Lauren shifted in her seat, not meeting Rain’s eyes. ‘I don’t regret—’
‘I’m not talking about the kiss,’ Rain interrupted, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. ‘I’m talking about what happened after. The way you practically kicked me out.’
‘Rain, I . . . it’s complicated.’
‘Well, uncomplicate it for me then,’ Rain snapped, suddenly fed up with the evasiveness, the half-truths. ‘Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like you’re playing games. And I don’t like being played.’
Lauren glanced down briefly. When she looked up and met Rain’s gaze, her eyes were filled with anguish.
‘I’m married, Rain,’ she whispered.
Rain gave a harsh laugh. ‘Yeah, I kind of figured that out when you couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.’
‘I didn’t . . . I wasn’t trying to get rid of you,’ Lauren protested weakly.
‘No? What would you call it then?’ Rain challenged. ‘Because it sure as hell felt like that to me.’
Lauren closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. ‘I panicked, okay? I didn’t want him to find you there. It would’ve been . . .’
‘Awkward?’ Rain said, her tone razor-sharp. ‘Yeah, I bet. Can’t imagine many guys would be thrilled to come home and find their wife getting off with a woman.’
Lauren’s eyes flew open, a spark of anger flashing in their depths. ‘It’s not like that. What happened between us . . . it wasn’t planned. I never meant for things to go that far.’
‘Could’ve fooled me,’ Rain muttered, taking a long pull of her beer. The bitter taste matched her mood perfectly.
Lauren leaned forward, her expression pleading. ‘Rain, you have to believe me. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never . . . I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I know this sounds crazy considering we’ve only just met, but I can’t stop thinking about you, no matter how hard I try.’
For a moment, Rain wavered. There was something so raw, so vulnerable in Lauren’s voice. It made her want to reach out, to soothe away the pain etched into every line of her face.
But then reality came crashing back in, cold and unforgiving.
‘I can’t do this, Lauren,’ she said quietly, hating the way her voice shook. ‘I won’t be your dirty little secret. It’s not fair to me, and it’s sure as hell not fair to your husband.’
Lauren flinched as if Rain had struck her. ‘I know. God, I know. I’m so sorry, Rain.’
‘I think it’s best if we end this now, before it goes any further. We might do something we both regret.’
A single tear traced a glistening path down Lauren’s cheek, but she made no move to brush it away.
‘I could never regret you. Not for a single second.’
Rain gave a sad smile. ‘Maybe not. But I would.’
Rain stood up, every muscle in her body screaming at her to sit back down, to try and figure out a way to make the situation work.
But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.
‘Bye, Lauren.’
And then she walked away, each step heavier than the last. She didn’t look back. She couldn’t. Because if she did, she knew her resolve would crumble.
As she left the bar, she could feel the ache of loss of something precious, something irreplaceable.
And deep down, in a hidden corner of her heart, she wondered if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Chapter Nine
Lauren sat at her dressing table, methodically wiping away her makeup in slow, deliberate circles. Her mind wandered to her conversation with Rain. She knew she had done the right thing by telling Rain the truth about her marriage. It had been the only option. Lauren refused to become the kind of person she despised, the kind who lied and deceived. She would never be like Jake.
As she wiped away the last traces of lipstick from her mouth, the memory of her kiss with Rain lingered in her mind like a sweet fragrance, refusing to dissipate. It had been a moment of pure bliss, a moment when time had stood still and nothing else had mattered. Lauren couldn’t help but wonder what might have been, if circumstances were different. If she had been true to herself from the start, instead of bowing to the expectations of others. Would fate have brought Rain into her life then?
Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe there was still a chance for them, even if it was just as friends. Lauren’s grandmother had always said that the things worth having in life required a leap of faith. That you had to be willing to step outside your comfort zone, to embrace the unknown.
Do I really have the courage to do that?
Lauren retrieved her phone and searched through her contact list until she found the number she was looking for. Pressing the call button, she waited for a moment before hearing Mr Larkins’s voice on the other end.
‘Good evening.’
‘Evening. I wanted to follow up on an interview you had earlier today with a woman called Rain,’ Lauren said, striving for a professional tone.
‘Yes, I remember her. Is there an issue?’ Mr Larkins asked, sounding slightly perplexed.
Lauren paused for a moment before asking, ‘What was your impression of her?’
‘Well, aside from appearing a bit absent-minded, she was polite and presentable, and claimed to be able to handle demanding physical work—’
‘Great, that sounds promising. I’d like you to contact her tomorrow and offer her the job.’
