Chapter 107

Breakfast somehow turned into another hour of laughter, teasing, and Naomi pretending she wasn’t the reason both of them were smiling so much.

Eventually, she stood first.

“Alright.”

Rowan looked up with syrup still on her fork.

“Uh oh.”

Naomi pointed toward the stairs.

“Photographer arrives in thirty minutes. Move.”

Celeste groaned softly.

“This is still insane.”

Naomi looked at her calmly.

“You’ll thank me later.”

Rowan stood dramatically.

“If I look bad in one photo, I’m suing.”

“You’ll survive,” Naomi replied.

The getting-ready process was chaos.

Rowan changed outfits three times in twenty minutes.

Celeste claimed she “didn’t care,” then rejected two shirts and asked Naomi which looked better.

Naomi, already dressed, gave quiet opinions like a consultant overseeing a project.

By the time they were done, all three of them stepped out wearing matching tones of soft white, sand, and cream.

Not identical.

Coordinated.

Naomi wore tailored cream linen pants and an open-collar white shirt with gold jewelry at her neck and wrists.

Celeste wore beige trousers and a fitted white button-up with the sleeves rolled, looking clean, masculine, and effortlessly sharp.

Rowan wore loose cream pants and a white cropped blouse tied at the waist, claiming she looked like “a rich poet.”

When they all met in the living room, there was a brief silence.

Celeste looked at Naomi.

“You planned the colors too?”

Naomi adjusted her watch.

“Yes.”

Rowan pointed at her.

“Control issues.”

“Vision,” Naomi corrected.

Celeste looked Rowan up and down.

“You do look good though.”

Rowan placed a hand over her chest.

“Say it again slower.”

Naomi rolled her eyes.

Then looked at Celeste for a second too long.

“You look handsome.”

Celeste immediately looked away.

Rowan gasped.

“She got shy!”

“I did not,” Celeste muttered.

Naomi smiled to herself.

A soft knock came at the door.

The photographer entered with an assistant, warm and professional, carrying cameras and gear.

“Good morning,” the woman said brightly. “You three look incredible.”

Rowan whispered loudly to Celeste.

“I like her already.”

They were guided outside onto the deck first.

The ocean behind them glowed bright blue under the midday sun.

The photographer smiled.

“Let’s start easy. Just stand close together.”

Naomi moved naturally to the middle.

Rowan slipped onto one side, looping an arm through hers.

Celeste stood on the other side, trying to look casual and failing because Naomi’s hand had quietly found the small of her back.

The camera clicked several times.

“Perfect,” the photographer said. “Now look at each other instead of me.”

Rowan immediately turned to Naomi with exaggerated admiration.

“My provider.”

Naomi laughed.

Celeste looked at Rowan.

“You are embarrassing.”

“Authentic,” Rowan corrected.

Click. Click. Click.

The photographer grinned.

“This is great.”

Next came sitting shots on the outdoor daybed.

Naomi seated in the center.

Rowan lying across her lap dramatically.

Celeste sitting close beside her, one arm resting along the back cushion behind Naomi.

The photographer stepped back.

“Celeste, look at Naomi.”

Celeste did.

Too naturally.

Too softly.

The photographer lowered the camera for a second.

“…wow.”

Rowan pointed instantly.

“I saw that.”

Celeste frowned.

“What?”

“You looked gone.”

Naomi smiled without looking away.

“Take the picture.”

Click.

Then they moved to the stairs leading into the ocean.

Barefoot now, pants rolled, water touching their ankles.

The sunlight reflected around them in gold and blue.

“Walk toward me laughing,” the photographer called out.

Rowan didn’t need help.

She started telling a fake story about how she almost became royalty in another country.

Celeste laughed so hard she bent forward.

Naomi laughed too—real, open, unguarded.

The camera went wild.

Click. Click. Click.

The photographer looked thrilled.

“You three make this easy.”

Naomi nodded.

“We know.”

Next came more close shots—but always together.

