The Goodbye Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Series Book 3)

by Christina Benjamin

  In truth, Camille had always been dying. At least since she was diagnosed with lymphoma. But it wasn’t until she met Nate, that she realized how much of her life she’d wasted acting like she was already dead.

  She’d walked around like she was already a ghost, never letting anyone in, keeping her parents at arms length to make saying goodbye easier. It had all been a waste. Because no matter what Camille did, it still hurt. Even if she fought and got a little more time, she knew she couldn’t outrun her fate. It was like trying to fight a shadow.

  Camille shuddered. She’d wasted so much time trying to shut everyone out to make things easier. But they weren’t. She was still terrified of saying goodbye to her life, especially now that she wanted so much more of it.

  A soft knock at her door pulled Camille from her thoughts. She sat up, feeling a bit dizzy with grief. Her mother poked her head into the room. She was carrying a tray of food and drinks.

  “Camille . . .” Her mother’s mouth dropped open when she saw her. “You look . . .” She started to tear up.

  “Mom, don’t cry or I’m gonna cry and then the Ashleys will have to come back, and there’s already enough glitter in the carpet from their makeover to last a lifetime.”

  Her mother laughed. “Okay, okay. No tears. You just look so beautiful, honey.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “I brought you something to eat.”

  “Oh, thanks Mom, but I think I’m too excited to eat.”

  Her mother looked at the tray of half eaten sandwiches she’d delivered to Camille and the Ashleys for lunch. Camille could tell her mother wanted to scold her for not eating more. But she didn’t. All she said was, “You have a big night ahead of you. Are you excited?”

  “Yeah, I really am.” Camille paused. “Mom, does love always hurt like this?”

  “What do you mean, honey?”

  Camille’s voice wavered. “I’m terrified of losing Nate, or hurting him. I just love him so much, and it scares me.”

  Her mother sat next to her on the bed and pulled Camille into a hug. After a while she took Cami’s hands. “I know what you’re going through isn’t something any of us can imagine. But love is love, Camille. It’s always a risk. Whether you have cancer or not.”

  Camille nodded and her mother stroked a hand down her cheek, tilting her chin so she could look into her eyes. Camille always loved that she and her mother had the same eyes—steel blue—like storm clouds over the ocean. It spoke to their strength.

  “Honey, all I can tell you is that love isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it.”

  “I’m in love with him, Mom.”

  “I know, honey. And I know he loves you.”

  Camille squeezed her mother tighter.

  “You deserve to be loved, Camille.”

  “But I’m gonna hurt him in the end.”

  “Maybe,” she whispered. “But not tonight. Let’s take things one day at a time.”

  Camille took a deep breath and nodded.

  “Nathan wanted to make tonight special for you. We all did. I know we’ve had our differences, Camille. But I want you to know I love you more than anything in the world. And I just want you to be happy.”

  “Nate makes me happy, Mom. And you and Dad make me happy. I love you.”

  “I know, sweetheart.” Her mother kissed her forehead. “I love you, too.” She gave Camille another hug and then helped her up from the bed. “Now come on. We have to stay on schedule.”

  Camille realized she hadn’t opened the envelope Ashley gave her. She flipped open the tab and pulled the notecard out.

  Camille,

  By the end of tonight,

  You’ll be putting a checkmark,

  in each box on your wall.

  Tonight we do it all.

  X – Nate

  “What’s he talking about?” Camille asked.

  Her mother grinned and shrugged.

  “You know, don’t you?”

  “He ran the master plan by us.”

  “And?” Cami prodded.

  “And you’re just going to have to go along for the ride tonight, Camille.”

  “But—”

  “It’s okay to let someone else make the plans once in a while, honey.”

  Camille eyed her mother suspiciously. She was the biggest control freak Camille knew, and most likely who Camille inherited her neurotic obsession for order from.

  Her mother laughed. “Yes, I realize it’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

  Camille laughed. “Maybe Nate really is a good influence around here.”

  “Very funny. Now come on, your father isn’t letting you out the door without taking a million photos and I still want you to eat something before you leave.”

  Camille grinned and followed her mother downstairs, leaving the ache and apprehension from earlier far behind.

  Nate

  Nate’s heart was in his throat when he knocked on Camille’s front door. It felt strange to be standing there again. For nearly a month he’d been living at the LaRue’s sprawling French Quarter home. And spending the night away had really given him perspective. He’d promised Camille that he would take whatever time she could give him and not pressure her for more. But after spending a night alone, staring at the cracks in his ceiling, he began to feel like they would soon be a reflection of his heart—cracked and broken.

  Nate was so used to having Camille sleep nestled against his side, that he hadn’t been able to sleep at all without her. He hadn’t realized how alone he would feel without the touch of her breath at his neck, or the pump of her heart against his. She had become as much a part of Nate as his shadow, and the ache of losing her weighed on his soul.

  He had hoped that his plans for today would be enough to drive his dark thoughts away, but as Nate stood at her door waiting for Camille to answer, he could think of nothing else. And when she finally answered, looking like a goddess in her ball gown, he wanted to drop to his knees and beg her to fight for every damn second she could. His heart pounded the same words over and over again, Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me.

