Page 73 of When You Smile

Charlie backed away, shrugging. “Maybe I can help you heal.”

Taryn’s brain stammered. She flashed on all sorts of fun scenarios. That was the thing with Charlie. They’d unlocked a world all their own where the sky felt like the limit. Their sex life, which had already started off with a bang, only continued to blossom as they grew more and more comfortable with each other. They’d tried several new positions and locations, learning more about themselves and what they liked. Who knew Taryn would enjoy the pillow so much? A surprise. Yet the view with Charlie on top was too good to ever pass up.

Taryn stayed at Charlie’s place several nights a week, only staying at Alexander so the two of them could stay on top of their studies and obligations. In no surprise to anyone, they were wildly distracted when together. Along the way, she’d casually started taking photos of Charlie, attempting to capture each and every part of her, and she had so many layers.

“Are you taking my photo again?” Charlie asked, turning the rosemary chicken in the pan full of sauce she would soon ladle over it as it cooked. “I have a messy ponytail. That can’t be a good shot.”

“You look gorgeous, and I need cooking Charlie for the case study. Plus, I’m using you to experiment with dragging my shutter a bit. It’s an ambient light thing.”

“I don’t know what that means, but I’m here to assist.” She blew Taryn a kiss as she clicked away. Cooking Charlie just might rank high on her list of shots. There was a joy in the air when Charlie went to work on a dish, almost as if she abandoned her stresses and immersed herself in something she loved. It showed in the photos, loud and clear. She had Ashley to thank for some of her technique in capturing it.

If you take the shot half a second before the smile reaches someone’s lips, you’ve captured the realization of happiness, Ashley once told her. It was invaluable advice.

As they enjoyed their time together, soaking up the newness of what they had, the future loomed and there were details to sort through.

“I can’t sleep,” Charlie whispered one night.

Taryn, holding her, kissed the top of her head. “Do you have something on your mind?”

“What if New York doesn’t work out? What if June DiCarlo meets me and passes? Monica’s been distant, and I don’t feel comfortable going to her for last-minute tips.”

“You’re going to go there and be yourself. She’s going to see how talented you are, how competent, and be thrilled with you.”

“I feel like I’ve invested so much in this plan that I don’t know what I’m going to do if it falls through. How am I going to look myself in the mirror? Even more, how am I going to pay my bills?”

“What’s the plan B?” Taryn asked calmly. Sometimes understanding all the options helped quiet her own fears—maybe it would work for Charlie.

“After I’m done rocking in a corner? I could look into teaching while I query my book, but without a foot in the door, it’s going to be bleak.” She slid up the bed so they were facing each other on the pillow. “I’m terrified, Taryn. And I’m only confessing this because it’s you, but I’ve never been more scared about anything in my life. I want this so badly. I feel like I don’t ask the universe for a lot, but I’m asking it for this.”

“It’s going to be okay, Charlie. I promise.”

“I hope so.” Charlie took a deep breath. “I wish I could just relax, but this is simply too important.”

They’d had a reoccurrence of the conversation several times, making Taryn acutely aware of how important this meeting in New York was. With only a week until Charlie’s interview, she did what she could to keep Charlie distracted and out of her own head. Once as she watched Charlie behind the circulation desk, her brows down, looking like the weight of the world sat on her chest, she fired off a text.

Meet me in the far back corner. Dusty books.

It’s giving mysterious, Charlie wrote back.

It’s giving a lot of things. Taryn grinned and typed. Come find out.

She took off from her seat and made it there first. Charlie, who knew what she was doing, waited a couple of moments before casually making her way to the back of the library, where very few students ever spent much time. “What is going on back here?” she asked. But there was a curious-amused expression on her face, which meant Taryn’s plan had worked.

“I wanted you to myself for just a few stolen moments.”

“And what do you want to do with me?” she asked, blue eyes dancing.

“I’m happy you asked,” Taryn said, crashing her lips to Charlie’s. Apparently, library kissing was extra sexy because the sparks that flew when their mouths began to move weren’t any ordinary variety. The kiss was slow and deep, and then hot and fast, before settling into a rhythm that made Taryn regret they were in a public venue and Charlie’s place of work.

“If I didn’t work here…” Charlie said in Taryn’s ear, nipping a lobe.

“Who needs a job?” Taryn asked. “Let’s live on the street and be happy.”

Charlie pulled her lips away and found Taryn’s eyes. There was an earnest quality behind hers. “I’m already happy. I want you to know that.”

Everything in Taryn softened and spread out. “I’m happy, too.”

“I’ll be even happier when I can act on all the things I want to do to you right now.”

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