Page 82 of Loving Lauren
Tears welled in Lauren’s eyes, their smile radiant. “Sierra, you make me feel whole. In ways I didn’t even know I needed. You see me exactly as I am and love me exactly as I am.”
Sierra kissed them before the tears could fall, slow and deep, trying to pour all her gratitude and love and overwhelming joy into the connection between their mouths.
When they finally broke apart, she whispered against their lips, “Well, if we’re serious about maybe a baby or two, we should probably start practicing.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Practice, huh?”
Sierra stood up and extended her hand with exaggerated formality. “That’s going to require some serious dedication.”
Lauren took her hand and let themselves be led toward their bedroom, both of them laughing softly.
Their bedroom was dim and golden, lit only by the small salt lamp on Sierra’s dresser and the city lights filtering through their curtains. It smelled faintly of lavender and the fabric softener they both loved, creating the kind of sanctuary that lived in the quiet spaces between heartbeats.
Sierra kissed Lauren again, slower this time, her hands cradling their face like she was holding something infinitely precious. Lauren’s breath caught when she whispered, “I love you,” over and over like an incantation, the words pressing into their skin like a promise.
They undressed each other with a reverence that felt almost sacred. No rushing, no urgency—just the soft slide of fabric, the brush of fingertips, the kind of quiet that made every small sound feel amplified. Lips brushed freckles, hands traced old scars like they were mapping constellations, and every touch carried the weight of everything they’d rebuilt.
When Lauren lay back against their pillows, eyes bright with love and trust, Sierra traced the line of their jaw with her thumb.
“You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.
Lauren’s exhale was shaky and full of wonder. “You always look at me like that. Like I’m something miraculous.”
“Because you are.” Sierra pressed her mouth to the sensitive hollow of their throat. “Because you’re loved, now and forever.”
What followed wasn’t desperate or frantic. It was slow and full of awe and gratitude, every kiss and breath and whisperedendearment another way of saying: we survived everything, and we’re here, and we’re building something beautiful together.
When they finally curled into each other under their favorite quilt, skin against skin and heartbeat matching heartbeat, Sierra ran her fingers through Lauren’s hair and smiled into the peaceful quiet.
“One day soon, this might make a baby.”
Lauren’s hand came to rest over Sierra’s heart, fingers spreading wide. “It already made a whole life. This life. Us.”
And in the stillness that followed, Sierra closed her eyes and held them close, knowing that whatever the future brought—wedding rings, baby clothes, new dreams—they would face it together. Side by side. Completely whole.
Chapter 52
Six months after they started planning, the same park where Sierra had first spotted Lauren through her camera lens now shimmered with hundreds of fairy lights and the thick, sweet air of a perfect summer evening. Wildflowers bloomed along the pathways, and the scent of champagne and Sierra’s mom’s homemade macaroons drifted through the warm breeze.
This felt like the true beginning—a start and a full-circle return all at once.
White chairs lined the grass beneath a canopy of twilight and carefully woven lights. Paper lanterns swayed gently from the oak tree branches. Friends and family filled every seat, faces glowing with emotion, tissues already clutched in hands and tucked into pockets.
Sierra’s dad stood between them at the head of the aisle, looking distinguished in his navy suit, one arm linked through Sierra’s and the other through Lauren’s. The altar was an archway of flowers that Raven had insisted on designing, a wild tangle of color that still managed to look elegant. Thaliastood radiant in a flowing lavender dress, while Tobias looked handsome but slightly nervous in his role as Lauren’s person.
As they began their walk forward, Sierra’s dad leaned close to Lauren and whispered, “Thank you for making my daughter so incredibly happy.”
Lauren’s eyes immediately went glassy. “She makes me just as happy, Mr. Turner. More than I ever thought was possible.”
Then he turned to Sierra, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry it took me so long to understand. But I see how they make you light up, how much stronger you are together. Lauren isn’t just marrying into this family. They already are family.”
Sierra’s throat went tight, and all she could manage was a nod and a squeeze of his hand before the emotion overwhelmed her.
Thalia held Sierra’s bouquet like it contained the secrets of the universe, beaming with pride. Tobias stood beside Lauren, practically vibrating with joy despite his earlier nerves. Their mother sat in the front row, somehow holding a very disgruntled Salem in her lap—the cat magnificent in his tiny bow tie but clearly offended by the entire proceeding. His low growls rumbled every time someone dared to clap too loudly.
When the officiant asked if they were ready to exchange vows, Sierra didn’t hesitate. She turned toward Lauren, her whole heart visible in her expression.
“Lauren,” she began, her voice carrying clearly through the hushed crowd, “from the moment I saw you in this very park, I felt something I didn’t have words for yet. When I got to know you, it wasn’t just attraction or fascination, it was gravity. You pulled me into a world I didn’t know I’d been missing. A world of tenderness and strength, courage, and quiet wisdom. You taughtme that love doesn’t have to be loud to be real. It just has to be true.
