Valeria shrugs playfully. “I never said I would be!”
“I’ll remember this,” Camila says before plopping onto her bed, and the smell of smoke trails after her.
“I should get in the shower; I smell like a bonfire.” Camila wrinkles her nose.
“Go, I’m almost home. Text me pictures when you’re ready!”
“Will do,” Camila says before they both say bye and hang up.
Camila walks into her bathroom, quickly undresses, and prepares the hottest shower her pipes will allow. She stands under the spray, watching it cascade down as it turns into murky brown water swirling around her feet.Gross.
Once she’s all done, she changes into her outfit and quickly does her makeup. Adding a thin wing to her lids, she wants to look her best for Valeria after looking a mess for the past couple of days.
When she’s done, she paces her living room, feeding Miso earlier than usual just to have something to do to keep her from hopping in her car and driving straight to Valeria’s two hours before Valeria probably expects her.
She takes a picture of her outfit and sends it to Valeria.
Camila 4:26 p.m.:
What do you think?
Valeria 4:28 p.m.:
I think you look perfect! Are you all ready?
Camila 4:28 p.m.:
Yes! I needed to get the smell of smoke out of my hair, and figured I’d get ready early.
Valeria 4:28 p.m.:
Come over! I wasn’t joking when I said I missed you.
Camila’s heart flutters, and a nervous excitement trembles through her fingertips as she types that she’s on her way.
The drive to Valeria’s, surprisingly, doesn’t drag on as much as Camila expected. Before she realizes it, she’s pulling into Valeria’s apartment complex, parking right next to her car.
Camila quickly texts Valeria to let her know she’s here, and almost immediately, Valeria replies, telling her the door is unlocked and to let herself in.
“Val?” Camila calls out as she closes the apartment door behind her.
“In my room! Make yourself at home. I’ll be right out,” Valeria calls back.
Camila walks farther into her living room and sits on the couch. Last time she was here, she didn’t properly take in Valeria’s space, too focused on being there for her. Now, she sees Valeria has plants and books everywhere, photos and paintings on almost every wall.
A few minutes later, Valeria walks out of her bedroom in an oversized shirt and shorts, face bare and hair damp.
“Wow, you look even better in person,” Valeria says, and Camila blushes.
“You think?”
Valeria shakes her head. “I know,” she says, leaning in to kiss the top of Camila’s head.
“You want to come hang out with me while I do my makeup?” Valeria asks, reaching for Camila’s hand.
Camila takes it and nods.
Valeria guides them to her bedroom, and Camila can’t help but take everything in. The bookshelves in her room are crammed with books, art prints, and figurines. When Valeria walks them into the bathroom, there are more plants in the bathtub.
