Chapter 4: The Beginning of a Bad Decision

Lauren stared at the ceiling, feeling down. She was set to start work the next day, but she couldn’t shake her current mood.

She grabbed her phone, her thumb hovering over the screen, and finally called the only person who ever managed to make her laugh when everything felt pointless.

Mia.

When Mia answered, her voice was instantly alert. “Whoa, you sound like a fish out of water. What’s wrong?”

Lauren let out a shaky laugh. “Everything, Mia. And it’s all pathetic.”

Mia didn’t hesitate at all. “You know what? I don’t have a case tomorrow, I’m coming over.”

Mia was knocking on the door within half an hour. Lauren quickly wiped her face and opened the door just as Mia stormed in, dropping her bag with a thud.

’What’s going on, babes? You look like hell!’’ Mia asked, dropping onto the couch next to Lauren, her hand reaching out, eyes scanning her face for answers.

Logan’s been cheating on me," Lauren whispered, her hands curling into fists in her lap, her knuckles turning white.

Mia froze, her mouth half open. “What?” She screamed.

"I walked in on him two weeks ago," Lauren said, her voice barely above a whisper. "With Corinne. In his bed. They’ve been at it for a year, Mia." She stared at her hands, shoulders hunched, as if she could disappear.

Mia’s jaw dropped, eyes wide with shock. “Corinne? Your sister?” She immediately stood up, pacing and flailing her hands. “Holy shit, Laur, I’m… I’m speechless! That snake has been screwing your fiancé? For a year?”

Lauren nodded, “I walked in on them and heard her moaning his name. He had the nerve to claim it was a mistake.”

“Wait, you mean to tell me all this was happening, and you didn’t call me? Laur, I swear to God, if you ever pull that again…”

“You had that big case,” Lauren murmured. “I didn’t want to distract you.”

“Distract me? Babe, I’m your ride-or-die, not some desk jockey. My job can wait. You can’t.”

Lauren smiled faintly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You know what? Say the word, and I’ll flatten Logan with my car.”

“You don’t even drive,” Lauren replied, with a slight smile.

“Exactly. It’ll look like an accident,” she spat as she sank beside her, pulling her into a fierce hug. “Oh, babe, let it out. They broke your heart, not your spirit. You don’t have to be strong right now.”

Lauren’s tears fell, but her voice remained fierce. “I’m done crying over them. They’re not worth it.”

“That’s my girl,” Mia said, her voice warm. “Logan’s a coward, and Corinne’s just jealous, she’s been like that ever since we were kids. You’re ten times the woman she’ll ever be.”

"Laur, talk to me. Are you okay?" Mia pressed, her voice softer now, like she was afraid Lauren might break if she pushed too hard.

“I’m not okay,” Lauren snapped, her voice cracking. “I don’t understand what I did wrong. I gave him everything I had, and somehow it still wasn’t enough. I... I should have had sex with him; maybe it was partly my fault.”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” Mia yelled, her eyes burning. “Logan’s a brain-dead moron, and your sister’s a treacherous snake in cheap lipstick.”

"Yeah, no arguments on that," Lauren snorted, rolling her eyes. "He’s not just an asshole, he’s the king of assholes. Like, he built the whole damn kingdom."

"King? Please. He’s the emperor of bastards," Mia shot back, flinging her arms out so wide she almost sent Lauren’s coffee flying.

"Cheating whore!" Lauren spat, leaning forward with her eyes still wet, but a flicker of fire returning.

"Lying, backstabbing sleazeball!" Mia retorted, her grin so broad it nearly seemed painful.

"Nincompoop!" Lauren yelled, pointing her finger upward, then froze when Mia simply stared at her with her mouth open.

Ninco—what?” Mia giggled, clutching her stomach. “Laur, are you seventy? Who says that? Come on, babe, hit me with something fiercer!”

Lauren burst out laughing, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her oversized T-shirt, her heart a little lighter. “God, Mia, what would I do without your ridiculous ass?”

“Probably marry that Nincompoop and live in Loser-town," Mia teased with a playful smirk.  “Come on, babes. Let’s head out for some fresh air, have a little fun, and maybe make a few bad decisions," she winked.

“Mia… no. I start my new job tomorrow. I need to sleep.” Lauren groaned. 

“Sleep’s for quitters,” Mia shot back, grinning. “You’ve been through hell. We’re celebrating you – new job, new start.”

“I don’t think I’m in a drinking mood,” Lauren mumbled.

You never are. That’s why I have to drag your ass." 

Lauren sighed, but her lips curved just a little. “Fine. But if I get fired tomorrow…”

“I’ll sue their asses. I'm a lawyer, remember?” Mia winked, pulling her toward the bedroom. “Let’s make you look like the badass you are.”

*****

The bar was crowded, filled with the smell of spilled beer and sweat in the air, and loud music that drowned out any unwanted thoughts.

Mia ordered beer before Lauren could protest.

“Mia, I’m serious…”

“Shut up and sip, doctor’s orders.”

