Valeria short-circuits, and her brain forgets how to do words—or blinking—forced to simply nod.
They all walk toward their cars to fish out the paddleboard backpacks. Valeria tries not to think too much about how close she’s walking to Camila. Has it always been this way? Or did telling the girls she was into her make it okay to let that closeness happen, just a little? Valeria cuts off that train of thought. If she thinks about it too much, she’s going to spiral, but then, she catches herself watching Camila’s hand as it swings while they walk, more into it than would probably be considered normal. There’s this faint memory of how soft it’s felt in Valeria’s hand anytime Camila has reached for her, and she aches for that touch now.
“Val,” Clara says a little louder than she usually would.
Valeria snaps out of it, her eyes widening when she realizes they’ve all stopped moving, and they’ve all caught her fixated on Camila’s hand. Heat moves up her neck. She turns her head pointedly, fixing her attention anywhere but Camila.
“Yes?” Valeria says, doing her best to feign casualness.
Alejandra and Lily try—and fail—not to laugh, both shaking their heads.
“Did you bring the paddle cooler?” Clara asks.
Valeria nods. “Yeah, it should be in my bag.”
“Perfect, we can fit a few cans and waters in yours and some in mine, so we don’t have to paddle back.”
Valeria nods again, grateful for normalcy. “Perfect.”
Once they have their bags, they fall into step together, heading toward the lake’s edge.
Valeria drifts to the back without meaning to, and Camila ends up there, too.
“Are you okay?” Camila asks in a slightly worried tone.
“Yeah, why?”
“You seem distracted.”
“It’s the lack of sleep,” Valeria says, which isn’t entirely a lie; she’s sure she would be handling this all with a lot more grace had she gotten her preffered nine hours of sleep.
Valeria readjusts the massive backpack on her shoulders, shifting the straps so they don’t dig in as much.
“Do you need help with that? It looks like it’s seconds from crushing you,” Camila says, amused.
Valeria shakes her head. “Looks heavier than it is.”
Camila hums, clearly unconvinced. Her eyes linger on the straps as if she’s considering stepping in anyway, but doesn’t.
“If you change your mind, I’m here,” she says instead.
Valeria smiles. “Thanks.”
They keep walking, shoulders almost brushing now, and the weight on her heart disappears as Valeria is too consumed by their closeness to think of anything else.
When they reach the shore, Lily and Isabella drag their paddleboards to a patch of dull rocks where they can sit and pump. Valeria sets her bag down near them.
“Ouch,” Camila says almost as soon as Valeria stands.
She doesn’t need to ask Camila what she’s talking about.She feels the slight sting on her shoulders where the backpack used to be.
Valeria reaches for her shoulder and smoothes over the indents.
“Can I?” Camila asks.
Valeria nods before she fully processes it.
Camila lifts her hand slowly, almost hesitantly, and brushes her thumb lightly over Valeria’s skin. The touch is gentle, but Valeria feels it everywhere, and her breath falters. Want pools in her chest, her back, in the space between, and sends an unexpected thrill down her spine.
