they’d miss was an abundance of dancing…and the reviews. They’d be there in the morning, Carly reminded herself.
“Take me home with you,” Carly said, circling her arm through Lauren’s in the parking lot on that chilly autumn evening. She stared up at the moon, the stars, and the dark expanse of sky in between. She felt intimately connected to everything in the cosmos, super aware of how all the events in her life had lined up to bring her to this very important day. It was already a night she’d never forget, and stealing away with Lauren was the perfect way to end it.
“Have you seen the moon tonight?” Lauren asked.
Carly gazed up at the luminous moon broadcasting its warm glow in the night sky. Appropriately, the stars were plentiful. “It’s gorgeous. The entire sky.”
“Almost like it’s sanctioning our opening, looking down on us.” She shook her head. “I’ve noticed the stars, the moon, the constellations so much more since we started work on the show.”
Carly kissed Lauren’s hand. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at them in the same way.”
Lauren sighed happily. “Neither of us will.”
Chapter Eleven
They were tipsy, but only a little, as they climbed out of Lauren’s Mini that autumn evening, the one that had already changed Lauren’s life. “Did you see the look on Trip’s face when you told him to send Nia onstage?” Lauren asked, laughing. She waved her hand in front of her face a few times as she tried to get control. “Man, you made his first show as PSM a memorable one. I’ll say that.” She continued to laugh as she thought back.
“Who knew that all he needed was a little pizza porn and I’d be his?” Carly joined Lauren in her laughter and held out her hand. “Come here. I want to kiss you in the cold beneath this gorgeous moon.”
Lauren grinned and leaned against the car. “The moon, I get. What’s so special about the cold?”
“It’s on my list.” She caught Lauren around the waist and pulled her close. The streetlights in Lauren’s neighborhood illuminated her driveway, but only slightly, allowing her to bask in the battle between shadow and light.
“What else is on your list?” Lauren studied Carly’s expressive baby blues.
Carly looked skyward, still on the high of tonight. “I want to kiss you in the warmth of the West Coast, autumn in Maine, and on the beaches of Hawaii, Mexico, and Jamaica. We can negotiate European destinations next.”
“Oh, we can?”
“I’m a big fan of Germany and the Black Forest. Once shot a film there and couldn’t get enough of the food or the scenery. You’d love it. They sell schnitzel on a stick, Lauren. I’m not messing around.”
“You take schnitzel very seriously. I can tell.” Lauren laughed but quietly filed away that this was the first time Carly had spoken plainly of a future. She shocked herself at how happy it made her. Was it possible this wasn’t just a showmance? It seemed ridiculous to think that someone with a life as exciting as Carly’s might be happy with regular Lauren who liked a good Sunday morning crossword puzzle and a satisfying game of pool. Yet their connection seemed so authentic and effortless, she couldn’t help but fantasize.
“Are we going inside?” Lauren asked. God, she hoped Carly said yes. Yes, their celebration was tons of fun, but in the back of her mind she just wanted to race through it all, hoping to have alone time with Carly, dreaming about taking off her clothes.
“If we’re not, I might weep silently on the curb.” Carly smiled, and waited. She rocked on her heels.
“We’re definitely not weeping tonight. Follow me.”
Carly’s hands touched her waist as they walked, sending an anticipatory shiver across her skin. She was ready for Carly, and growing more so with each second that ticked past. She let them into her home, to the sounds of Rocky’s tiny feet on the hardwood floors. “There’s my baby,” she said, scooping him up. He licked her face appropriately and shifted his attention to Carly. Seeing her there produced full on dog body-wagging, which required Lauren to place him back on the floor so he could wiggle around properly.
“I like that dance you’re doing, Rocky.” Carly knelt down and allowed him to take turns leaping up at her face and wiggling his body more, in festivity. She flipped him onto his back and gave his belly a ferocious rubbing, which yielded his customary snorts of appreciation. Lauren joined them on