Chapter 36
The icy rain hadn’t let up since morning, streaking down every surface in jagged, unforgiving lines.
It was the kind of bone-deep chill that made you seriously question every life choice that required actually leaving your apartment.
Sierra adjusted the strap of her heavy camera bag as she pushed through the entrance of the converted warehouse where today’s shoot was happening.
The building was massive, all soaring ceilings and exposed brick walls that had been transformed into this moody winter set with hanging Edison bulbs casting warm pools of light and rich velvet backdrops in deep jewel tones.
She spotted Jonas across the space and walked over, immediately suspicious of how pleased with himself he looked. “What’s the vibe we’re going for today?” she asked, setting down her equipment.
“Warm but edgy, editorial with a romantic undertone,” he said, then added with studied casualness, “Oh, and I had to call in a last-minute makeup artist. They should be here any second now.”
Sierra narrowed her eyes at him, but before she could press him about why that felt like suspiciously important information, a voice she knew better than her own heartbeat reached her from across the warehouse.
“Hey Jonas, where do you want me to set up my station?”
Her entire chest clenched as if someone had reached inside and squeezed her heart with a fist. Lauren.
They emerged from behind a rolling rack of clothes, setting down their familiar, well-worn makeup kit on a side table near the main lights.
Their hair was shorter now, still damp from the rain and tousled in that effortless way that had always made Sierra’s stomach flutter.
They wore this thick cable-knit sweater over dark jeans and those combat boots Sierra had always loved.
They looked stunning, and completely unaware that she was even there until their eyes suddenly met across the space.
Both of them froze. One heartbeat passed. Then another. Time seemed to stretch like taffy.
Jonas, obviously pretending not to notice the tension so thick you could practically cut it with a knife, clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “Alright everyone! Let’s make some absolute magic today!”
They didn’t speak. Not at first. Sierra forced herself to focus on setting up her camera gear with shaking hands.
Lauren unpacked makeup brushes with a mechanical precision that suggested they were also trying very hard not to look in her direction.
They moved around each other like wounded animals, hyperaware of each other’s presence but desperate to avoid direct contact.
Throughout the entire shoot, their paths kept crossing in ways that felt both accidental and inevitable.
Sierra would adjust lighting equipment right next to Lauren’s makeup station.
Lauren would touch up a model’s powder while standing just close enough that Sierra could smell their familiar perfume.
Everything was professional, distant, careful.
When their eyes accidentally met across the set, Sierra looked away immediately, her chest tightening with old hurt.
Lauren’s gaze would linger for a split second before they forced themselves to focus on their brushes.
Sierra found excuses to work at the far end of the set, her stomach churning every time she heard Lauren’s laugh with the models.
When the shoot finally wrapped, the crew started packing up their equipment with the usual efficient bustle. Sierra was coiling cables with unnecessary focus when Lauren approached, their voice barely above a whisper.
“I saw the video from your class.”
Sierra’s breath caught in her throat. “You did?”
Lauren nodded, their expression soft but unreadable. “It was really beautiful and brave.”
A pause settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Just filled with everything they weren’t saying.
“I didn’t know you’d be here today,” Sierra managed.
“Jonas didn’t tell me either,” Lauren replied, then gave a small, knowing smile that made Sierra’s heart skip. “But I’m thinking he might have been hoping for exactly this.”
Sierra looked away quickly, blinking hard against the sudden threat of tears.
Lauren hesitated for a moment, then took a small step closer. “Would you maybe want to talk? We could grab coffee somewhere.”
Sierra searched their face, looking for any sign of what this meant. “I still have some of your things at my place. We could talk there, and I can return them to you?”
Lauren’s smile was cautious but genuine. “Yeah. I’d really like that.”