hands and fingers weaving in hair, necks, and jawlines. In the background the countdown has begun, but neither one of us is aware of it, or at least not enough to distract us from kissing.
"Making love," I say breathlessly long after the rest of the world has festively rung in New Year and in between kisses. I hear the deep intake of breath from Lauren, feel her hands snake around my waist, pulling me closer to her, so I am fully pressed against her, but then with a sigh her movement stills, our kisses halt. The blonde doctor looks up into my eyes as if reading them. I'm a little bit out of breath, a little unsteady, but I'm ignoring that.
Her hand drops down to mine, and wordlessly her fingers link into mine as she turns and pulls me away from the terrace, inside our beach house. She leads me into her bedroom, and lets go of my hand to switch on a soft light in the far corner of the room. The mixture of artificial and moonlight lights her blonde hair up in golden tresses and the light brown of her eyes I swear take on the color of honey. She's beyond beautiful in the golden dress that sways about her elegantly; she looks like she just stepped out of a movie, and in this moment I have to pinch myself to prove to myself I'm not dreaming. My heart beats violently in my chest as she moves towards me again.
Lauren's hand sets to my jaw and I lean into her touch. Her eyes rake over my features as if she's studying me, her scrutinous gaze gives me goosebumps. Her lips pull into the faintest smile, her features softening instantly.
The kiss she gives me is gentle, a mere brush of her lips to mine, innocent even, but it's in this moment that I realise the depth of my lie to Tamsin. When Lauren touches me, my entire body surrenders.
"Waking up to you," she prattles, and I think I nod my head, but I'm not sure, I'm too lost in the sensation of her lips in my neck. When gentle kisses move to my ear, and she takes my earlobe in her mouth, I whimper out loud. "Lauren." In a haze of kisses and caresses our dresses pool to the floor. I'm locked in her arms, pressed to her when her kisses slow.
"Is this okay?" She asks gently, keeping her kisses light in my neck, whispering in my ear. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I nod my head vigorously, not sure if I'm lying or not. I feel weak in the knees, but I honestly think that has more to do with Lauren than anything else. Even if I were on the verge of collapse right now, I don't think I would tell her.
She guides me to the bed and lowers me down gently into the softness of the pillows. Her kisses move from my earlobe to my neck, then shoulders and downward still. When she kisses me again, I pull her on top of me, and moan gently in relief and joy at feeling her in my embrace, pressed to me, again.
We kiss, her tongue swiping my lips as if asking for permission, and I immediately grant it. My hips arch into her, my hands have a mind of their own as they make their way down Lauren's side, trace the delicate fabric of the beautiful lingerie she's wearing. My fingertips graze her nipple, and with a sharp intake of breath from Lauren, I feel the flesh stiffen. I flick again, loving how it makes Lauren suppress a deep growl. My fingers push back the straps to Lauren's bra, they unhook the clasp at the back. Her breasts tumble free from their restraint, puckered and strained.
"Gods!," I growl at the sight. Fixated, I stare. She's so beautiful, so sexy.
Lauren leans in with a soft smirk, my mouth finding her breast greedily. I close my eyes and moan wrapping my mouth around the taste of her nipple. I'm so lost in my actions, that I only notice she's taken off my bra when her delicate fingers pinch and flick my nipples in turn. We continue to kiss, and lick, pull and flick, teasing each other without taking it further, enjoying the pace we are going at, while our hips rotate along.
There is only so much teasing I can take, and when Lauren's mouth wraps around my nipple flicking it rapidly, I have no defense. My back arches in delight, and I bite my lip, almost yelping Lauren's name.
"Gods, Lauren, you make me so wet."
Lauren's POV
"You're so beautiful Bo," tumbles from my lips when my tongue slips into her mouth, and my fingertips venture down, tracing the abdominal muscles, her hipbone, and then the inside of her thigh. Her skin is soft, silky and smoothe. I love how she reacts to my touch, wherever my fingertips graze her muscles flex. She's so responsive, her muscles so toned and defined. I can't wait to find out every little touch and brush that can make her react, but it's the prospect of having her wetness coat my fingertips again that has me moaning in her ear. Bo inhales sharply as I touch her and remove her lace panties. Her hands go up looking for me, looking for anywhere to touch and reciprocate. I let her take my panties off in turn, but I'm acutely aware of how taxing our activities are for her, so when she again reaches out for more, I meet her hand halfway and interlink our fingers.
