32

Sean Peterson
“I apologize on behalf of my daughter if she ever misbehaved.”
My head whipped in Lauren’s father’s way in surprise. It was morning and were walking to the car repair shop to bring my car back since it was within walking distance.
“Why did you assume that she has ever misbehaved? What if she didn’t?” I asked.
To be honest, I didn’t like their way of parenting. They were discouraging to the highest extent. They had hurt Lauren in the worst way possible and never realized it.
I could feel her pain because I had been through that as well. My parents had been ignorant of me. For them, money and status come first. But at least Lauren’s parents weren’t ignorant yet it didn’t mean what they had been doing to her was the best. It wasn’t.
“Oh, we have raised her before our eyes. We know how sometimes-most of the times she gets out of hands.” He chuckled as if he had cracked a joke. What a pitiful life Lauren might have lived growing up.
“Well, you shouldn’t assume. Your daughter is the best the way she is. You know she’s not going to change her ways so why not accept that instead? Maybe it’ll be better for you all.” I commented casually.
Honestly, I was no one to interfere in their family matters but when I saw the broken Lauren, I felt a tug at my heart. I had no idea that a chipper, lively, and crazy girl had been fighting with the demons of society that too alone. I admired her for that. The judgment she had been through, she could have given up but she didn’t, instead, she emerged out stronger than one could ever think.
While walking, Jordan stared at me as though figuring what I had said. He didn’t utter a word against what I said because maybe he knew I was right. I too didn’t try to continue the conversation as I thought what I had said was enough on my part.
I took my car from the repair shop and drove back to the house. There, Jordan went inside the house, and I remained outside when I saw Laura stepping out of her house, waving at me. I hadn’t seen both the sisters since I woke up.
“Good morning. Where’s Lauren?” I asked as I passed her a smile. She smiled back.
“Good morning and Lauren has gone to meet our neighbor.”
“Oh!” I raised my eyebrows. “Favorite people?”
She laughed. “Oh, no, no, no.” She then shook her head in amusement. “More like a favorite dog. Jackie, our neighbor’s dog used to be her friend, and when I told her he’s is still there she couldn’t wait to meet him.”
I chuckled while shaking my head too. That’s Lauren we are talking about. I didn’t have anything else to ask her or say to her and most importantly, I didn’t want Lauren to go jealous again by seeing her sister together with me. So, I excused myself and went to my car and for no reason, I began checking it for nothing.
No one could see it but my eyes were gleaming when I remembered Lauren’s jealous face. I had a bit of idea that she surely felt something for me. And her jealousy confirmed it.
“She’s sensitive.”
I sharply turned around when I heard Laura’s voice behind me. My confusing gaze studied her and I raised my brows.
“Lauren.” She muttered as she crossed her arms behind her back and took steps towards me. “She may not show it but she easily gets hurt.” She stopped at a hand distance from me.
“Yeah. Just got to know it last night.” I muttered the last statement under my breath.
“I…I…” She stuttered as she pushed her hair strands behind her ear. Then she sighed and looked directly into my eyes.
“I just want to say that if you feel anything for her just say it. She does not hold a lot of patience. Confessing feelings sooner than later will help you two.”
I blinked a few times to register her words. She asked me to confess my feelings to Lauren. But I had already cleared her that I was attracted to her. Was there more to it? Was there something I was missing?
And did she just confirm Lauren’s feelings for me?
But again, the major question: Did I have something more than attraction towards Lauren?
How would I know?
“I…I think you are misunderstanding things here.” I said.
Laura’s eyes held bewilderment for a while but then she chuckled and shook her head what it felt like in amusement.
“I get it. I get it.” She laughed. “I thought it’s just Lauren who’s confused but guess you are walking on the same path.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, nothing. Just an advice, don’t take long to confirm your feelings about her.” She said and laughing, she walked inside the house.
I opened my mouth to call her to stop her and ask her what he meant by that but it seemed as if my voice had taken a break. I couldn’t form words.
My staring broke when I heard a lively familiar voice coming from behind and I turned to find a way too happy Lauren bouncing towards me.
“Hey, is your car fine now?”
I couldn’t stop my lips from forming into a smile. Her vibrant personality can turn anyone’s sour mood to happy.
