Chapter 27
The flight home was somber, unlike the excitement of the flight out. It was quieter, and there was a hint of sadness, like the end of something beautiful.
Lauren conked out on Sierra’s shoulder pretty much right after takeoff, their fingers still locked together. Every time they hit a bump, Lauren would make tiny snoring sounds. Sierra grinned like an idiot every single time and kissed the top of their head.
Let people stare. She was so happy she didn’t care.
When they finally landed, Sierra’s phone lit up with the group chat exploding in welcome-back memes and messages from The Inner Circle. She responded with a sleepy selfie of her and Lauren holding hands across their airport coffee table, captioning it: Jet lag, but make it cute.
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.”
Sierra’s smile faltered. “I would absolutely love that, but I’ve got family dinner tomorrow. I think I’m going to tell them I’m pansexual.”
There was a pause. Lauren’s expression softened with concern. “Is this because of me? Because of us?”
Sierra shook her head. “No. This is about me. I should’ve done this forever ago, honestly. I want them to know who I actually am. And maybe if they don’t completely freak out, then I can tell them about you.”
Lauren blinked a few times, visibly moved. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Hold on to that pasta idea for another night though, okay?”
Lauren smiled warmly. “It’s definitely a date.”
They made kissy faces at the phone screen like a couple of teenagers and said goodnight. After Sierra hung up, she just lay there in the dark with Salem rumbling like a tiny motor against her side. Her heart was racing, adrenaline keeping her awake. Tomorrow, she was really going to do this.
The next morning, Sierra was messing around with her camera stuff for like the millionth time when someone knocked. She opened the door to find Jett holding two coffees and wearing his we need to have a serious talk face.
Sierra opened the door. “Okay, what’s wrong?” Salem immediately wound around his legs in greeting.
“Is it that obvious?” Jett flopped onto her couch with a dramatic flair that didn’t quite mask his tension.
“You brought me the expensive coffee. You only do that when something’s eating at you.” Sierra settled beside him, tucking her legs under her. “Spill.”
Jett was quiet for a moment, absently scratching Salem’s ears. “My mom called last night. She’s been asking about my dating life again, wanting to know if I’ve met anyone special.”
“That’s good, right? She’s always been supportive of you being gay.”
“Yeah, she has been. She’s amazing about that part.” Jett’s smile was complicated. “But, Sierra... I haven’t told her about Ellis.”
Sierra’s eyebrows drew together. “Why not? You’re crazy about him. You light up every time someone mentions his name.”
“Because Ellis is white.” The words came out flat, matter-of-fact. “And my mom has very strong feelings about her Black son dating white men.”
Understanding dawned. Sierra reached over and squeezed his hand. “Oh, Jett.”
“She’s got this whole thing about how white men fetishize Black bodies, how they’ll never truly understand our experience, how they’ll leave when things get real.
” Jett’s voice was getting smaller. “And I get it, I do. She’s seen what happened to her friends, to our family.
But Ellis isn’t like that. He’s not some tourist in my life. ”
“Have you tried talking to her about him specifically? Not as ‘some white guy’ but as Ellis?”
Jett shook his head. “You don’t understand.
My mom grew up in the Dominican Republic.
She’s seen what happens when white men treat Black and Brown women like experiments.
She moved here to give me better opportunities, and in her mind, dating a white guy is asking to be someone’s learning experience.
I’m scared, Sierra. What if I tell her how happy he makes me, and she can’t see past his skin color?
What if I have to choose between my family and the person I love? ”
Sierra felt her chest tighten with recognition. “I know that fear. I’ve been carrying it around for months.”
“With Lauren? But your parents seem like they’re trying to understand.”
“That’s it, though; my parents haven’t seen it.
They don’t even know they exist. I keep making excuses, pushing it off, terrified they’ll look at me differently.
I haven’t even told them I’m pansexual yet.
Terrified they’ll think this is a phase or that I’m throwing away my chance at a ‘normal’ life.
You know how they are. Dad still thinks living together before marriage is scandalous, and Mom keeps asking when I’m going to settle down with ‘a nice boy’ and give them grandchildren the proper way. ”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their respective worries.
Jett squeezed her hand. “Your parents might surprise you and be more accepting than you think. My mom definitely loves me, but I know exactly what her reaction will be.”
“But what if you’re mistaken? What if you tell her about Ellis and she sees how good he is for you?”
Jett gave her a look. “What if you tell your parents about Lauren and they see how happy you are?”
Sierra laughed despite everything. “God, we’re a mess, aren’t we? Both of us hiding the most important parts of our lives because we’re scared.”
“Maybe that’s exactly why we need to stop hiding.
” Jett shifted to face her fully. “Listen, babe, I can’t promise my mom will come around to Ellis.
But I can’t keep pretending he doesn’t exist just because it’s easier.
And you... Sierra, you’re glowing when you talk about Lauren.
Your parents would have to be blind not to see that. ”
“You think we should do it? Both of us?”
“I think we should stop letting fear make our choices for us.” Jett stood up and pulled Sierra to her feet. “Besides, if our families can’t handle our happiness, at least we know we’ve got each other. The Chaos Coven stands together, right?”
Sierra hugged him fiercely. “Right. So when are you going to tell your mom about Ellis?”
“When are you going to tell your parents about Lauren?”
They looked at each other and both grinned with the kind of nervous energy that comes before jumping off a cliff.
“I’m doing it tonight at our family dinner. Thalia and I already talked about it.”
Jett nodded. “I’m in, and whatever happens, we debrief immediately after.”
“Deal. And, Jett? For what it’s worth, Ellis looks at you like you hung the moon. If your mom can’t see that he makes you happy, that’s her loss.”
“Same goes for Lauren and your parents. They’d be crazy not to love someone who loves you that well.”
“You know what’s crazy? I can see how much Ellis has changed you. In the best way. You’ve completely hung up your... well, let’s call it your ‘social butterfly’ lifestyle.”
Jett let out a surprised laugh. “Yeah, he really has. I never thought I’d be the settling-down type, you know? I used to think variety was the spice of life and all that.”
“And now?”
“Now I can’t imagine wanting anyone else. Ellis makes me so happy that the idea of being with other people just... doesn’t appeal anymore. Never thought that would happen to me, but here we are.”
After Jett left, Sierra stood in her kitchen staring out the window. The conversation with Jett had crystallized something for her. She was tired of hiding, tired of letting fear dictate her choices.
It was time to trust that love was stronger than fear.