Naomi stood between them with one hand in Rowan’s and one hand in Celeste’s.

Then Rowan behind Naomi, hugging her waist while Celeste stood in front holding both their hands.

Then Celeste behind both of them, arms draped over their shoulders while Rowan leaned back laughing against her.

The photographer kept moving around them.

“Perfect. Stay there.”

“Naomi, look at Rowan.”

“Rowan, now look at Celeste.”

“Celeste, look at both of them.”

Every pose somehow turned into something real.

Naomi smiling more than usual.

Rowan glowing under attention.

Celeste trying to stay cool and failing every time Naomi touched her.

At one point the photographer lowered the camera and laughed.

“I don’t have to direct much. You naturally move like people who belong together.”

That made all three of them pause for half a second.

Then Rowan recovered first.

“We’ve been rehearsing.”

Naomi shook her head.

“She lies for sport.”

Click.

The final set was all three of them sitting together at the edge of the deck, feet dangling over the water.

Shoulders touching.

Wind moving through their clothes.

The ocean endless in front of them.

“Last one,” the photographer said. “Just be yourselves.”

So Rowan leaned against Naomi.

Naomi reached for Celeste’s hand.

Celeste squeezed both of them closer.

No posing.

No instructions.

Just them.

The shutter clicked several times.

Then lowered.

The photographer smiled.

“That was the one.”

Rowan stood first.

“Obviously.”

Naomi thanked the team while Celeste looked out at the water, surprisingly glad she’d been forced into it.

Naomi stepped beside her.

“Told you you’d thank me later.”

Celeste glanced at her.

“…maybe.”

Naomi smirked.

“That’s basically gratitude.”

Rowan ran up holding her phone.

“Can we do another one but this time I’m jumping?”

The photographer laughed so hard she had to lower the camera.

“You know what?” she said, smiling at Rowan. “Yes. Absolutely.”

Rowan threw both hands in the air.

“I knew art would recognize art.”

Celeste groaned softly.

“This is about to be embarrassing.”

Naomi crossed her arms, amused.

“This is already embarrassing.”

Rowan ignored both of them and handed her phone to the assistant.

“Video too. I need options.”

They reset at the edge of the deck.

The ocean behind them looked unreal—bright turquoise fading into deeper blue, sunlight glittering across the surface.

The photographer positioned Naomi and Celeste first.

“You two stand normally.”

Celeste looked offended.

“What does that mean?”

“It means don’t brace yourself like security,” Rowan answered for her.

Naomi laughed.

Celeste muttered something under her breath and stood beside Naomi.

The photographer pointed.

“Great. Rowan, you run in from the side and jump between them.”

Naomi blinked.

“No.”

Rowan grinned.

“Yes.”

Celeste stepped back immediately.

“I support whatever keeps me safe.”

“Traitor,” Rowan said.

They counted down.

“One… two… three!”

Rowan sprinted dramatically from off frame, launched herself between them, and nearly slipped.

Naomi caught one arm.

Celeste caught the other.

All three of them stumbled together into a laughing mess.

The camera clicked wildly.

The assistant was crying laughing behind the phone.

Rowan straightened proudly.

“Nailed it.”

“You almost died,” Celeste said.

“For beauty.”

The photographer checked the screen and gasped.

“Oh wait—this is incredible.”

She turned it around.

The shot had caught Rowan mid-jump, Naomi laughing openly, Celeste trying to catch them both while laughing harder than she realized.

Pure chaos.

Pure joy.

Naomi looked at it and smiled softer than expected.

“…send me that one first.”

Rowan pointed.

“I knew I was the moment.”

After the team packed up and left, the villa felt quiet again.

The kind of quiet that comes after a good time.

They wandered back inside barefoot, carrying shoes in hand.

Celeste dropped onto the couch first.

“I need recovery time.”

Rowan flopped dramatically across her lap.

“No. We move as one.”

Celeste looked down at her.

“You are so heavy when you choose to be.”