  “Speechless, huh?” she said, grinning back at him like a porcelain doll.

  “You look beautiful, Camille.”

  She suddenly had her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. “Thank you for the dress and everything. Today has been . . . perfect.”

  She looked up at him with those big sparkling eyes of hers and Nate’s resolve snapped into place like armor. For her, he would hold it together. She deserved one perfect night where all her dreams came true and he was going to do his damnedest to make that happen—for the both of them.

  “It’s just getting started,” Nate said, brushing a light kiss against her cheek. “Are you ready?”

  “Are you kidding? My dad’s not letting us outta here without a kajillion more photos.”

  Nate laughed, and let Camille lead him into the house, glad for the familiar ease holding her hand brought him.

  When they’d been fully paparazzied, Nate led Cami back to the front door, blaming their quick getaway on the strict schedule he’d mapped out. Nate watched Camille glitter as she sashayed a step ahead of him. The dress had been worth every penny. He’d drained his savings account to purchase it and took a loan from his mom to cover the rest. His mom agreed to help pay for Camille’s dress only after Nate promised her he’d let his dad take pre-prom photos to send to her. Nate would’ve agreed to just about anything to make this night perfect for Camille, and so far, it was. And he had to admit it was kind of nice to share it with his dad, too. They’d had a good talk before driving to Camille’s.

  Nate was thankful for the way Cami had brought his family together. He and his dad had taken big steps in mending their relationship in the past few weeks. They had a better line of communication since the day Nate had broken down in front of him over Cami’s cancer news. Nate was grateful to have his dad back in his life. He knew he was going to need his dad’s support if there was a
ny chance of surviving what losing Cami would do to him.

  Nate said goodbye to his dad and Camille’s parents, and then helped Cami into her black velvet wrap. He trained his eyes on her to be sure he wouldn’t miss a moment of her reaction when he opened the door. From her gasp, to her shriek of joy, Nate knew every hoop he’d jumped through to hire a horse and carriage to take them to prom had been worth it. Camille was bouncing on her toes.

  “Nate! Oh my God! I can’t believe you did this!”

  “You said you used to love them when you were little, so . . .” He trailed off, watching her grin from-ear-to-ear as she walked up to the massive white horse.

  He snapped a Polaroid of Cami kissing the horse’s nose, before helping her into the carriage.

  “Is there anything you haven’t thought of?” she asked, snuggling in under his arm.

  “I hope not.” He pulled her closer. He’d missed everything about her in the night they’d spent apart. Nate drank in her light smell of lavender that encapsulated the air around them, letting it wrap around his heart like barbed wire.

  “Nate, this is incredible.”

  Nate stowed his fear and grinned at Camille’s glowing face. “You want the moon, just say the word and I’ll lasso it, my darling.”

  She giggled.

  “We’ll always have Paris, kid.”

  “You’re mixing up all the movie quotes.”

  “I’m making up my own. That’s what tonight is all about. Think of it like the greatest hits of romance. We’re doing it all, baby! Starting with riding off into the sunset.”

  Camille smiled so bright, the tiny dimple in her cheek showed. Bringing that dimple to the surface could be Nate’s sole goal in life. He’d die a happy man if he couldn’t count the amount of times he’d seen it.

  “Isn’t the riding into the sunset supposed to come last?”

  “Not tonight, mon cheri.”

  She giggled again. “I think I like Romantic Nate.”

  “Good, because you’re gonna get a whole lot of him tonight.”

  38

  Cami

  Camille loved every minute of her sunset horse and carriage ride. Instead of giving a guided tour about the history of New Orleans, the driver played a romantic jazz station as they meandered through the streets, revisiting all the places in New Orleans that were now special to them.

  She was astounded to find how many places they could claim as their own. It was funny to have lived somewhere her entire life, but not truly have experienced it. Nate had shown her an entirely different view of New Orleans. And it made her want to see everything through his eyes.

  She’d been tired earlier, overwhelmed by her emotions for Nate and the unfair amount of time they’d have left. But now, tucked under his arm, with his warmth coursing through her, she felt strong.

  Camille studied the way the setting sun cast a bronze glow over the sharp planes of Nate’s face. His eyes glowed golden and the sun turned the waves of his thick brown hair into art, shifting between hues of copper and honey. Nate was making up words to the love song the driver was playing and Camille couldn’t get enough of the way his voice sounded as it echoed through him into her chest. His face was all smiles and teeth, and she’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

  Shamefully, Camille wondered how she hadn’t seen it the day they’d met—his savage beauty, and the fact that they’d been made for each other. Nate had changed her—swept away all her broken pieces until she was bare and exposed. At first she’d hated the feeling of vulnerability, but in letting go, she’d found the courage to live, and she didn’t want to let go.

  Camille reached up taking Nate’s face between her hands. “I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

  “I love you, too.”

  She buried herself in his kiss as the urge to fight for him swelled in her chest.

