Page 46 of Loving Lauren
At baggage claim, they kissed goodbye, just a quick but lingering thing that somehow conveyed everything they were feeling. A promise of “text me the second you get home” and Lauren’s soft “I miss you already” was passed between them as they waved and headed toward their separate cars.
Sierra went straight to Thalia’s to pick up Salem. The second she walked through the door, he launched into this whole guilt trip routine, yowling as if she’d abandoned him forever instead of just a week.
His tail was going crazy, whipping back and forth in typical dramatic Salem fashion.
Sierra scooped up his chunky black cuteness. “Okay, okay. I missed you, too, you absolute drama king.”
Thalia leaned against the doorframe with a knowing smirk. “So... did you two survive your romantic getaway without killing each other?”
Sierra rolled her eyes and followed her sister inside. “Barely. We worked our asses off. But also... yeah. It was pretty much pure magic.”
She collapsed onto Thalia’s couch while Salem claimed her lap like he hadn’t spent the entire week pointedly ignoring her FaceTime attempts.
Thalia brought her a glass of cold lemonade and raised an expectant eyebrow. “Alright. I want the full recap. Every detail.”
Sierra took a sip and grinned. “Okay, so day one was this whole adventure with Lauren’s first flight. They were so nervous, it was adorable. Then we got lei’d the second we stepped off the plane...”
“You got what now?”
“Not like that, you pervert. Hawaiian flower necklaces.”
They both cracked up, and Sierra launched into the highlights: snorkeling adventures, professional photo shoots on yachts, wish lanterns floating into the sunset, late-night swims, terrible karaoke performances, couples massages, and waterfall hikes that nearly killed them both.
“We kind of... fell even harder for each other. It wasn’t just vacation fun. It felt real and deep. We talked about everything. We even said ‘I love you.’”
Thalia’s smile shifted into something gentler. “Yeah, I kind of figured that part out. It’s written all over your face.”
Sierra stared into her lemonade, face getting warm. “It’s just so easy with them, you know? Even when we’re both dead tired and everything’s falling apart, it still feels right.”
Thalia got quiet for a second. Then she asked, “You gonna tell Mom and Dad about this?”
Sierra started drawing little circles in the water droplets on her glass. “I need to tell them about me first. Before I can even begin to explain more.”
Thalia nodded with understanding. “Well, family dinner’s tomorrow night. Are you thinking about coming out then?”
Sierra’s heart started racing, but she forced herself to nod. “Maybe. Yeah.”
Thalia reached over and placed her hand over Sierra’s. “Whatever you decide to do, I’ve got your back. Always have, always will. You know Tobias will, too.”
Sierra met her sister’s eyes and felt some of her anxiety ease. “Okay. Tomorrow it is.”
That night, Sierra finally unpacked and took the world’s longest shower to get all the travel grime off. She flopped into bed with Salem, who immediately claimed his spot like he owned the place.
She grabbed her phone and FaceTimed Lauren.
Lauren picked up right away, already in bed with their hair back and no makeup on. They still looked tanned as hell from the week they’d just had, but also soft and sleepy. “Hey there, beautiful.”
“Hey yourself. Missing me yet?”
Lauren scoffed. “I was missing you before I even made it out of the airport parking lot.”
Salem suddenly popped his head into the frame and let out the loudest, most indignant meow possible, like he had something very important to communicate.
Lauren burst into laughter. “There’s my favorite furry man! Has he forgiven you for abandoning him yet?”
Sierra scratched behind Salem’s ears. “Barely. He’s definitely keeping a grudge scorecard.”
They talked for a few more minutes, drowsy voices, and gentle smiles, sharing little details about their separate trips home, before Lauren said, “You should come over tomorrow night. I was thinking I could make that creamy mushroom pasta you love so much. We could eat out on my balcony, maybe string up some fairy lights.”
