Page 35 of Loving Lauren
“Morning, Jonas. What’s happening?”
“Sierra, thank God you’re awake. Hope I’m not interrupting anything important, but I’ve got an opportunity that fell into my lap.”
She watched Lauren lick powdered sugar off their fingers and tried to keep her voice professional. “I’m listening.”
“Last-minute travel gig. Hawaii. One week, lifestyle campaign for this luxury resort. Think beaches drenched in molten light, couples photography, that dreamy editorial style you’re so good at. You’d be my second shooter, and I’m willing to pay rush rates because we leave in three days.”
Sierra’s heart did a little somersault thing. “That sounds incredible.”
“There’s one more piece; do you know if that makeup artist friend of yours is available? The client specifically wants a pro on set every day for hair and natural glam work, and Daphne isn’t available. Beach goddess vibes, you know?”
Sierra’s eyes met Lauren’s curious gaze across the breakfast tray. “Let me check with them and get back to you ASAP.”
“Perfect. I’ll email you all the details. Thanks, Sierra.”
After she hung up, Sierra stared at Lauren for a moment, hardly believing what she was about to ask. “So... how do you feel about going to Hawaii for work? Jonas needs a makeup artist, too.”
Lauren blinked, as if they were processing the question in a foreign language. “I’m sorry. Is that a trick question? Did you ask me if I want to go to Hawaii with you?”
Sierra launched herself across the bed, barely managing not to knock over the breakfast tray. “We’d be working early morning and evening shoots when the lights at its best, but we’d have entire afternoons free to explore. Lauren, we would be in Hawaii. Together. Getting paid to create beautiful things in paradise. We’d leave in three days.”
Lauren’s squeal was so pure and joyful that Salem came running down the hall to see what was happening. They grabbed their phone, fingers flying across the screen. “Hold on, let me message my clients about rescheduling. Yes. Yes, yes, yes, absolutely yes!”
Sierra was already dialing Thalia before Lauren finished typing. “Hey, are you free to cat-sit for a week? I desperately need the world’s best cat-sitter, so Lauren and I can go to Hawaii to work! I leave in three days.”
Thalia didn’t even hesitate. “For my nephew Salem? Always! But you’re buying me dinner when you get back and spilling every single detail.”
“Deal.” Sierra laughed and gave Lauren a thumbs up.
Lauren clapped their hands together like an excited kid. “This is happening! We’re going to Hawaii! Together! For work that we both love.”
Sierra felt like her chest might explode from pure happiness. “This feels like some kind of dream.”
They kissed with syrup-sweet lips, their excitement bubbling between them like champagne. Sierra could already taste the future — salt air, sunset shoots, lazy afternoon swims, and evening walks on the beach. Everything felt wide open, like the horizon was stretching out in front of them, full of waves,possibilities, and whatever this beautiful, messy, magical thing between them was still becoming.
Outside, the morning sun kept climbing higher, but neither of them felt any rush to leave this perfect little cocoon of rumpled sheets and shared dreams they’d built together. The day could wait a little longer.
Chapter 20
Jonas’ voice came through Sierra’s phone speaker, crackling with that slightly fuzzy quality.
“Oh, one thing. The resort’s pretty packed right now, and the client booked everything last minute. The only room they had left has a king bed. Is that going to work for the two of you?”
Sierra glanced over at Lauren, who immediately gave her the most obvious wink in human history and mouthed “please” with exaggerated lip movements that made Sierra want to laugh out loud.
“We can share.” She tried to keep her voice professional while Lauren made ridiculous faces behind the phone. “No problem at all.”
“Perfect. See you both bright and early Monday morning.”
Lauren was a wreck getting through security. They kept pulling out their boarding pass as if it might change betweencheckpoints, and by the time they reached the gate their leg was bouncing so hard Sierra half-expected the chair to rattle apart.
Sierra buckled herself into the seat. “Alright, be honest. This is your first flight, isn’t it?”
Lauren latched onto her hand as if it was the only solid thing on the plane. “I just don’t trust metal tubes shooting through the sky faster than cars are even allowed to go.”
Sierra tried not to laugh, gave their fingers a squeeze, and shook her head. “You trust GPS to guide us through the middle of nowhere, but you don’t trust actual trained pilots?”
Lauren shot her a look that was half panic, half indignation. “At least GPS doesn’t drop you from thirty thousand feet if it has a bad day.”