"Ssshhh, this is just for you," I prattle moving behind her with my hard nipples against her back, my hips pressed against her glorious backside, and one arm clasped over her chest. She groans in protest, but when the fingers of my other hand slide into her folds, her groan turns into an approving moan.
"Gods Bo," I whisper feeling her wetness, rubbing her and teasing her. She's panting now, whimpering and pleading my name and I do the same as I slide inside her and feel how wet and ready she is for me. "You feel so good," I groan in her ear. "So good." I press my eyes shut at the feeling of her velvety walls tightening and pulling my fingers in. Her wet arousal is what drives me, what has me bucking and rubbing against her. Bo pressed to me doesn't even need to touch me to have me teetering on the edge of control. I'm close because she's allowing me to touch and feel her this way, I'm close because she's close and when I keep my fingers in her and rub her clit rapidly, and her muscles contract in release, when she shouts my name, I feel my own body jerk against her in completion.
It takes a few minutes before either of us to recover. When we do, Bo prattles out dreamily. "Mmmm, Lauren, that was...mmm," she says and she reaches for my arm only to hug it around her. I kiss the back of her shoulder and spoon into her.
"Happy New Year, honey," I say as I hold her in my arms. Her lips curl into a wide smile. "Happy New year,.." She's already half asleep as she prattles. I follow suit not long after.
Replies to reviews
Joan: Glad I could make you happy with some long overdue fluff! :-) I've always liked Tamsin, and I think she's the perfect best friend.
J and Silverstra: Cliffhangers are my thing...like Diet coke...love it...And confetti...LOVE confetti ;-)
Different Guest: The patents were already mentioned in above chapter, but yeah...there will be a wrap-up of that too. :-)
Guest 1: Yup, those are pretty much the answers to questions I still have to write ;-)
Guest 2: The American military did discriminate against homosexuals for a long time. Short version; there was no military legislation against enlistment prior to WWII, but sodomy was illegal by military law, then somewhere in the sixties and seventies homosexuality was considered a mental defect and on that basis gays were officially banned from the military. In the nineties Clinton issued "Don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue." Basically, you could now be gay again, as long as you shut up about it, and did not let on you were gay in any other way, or you could be fired. Lots of gays and lesbians lost their job under that policy. That policy was repealed under the Obama admnistration, and these days the military does not discriminate against the LGBT community anymore, going as far as recognizing same sex marriages and letting transgender people serve as well. However, Trump is looking into reversing allowing transgenders to serve, so I have been told. :-/
Guest 3: I don't think Tam wanted to split Bo and Lauren up, she was just worried about her friend having to deal with the whole Stacy- Bo- Lauren issues, but she has nothing against Lauren. In fact, I think by now, she's sort of fond of Lauren already. :-)
Sweetcandycane: Yay! :-)
Mulder: Glad you liked the sheep, and Tamsin and Bo's antics. I like writing them, they're fun. You could be right about the Stacy thing...;-/ or you could be wrong...who's to say? :-)
Susan: Tamsin and Lauren never dated, it's only Bo who thinks that they did. To Bo, Lauren feels familiar, but she doesn't know why, so her mind constructs this plausible scenario of Tamsin and Lauren having dated to explain away the familiarity and why Lauren is there at the theme park. More on that and Bo's mental state when we get back to 2018. It's a whole thing.
Sylvy: :-) :-) :-)
Palmerised: Doing a great job at wording your thoughts there! :-) Hope you liked the sexy times. ;-)
Dragonfly: Welkom buurvrouw ;-) And Belgian fries ARE the best...but you know us Belgians, we don't like to brag. ;-) I think they made their choices clear, right?
InsatiablyCurious: Not mean at all to like the fact that Bo got sick. Eventually, she'll be fine. ;-)
Ahsnaps: You were never here. No prob ;-)
Guests: Sooooo pushy you are ;-) Yeah truly...I had been like making you wait forever huh?
