“If you insist,” Camila says, knowing full well that she didn’t need to be asked. Of course, she wants to tell Zoe all about how amazing Valeria is, how much she likes her, and how perfect everything between them feels. Valeria is—as of late—Camila’s favorite topic, and she’s had no one to share it all with aside from Miso. She’s sure Miso is sick of hearing her gush over her.
Camila goes through everything from the beginning. Starting with how they met, all the way to their confession while camping. Skipping Brooke and all her drama entirely. Camila doesn’t think Brooke deserves a spot in their story,no matter how unfortunate she is in it. More than that, though, Camila isn’t the type to spill someone else’s business, especially when it’s someone she really cares about.
“Wow,” Zoe says with an infectious smile. “You’ve got it bad; I can see it all over you.”
“I do,” Camila laughs, admitting it to someone other than herself for the first time. Yeah, she’s more than gone for Valeria.
She and Zoe have a few more drinks. Zoe tells Camila all about Morgan. They talk about work, their pets, and so many random things that Camila can no longer remember. An hour and a half later, they’re saying goodbye and promising to see each other soon.
The second Camila gets into her car, she calls Valeria, missing her too much to pretend not to, and is in desperate need to hear her voice after talking about her for the better part of her and Zoe’s hangout. Valeria, thankfully, picks up on the first ring.
“Hi,” she says sweetly. “How are you?”
“I’m good, just leaving Zoe.”
“How is she?”
“She’s good. Met a girl on a dating app, and she seems to really like her.”
“Wow, that’s exciting.”
“It is, but enough about Zoe. Tell me about your day, and how you kept yourself from stealing that baby bulldog you sent me a picture of earlier.”
Valeria goes into her usual detailed play-by-play on each appointment. Camila only catches fragments of what she’s saying, but it doesn’t matter—she’s content listening to the sound of her voice. On the drive back, Valeria tells Camila about work, what she had for dinner, and what book she started.
“How about you, pretty girl?” Valeria asks, and Camila can’t help the flip her heart does. Valeria’s been calling her all sorts of pet names lately, and every time, Camila’s heart threatens to stall out.
Camila tells her about her day at work and a little more about her hangout with Zoe.
“Oh! And I have a surprise for you this weekend,” Camila says.
“A surprise?” Valeria’s voice kicks up immediately. “Do tell—you can’t say that and not tell me what it is.”
Camila laughs. “Oh, I absolutely can. That’s exactly what a surprise is.”
Valeria hums thoughtfully. “Fine, I guess I can wait.”
“Good.” Camila grins. “Because I’m not telling you.”
Valeria has been wanting to see Camila work. Still, even though Valeria has been to her office a few times, Camila can’t take her to the area where the restorations take place—no matter how careful Valeria promises to be or how much Camila wishes she could. So on her lunch break, Camila went to a thrift store, found the most damaged painting they had, and bought it so they could restore it at home. The painting is probably older than either of them, its canvas dulled with age, fine cracks spidering across a once-vibrant sky, and Camila cannot wait to show Valeria.
Thankfully, she won’t have to wait long, because as Camila pulls into her driveway, Valeria is sitting on her porch.
“Looks like we both have a surprise,” Valeria says, practically glowing with happiness.
Camila wasn’t expecting to see Valeria until Saturday, and frankly, that sounded like torture.
She’s barely out of the car when Valeria takes twoquick steps before pulling her in by the jacket. Their lips meet, and Camila melts immediately, hands finding Valeria’s waist, holding on to her tightly, savoring the taste of Valeria’s cherry vanilla lip balm.
She will never get tired of this. The way Valeria kisses her as if she’s missed her for years and not hours. She’s known since their first kiss that kissing Valeria would be her new favorite thing, and she’s proven right with each one they share.
When Valeria pulls back, Camila can barely register the air between them. Her heart thrums a rapid rhythm against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of pure joy.
Valeria rests her forehead against Camila’s for a second before whispering, “Hi.”
Camila huffs a small laugh under her breath. “Hi,” she echoes, before pressing her lips against Valeria’s again.
A light, electric feeling spreads through her chest, down to her fingertips, leaving them numb. It’s almost ridiculous how giddy she feels over a kiss.
