“Nope.”
“How do you get around?”
Nate knocked on the deck of his skateboard.
“So you really haven’t driven in three years?”
“No need. I’ve got a board, and I’ve always lived in cities with great public transportation.”
“Wow.”
“Wow, like what a freak, or wow like that’s impressive?”
“Just wow,” Cami replied. “I guess I just take driving for granted. I can’t really wrap my head around not doing it.”
Nate sighed, running his hand through his hair as he settled in the buttery leather seat of the Range Rover. “I know, I know. I should suck it up and drive already.”
Camille put a hand on his. “You’ll do it when you’re ready. Don’t let anyone push you.”
“Thanks, Cami.”
She nodded. “I hate being pressured into things. It’s like other people always think they know what’s best. You can’t be bullied into doing things you don’t want.”
Nate caught the slight flare of her nostrils. Camille was speaking from experience, and the desire to find out who was bullying her and beat them senseless flared in his chest.
Cami
Camille pulled into Nate’s driveway, and like clockwork he closed his eyes and leaned back against the headrest.
It was time to fight fire with fire. Camille closed her eyes too waiting to see how long it took Nate to notice she was playing his game. He interrupted the silence rather quickly. He must’ve noticed her eyes were closed because she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke.
“Are you imagining we’re kissing too?” Nate asked.
“Maybe,” she replied, trying to hide her smirk.
“Here’s a wild idea, how ‘bout we kiss for real?”
Camille opened her eyes and flashed Nate a smile. “Maybe next time.”
He grinned like a lunatic.
“Why are you smiling like that?” she demanded. “I didn’t say yes.”
“You didn’t say no, either.” Nate leaned in. “Thanks for tonight, Cami.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek leaving her breathless and alone with a horde of wild butterflies in her stomach and miles of regret on her lips.
The whole drive home Camille thought of nothing but kissing Nate—definitely next time.
17
Nate
Thanks to having his skateboard back, Nate arrived at school early for a change. He was grinning like a fool as he approached Camille’s locker. He looked around to make sure the coast was clear. So far so good. Nate set his backpack on the floor and carefully pulled out his supplies, working swiftly to be sure he was finished before Camille arrived.
When he was done, Nate stepped back to admire his handy work. This is gonna work. He snapped a quick photo with his phone and started stuffing things into his backpack. He was almost done when a group of guys in his grade sauntered by. Nate glanced at the clock. Camille would be here any minute. He was in a rush to get out of the way, but one of the guys stopped him.
“Seriously, bro?”
Nate grinned. “Seriously.”
The NOAH student shook his head. “You’re making the rest of us look bad. You know that, right?”
“Sorry, but she’s worth it.” Nate replied.
The boy laughed. “Well, good luck man.”
Cami
Camille rushed down the hall toward her locker. She’d gotten a late start this morning. She still hadn’t replaced her cell phone and the old alarm clock she’d dug out of her closet apparently didn’t work—which she found out the hard way when Poo woke her up with sloppy kisses demanding his breakfast.
Camille hated rushing to get ready. That was always when something went wrong, like her wig glue didn’t set or her eyelashes fell off. She had a strict routine for getting ready to ensure she’d show up at school looking as crisp and pressed as any other NOAH student.
She was so late she decided to drive to school, and kept glancing at her reflection in the rearview mirror to make sure she didn’t forget anything. But her feelings of anxiety only grew as she scurried down the hall. She kept catching strange glances from students. And they weren’t because of her hair color—which was a soft platinum blonde with wavy pink tips today. Everyone at NOAH was used to her colorful wigs and tights by now. So what was the issue?
Camille stopped short when she noticed a cluster of freshman girls in front of her locker. They were giggling and taking photos. It made Camille’s stomach drop. Did someone write something cruel on her locker?
Her first thought was, God, please don’t let Nate see it.
She pushed through the group of girls so she could see what they were gawking at. And when her eyes settled upon her locker, her knees almost gave out. Hundreds of tiny paper butterflies had been arranged to spell the world PROM with a question mark.
Nate.
She walked forward in a trance, feeling like she was in a dream world as she examined the butterflies. On closer inspection, she realized they’d been folded from the pages of a book, just like the one she’d made when she wanted to learn origami in sixth grade.
Nate’s voice suddenly broke through her daze. “I used Gone with the Wind,” he whispered. “Figured you wouldn’t mind since you said people around here read it too much anyway.”
Camille turned toward him. “Nate, you did this?”
“Yeah.” His giant smile dimmed a bit. “Wait, did you not know it was me?”
Of course she knew it was him. How many people did he think were asking her to be their prom date?
But Camille couldn’t seem to form words. Because behind Nate, a group of students were gathering, all watching her like they were waiting for some grand gesture. But this wasn’t a movie. Nate wasn’t going to sweep Camille off her feet and live happily ever after. A happy ending wasn’t in the cards for her, and with so many eyes on her, Camille felt it more than ever.
“So what do ya say?” Nate asked, nodding toward the butterflies.
