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CHAPTER35
As soon asthey were out of the treehouse, Lauren followed Sylvie away from the chaos of their still bickering families. The shock of Sylvie’s news was still working its way through her system.
Lauren hooked her pinky in Sylvie’s as they strolled toward a sprawling shade tree a few yards from the ongoing chaos. “You think you’re going to sneak away for a little make out sesh and you implode two families, amiright?”
Sylvie gathered her eyebrows, her eyes pained. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about all this before. I found out just before the Whitney and I didn’t know what to say.” She took a gulp of air. “And then we started . . . this . . . and I didn’t want you to have to know this about your grandpa. I know I sure as heck didn’t want to know it about mine.”
Stopping in front of the shade tree, Lauren leaned against the trunk. “I’m sorry you’ve been holding this all by yourself. I wish you’d been able to confide in me. That must have been hard.”
“How do you do that?” Sylvie wrapped her arms around Lauren’s neck.
Lauren lost herself in Sylvie’s honey eyes. “Do what?” She rested her hands on Sylvie’s lower back, loving the way they fit together seamlessly.
Sylvie gazed up at her, a smile pulling at her lips. “Know what to say. How are you so sweet and compassionate and empathetic. . . . It’s weird as hell.”
Laughing, Lauren’s muscles relaxed. She didn’t care about the tree bark digging into her back. “I don’t know. All that new-aged enlightenment stuff is in the California atmosphere. It’s contagious, I guess.”
“So, you’re not mad at me?” Sylvie played with the loose hair at the base of Lauren’s neck. It was a preferable outlet for her fidgeting. She’d noticed the cuticles Sylvie had torn to shreds when they were in the treehouse.
“Mad at you? Are you crazy? It’s not your fault that our great-grandfathers were assholes. I’m glad you discovered the truth and put it out there. Maybe we can actually all move on from this and leave that old toxic crap behind.”
Sylvie glanced at their families still squabbling. “You think they’re ever going to stop? These old rivalries die hard. I bet they’ll find something else to fight about.”
“A lot of great conflicts have been ended by romantic unions.” Lauren pulled Sylvie’s attention back to her. “I didn’t think you’d be able to bury the hatchet and look at us now.”
Sylvie smirked. “Oh, I’m sure my mom wants to bury the hatchet. My concern is about where she wants to put it.”
Laughing, Lauren kissed her cheek. She wanted nothing more than to be alone with her. “So we won’t plan a family outing anywhere with readily accessible sharp objects. Got it.”
“Can’t we just stay here?” Sylvie nestled against her chest.
Lauren closed her eyes, wishing she could carry Sylvie’s perfume with her when they parted. “Do you want to come over later? Or we can go do something? Dinner? Dessert?”
Sylvie looked up at her. “You’re seriously not mad? You don’t feel like I lied to you?”
“No, Sylvie. We’re not all little rage monsters like you.” She chuckled. “You ended up in a difficult position, but I don’t think you’re the liar here. We were all misguided. Laboring under false assumptions. I really think this is an opportunity to turn a page.”
“I wish I shared your optimism,” she muttered like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Lauren wished she could help carry the load. Sylvie always showed such a strong front, it was easy to forget she was not indestructible.
Lauren tucked a strand of hair behind Sylvie’s ear. “How about you come over to my house tonight? I can cook us something. We can have a little vino. Unwind. Decompress from this day.” She smirked. “Maybe finish what you started in the treehouse?”
“Oh, what I started?” Sylvie replied with a bark of laughter. “That’s how you’re going to re-write history here?” The copper in Sylvie’s eyes ignited sending Lauren’s heart racing.
“Who’s re-writing anything? We were both there. You’re the one who practically mauled me. I was a perfect gentleman.” Lauren stuck her chin out in the air trying to look regal.
“Mauled you?” Sylvie shrieked. “Who was begging for me to take my shirt off, huh?”
Lauren dipped her head down as she neared Sylvie’s lips. “I’m pretty sure that was you doing the begging. I played it totally cool. It’s not like I care about seeing your boobs.”
“All this lying, Lou. It’s really a problem.” Sylvie nuzzled the tip of Lauren’s nose with hers before pulling her into a kiss.
The softness of Sylvie’s lips on hers took Lauren back to the dusty floor of the tree house. To Sylvie’s bare skin under her fingertips.
“Are you two practicing for your OnlyFans account?” Junior snickered. “You just made the biggest scene and you still can’t keep it in your pants?”
Lauren broke the kiss and sneered in his direction. If she’d grown up with his annoying ass she might just as short-tempered as Sylvie.
When Junior was called away by Sylvie’s aunt, Lauren glanced back at Sylvie. “There’s something really wrong with that guy.”
