Page 155 of When I Picture You

“I need you to know that I was wrong!” Kadijah cried, not entirely sober.

Renee patted Kadijah’s shoulder. “She gets it, babe.”

“I’m not going to apologize for being emotional!” Kadijah insisted. “My best friend just premiered her amazing film!”

“Thanks, Kadijah,” Renee said. “I’m going to steal Lo to say hi to my mom.”

Deborah nearly suffocated Renee in a hug and showered them both in praise. When Renee had told Deborah that she and Lola were going to make it work, Deborah had been, in her own words, over the moon. Months later, she still hadn’t come down to earth. She was as invested in their relationship as any of the obsessive #Rola fans.

“Are your mom and dad here, sweetie?” Deborah asked Lola.

Lola winced. “I actually prefer my parents not come to things like this. It’s a lot for them—and me.”

Deborah gave a sympathetic look. “Well, can I give you a hug, since your mom’s not here to do it?”

Lola nodded, and Deborah squeezed her tight. “I’m so proud of you, Lola. You were already so accomplished, but gosh, look at how you’ve grown!” She released Lola, but held tight to her hands. “You’ve always been part of our family. You know that, don’t you?”

“Mom, you can’t say that now that we’re dating,” Renee groaned, although it was exceptionally sweet.

“I would say this to her even if you weren’t! I watched you and Claudia grow up. If you ever need anything, you can always call me. No matter what.”

AT THE NIGHT’Send, they were too tired for Lola to make good on her earlier promise. It was all they could do to undress, then crawl into bed in each other’s arms.

***

“Lo, wake up,” Renee was saying.

Renee was gazing down at her, her hair rumpled. Lola stretched and smiled. “Do we have to get up? I thought we didn’t have anything this morning.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“You do? Why?”

“It’s our anniversary,” Renee said.

Lola pushed herself up against the pillows. “No it isn’t. It’s July. It’s Claudia’s anniversary—Oh.”

Renee leaned into her, pressing Lola back into the down as she kissed along her neck.

“Mmm, is this my surprise?”

“No, we have to get out of bed for that,” Renee murmured against her ear.

Lola twisted around to check the time. “But we didn’t get home until three last night.”

“You can sleep on the plane,” Renee said.

Now Lola sat up for real. “The plane? Where are we going?”

“Telling you would ruin the surprise,” Renee said. “I packed everything you need. You just have to get dressed.”

ASLOLA RANup onto the deck of the lake house, the sky was brilliantly blue, the sun heavy overhead and glittering off the lake. When Lola had last been here, it was nearly winter, everything muted brown and ochre. It looked so alive in the summertime. She’d forgotten how Michigan’s northern climate exploded ferociously into vibrant green once the weather turned, desperate for sunshine. The air was thick with humidity and the click and snap of bugs, but still fresh and clean as Lola pulled in a deep breath.

Behind her, she heard Renee on the steps setting their bags down. Lola remembered their first night on this deck; it had felt like the whole universe had aligned to bring them to that kiss—to bring them to all the moments in their story, from the earliest ones, to the years they spent apart, to the night a year ago at Claudia’s wedding, to alltheir stolen glances on the film set. But Lola didn’t actually believe in fate—she believed in hard work. She believed in herself, and Renee.

She believed in their love story.

Renee gazed at her, a smile playing on her lips. “It feels good to be back, right?”

Lola pulled Renee toward her and kissed her in the bright, streaming sunlight.