Page 108 of The Show

She sat there, and it was possible I’d stunned her into silence for the first time in my life. At least that’s what it looked like, though didn’t last long.

“Will Thompson. God, I’d forgotten he did that. I used to think it was so cool. Wonder what he’s doing now.”

“He dropped out of college. After that, I lost interest.”

“You’ve really been in love with Lowe all this time?”

“I really have, so you wanna tell me why you’re so pissed at her? Because I’m telling you, you need to fix it because I am not giving her up.”

“I’m not pissed at Lowe! I’m pissed at you!”

I turned my nose up at her preposterous statement. “What are you pissed at me for?”

“Because you go through women like they’re nothing, and now you’ve added Lowe to that list, and I thought she was smarter than to fall for it. She’s my best friend, Penny.”

“I know that! Why do you think it’s taken me so long to find the courage to make a move? I didn’t ever expect for it to happen!” I argued back.

“You can’t just swoop in and take her!”

My brows knotted slightly at my sister’s tone, because frustration had replaced the anger. “Lauren, are you jealous? Is that it?”

She rubbed her temples, like I was the one who was causing the headache and not the other way round. “No, of course not. But Lowe was my one thing growing up, one thing that was all mine. You had dad, then grandpa. Lowe was there with me through all of it, and I was there with her and everything she went through with her mom. You can’t just take her then cast her to one side like all the rest. You can’t put me in that position to choose; because I don’t think I’d choose you!”

“For fuck’s sake, Laurie, now who’s getting dramatic?” I sat forward, clasping my hands together. “First off, if you think I’m letting Lowe go then you’re more insane than you appear right now. Second, there’s never been anyone to cast aside. I’ve never promised a woman anything. I’ve always made it very clear to anyone that if they wanted to be with me, it was for sex and nothing else. Lowe has always been the only woman for me, and forever will be.”

Lauren huffed, but stayed silent while she thought about her next argument.

“I can’t believe you’ve been in love with her so long and no one knew.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t figure it out,” I shot back, biting back my smirk.

“You know, Dylan actually texted me and said she thought something was going on.” She stood up and moved to sit in the other uncomfortable chair opposite me, slapping me hard on the back of the head as she did so.

I rubbed against the sting. “Yeah, I wondered if she would. Deck’s got a big mouth.”

I knew that I’d been spot-on about Decker when she tried to hold in a smile. He’d never been able to keep his mouth shut around Dylan, especially as she was a bloodhound for anything she thought was the slightest bit of gossip. I’d find a way to make him pay, not that I cared in the slightest, but it was always fun to fight with Decker - a glitter bomb in the mail ought to do it.

“So this is what it’s going to be like now? You’ll just always be there? All the time?”

“Yep.” I popped the P, and grinned.

The noise she made told me that wasn’t the best news she’d ever heard. “I will hurt you if you hurt her.”

“Lauren, trust me when I tell you the reverse is much more likely.” I pushed up and pulled my sister to her feet, squeezing her in a hug that made her squeak. “I promise. You have my word.”

She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “Thank you.”

“Make sure you speak to my girlfriend and make things right.” I laughed at her grimace. “I now have to go and cover for Rafe; my job in Romance Land is not done for the day!”

“What?”

“Nothing.” I stopped with my hand on the door, and turned back to her. I needed her to understand how serious I was about this. “I promise, Lauren. I love Lowe with every cell in my body, and I will for the rest of my life.”

“Gross. Get out before your sentimentality makes me puke.”

I chuckled but did as she asked and stole a lollypop on my way. I checked my watch; I’d spent long enough with Lauren it was going to make me short on time for the rest of the morning. Maybe Beulah could do without me to answer my pop quiz, because I’d now added a lunch date into my calendar that I didn’t want to miss.

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