The two girls lay flat on their backs, shoes kicked off, feet propped on the dashboard, and the sunroof open above them. With their fingers intertwined, they stared up at a sky freckled with a million tiny stars.
The hush that fell over them felt sacred. Gemma breathed it all in. The crisp night air, the warmth of Caitlin’s hand, and the ache of realization that she never wanted to live without her.
Growing up as a military brat, Gemma had never understood the feeling ofhome, had never felt that steady confidence that shebelongedsomewhere—until now. Her home was the brave, loving girl in the driver’s seat. Gemma would follow Caitlin to the ends of the earth if she asked her to.
SENIOR YEAR MELTED INTO MEMORY, each week folding into the next until suddenly, high school was almost behind them. Over winter break, Gemma and Caitlin had both been accepted into The University of Pennsylvania. Without hesitation, they had completed and submitted the housing forms to be roommates for the following year. Gemma felt limitless as she and Caitlin created their own future, a mix of giddy relief and nervous excitement. Still, there was one last big event on the calendar to look forward to before she put Westmore in her rearview mirror.
It was a sunny April morning when Gemma arrived at Caitlin’s house early, waiting on the curb with the most enormous bouquet she could afford. A colorful mix of roses, tulips, daffodils, and peonies spilled out of the brown paper. After a year of binging rom-coms together, Gemma knew that her girl was a sucker for a grand gesture.
When Caitlin stepped out, the surprise and delight on her face were impossible to miss. She practically skipped down the driveway to where Gemma leaned against her car, eyes bright and hands already reaching for the flowers.
“What did I do to deserve this?” Caitlin asked, folding herself into Gemma’s arms and stealing a smell of the soft-pink, white, and pale-yellow blooms. “Flowers and a morning kiss before school. Tell me quick, so I can keep doing whatever it is.”
“You deserve all of this and more simply for being you.” Gemma handed the bouquet to Caitlin. “These are for you, my perfect, beautiful girlfriend. But there is one question I need to ask you.”
Caitlin’s brow lifted as Gemma took her hand and led her around the side of the car.
Caitlin squealed at the chalked message on the rear windshield.
“Will you be my date to prom?” Gemma repeated, voicing the question aloud.
Caitlin’s cheeks met her eyes with a wide smile as she bounced up and down on her toes.
“There’s no one else I’d ever go with.” She laid her lips against Gemma’s, quick but full of promise.
Caitlin’s happiness flooded Gemma with a rush of warmth, a high that she knew she would chase for the rest of her life. Every time she thought that she could not possibly fall any deeper, she would find herself tumbling again, more head-over-heels than before.
The last three years had been a mosaic of young love, including everything from heartache to the promise of forever. As high school drew to a close and the reality of starting over, in yet another new city, sank in, Gemma knew that her next move would feel different. New Hope and Westmore High School would be more than another backdrop in the story of her life—it was the birthplace of love itself.
And just like that, itwas over.
They had danced and laughed their way through prom and late into the night in stunning coordination—Caitlin in a royal blue gown and Gemma in a fitted blue suit, a matching deep, vividly shaded vest peaking from underneath the jacket. Gemma’s favorite moment of the night came when Caitlin drew her close for a slow dance. Their bodies had melded together seamlessly, taking turns resting their heads on the other’s shoulder as they swayed. The moment had both passed in a heartbeat and stretched for a lifetime. Gemma had watched it all, as if from a far-off version of herself, savoring one of the last beautiful nights of youth.
Theystepped across the graduation stage as names rolled like a gentle, driving drumbeat through the auditorium. Caitlin leapt to her feet when Gemma’s name was echoed, whistling and cheering as Gemma posed for a photo of the diploma settling into her hand.
A few minutes after, Caitlin's name rang out, Gemma returned the favor, clapping so hard that her palms stung as she watched her love stride across the stage. Gemma beamed with pride as Caitlin threw her arms wide into the air, the whole cheer squad chanting for their captain.
They left the ceremony and high school behind, holding tight to that shared moment—a shining thread that promised to connect them through whatever came next.
TWENTY-THREE
FORBIDDEN LOVE’S FILMING WAS MOREthan halfway finished, and Caitlin had begun to dread the inevitable end. Ever since she and Gemma had found their rhythm, filming had flown by. Each scene required fewer and fewer takes as their chemistry unfurled. It was exactly what Caitlin had hoped for in the beginning, yet now a quiet panic had settled on her chest. She didn’t want it to end at all, afraid of what that finality would mean for her and Gemma.
After their conversation in Madame George’s bathroom, Caitlin had delicately tried to address their relationship multiple times, but Gemma would always nimbly steer the conversation away. On her last attempt, Gemma had shut down completely, refusing to acknowledge either the past or present, using the argument as an excuse to put distance between them. They had returned to only seeing each other at work, polite and careful, the closeness they recently shared reduced to guarded exchanges. Still, Caitlin refused to accept that there was nothing left between them.
Later that night, walking along the Hudson River, Caitlin looked up to see a single bright star arching across the dark sky. She made the same wish she had once formulated as a teen,hoping for another second chance.
Sitting in her suite and studying lines for the next day, Caitlin wrestled with how best to deliver each gut-wrenching moment.
The scene opened with Kate attending Sarah’s Broadway debut, undeterred by her husband’s threats to stay away. There was no way she would miss it. Kate arrived at the theater with a large bouquet of red roses and sat in the audience, utterly captivated by Sarah’s performance. Eager to congratulate her, Kate weaved her way through the crowded backstage until she found Sarah.
“I didn’t think you’d make it.” Sarah beamed.
“And miss your big night?” Kate kissed her cheek as she handed over the flowers.
“These are so beautiful, thank you.”
“Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I must run, but you were tremendous, and I amsoproud of you.”
