Nate’s other favorite thing to talk about was his brother. Camille couldn’t help thinking his stories were so unbelievable they had to be true. And she loved the way Nate’s face lit up when he talked about Tyler. Yesterday, Nate told her about the time he and Ty had streaked across their football field during a game. Their principal made them clean his bathroom as punishment. So Nate and Ty drew spiders on the toilet paper rolls and then put Pop-Its under the toilet seat. Nate said the principal’s screams were heard throughout the entire school the next day.
Today, Nate was showing her a picture on his phone from when Tyler stained Nate’s teeth blue for school pictures in ninth grade by mixing food coloring in his toothpaste. Camille snorted her herbal tea down her shirt when she looked at Nate’s blue Cheshire grin. And of course that was the exact moment the Ashleys flounced into the student lounge.
They were hazing a group of young Antes by making them set up a folding table and drape it with a glittering silver and white tablecloth. By the time they were done decorating, it looked like Harry Winston spilled a diamond wonderland all over the lounge. And of course, the Ashleys decided to make their way over to where Camille and Nate were sitting.
Ashley Dupree ignored Camille completely, batting her eyes at Nate. “Well hello, handsome. Fancy meetin’ you here.”
There was nothing fancy about it. If the Ashleys noticed Camille was wearing Nate’s blazer to school, then they certainly knew where he ate lunch every day. Something was up, and it was most certainly of the variety that Camille wasn’t going to like—as were all things that involved the Ashleys.
“Hey . . . Ashleys,” Nate said greeting them all at once. “What’s up with all the glitz?”
“I’m so glad you asked, sweetie.” Ashley’s voice was so syrupy it made Camille’s teeth hurt. Who did she think she was fooling? Camille had seen Ashley Dupree make grown men cry with her cutting insults. There was nothing sweet about the girl.
Ashley invited herself to sit down and continued laying on the charm. “I’m on the prom committee, naturally, and the theme was just announced today, so it’s time to start selling tickets.”
“Cool. What’s the theme?” Nate asked.
Ashley looked insulted that he couldn’t tell from the glittery décor, but she smiled anyway. “Why it’s Just Say Yes.”
Nate’s eyes lit up. “Like the Snow Patrol song?”
Ashley looked perplexed. “No. More like the philosophy.”
Nate clapped his hands. “Even better. I’m in.”
“Fantastic! How many tickets will you be purchasing?” she asked coyly.
“Two.”
“Oh. Do you have a date already?” Ashley asked.
“I will as soon as Cami agrees to go with me,” Nate said turning his radiant smile in Camille’s direction.
For the first time, Camille felt Ashley Dupree’s eyes shift to her. Pure hatred rippled off her, but her fake smile remained in place. She laughed playfully. “You mustn’t be talking about Camille LaRue?”
“Why not?” Nate asked.
“Because I’ve known her since kindergarten. And she doesn’t go to dances. Isn’t that right, Camille?”
It was exactly right. Camille had never been to a dance. But then again, she’d never been asked. But even the idea of going to prom with Nate wasn’t enough to make her overcome her fear of being judged by her peers on the dance floor. She’d made it nearly eighteen years listening to them whisper about how she didn’t fit in. She didn’t need to go to a dance and have them ruin that for her, too. At least if she never experienced the humiliation of a high school dance, it could still remain sacred in her dreams—where it belonged.
Camille realized Nate was staring at her.
His eyes sparkled in that excited way of his when he was cooking up an idea. “Oh, I get it. You’re waiting for one of those epic prom-posals.”
“No really,” she sputtered. “I—”
But Nate was already on his feet. “Say no more! I have much to do!” He kissed Camille on the cheek and loped off down the hall, leaving her alone with Ashley Dupree. She was glaring at Camille.
Ashley lowered her voice so no one else in the lounge could hear her. “You can’t possibly think he actually wants to be your boyfriend.”
“Why do you care? Don’t you have a boyfriend in college?”
“And don’t you have cancer?”
The words hit Camille like a slap to the face. She stood, grabbed the rest of her lunch and stormed off campus.
Camille never cut class. She always felt guilty about all the school she missed when she wasn’t well enough to attend. The truth was, she was a good student and enjoyed academics. When she was little, she told her father that she wanted to learn everything. She knew now how stupid that was. No one could learn everything—especially someone who wasn’t expected to make it to her eighteenth birthday.
Usually Camille didn’t let that get to her. But today, her desire to soak up the world’s knowledge wasn’t enough. What she really wanted was to get the hell off campus before someone saw her crying. That, and the fact that she was scheduled to work at Sweet Thang’s. She knew Nate would insist on walking her and she didn’t think she could handle his enthusiasm right now. Camille’s boots pounded pavement, jarring her bones as she thought about how much she wanted to prove Ashley Dupree wrong.
Camille was still fuming when she blew through the open storefront at Sweet Thang’s.
