Aim to Please (wlw)

ch. 13 • unexpected visitors

Sunlight dappled my face. Consciousness had long plagued me, but the comfort of Laurie's bed, paired with the warmth of her breath on my neck, made it impossible to move. My phone buzzed its vibrated alarm, indicating that we had run out of time.

I flipped over and kissed the sleeping goddess beside me. Laurie stirred and mumbled something incoherent. I tickled up and down her abdomen, enjoying the reaction of her muscles twitching against me. She whined loudly and sighed.

"My darling," she murmured. "Sleep."

I chuckled and tickled lower, across her hips. "No, honey. Awake."

She half-opened one eye and pouted. "But why?"

"Because," I began, adoration swelling inside of me at her silly behavior. "It's Monday and we have jobs."

"I quit," she moaned, mid-stretch. As her muscles relaxed back into play-doh, she sighed. "...Fine."

I smiled to myself and rolled out of bed. My arms automatically lifted upwards and I groaned my way through my own stretch. Laurie whistled, making me blush.

We fell into our shared-morning routine. Shower, teeth, get dressed. We swung past each other multiple times, fleeting hands on waists or hips. Within an hour, we were set and ready to walk to the office.

"Laurie," I fussed, holding out a banana. "Eat."

She rolled her eyes at my complaint and begrudgingly took the piece of fruit. Ever the winner, I smirked at my success.

I spent the night more often than not. First, it was just on the weekends. Then, we found 'issues' that needed to be resolved in the office so that it would get late and I would be 'too tired to go home'. We fell into this routine that felt so homey and--- dare I say it--- domestic. 

As we walked to the office, Laurie held my hand. I relished the feeling of her fingers intertwined with mine. To people on the outside, we probably looked like a real couple. The thought was scary, but only because it excited me to no end. I found myself wanting to be her girlfriend. 

"Do you ever feel like you might regret something one day?" I blurted out. Laurie's pace faltered. "Like, as in. You know something is foolish, but you can't help but partake? And sure, you know it's foolish--- but you don't know why?"

"What a random thought, darling," she mused quietly. "But yes, yes I do believe I know the feeling you speak of." 

"It's so confusing. And unfair." 

Laurie squeezed my hand gently. "Quite so."

•

We were all gathered in the boardroom. Buzzing through the room was a hint of excitement and trepidation. A full meeting of both design teams on a Wednesday? That could only mean one thing.

Of course, I knew what it meant. The assistant is always privy to even the most secretive information.

"Everyone, listen," Laurie called for the room's attention. We all turned towards her, expectantly. "I have decided on a final design."

I had one hand gripping Aja's arm, the other on Jayce's shoulder. They both looked a little green around the edges, as did their teams behind them. Laurie paused, ever one for dramatics.

"It will be Jayce and his androgynous dark academia line," she concluded happily, hands clasped together.

Jayce's face fell, surprise overtaking him like a tempest. We all crowded around him, hugging him and giving our congratulations. He turned to his team, grim at the prospect of their next few months of hard work.