4. - – Laura
CHAPTER FOUR
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LAURA
Claire’s front porch and the goose she still has dressed up as an Easter Bunny come into view.
It’s August, and that poor goose needs a new outfit.
I can’t help but imagine a goose in a bikini as I lift said goose to snag the spare key.
One day, we’ll get an extra one made, but for now, we share the only key to the house her grandma left her.
The door slams behind me, waking Irah Jean from her slumber, and she starts her very poor impression of a guard dog.
“Shoosh, you are not scary.” I scold her, but it doesn’t help.
I slump onto the couch, too out of breath to make it to my room just yet.
If I’m going to be out running hot men, I’ll need to work on my cardio and stamina.
I don’t even know why I ran like that… No.
I absolutely do. The look on his face was clear as day.
I wasn’t sneaking around at all. He knew I was following him, and worse than that, I don’t think he recognized me.
That thought hurts more than it should. The only promise he’d left me with was to keep in touch.
He broke that promise, but I should have known better.
Men suck, even if they can eat a girl out like it’s their job.
I take Irah Jean out back to play before Claire gets home from open house planning.
We end up cuddling on the couch until Claire finally shows up.
“Did the PTO sponsor a teacher kidnapping? I was about to call your brother and have him issue a missing person alert.”
Claire snorted, fighting with her bags in the foyer as I waged my own epic battle against her snoring dog.
“What time is it?”
“Calm down. It’s just after seven.” She drops her bags and calls Irah Jean. I yawn and stretch my way to the kitchen.
“Did you eat?” I yelled.
“No, well, yes, but it was more like a late lunch. Feed me.”
I’m not awake enough to cook a meal. “Ramen?”
“Fancy ramen?” Claire adds.
“Yes.”
We have a system for most things in the kitchen.
I shop, cut, and do all of the things with sharp objects.
Claire does the actual cooking, and we both clean up.
We ended the night cuddled on the couch with Claire’s dog and giant bowls of fancy ramen, which is really just ramen with chives, soft-boiled eggs, and sea salt seaweed snacks.
We both must have dozed off mid-movie. I shake my best friend awake, and we both toddle off to our rooms. Irah Jean follows her mom to get cuddles.
The sheets are cool against my skin, smooth, and still have a hint of fabric softener.
Reminders of that night with Drake find me in my dreams. No one has ever made me feel the way he did…