They stayed through the toasts, standing next to each other. Lauren touched her pinkie to Carly’s. They stayed through a second drink. Carly loved the little lip prints Lauren’s lipstick left on her glass. She imagined herself kissing those lips later, tasting the remnants of that drink. They stayed through the quartet packing up and the party shifting into full gear when the loud recorded music began. She danced subtly with Lauren, who pressed her hips in close, behind Carly’s.

“Wanna get out of here?” Carly whispered as she turned in Lauren’s arms. Lots of eyes were on them, and she craved alone time in the worst way.

“Lead the way.”

They didn’t make a big deal of their departure. After all, they’d see everyone the very next day. Lauren quietly said good-bye to Trip, and with the formality of the gathering out of the way, all they’d miss was an abundance of dancing…and the reviews. They’d be there in the morning, Carly reminded herself.

“Take me home with you,” Carly said, circling her arm through Lauren’s in the parking lot on that chilly autumn evening. She stared up at the moon, the stars, and the dark expanse of sky in between. She felt intimately connected to everything in the cosmos, super aware of how all the events in her life had lined up to bring her to this very important day. It was already a night she’d never forget, and stealing away with Lauren was the perfect way to end it.

“Have you seen the moon tonight?” Lauren asked.

Carly gazed up at the luminous moon broadcasting its warm glow in the night sky. Appropriately, the stars were plentiful. “It’s gorgeous. The entire sky.”

“Almost like it’s sanctioning our opening, looking down on us.” She shook her head. “I’ve noticed the stars, the moon, the constellations so much more since we started work on the show.”

Carly kissed Lauren’s hand. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at them in the same way.”

Lauren sighed happily. “Neither of us will.”

Chapter Eleven

They were tipsy, but only a little, as they climbed out of Lauren’s Mini that autumn evening, the one that had already changed Lauren’s life. “Did you see the look on Trip’s face when you told him to send Nia onstage?” Lauren asked, laughing. She waved her hand in front of her face a few times as she tried to get control. “Man, you made his first show as PSM a memorable one. I’ll say that.” She continued to laugh as she thought back.

“Who knew that all he needed was a little pizza porn and I’d be his?” Carly joined Lauren in her laughter and held out her hand. “Come here. I want to kiss you in the cold beneath this gorgeous moon.”