Chapter 5
“Shit”
“Carm I sooo sorry this is my fault, I should’ve stayed in my room, I should’ve thought about it more, I should of-“
“Cupcake!” Carmilla sat up again and slapped a hand over Laura’s mouth. “It’s okay. Really.”
The two slumped back into the sheet while they contemplated their next move.
“Well I guess now is as good of a time as any to tell them. I did drag you here all this way to do this anyways,” Carmilla roller her head over to face Laura who remained quiet. “What’s going on in that head of yours cutie?”
Laura shrugged. “I just don’t want to mess this up for you.”
Carmilla chuckled. “It’ll be fine. Now come on, I’m up before noon for once. I don’t remember the last time I was up early enough for breakfast.”
The two shuffled their way into the kitchen, an impressive spread of various breakfast foods on display in the island counter with Will and Mattie seated on either side. Mattie sat with her back straight, scrolling through her phone while William leaned over the counted, shoveling anything within reach into his open mouth.
Carmilla cringed at the sight. “Nice of you to finally join us. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Matska Belmonde,” Mattie didn’t extend a hand to Laura.
“Cut the crap Mattie, and say what you want to say.” Carmilla cut in.
Mattie raised an eyebrow. “Always so aggressive. But I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just eager to meet your…friend here after being informed by William that you had arrived last night.”
Carmilla rolled her eyes. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you guys! I’m Carm’s…uh well you see Carmilla is my…what I’m trying to say here is-“
“I’m gay.”
Will chocked on his pancakes and reached for the juice in front of him. Mattie patted him lightly on the back with a bored expression.
“Yes yes. The grass is green, the sky is blue, and my little sister is a raging homosexual. Please now, get onto the more interesting stuff. Explain to me how to managed to land yourself Laura Hollis as a girlfriend.” Mattie said.
Laura looked shocked. “You know who I am?”
Will had regained his composure. “I’m pretty sure anyone that watches television at night knows who you are, short stuff.”
Being new to television world, it still shocked Laura when people recognized her from her little last night program.
Carmilla had ignored the outburst. “Wait. You knew I was gay? This whole time you knew I was gay? Does mother know?”
“Of course not darling, you think you’d be forced back here if she knew? Please.” Mattie inspected her nails as she spoke.
The thought made Laura incredibly sad to think about. What a raging bi…bad person.
Carmilla just looked rather annoyed at her siblings already knowing. She crossed her arms and huffed, Laura knew she would need to diffuse the situation before Carmilla got angry. She quickly made her way over to her side and place a comforting hand on Carmilla’s arm, she visibly relaxed.
“Don’t think she’s missed the little moppet’s job description though. I could hear her on the phone this morning all fired up about ‘Laura Hollis, in MY home?!” Mattie chuckled at the memory.
“She should only be upset if she has something to hide right? I mean I’m never really looked into the Morgan Corporation before but-“
“But nothing Cupcake. Don’t go digging around there, you’re going to get yourself hurt.”
“Carm! You don’t deserve to be not invited home because you love women! She’s so UUUGH!” Laura’s outburst got a small smile out of Carmilla.
“Alright calm down, we’ll get her back in our own way. I'm thinking a little dinner announcement tomorrow should do the trick. What better way to piss off your homophobic mother than flaunting your girlfriend around?” Carmilla tugged Laura closer by the waist, nuzzling her nose against Laura’s cheek.
“But can’t we just-“
“No.”
“I could make some calls! Just a little-“
“No.”
“This could really be something Carm! I bet she’s-“
“No means no Laura.”
Laura deflated but sighed in agreement. So maybe taking down your fake girlfriend’s mother’s corporation was not that way to present yourself during a family holiday.
Will cleared his throat and suddenly they remembered they were not the only ones in the room. “As disgustingly cute as you two are, I’ve got things to do.” He announced before hopping off his stool and making his exit.
Mattie was still looking at Laura, making her squirm in place. “She you at dinner tomorrow night darlings, I have business to attend to,” she finally spoke before leaving.
Finally alone again, Laura tried to separate herself from Carmilla when she was violently dragged back to her warm body, back against Carmilla’s front. Her family wasn’t here, there was no need to keep up appearances. But notorious sleepy Carm made her return as she attempted to cuddle Laura while standing up, grumbling unintelligibly into her neck. The feeling made her hairs stand on end and butterflies explode in her stomach.
“Promise me something Laura.”
“What’s that,” Laura asked carefully, trying to hide the shaking in her voice.
“Don’t go toe to toe with my mother. It’s one thing pissing her off so I’m never asked to come back to this hell hole again, but it’s something completely different to tango with her business world. Don’t put yourself in the cross hairs.” Laura could feel the movement of Carmilla’s lips against her shoulder and she shuddered involuntarily.
She knew in her gut Lilita Morgan was hiding something. So she lied.
“I promise.”