31 Celeste
I n the week before their last shoot, Celeste wakes up every day kissing Gemma in the morning and goes to sleep with her arms around her every night. It’s like she died and went to heaven, except her heaven has always been the too-brief time in college when she and Gemma lived together.
She can’t remember the last time she laughed so much, can’t remember the last time she was this happy . It’s a dangerous type of joy. One that’s so overwhelming she feels like she’s floating, seconds away from crashing back down to the ground.
Every little moment she spends with Gemma feels so precious, to the point that Celeste finds herself unable to sleep in the first few hours of Thursday morning. She watches Gemma as she sleeps, gently running her fingers through the other woman’s long, wavy hair.
It’s been a few days, but she can’t stop thinking about how Gemma had cried for her and the past they’ll never be able to undo. The emotion in her voice had been so raw and genuine that Celeste’s own heart ached.
That’s what she’s always loved about Gemma. From the moment they met during their junior year, she’s always been so earnest. So sincere. While Celeste herself spends most of her time trying not to care, Gemma is the opposite, caring so deeply about everything and everyone.
And that’s exactly why, despite her own rekindled feelings for Gemma, Celeste knows she can’t stay in her ex’s life. Even though Gemma claimed she’s not looking for anything serious, Celeste knows her. The casual relationship thing is most likely a phase, brought on by how badly she was fucked up by her most recent relationship.
It’s only a matter of time before Gemma will want something more serious. And after all she’s been through, she deserves someone who can be one hundred percent sure about her and give her the future, the relationship , she wants. And that’s not Celeste.
Celeste knows all that, but she can’t help but wish she can stretch this week out as long as she can. They now only have three days left of this project. Three days that she wants to enjoy with Gemma to the fullest before they go their separate ways.
Celeste sits up in bed and grabs her phone from the bedside drawer.
A month ago, she’d gotten an email about a short shoot in Sausalito. Since it’s only for a day, and just across the Golden Gate Bridge from where she’s staying, she’d said yes without thinking too much about it. At the time, she had no idea it would be the day before her last shoot for “Modern Love in Focus.”
Compared to the busy hustle and bustle of San Francisco, Sausalito is far quieter and smaller, with picturesque bayside views that end up on postcards. Previously, she’d only thought of it as another work trip. But now, it occurs to her that, if Gemma’s up for it, it can easily be a mini vacation. A little getaway they can go on to celebrate finishing a project they both worked hard on.
With a groan, Gemma stirs by her side. “I passed out again, didn’t I?”
Celeste laughs. “It’s a little past three. Welcome to Thursday.”
Gemma lets out an even louder groan. “I’m fucked. I have to get ready for work in a few hours. What if I can’t go back to sleep?”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that,” Celeste says. She runs a hand down Gemma’s spine, causing the other woman to shudder with pleasure. “I’m sure I can get you sleeping again in no time.”
Gemma laughs and turns over to curiously peer down at Celeste’s phone. “What are you up to? Emails? At this hour?”
“Kind of. Are you doing anything on Friday?”
“Besides work? Not really. Why?”
“I’m going up to Sausalito for another project. Do you want to come with me? It’s gorgeous there, and I think it’d be a nice little trip before…” It’d seemed so easy when she thought it, but out loud, it takes Celeste a moment to go on. “Our last shoot together.”
Gemma stiffens. Avoiding Celeste’s gaze, she checks her own phone and asks, “What time do we have to get there by? I’ll have to take some work home, but I can leave around two, so we can avoid rush hour.”
“Two is perfect, since the shoot starts at three. I’ll drive, and I’ll pick you up from your office. I know a few cafés where you can finish up work. If you want, we could also go on a fancy dinner date by the shore at the end of the day. I’ll pay for all expenses, obviously. Since it’s my work trip.”
“You should have led with that!” Gemma jokes. But her voice grows soft as she continues, “But yeah… that sounds like a good…” With a frown, she abruptly clears her throat. “Anyway, I’m down. Thanks for coming up with this idea. I’ve been needing a little getaway for a while now.”
“It’s no problem. I was thinking we could also stay there overnight if that’s okay with you? Since our first interview the next day isn’t until ten a.m. We should have plenty of time to come back down to SF.”
Gemma lies back onto the bed. “Sounds good. I’ll go to my friends’ apartment tomorrow—or I guess today —after work to pack an overnight bag, then.”
“All right.” Celeste puts her phone away and slowly closes the distance between them. “Now that we’ve taken care of all that, are you ready for your nightcap?”
“Oh, yes, please.”