“It’s emotional weight.”

Naomi walked to the kitchen island, pouring three glasses of iced water.

“You both are exhausting.”

She handed one to Celeste first.

Then Rowan.

Then kept hers.

Celeste noticed.

“You always do that.”

Naomi glanced over.

“Do what?”

“Take care of everybody before yourself.”

Naomi shrugged lightly.

“Habit.”

Rowan sat up and took Naomi’s wrist gently, guiding her down onto the couch between them.

“Break the habit for ten minutes.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

“Commanding.”

“Correct,” Rowan said.

Celeste smiled and handed Naomi the best pillow.

“Sit.”

Naomi looked between them, then laughed under her breath.

“You two are getting bold.”

“We learned from the best,” Celeste replied.

That landed.

Naomi settled into the couch, one leg tucked beneath her.

For a while, nobody said much.

They drank cold water.

Looked out at the ocean.

Let the breeze move through the open doors.

Then Rowan broke the silence.

“What time is boat ride?”

Naomi checked her watch.

“Two hours.”

Celeste groaned happily.

“So we have time to do nothing.”

Naomi looked at her.

“That was exactly my plan.”

Rowan gasped.

“She planned rest.”

Naomi deadpanned.

“I’m full of surprises.”

Rowan leaned onto Naomi’s shoulder.

Celeste stretched her legs across both of them.

Naomi looked down at the arrangement.

“So I’m furniture now?”

“Luxury furniture,” Rowan corrected.

Celeste closed her eyes.

“Custom made.”

Naomi shook her head, but she didn’t move them.

Time slipped without asking permission.

The sunlight shifted slowly across the floor, stretching farther into the villa, warming everything it touched. The breeze came in soft waves through the open doors, carrying the ocean with it.

At some point, Rowan had fully melted into Naomi’s shoulder. Celeste had drifted halfway into a nap, her legs still stretched across both of them, one arm resting loosely over her eyes.

Naomi sat in the middle of it all—still, quiet, letting it happen.

For once, she didn’t move.

Didn’t fix.

Didn’t plan.

Just stayed.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced along Celeste’s ankle… then shifted, lightly brushing over Rowan’s arm. Small touches. Quiet. Automatic.

Rowan noticed first.

Her lips curved.

“Oh,” she murmured, eyes still closed. “She’s being soft again.”

Naomi didn’t stop.

“I can stop.”

“Don’t you dare,” Rowan said instantly, turning her head to press a quick kiss to Naomi’s shoulder.

Celeste shifted, eyes still half closed.

“Yeah… keep doing that.”

Naomi smiled to herself.

Then Rowan shifted again.

“…I’m hungry.”

Celeste groaned without opening her eyes.

“You just ate.”

“That was breakfast.”

Naomi let out a small laugh.

“That was an hour and a half ago.”

“Exactly,” Rowan said. “Starvation timeline.”

Celeste peeked one eye open.

“You’re dramatic.”

Rowan sat up just enough to look at both of them.

“And you love it.”

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

“She tolerates you.”

Celeste snorted.

“That’s generous.”

Rowan leaned forward suddenly and stole a quick kiss from Naomi’s cheek.

“She definitely loves me.”

Naomi looked at her.

“You’re pushing it.”

Rowan grinned.

“I live on the edge.”

Celeste sat up now, stretching, then leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Naomi’s other cheek.

“She does that,” Celeste said calmly.

Naomi blinked.

“…oh.”

Rowan gasped.

“She’s competing!”

“I’m not competing,” Celeste said, already smiling.

Naomi looked between them.

“You two are a problem.”

“A cute problem,” Rowan corrected.

Naomi checked her watch again.

“Forty-five minutes.”

Rowan sat up straight.

“Oh. Boat time.”

Celeste flopped back for one more second.

“Do we have to move?”

Naomi stood.

“Yes.”

Rowan jumped up immediately.

“I love movement.”

Celeste groaned but stood anyway.

