Camila freezes in the doorway, suddenly unsure, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“Yes, absolutely, you look so hot, it’s so unfair,” Valeria says it so earnestly, and with such a brightest smile, that Camila instantly believe her
Camila’s cheeks flush, and her stomach flutters with nervous energy.
She heads toward the full-length mirror on the other side of her room and takes herself in. She looksgreat. It’s casual enough that she won’t feel overdressed at work and dressy enough that she won’t feel underdressed next to what is sure to be a beautiful and well put-together Zoe.
“What do you think?” Valeria asks, standing right next to Camila, eyeing her in the mirror.
“I think you’re going to have to dress me for all of my dates from here on out.”
“Oh, hush, it’s all you. You can pull anything off. I wasn’t sure the combo would work, but it does on you!” Valeria watches her for a second, something soft in her expression, before exhaling a quiet, breathless laugh.
Camila smiles, unable to speak, too focused on the warmth blooming in her cheeks. She ducks her head slightly, but she doesn’t look away.
Before long, they’re back on their morning routine—breakfast at the table, sneaking in one more episode of their show, packing lunch—until they both head out of the house.
“Here,” Camila says, handing Valeria the spare house key. “So you can let yourself in. I don’t know when I’ll be home.”
“Late, I hope.” Valeria wags her eyebrows.
“I don’t know about all that.” Camila rubs the back of her neck.
Valeria reaches for her other hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “You should have fun tonight. I know it’s been a long time since you’ve been on a date, but you’re funny and kind, and Zoe is so, so lucky, not the other way around.”
Camila smiles. “Thank you.”
“Anytime!” Valeria lets go of Camila’s hand, and she has to keep herself from chasing it. The sudden coolness stings Camila’s palm, and a phantom warmth lingers, a ghost of Valeria’s touch.
Camila can’t help but think she must be starved forphysical closeness if a simple touch from Valeria has her skin prickling, every nerve ending seemingly alight.
Valeria waves at Camila and climbs into her car, and without another thought, so does Camila.
Work goes by in a blur of paint, canvases, and a light video edit for Camila’s social media channels.
Before she knows it, it’s 5:30 p.m., and it’s time for her to head to the restaurant.
Camila hasn’t felt nerves like these in a long time. She’d almost forgotten all about the first-date jitters, but they were there the entire thirty-minute drive, and only heightened as she neared the restaurant. When she parks, she unplugs her phone from the car charger and takes a deep breath. Her phone pings then, lighting up with Valeria’s name. Camila immediately clicks on it.
Valeria 6:03 p.m.:
You’ve got this!
Valeria’s message does nothing to ease her nerves, but it does make Camila giggle. When she has her nerves under control, Camila walks into the restaurant and finds Zoe speaking with the host, a single rose in her hand. Zoe turns and immediately takes Camila in with that smoldering look of hers.
“Wow, you look amazing.”
“So do you,” Camila says, taking in Zoe’s tightly fitted dress with a plunging neckline that leaves little to the imagination.
“This is for you,” Zoe says, holding out the rose, her gaze never leaving Camila’s.
Camila hesitates only a second before accepting it, and warmth blooms up the back of her neck, a soft blushspreading across her cheeks as her fingers curl carefully around the stem.
“Thank you.”
“Follow me, please,” a man with an impressive mustache says, breaking the moment. He guides them both to a table near a window with the most beautiful view of Lake Washington.
“Wow, this is incredible. How’d you hear about this place?”
