Page 34 of When You Smile

“I’d be all-in. I want to get better.” She was sitting on the edge of her chair. Her heart pumped double time, excitement building. If Roger, who she very much respected, saw something in her, then maybe she wasn’t off base in her pursuits. “Great. I think I’ll have Ashley reach out. She’s a semester from graduation and one of my top students. She’s got a good eye and well-developed skills behind the lens. I think you two will hit it off.”

“Thank you. Awesome. I’ll wait to hear from her.” She stood, sensing their chat had come to a close.

“Thanks for stopping by. And Taryn?” He leaned forward.

“Yes?”

“You’re doing great, okay? Work on the things we talked about. Get uncomfortable, and I don’t just mean in your work. Push yourself. Fucking push yourself.” He stared at her, letting the point linger in the air. “That’s how you achieve what you never thought possible. You hear me?”

She turned the words over in her mind. She was committed to taking his advice and would search out ways to push herself beyond her comfort zone behind the lens and in life. “Every word. I’m gonna do just that.”

“Hit me up with whatever questions you have. I’m happy to be your cheerleader or worst nightmare of a critic.”

She paused. “I think I need both.”

He laughed, low and full. “Let’s talk again in a couple weeks.”

“Cool. Thank you.” She left Roger’s office more energized than ever. She vowed to keep her camera with her whenever possible and find the messy side of reality just as often as the picturesque. Energized by their meeting, she spent an hour walking through campus, grabbing shots, experimenting with shady spots and her f-stop. By early evening, she had an email from Ashley Wendell, asking her if she’d want to meet up in the lab in a couple of days. Roger had delivered on his promise to pair her up with a mentor. Taryn couldn’t type her acceptance fast enough. Things were truly starting to come together, and doors were opening. Was it surprising that the first person she wanted to share her news with wasn’t a member of her family, or Caz, or any of her new friends, but Charlie? No, because some things never changed.

An hour later, she paused in front of Charlie’s apartment, her portfolio tucked away in her bag. She raised her hand to knock and froze at the sound of Charlie’s voice. “It’s open. Come on in.”

Taryn opened the door and searched the empty living room for Charlie. “You’re invisible. Where’d you go?” Taryn called.

Charlie jutted a head out from the hallway bathroom. Her hair was wet, and she wore a fluffy white robe that crisscrossed her chest, offering a generous glimpse of cleavage. Whoa. Okay. Taryn swallowed and glanced away as nonchalantly as possible, ordering herself not to steal another eyeful. Yet she did anyway. Holy fuck.

“I grabbed a shower. Give me five.” Charlie frowned. “What’s going on? Why are you looking at me like you almost just got hit by a car?”

“I’m not.” Taryn focused all her energy on the dark television screen, gathering herself. Yet Charlie was likely naked beneath that robe, and she couldn’t unknow it. Pivot. But when she turned back to Charlie in an attempt to change the subject and mask her overt reaction, she saw Charlie’s features change. She looked down at her neckline, and back to Taryn. Her cheeks flamed and she held up a one-minute sign before disappearing behind the closed bathroom door.

Taryn tried to swallow back the regret but was unsuccessful. If she’d made Charlie feel uncomfortable or objectified, she wanted to right things between them at the soonest possible opportunity. Embarrassment swarmed as she paced the small expanse of the living room, searching for words that would bury the last five minutes. Her face was still hot and her palms itched. Her crush on Charlie was beginning to cause problems and interfere with their friendship, and that meant Taryn had to do everything in her power to kill it. She would, too.

“Fuck,” she said quietly.

* * *

Alone in the bathroom, Charlie gripped the pedestal sink. Her heart thudded, her mind raced, and her body was turned the hell on without anyone issuing permission. What was happening and why? This wasn’t like her in any way, shape, or form. The white robe that had felt fluffy and light just moments before now oppressed her overly sensitive skin. She loosened the tie and let the robe fall open. Deep inhale. Her breasts ached ever so slightly, and her thighs were trembling. She touched her cheek with her palm as if to erase the heat. The desire to be touched then and now rocked her.

She couldn’t have this reaction right now. There was a guest in her home, and not one that should bring on such an overwhelming sexual response. Would Taryn be able to tell? None of this was ideal, but at the top of that list was the source of her attraction. A kid she used to take care of? Okay, well, maybe not so much a kid these days, but still. They were at different stations in life, which placed caution tape all around Taryn. No. No. Nope. Time to move the hell out of this whole line of thought. Just as she tried, the memory of Taryn’s gaze moving across her exposed skin flashed, and her limbs went liquid all over again. The way Taryn had immediately looked away, respectful of the boundary, only added to the allure. A forbidden moment.

Charlie dressed quietly, leaving her hair to air-dry, and chalked up the reaction to an isolated anomaly. She was likely in the midst of some kind of hormone surge and should check her calendar.

Deep breath. She forced a smile on to her face and shook off the strange event. “Sorry about that,” she said, as she emerged from the bathroom. “But I’m ready now.”

Taryn, standing across the room in the kitchen, whirled around, and her dark hair swung and landed on her shoulder. Effortlessly gorgeous. Luminous brown eyes and thick dark hair. She naturally appeared more thoughtfully moody than thrilled with the world, and damn, it worked for her. That was Taryn. Unaware in her brooding perfection. Until today, Charlie thought she was jealous of how cool Taryn presented. Today, she felt more confident that another reason crept beneath the surface. “No problem. Just studying the, uh, backsplash.” She touched the wall. “Love this green and gray tile. The craftsmanship is just…top.”

“I’ll tell the rental office.” She gestured behind her. “I just needed to stand under a warm stream of water and decompress for about twenty hours. Have you ever done that?”

“More times than I care to count. They’re also great for crying.” Taryn’s gaze hit the floor. She got the feeling that Taryn regretted the confession seconds after she’d made it. She remembered Taryn’s anxiety and the struggle to tame it privately, which maybe explained why she held it in until the shower. Heartbreaking.

“You wait until you’re alone?”

“Yeah,” Taryn said quietly with a nod.

“You don’t have to do that, you know? Come cry here. I have a shoulder.” Charlie moved closer, took Taryn’s hand, and squeezed it. When she did, something vital clicked in place and the vibrations of the world around them went quiet. Charlie knew unequivocally that their connection was meant to be. They were destined to be something together. She could feel it all over the second their hands came together.

“You don’t understand how much that means to me.” She attempted to continue but couldn’t, emotion strangling her words. Her hand fluttered to dry the tears that had gathered in her eyes. Charlie gave her hand a squeeze and waited patiently, allowing the moment to move at its own pace. Finally, Taryn lifted her gaze and sent a grateful smile. “If it helps, there’s less shower crying these days. Since you.” That statement brought on an avalanche of feelings Charlie didn’t know how to receive, sort out, or handle. She stared at their hands and made the choice to let go, unequipped in the moment. To distract them both, she walked to Taryn’s attaché on her kitchen table.

“Show me your work. I’ve been excited to see it.”

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