The Boyfriend Series Box Set (Books 1-6): YA Contemporary Romance Novels

by Christina Benjamin

Nate sighed. “Cami, life is better when you have people to share it with.”

  “I have you,” she shot back.

  “Yeah, and even though you look pissed at me right now, I know you’re glad you let me in.”

  Camille didn’t reply. Mostly because she was furious that Nate was right.

  He looped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “I’m just saying maybe you should give some other people a chance, too.”

  Camille sat in her first period class in a daze. Nate’s words kept replaying in her mind. He was right. At some point, she was to blame for her own isolation. The realization was painful, because it took away her anger. And without it, all she had left was the cancer.

  She opened up her day planner, flipping to the calendar in the back to write the date of their next quiz. As she was flipping it closed, she glimpsed the back page where she had her countdown of days left until graduation. She counted. Three weeks. Fifteen school days. She added the minute number to the tally she’d started at the beginning of the year. The heading of the page was Days ‘til Freedom.

  Camille teared up when she read it. It wasn’t really freedom at all, was it? How could it be if she was the one who made her life seem like something she needed to escape?

  She flipped through the previous months. Each one had a list numbered one through three and was titled Camille’s Plan for Dying. Each month was the same.

  #1: Cross all items off bucket list.

  #2: Graduate high school.

  #3: Stick to the plan.

  It was the last line that struck Cami hardest. It was just like Nate said. She might as well have worn a sign that read Keep Out. Yet clearly if she was writing down her plans to kill herself for nearly a year, she’d been crying for help and wondering why no one was answering.

  Camille kept flipping until she got to March. That was when she’d met Nate. That was when everything changed. She read the list.

  Camille’s Plan for Dying

  #1: Cross all items off bucket list.

  #2: Graduate high school.

  #3: Absolutely do not fall for his smile.

  Her eyes welled with tears as she read the last line again and again. It was too late. She’d fallen for Nate. She was in love with him. And she’d wasted so much time trying not to be.

  For the first time since Camille was diagnosed, panic gripped her. And not because she was going to die. But because she wanted to live.

  32

  Nate

  The next two weeks flew by and Nate couldn’t believe the changes he saw in Camille. She was bright and open, and even chatty with her classmates who stopped by her locker or lunch table to say hello. It was like someone had flipped a switch and Cami was finally letting the rest of the world see the girl he’d always seen—the one that hid behind wigs and makeup and sarcasm. The girl with the beautiful heart.

  Camille was so lively that sometimes it was easy for Nate to forget she was still sick. Her strength and energy had returned and her skin had a healthy glow. Her gray-blue eyes sparkled when she laughed and her baby-fine brown hair had grown into an adorable pixie style that he couldn’t resist running his fingers through. In fact, he was having trouble resisting her at all lately.

  Cami was presently sitting in his lap in the lounge, stealing sips of his hot chocolate. The afternoon sun was streaming in, turning her flawless skin a brilliant gold. She looked up at him, her big eyes almost translucent in the sunlight. A stab of pain slammed into his heart. It was perfect moments like this that took his breath away. Nate could feel Camille with every fiber of his being, yet somehow it was like she was already a ghost. It made his soul ache. He was trying so hard to be strong, but the fact that he was going to lose Camille grew clearer every day.

  Balancing his heart was beginning to exhaust Nate. He flickered between joy and misery moment to moment. But he knew he’d much rather be here with Camille than anywhere else. He just prayed for the strength to make the most of the time they had left.

  Nate locked his fears away and kissed Camille, savoring the salty taste of hot chocolate still on her lips. “I love you, Cami.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Have you thought anymore about what I said?” he asked.

  “Yes, and I still think it’s silly.”

  “But . . .”

  “But if you must throw me a birthday party then I’ll allow it.”

  “Really?” Nate felt bad that Cami was too sick to celebrate her birthday while she was recovering from her hospital stay. And now that she was better he wanted to throw her a party.

  Camille nodded. “But I want it to just be us, Ronnie and my parents.”

  “Are you sure? I thought it would be fun to have some kids from class come, too.”

  “I’m sure. I’ve been enjoying all this,” she said gesturing to the nosey lounge full of NOAH students. “But I think it’ll be more special if it’s just us. Well, and I was thinking it might be fun if you invite your dad.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I haven’t gotten to spend much time with him.”

  Nate arched an eyebrow. “You want to spend time with my dad?”

  “Well, I’m sorta crazy about his son. So, I figured I might like the guy who had a hand in making him.”

  Nate laughed. “Okay, I’ll ask him.”

  “Good.” Camille smirked. “This wouldn’t be when I get this surprise you’ve been planning would it?”

  Nate kissed her until she was breathless. “Patience, Camille.”

  She swatted him. “You’re such a tease.”

  He laughed, but inside Nate was terrified. He’d been planning something big for him and Cami, but first he needed to get her parents on board. Things were going well and perhaps if the birthday celebration went off without a hitch, he’d be able to approach them with the final part of his plan.

  33

  Cami

  Camille clapped like a child when Ronnie carried out a tray full of lemon meringue cupcakes. She was sitting around the copper fire bowl in her parents’ courtyard, enjoying her birthday celebration. Ronnie, Nate and his dad had joined them for dinner, and birthday cupcakes.