Lauren stared at the bottle, her lips pressed tight, but finally she shrugged and took a sip. Then she took another, and another, until the taste became faint and her head felt lighter.

By the time she finished her third bottle, Lauren was laughing too loudly, swaying with the music, her world spinning just enough for the ache in her chest to fade.

She stood up, a little unsteady, but for once she felt almost weightless, like she could do anything and nothing would matter.

Someone increased the music volume. Lauren felt the deep vibrations in her bones, and suddenly, something inside her broke. Without thinking, she climbed onto the bar, her blond waves falling around her shoulders, her short skirt riding up her thighs, and her voice mixing with the laughter and cheers around her.

“Lauren!” Mia’s voice cut through the noise, filled with panic, “Lauren Hill! Get down right now!”​

She ignored Mia, moving her hips to the beat, hands sliding up her sides, over her breasts, head thrown back as she let the music fully consume her.

The cheers grew louder, the catcalls more insistent, and for the first time since walking in on Logan and Corinne, she felt alive.

Mia finally managed to drag her down from the bar, while Lauren just shook her head, panting. "Mia, I give up. Trying to be the good girl is completely pointless."

"Oh, babe, don’t say that. You’ll find someone who actually deserves you, not some Logan knockoff," Mia said, squeezing Lauren’s shoulder.

But Lauren barely listened to her; her gaze had already shifted beyond her, fixed on someone sitting alone behind Mia.

‘’Hey, Laur! Are you even listening to me? Who are you staring at?’’

Mia turned, following Lauren’s gaze, and spotted him, a ridiculously hot guy sitting alone.

"I’m doing it tonight, Mia," Lauren said, as she pushed herself up, her legs slightly trembling, and was already heading toward him before Mia could grab her arm.

"Laur! No, no, come back here!" Mia called, reaching out, but Lauren just kept going, not even looking back.

She wobbled slightly, her grip tight on the glass as she got to him. "Hey," she said, attempting to sound confident, but her speech was slurred. "You could use some company."

The stranger’s eyes shifted to her, showing a combination of surprise and wariness. “You’re drunk.”

"I’m not," she shot back, sliding onto the stool next to him, her knee bumping his. "I’m just done being stupid, that’s all."

He watched her quietly, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Rough night?”

Lauren burst into laughter, leaning in so close she could smell his cologne. "You want to hear something crazy? My fiancé has been screwing my sister for a year. I found them in his bed the day I finally decided to give him my virginity. And me? I’m the fool who thought saving myself meant anything." The words rushed out quickly.

His smirk faded, and his blue eyes narrowed with a flicker of empathy. “Damn,” he said, setting his glass down, fingers briefly tightening around it. “Do you always tell strangers your life story, or am I just lucky tonight?”

"You’re the lucky one," she smiled, knocking back her drink, the burn making her bold. "I think you… you can help me out."

“With what?” he frowned, crossing his arms.

"Me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I want you to take it... my virginity. I want to lose it tonight."

His eyes fixed on hers, a surge of concern flashed through them. “You’re not thinking clearly. You don’t really mean that.”

"I do," she admitted, her voice almost pleading. "I already hate myself," she added more quietly. "Please, I’m tired of being a twenty-five-year-old virgin." Her fingers lightly touched his wrist, bold but trembling.

He stiffened. ‘’You’re drunk,” he said, shaking his head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

"I’m tipsy," she shot back, poking his chest a little too hard. "And I know what I want. I’m not some fragile little thing, alright? I just want to feel something other than pain." Her voice wavered, but her eyes didn’t back down.

He grabbed her wrist, his grip gentle. “Listen,” he said softly, “you’re hurting, and I get it. But this?” He pointed between them, his eyes searching hers. “You’ll wake up hating yourself, and I’m not that kind of guy.”

Lauren pulled her wrist free, rising to her feet with unsteady legs. "Don’t tell me what I’ll hate. You don’t know me," she leaned closer, lips almost brushing his, her voice a whisper. "I’m not asking for forever. Just one night to forget." She said, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest.

His breath hitched, and his resolve wavered as her intensity pierced through him. “You’re making it really hard to be the good guy here,” he muttered, as he sagged in his seat.

“Then don't be,” she retorted, her voice slurring slightly.

Before he could reply, she pressed her lips against his fiercely, her lips tasting of beer. The noise in the bar faded, and her heartbeat hammered loudly in her ears.

He pulled back, breathing unevenly, his hands lingering at her waist. “Jesus, you don’t make this easy,” he closed his eyes tightly, trying to regain control. “This is a bad idea.”

"The best ones are," she grinned, grabbing his phone and punching in her number. "Here, just in case," she said, winking, the alcohol making her braver than she’d ever been.

“You’re gonna regret this, you know.”

"Maybe," she shrugged, "but not tonight." She grabbed his hand and her purse from the table and pulled him toward the door, not looking back.

Across the bar, Mia’s jaw dropped, her beer glass frozen mid-sip. “Oh my God, Laur,” she whispered, half-laughing, half-panicking. “You’re a freaking legend!”