Chapter 25
The alarm went off at the crack of dawn again, and Lauren made a noise that sounded like they were being personally victimized by time itself.
“One more four-thirty wake-up, and I’m throwing this phone straight into the ocean.”
Sierra chuckled, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. “We should’ve just passed out on the sand last night. Skip the whole ‘pretending to be human’ thing.”
They’d gotten their morning disaster routine down pat by now. Stumble around in the dark trying to find clothes. Grab whatever snacks were within reach. Stuff camera gear into bags as if they were packing for the apocalypse. Then shuffle out looking like extras from a zombie movie.
The shoot that morning was pretty stunning. Gray clouds hung low over the water, making everything look soft and dreamy. The models floated around in these flowy dresses that caught the breeze just right.
Lauren set up next to her, all business. Sierra kept getting distracted watching them work. The way they dabbed highlighter onto a cheekbone with this tiny brush. How they’d blend eyeshadow in these perfect little circles, tongue sticking out when they concentrated.
Lauren would tuck their hair behind their ear without even realizing it. Sierra probably stared too much.
Lauren glanced over at her. “Keep that up, and I’ll charge admission for the show!”
Sierra didn’t even pretend to be embarrassed. “Worth every penny.”
By mid-morning, the light had gotten too harsh, and Jonas called it. He gave them a break until late afternoon, and Lauren practically vibrated with excitement when he suggested they kill time by going snorkeling.
“YES. FINALLY. Mask me up right now, I’m ready.”
They grabbed snorkel gear from the rental place and found a perfect little cove where the water was crazy clear. They could see straight down to the bottom.
Sierra was still figuring out her mask when Lauren tried walking into the waves wearing flippers. Big mistake. Immediate face-plant into the surf, arms flailing like some kind of sand-bound sea turtle.
Sierra stifled a laugh. “Graceful.”
Once they got underwater, it was like swimming inside an aquarium. These tiny yellow fish kept zipping past in perfect formation. The coral was so beautiful, all swaying and colorful.
Sierra paddled next to Lauren, and when their fingers brushed, she got this stupid grin going even with the snorkel in her mouth. Lauren’s eyes crinkled above their mask like they were smiling, too.
When they finally surfaced, Lauren yanked off their gear and let out a victory yell, which probably scared every fish in a mile radius.
“Did you see that fish that looked like someone had attacked it with every highlighter in existence? It was more colorful than a rainbow threw up on a unicorn.”
Sierra beamed, watching Lauren’s face still glowing with pure joy. “You looked so happy down there. Like your whole soul was lighting up.”
Lauren shrugged. “Maybe I was a mermaid or something in another life.”
“Start singing to seagulls, and I’m leaving you here.”
They flopped onto their towels after that, totally exhausted. The sun felt amazing on their salt-crusted skin. Sierra dozed off for a bit while Lauren polished off most of a water bottle.
They’d grabbed these ridiculous macadamia cookies from some shop earlier. Lauren ate like half the bag before Sierra even got one.
“Save some for me, you cookie monster.”
Back at the hotel, they had to rush through showers. There was no time to mess around. The evening shoot was starting soon, and they still looked like drowned rats.
The sunset shoot turned out pretty good though. Models in these bright tropical colors, palm trees everywhere. Sierra ran around getting shots while Lauren touched up makeup between takes. Everyone looked decent by the end, which was a miracle considering how fried they all were.
“Is it fair that we’re both this talented and this hot?” Lauren asked as they finished wrapping up equipment.
Sierra wiped sweat from her forehead. “Speak for yourself. I’ve been a complete sweaty disaster all day.”
“Yeah, but like, a sexy sweaty disaster.”
As they went back to their room, they laughed, sighing with relief after the day.
Sierra flopped face-first onto the bed. “My shoulders are officially staging a full rebellion against me.”
Lauren tossed her a playful look. “Want me to do something about that?”
Sierra raised an eyebrow. “Are you gonna make it worse?”
“Trust the process.”
Sierra flipped over onto her stomach. Lauren climbed on, settling carefully across her thighs. They grabbed the coconut oil and rubbed it between their palms first.
The second Lauren’s hands hit her shoulders, Sierra let out a sound somewhere between a purr and a dying walrus.
“Oh my God! I’m proposing to you immediately.”
Lauren chuckled. “Marriage talk can wait until after I work on these knots first.”
They got to work, really digging into all the tight spots. Their thumbs found every sore muscle in Sierra’s neck and shoulders. When they started working down her spine in slow circles, Sierra practically melted into the bed.
“Your turn,” she said when Lauren was done.
Sierra worked her fingers into the base of Lauren’s neck where they always got tense and continued down their back. When she finished, she planted a soft kiss on each shoulder blade.
“Feel better?”
Lauren was a puddle at this point. “I think you turned me into jello. I have no bones left.”
They passed out tangled up together, all loose-limbed and content. Tomorrow could bring whatever; they were ready.