Page 65 of To the Moon and Back

Lauren took a giant step back. She pointed at the car. “This isit. This is the 911. The luxury vehicle you call when you have one hotemergency.”

Carly laughed, which took her mind off the airport incident. “Liveand in person. Did you just call me hot or the car?”

“You are the hottest person I’ve ever seen in my life, but thiscar is something else.”

Carly touched her heart. “Don’t leave me for a car. How would Iexplain that?”

“Between you and the car, you win,” Lauren said, getting closer toCarly’s lips with each word, and ending with the kind of hello kiss they shouldhave been afforded twenty minutes ago. “God, I missed these lips,” Laurenmurmured. “Gimme more.”

“You are such a good kisser,” Carly said. She pulled away briefly.“I will never tire of the way you kiss. Do they teach kissing in stagemanagement school?”

“Yes,” Lauren said simply, going back in with a dreamy sigh.

* * *

Sunshine for days. That’s the best way Lauren could describe LosAngeles that early November. You wouldn’t actually know it was fall unlesssomeone pointed it out to you. The trees still stood tall, vibrant, and green.The blue skies seemed to scream,Spendthe day outdoors, you fool. There was a chill in the air, butnothing near as harsh as Minnesota this time of year.

Lauren had traveled briefly to California when deciding where topursue her career after college, ultimately deciding on New York City for awhile. But this trip felt different. Low stress. Breezy. It was her second dayin LA, and she planned to take it all in.

She woke just past eight, placed a kiss on a sleeping Carly’scheek, and snuck out of bed. She looked back because she loved the way Carlyslept, with a fist tucked just below her chin. Lauren shook her head at theserenity of the image and marveled at how it made her chest squeeze happily.She wanted to bottle and store this moment. Instead, she took a mental snapshotand resisted the urge to climb back into bed with the beautiful naked womanbefore her. There would be plenty of time for that ahead.

Carly’s house in the Hollywood Hills was modern, open, andexpansive. It swam in natural light, which made the morning feel like a cheerfulone. She made herself at home and started a pot of coffee, even though it tookher fifteen minutes to figure out how to use the very foreign looking silvercoffee machine. Much like she had in Minneapolis, Carly, and the hurricane shecould sometimes be, kept a surprisingly neat house. Mail in a stack on thecounter. Spices in a line on the rack. Only her refrigerator looked like theCarly she knew, as, for the most part, it sat empty.

“Are you stalking my groceries?”

Lauren turned at the sound of Carly’s morning voice. She stoodacross the white marble countertop wearing a navy T-shirt with the image of apink lip print across the top. She couldn’t see the bottom half of her, butLauren would wager that T-shirt was all she was wearing.

“You might need a few more. It’s true. Good morning.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Grape jelly and picklesmake for a great meal.” She came around the counter and wrapped her handsaround Lauren’s waist. “Good morning. You’re in my house.”

Lauren glanced around. “Surreal.”

“Isn’t it? I suppose it’s only fair. I’ve been to yours, land offull fridges and mighty pugs.” She kissed Lauren sweetly and released her,heading over to grab a coffee cup from the cute little rack they hung on.“How’s he doing?”

Lauren smiled. She missed Rocky IV, but he was bunking happilywith his buddy, Trip, and she would see him soon enough. “Trip said he snoredall night but woke up ready to play.”

“I can identify,” Carly said with a raised eyebrow as she doctoredher coffee. “But you were out of bed before I could capitalize.”

Lauren was now regretting that decision, especially as she caughtsight of Carly’s ass peeking out from the hem of that T-shirt. She squeezed hershoulders together at what it did to her.

“You have your meeting today?” Carly asked. She turned around,leaned against the counter, and took a sip of her coffee. Carly had amazinglegs. And thighs, and—

“I’m sorry, what?”

Carly grinned. “Your meeting.”

“Yes. I have a meeting with my agent at one, and an audition justafter that.”

“An audition on your second day? That’s amazing. What’s it for?”

“A rental car commercial. Apparently, I look like someone whomight be capable of selling a temporary vehicle.” She did her bestThe Price Is Rightimpersonation. “Who knew?”

“Me. You could sell me anything.”

“Filing away. What do you have going today?” She watched asCarly’s features shifted to blank.

“Just going to catch my breath, I think. Play hostess to myout-of-town guest. Fluff her pillow.”

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