Never Say Never

Chapter 15

Camila's up early the next day, ready for her family to descend for Thanksgiving.

She hadn't slept well, a combination of her mind too preoccupied with Lauren, and her not-terribly comfortable sofa bed (she'd given Dinah and Normani her bed while they were staying, despite both their protests) so it's almost a relief when her alarm clock hits seven, and she decides that it's an acceptable time for her to be awake.

She makes an effort to be quiet as she moves around the apartment, not wanting to wake Dinah or Normani. Dinah had waited up for her last night, but she'd soon sent her to bed after her fiancée when she'd seen her struggling to stay awake, tired from the flight.

She tidies as much as she can, glad that she hasn't lived here long enough for the place to be too cluttered, and drags the only tablecloth she owns out of a drawer, draping it over the table as she waits for her coffee machine to finishing brewing.

She's pouring herself a mug when she hears movement from behind her, and she's surprised that Normani is the first to emerge, her eyeliner from the night before smudged under her eyes, her hair a complete mess and her eyes barely open, and Camila chuckles at the sight of her, pours a second cup without being asked.

"Thanks," Normani murmurs when Camila passes her the mug, wrapping her fingers around it. "You got any painkillers?"

"Sure." Camila gets her some, and Normani smiles her thanks.

"Remind me never to try and outdrink Lauren Jauregui ever again," she groans, washing down two Advil with a sip of her coffee. "It is so not worth the hangover."

"How bad is it?"

"I had worse in college and survived, but I was younger and healthier then." Camila grins, before she knocks Normani's hip with her own.

"Congrats on the engagement, by the way. Can I see the ring?" Normani offers her hand. "It's gorgeous. Was she nervous? She left that part out of her story."

"Oh, god, yeah. Her hands were shaking so bad. I was actually worried she was going to pass out at one point. As if I was ever going to say no." Normani rolls her eyes, smiling at the memory. "Did you guys have fun last night?"

"Yeah, it was nice to catch up. We missed you, though." She's glad to see that Normani is looking a little better already, the caffeine perking her up. "Did you, hangover aside? I didn't even know you and Lauren were close."

"It's an impression she does her best to maintain," Normani says with a wry smile. "She can't have people knowing that the queen of all media actually has a heart."

"But she does." It's a statement, not a question, but Normani answers it all the same.

"She tries hard to hide it, but Lauren has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know – except maybe you." Camila ducks her head. "You just have to scale a hundred foot high wall to get to it, first." Camila almost laughs, because she knows that only too well. "What's going on with the two of you?"

"What?" Camila gives Normani a sharp look. "Did she say something to you last night?"

"Not exactly." Normani watches Camila closely over the rim of her mug as she takes a sip of coffee, looking much more awake. "But she didn't have to. I knew something was up the second I said your name."

Camila wonders what Lauren's reaction was, but doesn't dare ask – she doesn't think Lauren will appreciate her trying to pry, if she ever found out.

"There's nothing going on."

"Do you want there to be?" Camila presses her lips together, and Normani looks like she's going to press, but she's interrupted by Dinah, who strides out of Camila's bedroom to save her.