Page 20 of The Stars Over Hollywood

Tracy held the flashlight out in front of her, the light dancing across the dirt path. “We’re nearly there.” Tracy took a breather as they got to the harder part of the trail, glancing up at the night sky, the endless sea of stars above her reminding her why this hike was worth it.

“I thought I was in better shape than this,” Hayden said, but Tracy could hear the smile in her voice without looking back as they kept walking, following the path as it narrowed, and then they were at the lookout point, the path widening again, a few boulders surrounding a picnic table marking the spot that Tracy always came back to.

“Wow.”

Tracy turned to see Hayden looking up at the sky. “I have to come up here a few times a year to remember what the stars look like.”

“This is amazing.”

The dirt and twigs crunched beneath their feet as they went over to the picnic table, and Tracy took a blanket out of her backpack and spread it out across the table.

“Is this where you bring all your women?” Hayden asked as she climbed up, and in the dim light from their flashlights, Tracy caught the smirk on her lips.

“All my women? Did you forget the part where I said I’m just as out of practice as you?”

“No, and you know that’s not true,” Hayden said softly.

Tracy got comfortable beside her, both of them on their backs looking up at the huge expanse, the specs of lights twinkling, some brighter than others.

Tracy found her hand, interlacing their fingers. They’d been keeping things light between them when it came to talking about sleeping together. It was a strange balance that Tracy couldn’t remember ever trying to maneuver, but she knew she had to get it right. She was all for taking things slow, and making sure that there was more to this than a growing friendship, although with each passing day, Tracy could feel herself falling, feel herself looking forward to the next time she’d get to see Hayden.

“So, who do you normally bring up here then if it’s not all your women?” Hayden asked.

“Just me. I used to come with Kerri if she could find the time. She was the one who brought me here for the first time, when the show ended, and there was this kind of feeling in the air that things weren’t going to be the same, that we wouldn’t be spending nearly as much time together anymore. And we spent hours up here, talking, not talking. Just trying to take it all in.”

“Did you see that?” Hayden asked, pointing up to the right. “Was that a shooting star?”

“Yeah. Tonight’s the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower.”

Tracy could feel Hayden turning beside her, and she was half sitting up as she spoke. “What? You planned this?”

Tracy nodded. “That’s why I wanted to come this late. The best show can sometimes be towards dawn. If you’re up for it.”

“Yeah.” Hayden got comfortable again, leaving no space between them this time as they stared up at the sky, and Tracy saw a burst of light coming from the left.

Tracy knew things would change in a few weeks, when Hayden started filming, but she felt really good about where they were. She’d take things slow for as long as Hayden wanted or needed, but the tension was definitely building, their kisses longer, more intense, and even thinking about falling into bed with Hayden sent a shiver up her spine, her heart beating a little faster whenever her imagination went there.

14

Hayden thanked Lara for cooking dinner as she helped Ada clear the table. Tracy’s hand brushed over the small of her back as they passed each other coming in and out of kitchen while Charlotte opened another bottle of wine and poured everyone glasses except Lara and Hayden who were driving, and Tracy.

“Okay,” Lara said once they were all in the living room. “I know this was a welcome home party for Ada and Syd, which it definitely still is.”

“But,” Sydney said joining Lara who was standing in front of the coffee table, everyone’s attention on them. “Congratulations are in order.”

“Hayden,” Lara said. “You deserve this show, and I know it’s the first of many meaningful projects in your future.”

Sydney lifted her glass. “To Hayden getting behind her first paywall!”

Hayden could feel the heat radiating from her as they all congratulated her. She had not been expecting any kind of fuss, but Lara had been acting kind of weird when Hayden had said she might not make it tonight.

Charlotte sat down beside her on the couch and gave her hand a squeeze. “Sorry.”

“Thanks guys,” Hayden said. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she ignored it as she got up to hug Lara. “And thank you for getting me that audition. I know you called in a favor even if you won’t say it.”

“That’s what agents are for,” Lara said with a smile.

Hayden’s phone kept vibrating in her pocket, and she couldn’t ignore it anymore. As she slid her phone out of her pocket, Tracy’s started pinging too. Hayden’s eyes moved to her before she even looked down at her own phone, Tracy’s expression unreadable as she checked hers.

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