“Yes, it is,” I replied. “And you don’t seem like you cried your eyes out the last night,” I commented. It was a nice thing that she was okay, but generally, people tend to be upset for a while.
She came and stood near me. “What, I am not gonna cry over it for all life.” She clicked her tongue. “It was a moment of weakness and now I am cheerful because…Sean…” She took another daring step towards me, coming closer.
“Life is short so you better chose happiness and live every second of it.” She whispered then wiggled her eyebrows. “Get it?”
I chuckled as I poked her forehead. “Got it, Miss Philosopher Hart.”
“So, shall we leave or you wanna spend some more time with your fam-”
“Hell, No!” She shrieked before I could complete my sentence. “You will find my family in a mental asylum if I stayed a minute longer here.”
“What?” I laughed at her choice of words.
“Yeah, because whatever I do will annoy them to the extent they won’t be able to endure.”
“You. Are. Crazy.” I looked at her in shock.
“Uh, someone told me that to take being crazy as a compliment. So, thank you.” She bowed dramatically. “Wait here, I’ll go bring my handbag.”
I chuckled and waved my hand, gesturing her to leave. I then went towards the driver’s seat and I was about to sit when my phone went off. I frowned when my PI’s name flashed on the screen.
I immediately picked up the call. “Yes, Phill. Any update?”
“As you asked me to, I have been following Samantha. She has been in her hotel room since she has arrived here. She hasn’t made a move to meet her son yet.”
“What the actual fuck are you planning Samantha?” I muttered under my breath frustratingly.
“Okay. Did she try contacting any of my family members?” I asked.
“Physically, no. Can’t say about the phone calls since you didn’t want to track her calls.” He replied.
Yeah, that’s true. I didn’t want to track her calls. I was already invading her privacy by having a man watching her all the time and tracking her calls would have been too much. I just wanted her to stay away from Ryan, that’s all.
“Alright, keep tracks on her.” I hung the call and huffed in frustration.
“Hope she isn’t planning anything evil,” I muttered, rubbing the screen of the phone with my thumb.
I was glad that Ryan was safe. The guards I appointed had been following grandma and Ryan everywhere; even to the school. Whatever it may take, I won’t let her approach him.
“Hey, I am back-Oh my god, Jazzy!” Lauren yelled in excitement as she darted her eyes behind me and before I could turn and look at who she was looking at, she ran past with the speed of a bullet. And when I turned the next thing I knew I was bubbling in jealousy.
Because she jumped in the arms of a fucking guy. And adding spice to my jealousy she placed a kiss on his cheek.
I tightly clenched the phone I had been holding and shot them deathly glares. Who was he? A friend? Or perhaps a boyfriend?
Fuck! Was he? I couldn’t be wrong because she had done this before. I saw her doing the same to a guy when we were returning from the amusement park.
But one thing I could not understand was my jealousy. Yes, I was jealous, watching them laughing and hugging as their lives depend on each other, but the jealousy was intense this time. My heart constricted and it pained watching them sticking to each other.
There was something more than jealousy that surged inside me. What was it? Because I was sure that it wasn’t just the result of attraction. It was something else developing inside me.
My temper flared when that fucking guy kissed her back on her cheek. I couldn’t hold it anymore. Fuming, I dashed towards them and yanked Lauren out of his hold by her wrist. They both looked surprised but I couldn’t give a damn!
“We are getting late, Lauren,” I said a bit calmly while glaring at the guy who had turned me into a mad man.
“Oh, okay! By the way, meet Jazzy, my friend since high school.” Lauren introduced. “And Jazzy, he’s my boss, Sean Peterson.”
“Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Peterson.” Jazz…-whatever musical name he had- held out his hand for a handshake.
I eyed his hand in absolute hate but I had to shake his hand; didn’t want to come out rude.
“Pleased to meet you,” I muttered, flashing a fake smile and pulled back my hand.
“Hope this psycho-” He pointed at Lauren. “-did not bash your car as she bashed mine.” He then laughed and Lauren punched him lightly. “Hey, I am kidding.” He laughed as he slapped her upper arm.
What the hell was going on?
