chapter two"So, how are things?" Brian asked, passing her a mug of hot chocolate. He sat down next to her on the couch.
Lauren had to think about it before she could answer. How were things? She had moved to a different town four months ago, renting a comfortable little condo near the outskirts of town. She had found a decent job at an office building only twenty minutes away. It paid her well enough. She even had a...dare she even call him a boyfriend?
"They're all right," she replied.
"How's your job?"
"Oh, it's the same old jazz. Nothing too exciting."
"And how are you and Michael?"
"I'm guessing my mother and you have talked, right?" she said, not surprised that he knew her boyfriend's name. After he nodded, she continued, "I dunno where we're at. We don't see each other much nowadays. He's got that big deadline that's coming up, he's practically living out of his office."
"Do you like him?"
"Sure. I mean, when we talk, we really just talk. He's great to talk to." Lauren paused, mindlessly tracing her finger on the rim of her mug. "Should I expect your wife to be dropping in anytime soon?"
"Not tonight," Brian stated, "her flight arrives at about 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. Her friend is dropping her off here."
"You guys have any plans?"
A devious grin crept across Brian's face. "Yeah..."
"Say no more," Lauren grinned. Brian and Jessica had been married for almost a year. She was a gorgeous woman. She was his height, with cat-like gray eyes and long, straight brown hair. She was a very brilliant woman, getting her degree in Psychology. She was also very witty. Her wrath of crafty practical jokes was infamous.
"What are you planning on doing this Christmas?"
"Spend it alone," Lauren said, "the first time in six years."
Brian wasn't sure if she said that cynically or not. Lauren was always surrounded by people. In a family of nine, it was hard not to be. Her family had numerous friends, some of which she had dated at some point. She loved being around her family, but Lauren was really one to keep to herself and fly solo.
"You're welcome to stay with us, if you want," he offered.
She waved it off with her free hand. She told him that she would be fine. She wanted to be alone.
"But being alone on Christmas Day is so...depressing!" Brian protested. "Are you sure you don't want me to call up AJ or Howie or someone else?"
"Howie is probably busy with his family and I don't want to have my ear bent off by Alex. Though I do miss the thrill of guessing what color his hair is. What is it this hour?"
"Red, I think," Brian said. "As long as I know you're fine. Cuz I don't want to leave you by yourself."
"I'll be fine," she said again. Lauren could already see herself taking a long, hot bath. Maybe with a nice bottle of champagne...
There was a lull in their conversation. Lauren stared at the fire as it danced and blazed in the fireplace. Brian picked at a loose strand in his pants. He looked up once and watched the light from the fire glow against her tanned skin. Her brown eyes stared away and she only once tucked a piece of stubborn brown hair behind her ear.
"How's Nick?" she inquired, barely over a whisper. She was still looking at the fire. He knew she was purposely avoiding his eyes.
"He went to LA. He's visiting family," Brian replied quietly. He didn't go much farther, because he knew it was a sensitive subject for Lauren.
"Is he happy?"
"I dunno. He hasn't had a girlfriend since...you know, then."
"Did he seem angry or sad or something?"
"He's been kind of subdued. Really distant. He's never been this dedicated to his work before. Ever."
"Oh." Lauren felt very lonely. She was used to it, though. Even when she was with Michael. There was this unavoidable, irreplaceable void in her somewhere. It would only get deeper and more scarred as time passed.
"Are you hungry at all?" Brian asked her, getting up quickly. "I have pizza, leftover chicken...I can cook some mean mac and cheese."
"Macaroni and cheese sounds fine," Lauren said. She took off her jacket and folded it up in her lap. "Do you need any help?"
"Nah, I got it. You want to watch a movie? I got a stack of them somewhere."
Lauren nodded and stood up. She looked through his collection while he busied himself in the kitchen. He had a lot of Jim Carrey flicks, she saw. She picked out a random video and put it in the VCR. She walked into the kitchen and saw Brian rummaging through numerous cupboards.
"All that money, but you can't find your damned macaroni," she teased.
"I haven't seen these cupboards in months, give me some slack," he told her. He opened another cupboard and found what he was looking for. He shrieked a shrilly, "Eureka!" and grinned. He opened the package and poured the noodles in the boiling pot of water.
"I picked up your new album recently," Lauren told him, leaning against the stainless steel counter.
"Really?" Brian asked, excitedly. Lauren wasn't much of a pop music fan. She insisted that rock was the way to go. So this was a big deal. That and another factor... "What did you think?"
"Two words: NSync Who?" She laughed.
Brian grinned. Lauren was so much prettier when she laughed. Those wrinkles on her forehead disappeared and her lips thinned and revealed pearly white teeth. She always threw back her head to laugh.
"Actually, I'm proud of you all. You can tell how much time you spent on it and all the dedication. Just needs a little more rock, that's all."
"We'll consider that next time."