Page 51 of To the Moon and Back

“Come on now,” John said, with a gotta-get-her-outta-here look.“Past our power-down time.”

Lauren walked her parents to the car, and Carly worked the room,feeling happy, warm, and connected to each person.

“You were amazing tonight,” Kirby gushed.

“You were, too,” Carly said, feeling the love.

“And I love your hair.” Kirby touched a strand. “What did you doto it?”

“Thanks, Kirby. Just a few curls.”

“I’m going to try that.” Kirby stepped in closer. “So, are younervous?”

“About tomorrow? No, I feel good.”

“I mean about the reviews. They’ll be out in just a few hours. Iimagine people will be watching to see how you did, right? All eyes on you.”

Carly went still. She didn’t realize the feedback would be soimminent. A few hours? But Kirby was right. She’d come to Minneapolis to proveherself as a reliable, serious actress, but if the reviews hated her, whatthen? “Trying not to dwell on that part,” she confessed.

Kirby looked extra serious. “Oh. I bet it will be fine.”

“Of course,” Carly said, blowing off her concern. “Plus, tonightis a celebration.”

“Everything okay?” Lauren asked, touching the small of her back.

“Of course,” Carly said. But she wanted to be out of there beforethose reviews hit. She didn’t want anything to ruin her celebration. “Yourparents are not real. You know that, right?”

“I’m a lucky person to have them. But the fact that she justimpersonated my rendition of ‘Tomorrow’ from the running board of my dad’struck just as Ethan, of all people, walked past on his way into the club, tellsme that they are very much real and embarrassing as hell.”

“Stop complaining about your amazing life and drink this expensiveprivate club wine.” She handed Lauren back her drink that she’d taken custodyof. They locked eyes and touched their glasses. Carly saw Kirby’s eyes growwide in her peripheral vision. Apparently, the intimate look they’d just sharedhad spoken to Kirby, who dashed off like she’d left the oven on. Everyone wouldknow the nature of their relationship in just under six minutes. Carly wasfairly confident.

They stayed through the toasts, standing next to each other.Lauren touched her pinkie to Carly’s. They stayed through a second drink. Carlyloved the little lip prints Lauren’s lipstick left on her glass. She imaginedherself kissing those lips later, tasting the remnants of that drink. Theystayed through the quartet packing up and the party shifting into full gearwhen the loud recorded music began. She danced subtly with Lauren, who pressedher hips in close, behind Carly’s.

“Wanna get out of here?” Carly whispered as she turned in Lauren’sarms. Lots of eyes were on them, and she craved alone time in the worst way.

“Lead the way.”

They didn’t make a big deal of their departure. After all, they’dsee everyone the very next day. Lauren quietly said good-bye to Trip, and withthe formality of the gathering out of the way, all they’d miss was an abundanceof dancing…and the reviews. They’d be there in the morning, Carly remindedherself.

“Take me home with you,” Carly said, circling her arm throughLauren’s in the parking lot on that chilly autumn evening. She stared up at themoon, the stars, and the dark expanse of sky in between. She felt intimatelyconnected to everything in the cosmos, super aware of how all the events in herlife had lined up to bring her to this very important day. It was already anight she’d never forget, and stealing away with Lauren was the perfect way toend it.

“Have you seen the moon tonight?” Lauren asked.

Carly gazed up at the luminous moon broadcasting its warm glow inthe night sky. Appropriately, the stars were plentiful. “It’s gorgeous. Theentire sky.”

“Almost like it’s sanctioning our opening, looking down on us.”She shook her head. “I’ve noticed the stars, the moon, the constellations somuch more since we started work on the show.”

Carly kissed Lauren’s hand. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at themin the same way.”

Lauren sighed happily. “Neither of us will.”

Chapter Eleven

They were tipsy, but only a little, as they climbed out of Lauren’sMini that autumn evening, the one that had already changed Lauren’s life. “Didyou see the look on Trip’s face when you told him to send Nia onstage?” Laurenasked, laughing. She waved her hand in front of her face a few times as shetried to get control. “Man, you made his first show as PSM a memorable one.I’ll say that.” She continued to laugh as she thought back.

“Who knew that all he needed was a little pizza porn and I’d behis?” Carly joined Lauren in her laughter and held out her hand. “Come here. Iwant to kiss you in the cold beneath this gorgeous moon.”

Lauren grinned and leaned against the car. “The moon, I get.What’s so special about the cold?”

---