  “These are my favorite,” Camille exclaimed. “Ronnie, I can’t believe you remembered.”

  “Like I could forget.” Ronnie turned to Nate and his dad. “The first day on the job this girl ate an entire bowl of meringue when she was supposed to be icing a cake.”

  “I was twelve!” Camille objected. “Besides, you weren’t paying me.”

  “I was paying you with knowledge.”

  “I say you were paying me with sugar.”

  Camille’s father laughed. “That sounds like my daughter.”

  “How did you end up working at Sweet Thang’s?” Nate asked.

  Camille watched her parents’ faces tighten at Nate’s question. Even Ronnie looked a bit saddened. Nate immediately squeezed apologetically at Cami’s hand, seeming to sense he’d said something he shouldn’t.

  She squeezed back. “No, it’s okay. Ronnie is proof that cancer can bring good things into your life.”

  “Thank you, baby cakes,” Ronnie replied.

  Camille’s mother spoke. “We took Camille to Sweet Thang’s to pick out her birthday cake every year.”

  “And every year Ronnie would ask me what my birthday wish was so he could bake it into the cake with the magic sugar he used,” Camille added.

  Ronnie smiled sadly. “When she was ten, Camille said her wish was for her cancer to go away.”

  “I still remember what you told me,” Camille said. “You said that some wishes required more magic than even sugar possessed. But that anytime I needed a little extra magic to make me feel better I could come down to Sweet Thang’s and have a treat on the house.”

  Ronnie had tears in his eyes as he nodded. “And I’ll be damned if this sweet girl didn’t start coming to my shop every day.”

  “She used to run away from home,” Camille’s father said. �
��Ronnie would call us and say she was at the café eating him outta house and home.”

  Camille laughed. “It’s not my fault Ronnie puts magic in his cooking. How’s a girl supposed to stay away?”

  “It’s true,” Nate said smiling at her.

  “After a while he hired me,” Camille said. “Although, I’m pretty sure Ronnie lost out on that deal.”

  Nate smirked. “For real. I need to find a job where they pay me to eat amazing food.”

  “Yeah, Ronnie. I probably owe you for all the sweets I ate over the years.”

  Ronnie laughed and waved Camille off. “Nah, I send your parents a bill every month.”

  Everyone laughed at that, because you didn’t even have to know Ronnie that well to know he’d never even entertained the thought. He was a saint disguised in sugar and glitter, and Camille was lucky that cancer had brought him into her life.

  “Okay, okay. Let’s light these candles before my frosting melts,” Ronnie exclaimed, wiping his eyes.

  “Wait!” Camille turned to Nate. There was something she’d been wanting to ask him and she hoped she wasn’t putting him on the spot. “Nate, I was wondering if it would be okay if we lit a birthday candle for Tyler?”

  Nate looked at her, his brow furrowed in pain.

  “Only if you’re okay with it,” she added.

  Nate bit his bottom lip and looked at his dad. He nodded and Nate smiled the most painful smile Camille had ever seen. It made her want to pull him into her lap and hold him, not caring that everyone else was intently watching them both.

  Nate took Camille’s hand, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. “I’d love that, Cami. Thank you.”

  She pulled one of the too many candles out of her cupcake and added it to the one on Nate’s plate. Ronnie lit the candles and everyone sang happy birthday. Camille held onto Nate’s hand the whole time, feeling the tiny trembles rush through him when they sang Tyler’s name. She looked at Nate as everyone sang the last verse. He was already staring at her. There was so much love in his eyes, it hurt.

  Camille whispered so only Nate could hear her. “Make a wish.”

  Nate

  Nate closed his eyes and blew out the candle for Tyler. But he didn’t make a wish. What could he even wish for? He was here with Camille. There wasn’t anything else in the world he wanted, except for more time with her. But he was trying his damnedest not to think about that.

  Besides, he knew wishing for something like that was foolish. And if Nate had a wish, he was saving it for Camille. Because all he wanted was to make all her dreams come true in the time that they had left together.

  After the cupcakes, everyone gave Camille her birthday gifts. She got a blanket from her mom, an old jazz album from her dad and a secret recipe for meringue from Ronnie. Nate had gotten her a giant bag of PEZ candy, since he’d been helping her with her secret stash in her room. He’d also gotten Cami more film for her Polaroid camera.

  Camille lit up when she opened his gifts. She stood and gave each person a hug. And when she was done she whispered something to her dad. He ducked back into the house for a moment and came out carrying a large wrapped box that he handed to Nate.

  “What’s this?” Nate asked in confusion. “I’m not supposed to get presents on your birthday, Cami.”

  “It’s really a present for me,” she said, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Open it.”

  Nate tore off the paper and opened the box to find a thick black case inside. The shape of it was familiar enough to make his heart skip. It was a violin case. He hadn’t played his since he smashed it in his rage over a month ago.

  He popped open the latches on the case and lifted the lid. A brand new violin gleamed back at him. Tightness tugged at the back of Nate’s throat. He looked at Camille. “How did you know?”

