Chapter 8: Everyday Tenderness

"No trouble." Lauren met his eyes.

She shook her head, her gaze steady. The wind tugged at her coat.

"Are you serious?" He put away his usual casualness, asking earnestly.

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "You’re not just running, are you?"

"Mm." She nodded. "I’m planning to travel the world. If Evan agrees, I’ll go with him."

She smiled, a hint of excitement in her eyes. The city’s energy buzzed around them.

"..."

He stared at her, mouth open, then let out a low whistle.

"I thought you were just joking before. Didn’t expect you to really go for it." Mike sighed. "How long have you two known each other?"

He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips despite his concern. He glanced at her, a hint of pride in his eyes.

If they’d only just met, he couldn’t let his girl go off with someone so easily.

He eyed her, protective as ever. "You sure about this guy?"

"Mm...about fifteen years, though we lost contact for a while."

She shrugged, a wistful smile on her lips. "We go way back."

"That long? How come I never heard you mention..." he muttered. "Fine, you have your own plans. If you don’t want to do this, then don’t. There’s so much ahead!"

He ruffled her hair, a gesture both affectionate and resigned. "Just promise you’ll text me when you land somewhere cool."

He smiled, waved goodbye. "Alright, go back up. It’s windy here. I’ll get to work on your contract termination."

He pulled his jacket tighter, glancing up at the gray sky. The clouds threatened rain, the air thick with the smell of ozone.

"Mike, thank you."

She reached out, squeezing his hand. "For everything."

Mike paused, waved a hand behind him, and walked off toward his car.

He lingered for a moment, then strode away, shoulders hunched against the wind. The taillights of his car glowed red in the misty morning.

The wind stung his eyes; he wiped his face with the back of his hand, looked up at the sky, and muttered softly,

"This kid..."

He shook his head, a fond smile on his lips. He watched her disappear into the building before driving off.

After chatting for about twenty minutes, Lauren was heading back upstairs when she realized Evan would know she’d gone out, whether or not he’d returned.

She hesitated at the elevator, anxiety gnawing at her. She knew Evan’s worry could border on overprotectiveness. The memory of his frantic voice on the phone echoed in her mind.

She understood what Evan worried about.

She pressed her palm to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

The apartment door was open, the entryway a bit messy, breakfast takeout scattered on the floor.

A half-eaten breakfast sandwich lay on its side, oatmeal spilled across the tiles. The scene spoke of panic, of someone dropping everything in a rush. The smell of coffee mingled with the scent of syrup and bread.

You could imagine, perhaps just now, it had slipped from Evan’s shocked hands.

She pictured him standing in the doorway, frozen in disbelief, the fear of losing her again overwhelming every rational thought. Her heart ached at the thought.

Lauren quietly closed the door, hearing Evan’s voice from the study.

She tiptoed down the hall, careful not to startle him. The floor creaked beneath her feet.

His voice trembled, emotions running high, his breathing rapid. The desperation in his tone was unmistakable.

She could hear the edge of desperation in his tone—a rawness that cut straight to her heart. She pressed a hand to the wall, bracing herself.

He was scared—because she was missing.

She paused outside the study, guilt twisting in her stomach. She bit her lip, steeling herself for the confrontation.

"Go look! Check the nearby security cams..." Evan was frantic, not even noticing Lauren’s footsteps.

He barked orders into the phone, his words clipped and urgent. His voice was hoarse, strained by worry.

"Evan."

Her voice was gentle but firm, cutting through the panic. The room fell silent.

Lauren stood at the doorway, meeting his eyes.

He spun around, relief flooding his face. For a moment, he looked like a lost child who’d just found his way home. His eyes shone with unshed tears.

The voice on the phone kept prompting, the weak sound echoing through the room.

He barely heard it, his entire focus on Lauren.