“You’re exhausting.”

Rowan leaned in close to her.

“And you’re smiling.”

Celeste tried to hide it.

Failed.

The shift back into motion was quick. Rowan ran upstairs first.

“I call shower!”

“You already showered!” Celeste yelled.

“It’s a lifestyle!”

Naomi followed at a slower pace, glancing back at Celeste.

“You coming?”

Celeste tilted her head.

“…we’re not all using the same shower.”

Naomi smirked.

“Why not?”

Rowan’s voice echoed from upstairs.

“YES WE ARE.”

Celeste laughed under her breath.

“This is about to be chaos.”

Naomi stepped closer.

“You’ll survive.”

Celeste held her gaze.

“…I always do.”

That lingered a second too long.

Then Naomi turned and kept walking.

Upstairs, steam was already building in the bathroom. Rowan had somehow turned on everything.

Rainfall shower. Side jets. Music.

“Welcome to my spa,” she announced.

Celeste leaned against the doorway.

“You don’t own this.”

“I spiritually do.”

Naomi walked in behind Celeste and reached past her to adjust the water temperature slightly.

“You’re going to burn us alive.”

Rowan shrugged.

“Worth it.”

Celeste stepped in first, shaking her head as the warm water hit her shoulders.

“…okay, wait.”

Rowan followed immediately, bumping into her on purpose.

“Move over.”

“There’s plenty of space,” Celeste said.

“I like your space better.”

Naomi stepped in last, closing the glass behind her.

The water fell around all three of them, warm and steady, the sound filling the room.

For a second—

they just stood there.

Close.

Not rushed.

Just… there.

Rowan broke it first, of course.

“This is already better than the gym upstairs.”

Naomi laughed softly.

“You hate the gym.”

“I hate effort.”

Celeste reached for a towel, then paused as Naomi’s hand brushed hers.

Small.

Unintentional.

Not unintentional.

They both noticed.

Rowan definitely noticed.

“Ohhh,” she said quietly. “We’re doing tension in the shower now.”

Celeste rolled her eyes.

“Relax.”

Naomi tilted her head.

“I am relaxed.”

Rowan stepped closer to both of them, bumping shoulders.

“No you’re not.”

Celeste laughed.

“You really can’t handle silence.”

“I don’t trust it,” Rowan replied.

Naomi reached for shampoo, then paused.

“Turn around.”

Rowan blinked.

“…for what?”

Naomi raised an eyebrow.

“Do you want help or not?”

Rowan turned instantly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Celeste laughed.

“You folded fast.”

“I adapt.”

Naomi started working shampoo through Rowan’s hair, fingers gentle but confident.

Rowan closed her eyes immediately.

“…okay yeah, I’m staying here forever.”

Celeste leaned against the tile, watching them, smiling without realizing.

Naomi glanced at her.

“You’re next.”

Celeste pointed at herself.

“I didn’t agree to that.”

Naomi stepped closer.

“You don’t have to.”

Rowan peeked one eye open.

“She wants to.”

Celeste shook her head.

“…you both are annoying.”

But she didn’t move away.

Naomi stepped in front of her, just close enough to tilt her head slightly.

“Relax.”

Celeste exhaled slowly.

“…fine.”

Rowan grinned like she had just won something.

“I love it here.”

The water ran warm around them.

Laughter echoed lightly against the glass.

Touches stayed soft.

Nothing rushed.

Just closeness.

Just them.

By the time they stepped out, the mirror was fogged, the room warm, and the energy between them lighter—playful again.

Rowan grabbed a towel first.

“I feel refreshed. Reborn. Moisturized.”

Celeste laughed, drying her hair.

“You talk too much.”

Naomi wrapped a towel around herself, glancing at both of them.

“And yet… you both keep up.”

Rowan pointed.

“She said we match her energy.”

Celeste smiled.

“Barely.”

Naomi smirked.

“Come on. Boat’s waiting.”

And just like that—

they were back in motion again.

Together.