  He’d been too embarrassed to tell her what he’d done to his violin, and spent the last few weeks making excuses every time she asked him to bring it over and play.

  “I talked to your dad,” she said, smiling.

  Nate looked between them. “I thought you hardly knew him?”

  They both laughed.

  His dad held up his hands in surrender. “Ray and I worked together putting some of the pieces from your old violin on this one, but it was all Cami’s idea.”

  “We salvaged your old pegs, chinrest and bridge,” Ray added.

  Camille walked over to Nate and slipped the bow into his hand. “Give it a try.”

  He held it up, resting the new violin in the crook of his neck. He let the familiar smell of wire and wood wash over him as he settled his chin against the worn rest that both he and Tyler had played on. He closed his eyes fighting tears as his bow pulled a cry from the cords. The sullen sound echoed his despair.

  Nate played, pouring himself and all the emotions he’d been fighting, into his music. He played for the unjustness of Camille’s life, and for Tyler’s, and for himself to be strong enough to keep going, when soon, he would be the only one left.

  Her voice was so soft that at first that Nate didn’t realize that Cami had joined the whine of his violin. It wasn’t until he was on the fourth verse of ‘Hallelujah’ that her words reached him. He hadn’t even remembered choosing to play ‘Hallelujah’. But now that he heard Camille’s voice, lilting softly in time with his music, he didn’t want her to stop. Her father was right, Camille had the voice of an angel, and it broke Nate’s heart all over again.

  He played the sad song again, just so he could hear Camille’s voice a bit longer—even though he knew anything short of forever would never be enough.

  34

  Cami

  Camille’s birthday was a success. After Nate played for everyone in the courtyard, Cami suggested they move inside to her father’s music room. She sensed Nate needed a break, because she’d never seen him so emotional. He didn’t leave her side for the rest of the night as her father and Mr. Hawthorne played song after song on the piano and guitar. Even her mother and Ronnie sang along. Ronnie couldn’t carry a tune to save his life, but watching him try made Camille laugh so hard her sides hurt.

  It was late by the time Ronnie and Nate’s dad left. Nate stayed behind to help clean up. Camille’s parents insisted he didn’t have to stay, but Cami wanted him to. Honestly, she never wanted him to leave. Spending time with Nate was pretty much her top priority. And that’s why tonight had been perfect. Her house had been filled with everyone she cared about. Camille wished it could always be like that, right up until the end—just her, Nate, Ronnie and her family.

  Camille gave both her parents a big hug before going up to bed. “Thank you for tonight,” she said. “It really means a lot to me to get to spend time with all of you together.”

  Her mother kissed both her cheeks. “You’re welcome, honey. It means a lot to us, too.”

  Her father gave her another hug and glanced at Nate, who was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. “Not too late, you two.”

  Nate saluted and scooped Camille up, carrying her upstairs in a fit of giggles.

  “I don’t want you to leave,” she whispered once she was snuggled under the covers in her room.

  Nate and Poo were both fighting for the remaining mattress space.

  “I don’t want to leave either,” Nate crooned kissing her softly.

  “Tonight was perfect, Nate. Thank you for making me do this.”

  “I should be the one thanking you. I didn’t think I’d ever play the violin again.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you broke it?” she asked.

  Nate grinned. “Probably because I knew you’d go and do something spectacular like this and I’d never be able to top it.”

  Camille let him kiss her again. “But really, Nate. Why didn’t you tell me it was broken?”

  “Because I was embarrassed.”

  “About what?”

  Nate let out a breath. “I broke it the night we got into our fight.”

  “Why?”

  “
I dunno. I was pissed and scared and I felt useless.”

  “Smashing things made you feel less useless?”

  “For a little while.”

  They were silent for a while. Camille let Nate hold her, and she clung to the steady rise and fall of his chest. “It’s okay to be scared,” she whispered.

  “Are you scared?”

  She nodded.

  Nate kissed her forehead and held her tighter.

  “Nate?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Do you think you could stay?”

  “Cami . . .”

  “Just a bit longer?” she pleaded. “Tonight was perfect. I just don’t want it to be over yet.”

  Nate sighed, but kicked off his shoes and slid fully onto the bed. Camille snuggled against him, resting her head on his chest once he was settled. Nate wrapped his arms around her and Poo climbed over Camille, nestling himself in the valley between them.

  “This is perfect,” she whispered. And it really was.

  Nate

  Nate waited until Camille was fully asleep before untangling himself from her arms. He hated leaving her, but he didn’t want to push things with her parents. They’d been so kind to him, inviting him into their lives because it was important to their daughter. But he knew it couldn’t be easy. They wanted to spend time with her, too, and it was probably hard when Nate was always there.

  As Nate tiptoed downstairs, he was surprised to see the light still on in Ray’s music room. He peeked his head in and Ray looked up.

  “Oh, sorry, Mr. LaRue. I didn’t mean to stay so long, but Cami fell asleep and I didn’t want to wake her so I tried waiting and must’ve dozed off myself.”

  Ray smiled. “It’s alright, Nate. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something anyway. Do you have a moment?”

  “Sure.” Nate sat down on one of the comfy chairs in Ray’s office.