I frowned. “As far as I remember, she bashed the bike of her ex-boyfriend.” I looked at Lauren.
Jazzy gasped then laughed out loud. “God, I wasn’t the only one? Lauren, how many vehicles have you bashed till now?”
Lauren laughed and slapped his upper arm. “Not many. But I am sure the bashing started with you.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked her. But instead of her, the music form spoke.
“Oh, I was her first-ever boyfriend.”
First boyfriend! And she introduced him to me as her friend. I clenched and unclenched my fist. My temper was rising.
She kissed her ex-boyfriend in front of me knowing that I was courting her. This was insane.
I wasn’t affected by her past but her past was affecting our present. Whatever her past was… it needed to be left behind.
“Well, sorry to cut your meeting short. We have to leave for New York now.” I muttered, controlling my irritation.
“Yeah, Jazzy we have to leave. See you next time.” She smiled at him. He too bid his goodbye and when he was out of our sight I grabbed Lauren’s wrist and yanked her to me.
“Why did you kiss him?” I questioned angrily.
She frowned in confusion then yanked her wrist out of my hand. “He’s my friend.” She stated.
“Ex-boyfriend, Lauren. Ex-boyfriend!” I gritted my teeth. “You failed to mention this.”
“Okay, fine.” She raised her hands in surrender. “Sorry, I forgot to mention. But when I don’t remember him as my boyfriend then why should I introduce him to you as my boyfriend?”
I exhaled a sharp breath, ran my hands in my hair, and again yanked her towards me. Our faces just inches apart.
“Listen Lauren and listen to me very carefully.” I gritted looking into her eyes. “The day, the moment I kissed you, you became unavailable to every other man on the planet.”
“What?” She pushed me and pointed a finger at me. “You can’t stop me from meeting my friends anymore.”
“I am doing no such thing, Lauren! What I mean to say is…stay at a notable distance from men. You can’t just jump on them and kiss them whenever and wherever you please.” I pointed out.
“Here you became the same as every other person I hate.” She said in disbelief. “You lectured me not to change my ways and now you are the one who wants to change me. You want to control me.” She scoffed.
“Change? Are you even listening to yourself?” I glared at her. “I would never do that to you. I have accepted you the way you are. And it is human nature to get jealous over watching the one he’s trying to court hugging and kissing another man!”
She stared at me for a second then rubbed her face with her palms. “Listen, I don’t want to fight right now.” She huffed.
“Running again, huh?” I asked as I stepped closer to her and grabbed her shoulders. “I don’t understand why are you fighting the attraction between us? Why don’t you let me court you?” I whispered.
I inched closer, our lips almost touching. I rubbed my nose against her face, feeling her soft skin. “Tell me, Lauren, what is it that is stopping you from accepting your feelings for me?”
She wiggled and tried to pull back but I didn’t let her. “Nothing is stopping me. I…I…” She whispered but didn’t complete her sentence.
I stopped gliding my nose against her face and pulled my face away. I stared at her studying her expressions. Her eyes flashed something but her mouth couldn’t utter what was inside her heart.
I was hurt. She still didn’t confess. If not now then when?
“Am I forcing you, Lauren?” I asked, feeling extremely hurt. I thought I never forced her because I felt that she was attracted to me as well. Maybe I was wrong?
She still didn’t reply and I released her from my hold. Surprisingly, I wasn’t angry anymore.
Her confused eyes studied me. “Wha-”
I didn’t let her complete whatever she wanted to say. “I am sorry if you felt that I have been forcing you. I thought-nevermind!” I chuckled humorlessly.
I took a sharp breath exhaled it. I wanted to say a lot but I couldn’t. “We must leave now,” I said and sat on the driver’s seat without letting her speak.
I was hurt deeply. I shouldn’t be feeling so since it was a mere attraction but I wasn’t convinced by my own explanation. Why I had been feeling different since I had started noticing her?
It was somewhat clear that she didn’t want me but I couldn’t take her out of my system. Because I wanted her!
But I could never force her.
She stood at the same spot without moving. I blew the horn of the car which caused her to look at me through the window. Her family too came out of the house. They bid her goodbye then she sat inside the car.
I drove back home without looking at her or uttering a word to her. Surprisingly, she too remained quiet.