Chapter 16. So Close Yet So Far
1231 Words
"You left me in there!"
Claire's voice sounded mildly annoyed despite the still groggy tone on the other line.
Milly didn't know what time they went home after she left, but from the sound of it, her friend probably had just woken up minutes ago and remembered to call her.
"I'm sorry."
Amelia murmured.
"I was feeling really sleepy and didn't want to interrupt you having so much fun."
She reasoned, not far from the truth at all.
"Didn't know you were such a fantastic dancer, girly."
Still, she had to find a way to escape unscathed.
"Do not distract me!"
But of course, Claire saw through her tactics.
Milly laughed a little, earning a glance from her driver.
They were on the way back to her house, and she was thinking hard whether to ask him to drop her off at school or brave a chance of her cousin wondering why Laurence drove her home, long hours after she left the previous night.
"What time did you go home?"
She asked.
"Ugh. I don't know, maybe around two?"
Claire must have been pretty out of it too.
Compared to her, she had more tequila, more than she could count. Not that she did.
With all the people in there, she was even surprised she lasted longer than an hour.
"Wow, you're doing way better than I did."
Milly commented, much to the amusement of her driver, who snorted upon hearing her say it. She turned to him, eyes glaring, but he merely smiled back at her.
"But did you get home just fine?"
Claire continued.
"I think I saw you going out with Theo..."
Ah, so she did see her wave goodbye.
"Oh, um, yeah...I think he accompanied me outside."
That part wasn't clear to her yet but she couldn't ask Laurence for details.
"You didn't sleep with him, right? Or did you?"
The suspicion in her voice was so clear, Milly wondered why Claire would think about that.
Did it seem that she and Theo were leaving together? Was that also what Laurence saw when they were on the sidewalk?
"Girl, you think I slept with who?"
That earned another glance from her driver, but this time his expression was serious.
Milly averted her gaze to the buildings they were passing through and lowered her voice.
"Absolutely not."
Now she was feeling hot, not sexy hot, but from uneasiness.
"I didn't go home with Theo, period."
She spoke in a clear low voice knowing the other guy on her side was paying extra attention to her conversation.
"I don't even know him, why would I go home with him?"
Milly let out a sigh.
A mild headache was beginning to throb in her temples.
"Okay, alright?"
Claire responded, seemingly fully awake now.
"I didn't mean anything, I just...wondered."
She continued, at least now she sounded more sober than minutes ago.
"Don't get too worked up on it, okay?"
Milly smiled, glad that she cleared that up right away.
She wouldn't want to be in that kind of mess. But why did Claire think about that though? It wasn't like Theo flirted with her while they were together, or vice versa.
Hmm, interesting.
"Anyway, I only called just to make sure you're okay."
Her friend promised to catch up to her later in the evening when she was, quote, "back to her normal self."
Milly chuckled and bid her goodbye. Not sure if she herself was already back to normal, but she still needed ibuprofen, for sure. Her headache was back but was trying to relax despite the constant tension she felt because of Laurence.
"All good?"
He asked, probably suspecting her predicament when she rested her head against the seat.
"Yeah, I'm good...just a little headache."
Milly murmured, stifling a yawn.
Dang, she slept for more than ten hours there, and yet she was feeling weak and sleepy.
Yup, no alcohol for her.
Or maybe more alcohol for her instead.
Right?
Like she knew for sure that people practice more to get used to doing something. Maybe if she wanted to do better at parties and drinking, she should drink more?
Milly shook her head and laughed at herself.
What in the world was she thinking?
"I see you really do have a wild imagination."
Laurence parked on the curb but when she looked around they were nowhere near her home.
"How can you say I was imagining something?"
She countered, slightly offended that he judged her right away.
But he merely faced her and smiled.
Milly blinked at him and pretended not to notice how handsome he truly was up close.
His eyes were darker brown, thick eyelashes, and his brows, their shape gave him that stubborn prince kind of arch, not the kind prince at all.
Yup, definitely not the kind one.
Funny how dominating his looks could be and yet based on what she observed just a few times they were together, he possessed a much more slow and steady character, opposite to the stubborn handsome demeanor he had on the outside.
Laurence cleared his throat, and Milly almost jumped in her seat. She didn't notice she dueled with him eye to eye far longer than intended.
"Hmm...this is gonna be harder than I thought."
He murmured, still staring at her face.
They were almost facing each other inside his pickup, although Milly had no idea why they parked yet.
"What?"
She echoed, heart skipping a beat at how he was solely focusing on her at that moment.
"What's harder?"
Amelia swallowed, suddenly realizing that sounded different than what she meant.
And true enough, Laurence's gaze turned molten, the air between them heavy in that small space, she could almost hear every ragged breath he took.
"You know you really have a different way with words."
He spoke in a low voice, calm and unnerved.
But a different thing could be said about the expression on his face.
She looked so effortlessly ravishing in her black mid-thigh skirt and pale green halter top. She didn't have heavy makeup on, but the sparkle in her eyes and the emotions that play in them so honestly was enough to make him want to lose himself in her. And her lips...
God, he already tasted those lips.
And he wanted to claim them again and again.
More so now that she was just a breath away. Too close to touch, but still too far to be his.
Laurence leaned forward tentatively but stopped midway.
"You still remember what I told you right?"
She leaned back just an inch away from him, but her eyes still focused on his face.
"Told me what?"
She asked back.
That was his chance to move a little closer. Just a bit more.
"That I'm not rushing you..."
He whispered, moving a few inches more towards her.
"That I like you..."
He could smell a faint scent of her hair now.
That blooming jasmine fragrance was so distinctly hers.
"Milly..."
One move and he could easily kiss her.
"Huh?"
She swallowed hard, almost unable to breathe normally with how close he was to her and she had no way out.
Gazing at her parted lips, Laurence closed the gap between them.
And opened the compartment box with a small click.
"I'm getting you something for your headache. Do you want to come with me?"
- Writer
