“Carly.” Lauren played those words back. They’d reached inside her chest and took hold. She hadn’t expected them but now felt their warmth from the tips of her fingers to the ends of her toes and back again. She smiled, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Carly’s neck. “Do you mean that? Of course you mean it, but do you?” That wreck of a sentence mirrored her scattered emotions.

Carly nodded and placed a kiss on the underside of Lauren’s jaw. “I’m trying my hardest to be selfish, but I think you broke me. I’m Team Lauren now. Do we have T-shirts?”

“We definitely do not. Team Lauren is quiet and unassuming and tries not to steal attention from the real stars.”

“I’m revamping Team Lauren,” Carly said with a laugh. “It’s okay to celebrate your reviews, you know. You’ve earned every compliment.”

Lauren’s heart and soul clenched, relaxed, and soared. “Thank you for saying that. I’ve never had a professional review before. This is new territory, so I’m not sure how to behave. I’m excited, though.”

“And I’m excited for you.” Carly lips brushed Lauren’s. “I think we need to celebrate properly.”

“And how would we do that?” Lauren asked.

“How about I take you to brunch and then bring you home and have my way with a celebrated actress? And I mean thoroughly have my way.”

Lauren’s entire body reacted in great favor of that statement. Today was turning around nicely, and she had Carly to thank. “I can get behind this idea.”

She and Carly finished getting ready, sharing the space and touching each other here and there as they passed. When Carly returned to the living room shortly after Lauren, she was wearing a sky-blue hoodie on top of a white tank top with the word Lauren scrawled across the front in what looked to be a permanent marker.

“Did you steal that shirt from my closet?” Lauren asked, laughing.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Carly said and slid her purse onto her shoulder. “But it’s mine now. Shall we?”

“You’re wearing that to brunch? Nooo.”

Carly turned to face her in proud challenge. “Try and take it off me.”

Lauren blinked, and her stomach fluttered. She had a vision of doing just that. “Incredibly temping, given what I know is underneath.”

Carly gasped and turned on her heel, as if hyperbolically shocked. “If you’re going to objectify me all through brunch, then we’re going to have a hell of a great afternoon.”

Lauren laughed and watched Carly make her exit, hips swaying, blond hair flowing, sass on display. Just the way Lauren liked her.

Chapter Twelve