Page 15 of Loving Lauren
“I panicked and ordered lavender chai. It tastes as if regret wore perfume.”
“Bold move.” Lauren said, setting her bag down and pulling out the chair across from her. “I’ll go with an oat milk latte, but I respect the chaos.”
Sierra smiled, the tightness in her chest easing. “Chaos is part of my brand. Right up there with bad impulse decisions and deeply awkward silences. I’m basically a lifestyle influencer.”
Lauren chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing another flicker of highlighter. The light hit right. Sierra had to blink.
“Let me grab my drink. Don’t vanish.” Lauren rose with the same unhurried grace.
Sierra nodded, trying not to vibrate out of her seat. She thought about texting Thalia something dramatic likeAbort mission, she’s prettier in natural light, but preserved her dignity.
Lauren returned a few minutes later, latte in hand, and settled across from her again.
“This is for you.” Sierra pushed the small white folder across the table. “A few shots from the shoot. I thought maybe we could go over them?”
Lauren opened it. Her expression shifted as she flipped through the glossy images. Her gaze softened, mouth parting slightly. “These are stunning. You made the shimmer look like stardust, and I look calm here. That never happens. You have a genuine gift.”
Heat rose in Sierra’s cheeks. “I try to capture what’s already there. Most people don’t realize how much they’re saying without words. But you...” She paused, then pressed forward, “You say a lot. In the best way.”
Lauren looked up, lips curled into something amused and knowing. “Do you rehearse compliments before coffee dates?”
“I tried. My cat judged me. Harshly.”
Lauren grinned and leaned in, eyes catching on the charm at Sierra’s collarbone. “That’s a cute necklace.”
Sierra opened her mouth to respond, but Lauren reached out first. Her fingertips brushed the tiny gold pendant, a camera charm, barely grazing her skin.
“A camera. I love it.” Lauren’s eyes still on it.
Sierra forgot how to inhale. The brush of contact was featherlight, but her entire chest hummed as if she’d touched a live wire.
Lauren’s gaze finally lifted. She didn’t apologize. Just smiled. Soft and unbothered. A little dangerous.
Sierra cleared her throat. “It was a gift from me to me after my first paid shoot. Not expensive, but it’s meaningful.”
Lauren nodded. “It suits you. Quietly powerful and intentional.”
They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their drinks as the café buzzed around them. The espresso machine hissed.A barista laughed behind the counter. Morning light filtered through the windows, scattering leafy shadows across the floor.
Sierra glanced up. “What’s your favorite part of your job that no one ever asks about?”
Lauren blinked, clearly surprised. Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned back, eyes thoughtful. “No one ever asks that. I think it’s when someone looks in the mirror and says, ‘I didn’t know I could look like that.’ Not because of the makeup, but because of the shift. Like you held up a version of them they’d never seen before.”
Sierra felt it. That silent click of something falling into place. Not an attraction. Not even understanding. Recognition.
“That’s what I love about photography. Those moments. The pause. That blink when someone sees themselves differently.”
They sat in it for a while, whatever this was. Whatever it was becoming.
Lauren traced the rim of her cup with her finger. “Can I ask you something? How did your family react when you decided to become a photographer? Like, as a career?”
Sierra’s smile faltered slightly. “They’re... practical people. My parents wanted something more stable. Dad still asks about my ‘backup plan’ sometimes. Mom still introduces me as ‘our daughter who takes pictures’ like it’s a hobby that got out of hand.”
“That sounds lonely.”
“Sometimes, but my siblings get it. Especially my brother Tobias. He’s the one who actually convinced me to take my first paid gig. Said I’d regret not trying more than I’d regret failing.” Sierra’s expression softened. “What about your family?”
Lauren’s fingers stilled on her cup. Something flickered across her face, too quick to read. “It’s complicated. But I love that your brother saw your potential before you did. That’s rare.”
