Page 39 of Loving Lauren
Sierra set down her phone. “Lauren...”
“I know. I’m being stupid.” They laughed, but it didn’t reach their eyes. “It’s just... sometimes I look at you and I can’t believe you chose me. That you keep choosing me.”
Sierra cupped their face. “Every single day. That’s not going to change.”
Lauren kissed her palm. “I know. Sorry. I’m just... really happy. And sometimes that’s scarier than being sad.”
And that was the last thing either of them remembered before sleep took over.
Chapter 22
The sun stretched across the water as they stepped onto the yacht, golden light rippling over the waves like liquid magic. Sierra let out a low whistle as her feet hit the gleaming deck. This thing was massive, all polished wood and chrome railings that probably cost more than her parent’s house.
Sierra slung her camera back over her shoulder. “Okay, real question. Why don’t we do this every day?”
“Because we’re not millionaires yet.” Lauren put on these oversized sunglasses, way too dramatic for the moment, and somehow pulled them off. Movie star. No question.
The yacht was chaos... equipment everywhere, crew running in circles, papers flapping. Sierra went through the motions, but her focus was gone. Lauren looked unreal this morning. Sunlight from yesterday had stained their skin golden, as if it refused to leave. She wanted to sketch them. Not the models. Forget the models. She wanted to capture only Lauren.
They kept things mostly professional. Mostly.
During setup, Sierra grabbed a piece of mango from the elaborate fruit spread the yacht had provided and held it out to Lauren, but instead of taking it normally like a reasonable person, Lauren leaned forward and pretended to bite Sierra’s fingers, too. Sierra yelped and dropped the mango, which went rolling across the deck, and they both dissolved into laughter that definitely drew some curious looks from Jonas.
“Focus, lovebirds.” Jonas tried not to smile.
Later, on a break, they dropped into two lounge chairs at the back of the boat. Pinkies brushed, hooked, like it was second nature. Legs stretched out toward the sun. No rush. Just quiet and warm and easy.
Lauren tilted their face to the light, those ridiculous oversized sunglasses covering half their expression. “I could seriously get used to this lifestyle.”
“Same. Maybe we should become yacht people.”
“Do yacht people have to wear white pants all the time? Because that seems like a lot of pressure.”
The morning shoot was like something out of a dream. Models posed at the edge of the yacht while Sierra moved around them with her camera, capturing the way the ocean breeze played with fabric and hair. Lauren worked their magic with lighting, reflectors, and touch-ups. They made everything look effortless, even when the wind was determined to mess with everyone’s carefully planned styling. The salt air clung to their skin like the most expensive body glitter money could buy.
When they broke for lunch, Lauren caught a pic of Sierra mid-laugh, cheeks flushed from sun and pure joy. Then both of them in frame, their feet side by side near the helm with endless ocean stretching out behind them.
“Keep taking photos like that and I might actually stop hating the camera,” Lauren said, half-smiling.
A little later, one of the models passed by. Tall. Gorgeous. Straight off a Vogue cover. She didn’t even hide it. She looked them both up and down before stopping.
“You two together?” She smirked as if she already knew the answer.
Sierra and Lauren glanced at each other, both caught mid-bite of the bananas they’d been sharing.
Lauren tilted their head with exaggerated confusion. “Us? Whatever gave you that idea?”
The model laughed. “Right. Okay.” She walked away with a knowing smile.
As soon as she was out of earshot, they both cracked up.
“I mean, she’s not exactly wrong.” Sierra nudged Lauren’s foot with hers.
“Not even a little bit.”
The boat rocked as the afternoon shoot picked up again. Sierra crouched, shifting her camera to catch how the light scattered over the water. Lauren’s hand brushed hers, just for a quick squeeze, but it shot straight through her, leaving her unsteady.
She glanced over. Lauren was already watching, smiling like they’d just seen something impossible. And then, because the day wasn’t already perfect enough... dolphins. The first gray shape cut through the waves, and before Sierra could even process it, Lauren let out a shriek so full of joy it made her laugh out loud.
