Beautiful When You Don't Try

Chapter 59

           

"I know you're there. You may not be saying anything, but I know you're there. I can feel you looking at me." Lauren mumbled as she laid in bed, her arm draped over her face, blocking out the early morning sun.

Camila mashed her lips between her teeth as she sat next to and facing the brunette, fully dressed for the beginning of the day and sitting Indian style, her arms draped over her knees. She opened her mouth and then closed it, only to open it again. "I was just wondering... if you had come up with any suggestions for the song of our first dance yet?"

"Before I answer that question... " Lauren began in a calm voice as she raised her index finger. "What time is it?"

The nervous brunette played with the edge of the blanket and hesitated, her mouth bobbing up and down a few times. "I... I don't exactly see where that information is relevant. The current time of day holds no control or sway over whether or not you have found it in your busy schedule to contemplate a song choice for our-"

"Camila."

"It's ten past seven." She answered quickly, not wanting to irritate the brunette.

The photographer growled in mild frustration and sat straight up, meeting Camila's chocolate eyes immediately as if she already knew where the brunette was sitting. "You keep waking up earlier and earlier. What happened to those mornings where you were content with just lying in bed and cuddling?"

"I still love to cuddle. I just find it incredibly difficult to fully enjoy the event with all of these thoughts and worries floating through my mind. There are still several things we need to do before the wedding and with you at work all the time-"

"Hey." Lauren cut her off. "You agreed not to guilt trip me about that. You wanted time off of Broadway and I'm supporting your decision. However, that leaves me to pay the bills until you film that TV spot after the wedding."

"I know." Camila nodded. "I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty. I was just stating that the early morning time and late at night are the only times I get to talk to you about these things since you've banned the topic of the wedding from being spoken about in your studio."

"I didn't ban it." Lauren corrected her in a small voice as she wiped the sleep from her eyes, feeling a little guilty already. "I just asked if we could have a break from it. It's been the topic of discussion nonstop for weeks now. I just wanted to hear about you and your day."

"But that's what I do with my day since I'm not working anymore. I'm trying to plan our wedding. And without your assistance-"

"At last."

The diva paused in confusion. "What?"

"At last my love has come along. My lonely days are over, and life is like a song." Lauren began to sing lightly, reaching to detach Camila's fingers from the blanket and hook them in hers. "Oh yeah, yeah. At last the skies above are blue. My heart was wrapped up in clover, the night I looked at you. I found a dream that I could speak to." She leaned forward, within inches of Camila's face. "A dream I could call my own." She kissed her lips lightly and moved to her cheek. "I found a thrill I could press my cheek to, a thrill I have never known." She kissed her cheek and pulled back to see the diva begin to smile. "Oh yeah, yeah. You smiled, you smiled, and then the spell was cast. And here we are in Heaven, for you are mine at last."

The diva beamed and blushed at the same time. "Well... aren't you just full of surprises. Never in a million years would I expect you to serenade me in the morning with Etta James. Especially after I woke you up at seven in the morning."

Lauren shrugged and bounced Camila's hands in hers. "I just thought it would be a fitting song for us. For our first dance."

"Well, I love it." Camila answered, leaning forward and kissing her fiancé. "I'm sorry this is all driving you crazy."