Cover Story

by Rachel Lacey

I also have a passive-aggressive aunt who seems to think that if she makes enough snide comments at family events, I’ll ‘come to my senses’ and start dating men.”

Real

babbling about queer representation at the major awards

Natalie had kissed those lips this morning . .

And she's gonna do it again

Taylor bursting into her bedroom in a flurry of excitement, the only person who woke Natalie happily instead of gasping in fear.

You’re falling for her, and I think she’s falling for you too. For the record, I think you two might actually be perfect for each other.”

Teehehrehehe

“You’re completely flustered where she’s concerned,

This is so cute

If you really fell asleep with her last night, you know what that tells me? You feel safe with her, and hallelujah, because it’s about damn time someone made you feel safe.”

invigorated

Nice word

even when she darted out from beneath furniture and tackled them at unexpected moments.

Very cute

and the way her pulse raced at the sight of Natalie with sweat glistening on her neck and a hint of cleavage visible

Oh I absolutely understand this Taylor

Jealousy flared in Natalie’s stomach, even though she had no claim to Taylor.

Lmao okay Natalie

One side of his face drooped,

Oh the droop :(

we get excited anytime we see LGBTQ representation in a mainstream film like that,”

<3

Natalie stopped her with a hand on her thigh.

Okat Natalie I know you'll be thinking about that for a bit

scrambled

Scrambled <3

cocking her head adorably from side to side.

I love when animals do that

It felt genuinely romantic, too romantic for a publicity stunt.

That would technically be better, but I get why Nat is nervous

All this hard work to keep control of the narrative, and she’d lost it all . . . just like that.

Aw man :(

brutishness.

Nice word

“Can you imagine if I tried to explain any of that in an interview? On paper, it sounds so fucking boring.

Oh my god that is true. People will think she is overreacting. Her haters will say "he can change her mind". Since she is a lesbian. Or say she's another woman being ungrateful

they made a movie about my kidnapping? The fucking studio had the nerve to call and ask if I’d play myself.

That is absurd

salacious

Nice word

Here we are, eight years later,

This is so crazy

her emotions finally found an outlet.

the energy between them had shifted.

Of course it did

She gazed at Taylor with unabashed affection, attraction, everything they’d both been trying so hard not to feel.

ricocheted

Lovely word

Natalie’s muscles shook with fatigue, but she was feeling good.

That's the good fatigue she's feeling. Nice :)

Her gaze caught on Taylor’s, and a zing of electricity traveled down her spine.

Natalie felt warmth spread over her skin under the intensity of Taylor’s gaze. I like you.

I didn't even process that Taylor said that

which meant they’d be free to touch, give each other longing glances, maybe even a kiss on the cheek . . .

Ofc Nat is thinking abt this

Taylor inhaled, causing her chest to rise beneath Natalie’s fingers.

Oh so Nat is holding Taylor's chest hmm

She shifted against Natalie, ending up with one of her knees pressed between Natalie’s.

Hmmmmmmmmm

there was Taylor’s thigh between her legs, warm and firm and mere inches from Natalie’s core, which was hyperaware of Taylor’s proximity.

Natalie’s heart was still pounding, and she didn’t even know why at this point. Fear? Arousal?

Both and even more

Her fingers brushed against Natalie’s cheek.

overzealous

Nice word

She exhaled, suddenly aware of her breasts pressed against Taylor’s.

Ooooooo

In her heels, she and Taylor were roughly the same height.

I wonder how their height differrnce is when Nat doesn't have heels

She couldn’t control her breathing, couldn’t control anything with Taylor still hovering so close,

Me with any girl fr

the lockdown drills we used to have in school. I kept waiting for gunfire or something . . . God, this country. So fucked up.”

Yup

She’s not just your girlfriend, she’s another bodyguard.

Oh wow. Ali the observant one

And I mean . . . she looked so protective of you just now. It was really hot. Just saying.”

Oh for a girl to be protective of me. oh for a girl to… WANT ME PLEASE

invigorating

Nice word

but also . . . no one to hold her the way Taylor was now. And God, it felt so good.

Taylor’s hands on her body.

Natalie craved it with an intensity that was bordering on desperation.

This is so real lmao

she grinned at Taylor so widely her eyes squinted, but for once in her life, she wasn’t acting.

Genuinely gonna start tearing up because Nat is trusting someone again. She's feeling genuinely happy! I'm also now realizing that it's gonna hurt me so much when thee break apart. Either the arrangement and they stop talking or their inevitable real romantic relationship

“Just like you do for me.” Natalie went up on her toes to kiss Taylor’s cheek,

but maybe . . . maybe, in the deepest recesses of her heart, she wished they could do this whole thing for real.

Nat... Honey… I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this. It's not a maybe. It's a YES