Page 76 of Curvy Wives of Willow Creek 5-8

I nod, my gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Yes," I say, my voice flat, betraying none of the emotion swirling inside me.

I feel like I'm on the verge of something dangerous, like my self-control is a dam about to burst. If I stay a few minutes longer, if I look into her eyes again, I'll do something I might regret.

"I really must go," I repeat, rising from the bed, “but you can go back to sleep. It’s still early,”

Lauren smiles, her eyes filled with something I can't quite decipher.

"Have a good day, Dennis. Thank you for everything, really."

"Goodbye, Lauren," I say, but I linger at the door, my hand on the doorknob, caught in a moment of indecision.

With a deep breath, I open the door, step out of her bedroom, and walk into the house’s entrance.

I finally leave her home and step into the cool morning air. As I make my way to the car, a tangle of emotions gnaws at me. I'm both exhilarated and troubled, filled with a sense of promise but also weighed down by ethical dilemmas.

As I drive back to my office, I can't shake the image of Lauren from my mind. Every glance in the rearview mirror seems to reflect her eyes, every red light a pause in which I see her smile.

Somehow, amidst all this emotional turmoil, a sense of purpose crystallizes. I know what needs to be done, professionally, at least.

Once in my office, I waste no time diving into Lauren's case. I pour over statements, legal precedents, and relevant laws. I draft motions and prepare the restraining order, my focus laser-sharp yet fringed with a hint of desperation.

Needing a breather, I pick up my phone and call my lumberjack friend Aaron. The phone barely rings twice before he answers.

"Hey man, what's up?"

"You got a minute? I need some advice," I say, pacing the room.

"Shoot."

I hesitate, my grip tightening on the phone.

"I think I'm falling for a client."

A pause, and then Aaron exhales a low whistle.

"Man, that's... that's complicated."

"You're telling me," I reply, pausing to collect my thoughts. "I know it's a bad idea. I know it's unethical. But Aaron… There's something about her. Something I can't ignore."

He sighs, his voice tinged with a knowing gravity.

"Dennis, sometimes love doesn't come at the perfect time or under the perfect circumstances. Sometimes, it's messy, complicated, and even risky. But sometimes it's worth it."

His words hang in the air as we both fall silent. Finally, I thank him and end the call. I'm still unsure what to do, but Aaron's perspective has given me a bit of reassurance, a slight slackening of the tension knotting up my chest.

I sit back down at my desk and make a few calls to expedite the restraining order. If I can't resolve the chaos of my emotions, I can at least take concrete steps to make Lauren's life safer.

With that done, I lean back in my chair, my hands clasped behind my head, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts inevitably drift back to Lauren, her smile, her vulnerability, her dreams.

As I sit there, suspended in this moment of quiet reflection, I realize that no matter what happens, Lauren has become a part of my world—a beautiful, complicated part that I'm not sure I can, or even want to, ignore.

Chapter 5 - Lauren

I take a spoonful of cereal, but it tastes like cardboard. It's not the cereal's fault; it's the empty chair across the table that's making everything bland.

Dennis left two hours ago, saying something about needing to review my case files before our court date. I told him it was fine, but the air feels colder without him.

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