But Camille barely heard him. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the Ashleys, who’d just joined the growing mob of students staring at her like she was a circus sideshow. Ashley Dupree was glaring at Camille, and suddenly all she wanted to do was disappear.
“I’m gonna be late for class,” Camille mumbled, and then ran down the hall without looking back.
Nate
Nate paced the lounge during his lunch break waiting for Camille. His stomach had been in knots since the locker incident. He couldn’t stop replaying it in his head. He thought his gesture was romantic as hell, but Cami had run from him like he had the plague. Nate loved that Camille was different from anyone he’d ever met, but it certainly threw him for a loop when it came to asking her out. He kept reminding himself that the ordinary wouldn’t be good enough for Camille. She deserved better. She deserved out of this world. But Nate was having trouble figuring out what exactly that was. Apparently not paper butterflies, moron.
Camille walked into the lounge and Nate hurried over to her.
“Hey, about this morning . . . I thought . . . I don’t know . . . Did I totally freak you out?”
“No, Nate, I’m sorry. It’s not you.”
Nate held up his hands. “You’re not about to give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech, are you?”
“But it is me,” Camille protested. “I hate being the center of attention.”
Nate let out a sigh. He was a complete jackass. His prom-posal had pretty much guaranteed the entire school was talking about Camille right now. He should’ve guessed that wouldn’t be her thing. She already told him she didn’t like going to dances or hanging with the in-crowd. She’d basically been screaming ‘I hate attention’ at him, and what did he do? Shine a spotlight on her. Smooth, Nate!
He slumped down in a chair at their usual table, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “So, I’m an idiot.”
Camille joined him. “Nate, you’re not an idiot.”
“Really?”
“Well maybe a little bit,” she teased. “But stupid is your thing, right?”
“Yeah.” Nate gave her a half-hearted smile. “I’m sorry, Cami. I thought it would be romantic.”
“You destroyed a library book and defaced school property for me. That is sorta romantic in a criminal behavior kinda way.”
This time Nate laughed for real. “True. But I guess I can retire Criminal Nate?”
“Yeah. I think that’s a good idea. Besides, I like Regular Nate, just fine.”
Nate perked up. “Did you just admit you like me?”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late.” Camille’s words made his chest fizz and pop. It was probably the best thing she could’ve said to him. Game on! “So, what are you doing tonight?”
“Working at Sweet Thang’s.”
“Cool. Ask me what I’m doing tonight.”
She smiled, playing along. “What are you doing tonight, Nate?”
“I have a date tonight.”
Camille froze, her forkful of salad suspended in the air. “Really?”
“Yeah. I met this really cool girl. We went swimming and skateboarding and tonight we have a date at Sweet Thang’s.”
“I take it back,” she said swatting at him. “You are an idiot!”
Both of them were laughing when Ashley Dupree’s syrupy voice interrupted. “What are you two giggling about?”
“Oh, ya know, just our love of Gone with the Wind,” Nate said.
Ashley’s face lit up. “Really? Did you know I was named after one of the characters? I just adore that book.”
Camille nearly choked on her juice with laughter. Nate had to pat her back.
“Yep, us too,” he replied sarcastically.
“Well, what a coincidence. Anyway,” Ashley smiled sweetly. “I was just stopping by to remind you to purchase your prom tickets. Clearly you’re going after that charming prom-posal, right Camille?”
“Actually, not yet,” Nate said, hoping to spare Camille the attention. But Ashley was already glaring in her direction.
“Camille LaRue! Don’t tell me you didn’t say yes to that enchanting proposal?” Ashley scolded.
Nate laughed. “It’s a little game we like to play. Besides, I like a girl who’s hard to get.”
Ashley’s hands were on her hips. “Well, if she won’t go with you, Nathan, I’d be flattered to.”
“Thanks, Ash, but I’m only going to prom if Cami does.”
Ashley huffed, tossing her glossy blonde hair over her shoulder and sashayed away.
18
Cami
Nate walked Camille home from school as usual. Her new cell phone was waiting when she arrived.
“Finally!” she exclaimed pulling the phone from the box as she shouldered open her front door.
Nate followed her inside. Camille didn’t have the energy to push him away today. Plus, even Poo liked the guy. So it seemed kind of inevitable that he was meant to be in her life at this point.
Camille knew sooner or later she’d have to tell Nate the truth about her cancer, but secretly she was hoping he’d just figure it out on his own. She hated having that awkward conversation. And in her own twisted mind, she sort of hoped the more time they spent together before he found out, the more likely he would be to stick around after. Because as selfish as it was, Camille liked having someone to hang out with other than her parents, Ronnie or her dog.
Nate lounged on her bed with Poo, while she changed in her en suite bathroom. She could hear him babbling baby talk to Poo and it was making it impossible to keep a smile off of her face. When Camille came out of the bathroom dressed for work, Nate was studying her wall again.
“Hey,” he said. “How come you write goodbye on all your photos?”
Camille shrugged. “I dunno.” Liar.
“Well, I think you should write hello instead.”
“Hello?”
“Yeah. You know, like hello world, check me out. I just swam in the Mississippi!”
Camille laughed. “You really don’t seem to get the concept of ‘I don’t like attention’, do you?”
