Serendipity // Camren

Chapter 23

Still only half awake, Camila flung her right hand out across the bed in search of Lauren, her hand landing with a quiet thump on an otherwise empty bed with sheets that were cool to the touch. Lauren had obviously not been in bed with her for quite a while now. She huffed a pout as she opened her eyes to look at the empty space beside her, needing that visual confirmation that she was, in fact, alone, and groaned.

She had been really looking forward to some quality cuddling time that morning.

She sighed as she rolled out of bed, the cool ambient air feeling distinctly chilly against her naked skin, and shuffled across the bedroom to the closet in search of clothes. She pulled a pair of sleep pants off of a shelf in her closet along with a ribbed tank and slipped them on, but instead of grabbing one of the sweatshirts she'd brought with her from home, she wandered across to Lauren's closet where she liberated a comfy looking heather gray USC hoodie from its hanger and pulled it on over her head. The sweatshirt felt soft and warm and she smiled as Lauren's scent enveloped her.

I might have to steal this one, she thought to herself as she rolled the sleeves, yawning and stretching as she wandered out of the closet and out of the bedroom, listening intently for any sound that might indicate where Lauren had disappeared to.

She heard it the moment she opened the bedroom door. Music wafting up the stairs. The deeper tones of a piano interspersed with guitar chords and a rich, soulful voice. She would have recognized the artist's voice anywhere, but after last night, it had an entirely different meaning for her.

She smiled as she started down the stairs, the music growing louder as she rounded the landing and started down the final five stairs to the main floor, her bare feet landing silently against the dark hardwood where she stopped and stared into the kitchen. Lauren was at the island, looking absolutely breathtaking in a tight blue t-shirt and her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail, singing along with the music as she worked.

"I live here on my knees as I... try and make you see that you're... everything I think I need here on the ground," Lauren crooned as she sliced fresh strawberries and tossed them into a bowl.

"But you're neither friend nor foe," Camila jumped in with a smile as she started toward the kitchen. "Though I can't seem to let you go."

Lauren looked up and smiled at Camila, letting Sara take over the song as the brunette eased onto one of the barstools across from where she was standing at the island. "Good morning, Ms. Cabello," she greeted her houseguest as she tossed two more halves of strawberries into the bowl in front of her. "How did you sleep?"

Camila leaned across the counter to steal a piece of fruit from the bowl. "Great, until I woke up and you weren't there," she said, popping the bite-sized piece of fruit into her mouth.

Lauren ducked her head in apology. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I was just wide awake and didn't want to disturb you."

"You can make it up to me," Camila said, smiling as she crooked a finger at the raven-haired woman and beckoned her closer.

"I can, huh?" Lauren chuckled as she set the knife she'd been using down on the cutting board, wiping her hands off on a dishtowel as she rounded the island and arched a brow at the brunette as she stopped just out of her reach. "What did you have in mind?"

Camila laughed and got to her feet as she leaned forward and wrapped her fist in Lauren's shirt. She winked as she tugged on the fabric and pulled Lauren in for a lingering good morning kiss. "Like that."

"Mmm," Lauren hummed, smiling as she wrapped her arms around the brunette's waist and kissed her again softly. "I like that."

"You could have had more than just that if you'd have stayed in bed this morning," Camila said as she playfully pushed Lauren away from her. "But, now I'm up and dressed and hungry. So, feed me."