  Camille walked into The Paris Room at Café Soule and it was as if she’d been transported to France. The ballroom sparkled with a massive Eiffel Tower lighting up the vaulted powder blue walls. Chandeliers glittered above the sea of dancing students as the sultry sound of the live jazz band wafted toward her. Everywhere she looked there were clusters of long white feathers and bouquets of white peonies on white linen tablecloths. The elegant bistro tables for two dotted the banquet room. And a buffet of pastel-colored sweets took up nearly one entire wall. Camille recognized the hot pink logo of Sweet Thang’s adorning the table.

  “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Is Ronnie catering prom?”

  “Just the desserts.”

  Camille heard a familiar booming voice behind her. “Like I would miss this for the world.”

  She turned to see Ronnie smiling at her. He was wearing a purple and gold paisley tuxedo jacket and jade green pants. A gold shimmer highlighted his cat-like green eyes and Cami had never seen him look more fabulous.

  “Ronnie!” She exhaled his name and ran into his arms.

  He wrapped her into a hug. “No tears yet. You have pictures and dinner and dancing to get through, baby cakes.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Me too. Have I mentioned you look radiant, Camille?” Ronnie turned to Nate and gave him a fist bump. “Excellent choice on the dress, Nathaniel. But then I always knew you had great taste.”

  Camille laughed. “Did everyone know about the dress but me?”

  “That’s kinda how surprises work, Cami,” Nate teased.

  “Well I don’t wanna keep you two,” Ronnie said, giving Camille a kiss on each cheek. “But save me a dance, sugar.”

  “I will,” she said, relishing in the smell of burnt sugar that followed Ronnie everywhere.

  “I was talking to Nathaniel,” he teased, coyly blowing him a kiss as he sauntered away.

  “So . . . what happened to the ‘Just Say Yes’ theme?” Camille asked.

  “Turns out the Ashleys weren’t very attached to it.”

  “Yeah right. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Okay I sorta had to sell my kidney to Ashley Dupree, but it’s not a big deal, I have two.”

  “Nate . . . I’m serious.”

  “I am too. I just asked if we could make it a Paris theme because it would really help me do something special for you.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yes. I know you still don’t believe it, but a lot of kids at NOAH care about you, Cami. People are good, in general. You just gotta give them a chance.”

  Camille bit her lip, nodding as the Ashleys spotted her and Nate, waving them over. It wasn’t that Cami didn’t believe Nate, it was that she’d waited too long to realize he was right.

  Nate

  The Ashleys had outdone themselves. They’d barely had a month to make the changes to the prom theme, but they’d completely pulled it off. The hardest thing had been getting the venue changed to The Paris Room. But Ashley Dupree had put her persuasive charm to good use for once. And besides renting the light up Eiffel Tower and backdrop for the photos, all the other silver and white decorations worked seamlessly.

  Nate did have to promise Ashley Dupree a dance, but he had a back up plan for that, too. He’d called her boyfriend, Xavier Hale. Xavier went to Tulane, and Nate asked if he would come to prom to surprise Ashley D. Nate figured if Xavier was there, then it would keep Ashley off his back, and Cami’s.

  Plus, from all the time he’d spent with the Ashleys while Cami was recovering, he’d found out that most of Ashley Dupree’s bitchiness was all a front. She was really just worried that her boyfriend of forever was moving on without her. So getting Xavier to come to prom was as much to make Ashley Dupree’s night special, too. It was the least Nate could do to say thank you for helping him give Camille a night in Paris.

  Nate wanted to do something to repay the other Ashleys for helping him with the dress and giving Cami a pre-prom makeover. But they’d insisted that the only thing they wanted was to see Camille happy. They really were sweet girls. And Nate was glad that Camille h
ad let them in. Cami was currently posing with Ashley Banks and Ashley Calhoune in front of a Parisian backdrop. They giggled while making silly faces much to the photographer’s dismay.

  “Nate! You’re next,” Ashley Banks called.

  He joined the girls and their dates for a few group photos but then interrupted to make sure he got a photo of just him and Camille. “You all look beautiful, but if you don’t mind, I want one with just my girl.”

  The Ashleys swooned, but exited with their dates.

  “How you holding up?” Nate asked, running his fingers down Camille’s rosy cheeks. He knew she got tired quickly and didn’t want her to over do it. They still had a lot of night ahead of them.

  “I’m fine.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Yeah?”

  “You don’t have to check my temperature.”

  “I’m not.”

  Camille gave him that look. The one that said, I know you. The one that was like a knife to the heart.

  “Okay, busted.” Nate thought he was subtle, but he should’ve known Camille was on to him. She didn’t miss much and he was surprised he’d managed to keep this much of the night a surprise so far. “I just want to make sure you don’t get too tired for what I have planned later.”

  “There’s more?” she asked looking surprised.

  “I told you I’d knock your socks off,” he teased pulling her into a kiss.

  Camille lifted the hem of her skirt, showing off her combat boots. “I’m waiting.”

  Nate snorted. “Only you could pull off military boots with couture.”

  “Well, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Nathan Hawthorne,” she joked.

  “Come here.” Nate scooped Camille into his arms.

  He heard the photographer snapping away as Cami shrieked with laughter while he spun her in his arms. He was glad that he’d have photos to capture this moment because he never wanted it to end. He wanted to live here, in the fake Paris skyline, with Camille in his arms and her laughter filling his heart.