“I get it, but it’s not true.”
“What?”
“You like my attention,” he said flashing a grin.
Camille’s cheeks flushed. True! Very, very true. “Maybe,” she admitted.
“Just not at school?” Nate asked.
“Nate, no . . . I dunno. School just isn’t my favorite place. The girls there can be . . .”
“What?”
“Girls.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means they’re two-faced. They’re nice to your face and then talk behind your back and I don’t want to give them anything to talk about.”
“Cami who cares what people think? Especially high school girls. We’re graduating in a few months. We’ll never see most of these people again. Let them say whatever they want. We live without apology, remember?”
“Right. I might need you to pound that into my head.”
“Want me to spell it out on your locker?” Nate teased.
Camille rolled her eyes at him.
“What? Too soon?”
“Come on Romeo, I’m gonna be late for work.”
Nate
Nate held his skateboard in one hand and Camille’s hand in the other, swinging it playfully as he walked her to Sweet Thang’s. Her moodiness from school seemed to evaporate, which gave him hope for tonight.
After the disastrous butterfly locker fiasco, Nate texted Ronnie to tell him to tone down the plans for this evening. Nate hadn’t been lying when he told Camille he had a date planned for tonight. And with Ronnie’s help and a little luck, he might be able to pull it off.
When they breezed into Sweet Thang’s, the shop was buzzing with customers. Nate gave Cami a quick kiss on the cheek and told her he’d stop by later. He rode his board around back to the narrow alley the storefronts used as a loading bay. Ronnie had outdone himself. Good thing Nate had said tone it down. He couldn’t imagine what it would’ve looked like otherwise.
Currently, one of Ronnie’s hot pink bistro sets from the restaurant was set up under a few cords of white lights. There were white candles and a simple gold vase of white roses on the table, which was covered with white linen. The place settings were gold and glittering, and a white faux fur rug rested beneath it all. A mirrored dressing screen stood in the corner, draped with fairy lights for ambiance. In front of it was an old-fashioned steamer trunk, holding a basket of blankets and an old wind-up record player. Nate walked over to it and saw the album he’d asked Ronnie to find was queued up and ready to play. Perfection. The scene was simple, elegant and hidden away—not at all attention seeking.
Ronnie peeked his head out the back door. “Whatcha think?”
“It’s perfect, Ronnie. Thank you.”
“Not at all,” Ronnie said waving him off.
“I’ve gotta run and pick up a few more things.”
“Okay, bebe. Just text me when you’re ready and I’ll send our girl your way.”
Nate listened to the rhythm of his skateboard wheels thumping over the pavement as he made his way down the busy streets of the French Quarter. He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face and he knew he had Camille to thank for it. Nate was usually a happy guy, but since losing Ty, Nate’s smile took more effort than it used to. Camille had remedied that.
Nate knew it was crazy. He’d only known Camille a short time, but already he was falling for her—and hard. He wondered what Ty would’ve said about it. He’d definitely be teasing Nate for crushing so hard, especially on a girl that was pushing him away. But Nate knew if he told his brother the truth, that this was it, Cami was the one—and Nate was convinced that she was—Ty would pat him on the back and give him one of those rare genuine smiles, free of his usual mischief. He’d probably say something encouraging like, “Go get your girl, little brother.”
<
br /> The thought made Nate grin. He hopped off his board and kicked it up into his hands. He nodded up to the sky, letting happiness expand in his chest. “I’m working on it, bro. I’m working on it.”
Nate walked into UAL and a sales girl greeted him. “Can I help you find anything?”
“Actually, yes.” Nate pulled a Polaroid from his pocket and handed it to her. “Got anything like this?”
She smiled. “Let’s see what we can do.”
Nate left the store with a box tucked tight under his arm. He couldn’t wait to give it to Camille. He was already picturing the look in her brilliant gray-blue eyes. Every time he looked into her eyes he saw a little bit more of her. And each glimpse helped him find a piece of himself again and keep hold of it. It was like she was helping him rebuild himself—slowly collecting the pieces of Nate that had shattered apart when Tyler died.
But Nate was finding as he put the pieces back together, the picture he was building wasn’t just of himself anymore. He was collecting little puzzle pieces of Cami, too. Secret gems she tried to keep hidden. But they fit with his pieces seamlessly. Camille was entwined in Nate’s life now in an irreversible way, and it gave him hope.
Nate checked the time. He had one more stop to make before heading back to Sweet Thang’s.
Cami
“Baby cakes, can you take the trash out back for me?” Ronnie called from the kitchen.
“Sure.” Camille took off her apron and started gathering the trash bags.
“Thanks, sugar. I’d do it myself, but I can’t leave the glaze when it’s at this fragile stage.”
“I don’t mind,” Camille replied. “Besides, it’s sorta what you pay me for.”
“Yeah, but I don’t like making you do the heavy lifting ‘round here.”
“Luckily, your food’s so good there’s never much in the trash but napkins anyway.”
“Camille LaRue, are you dishin’ out compliments today?” Ronnie teased.
The Goodbye Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Series Book 3) Page 11