Page 153 of When I Picture You

Tears were shining in Lola’s eyes. “If you don’t take me back now, I’m going to be really disappointed.”

Renee grabbed for her, pulling Lola in so close their foreheads rested together. “Of course I do. I love you, Lo. And I’m so fucking proud of you.”

Lola kissed her. Renee’s eyes closed as she slipped into the softness of Lola’s lips, the easy opening of her mouth, the warm press of her cheek. It felt like coming home, like forever, like the fluttering in her chest when Lola sang to her.

Still, after a moment, Renee broke the kiss. “We’re right in front of the window.”

“It doesn’t matter now.” She could feel Lola smiling against her lips.

“Well, you just posted your location to the entire world, so maybe we could go somewhere private.”

Renee kept her arms around Lola as they waited for her driver, alarmed that Lo-Lites would swarm Prince’s. They’d probably be packed for months with Lo-Lites on pilgrimage.

Henry greeted Renee with a warm smile as they hopped into the car.

As they pulled away, Lola asked abruptly, “Wait, did you say you quit your MFA?”

“I did. I can’t believe I didn’t realize sooner that it was killing my love for film. But I’m going to get it back. It’s not something I can just stop doing, like you said. I’m planning to move to L.A. and look for gigs once I save up some money.”

Lola’s face fell. “Does that mean you’re not directing anymore? Because I’m looking for someone to finish my documentary.”

Renee gaped at her. “I heard it was canceled. The Streamy deadline is in three weeks.”

“Gloriana acted like Streamy was going to bankrupt me if we missed the March deadline, but they gave me an extension as soon as I asked. Although it helped that I promised the film would tie in to a major announcement.”

“Which you just made,” Renee said.

“Actually no.” Lola’s eyes were sparkling. “There’s something else. I’m starting a foundation to support LGBTQ+ people and fight for our rights.”

“You are?”

“I figured, I have the money, and I have the star power. I could really make a difference. I’m going to launch all three at once—the foundation, the album, the film. A story with a purpose. What do you think?”

It was like everything had fallen into place. Somehow the universe had set up all the dominos when Renee wasn’t looking. The girl she loved, the film she wanted to make, and even more. Renee would have found her way alone. She knew that. But it was so much better to have Lola with her.

She grabbed Lola’s hand and planted a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“I think it’s perfect.”

Epilogue

Five Months Later

Lola and Renee waited in the dark wings of the theater. On the screen, the final moments ofLola Gray: Starcrossedplayed, over a song Lola had written for the film.

But Lola and Renee weren’t watching. Instead, Lola’s arms were looped around Renee’s neck and their eyes were fixed on each other. She pressed her palms to the nape of Renee’s neck. It was damp with sweat.

“Can you believe it?” Lola whispered. “We’re at your premiere.”

Renee was chewing her lip nervously. Even though Lola was filled with effervescent excitement, this was Renee’s first premiere, and Lola knew it would feel different, scarier, bigger than everything that came after.

“What if they don’t like it?”

“Then they have bad taste,” Lola said.

“There are literally professional critics in the audience, Lo, they can’t all have bad taste.” Renee’s eyes wandered toward the screen. The film was in its final moments. It was a shot of her benefit concert at Pride last month. It was the culminating, victorious shot of the film, intercut with flashbacks to the tough moments that came before and shots that promised a brighter, freer future. They had less than a minute before the credits rolled.

“Look at me, Renee.”