“Hey, baby cakes!” Ronnie called from the kitchen.
“Hey,” she grumbled.
“Ooo. Somebody’s in a mood. What’s got your britches in a bunch, sugar?”
“Nothing.”
“It wouldn’t happen to be the certain tall, dark and handsome boy I see following you all ‘round the Quarter like a lost puppy, would it?”
“I don’t want to talk about Nate.”
“Oh come on, Camille! I’m livin’ through you. I’ve been with Hector so long I don’t even remember what the thrill of the chase is like. Don’t get me wrong, I love him to death. He’s the gold at the end of my rainbow, but honey, sixteen years of lovin’ the same man is hard work anyway you slice it. I need some young love in my life and if you ain’t gonna give it up, you’ll be the one explaining to Hector why I had to go off and get me a piece on my own.”
“Oh my God! Fine. But only if you promise to never talk about your sex life again!”
Ronnie gave her a look that said he promised no such thing, but he also knew she was only teasing. Boy talk was what bonded them. And Ronnie always gave the best advice.
Camille sighed deeply. “I don’t know where to start.”
“How ‘bout with what’s got you so cantankerous today?”
“Nate asked me to prom.”
Ronnie mock fainted. “The nerve of some people.”
“But I don’t do proms or dances, Ronnie.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.”
“Just ‘cause you’re sick, bebe, don’t mean you can’t have fun.”
“I know . . . I just think it means more to Nate. And it wouldn’t be fair.”
“You still haven’t told him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Camille shrugged. “It’s nice not having to talk about cancer all the time. You’re the only other person in my life who treats me like a human rather than a lab rat.”
“Listen to me, sugar. Do you like this boy?”
“Yes. I don’t want to, but I can’t help myself.”
“Well, take my advice and get outta your own way for once.”
“But he makes me want everything I can’t have, Ronnie.”
“Who says ya can’t have love, bebe? That’s what we’re talkin’ ‘bout, right?”
She nodded. “But this is hard enough as it is. If I let him in . . . I don’t think . . . I don’t think I can say goodbye to someone like him.”
“Camille, look at me. He’s the one. I knew it the
moment that boy followed you into this shop. He’s the one you’ve been waiting for. I see it clear as day. And I know he’s been through some hardships to get to you, so you better be brave enough to embrace destiny when it knocks on your door, child.”
“Ronnie—”
“Don’t you ‘Ronnie’ me. You know I’m not wrong about these things.”
Camille let him wipe the tears from her eyes. When he was done, he handed her a hot pink apron, but didn’t let go.
“None of us know how long we have, baby cakes. Love’s a gift and every ounce of it is meant to be cherished for how ever long we can hang onto it.”
“I know.”
“Good. ‘Cause, sugar, that boy is the one. He’s gonna give you the sky and all the stars in it. All you gotta do is let him.”
Camille went to work refilling the salt and pepper shakers while she thought about what Ronnie said. She’d never really believed in all the clairvoyant voodoo nonsense Ronnie spouted . . . but then again, he was strangely right about a lot of things. Especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Women came from all over Louisiana to have Ronnie do psychic readings. He always said he knew his way around the heart better than the kitchen. Of course that didn’t stop his love sick customers from buying out the place after a good fortune.
Ronnie had been telling Camille she’d meet a tall, dark and handsome stranger since she was a little girl. But he said that sorta thing to everyone. Although, a few years ago, he’d said something very specific, that had stuck with Camille. She hadn’t given it much thought, until now.
Camille remembered the conversation perfectly. She’d been arguing with Ronnie, about finding true love, and how she wouldn’t know it even if it bit her on the ass. But Ronnie said, “Don’t worry, baby cakes. You won’t have to look for it. He’ll find you. And once he does, he’s not gonna let go. It’s gonna scare you, but don’t fret, he’ll know some things are worth waiting for.”
Nate had said those exact words to her the day they met. In fact, he’d said it twice now.
Stop it, Cami. You’re reading way too much into this. Just stop thinking about Nate.
Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out to see a text from Nate.
Nate: where r u?
Camille thought about ignoring him, but a flurry of messages lit up her phone.
Nate: did u go get donuts without me?
Nate: :-(
Nate: u ok?
Nate: do u have the sugar shakes?
Nate: walking alone is lonely.
Camille could see the text bubble blinking on her phone as Nate typed his next message. She knew he would just keep texting until she replied.
Cami: I’m at work.
Nate: sweet!!!! C u soon <3
So much for the ignoring Nate idea.
8
Nate
Nate grinned as he walked up Conti Street toward Sweet Thang’s. The night air was cool and full of possibility. After school, he’d rushed home on the streetcar to fetch his violin, travel amp and supplies. He’d even changed into his lucky shirt. Tyler had given it to Nate to wear at the only skate competition he ever won, giving the shirt legendary powers. It was a bit small on him now, but Nate didn’t care. It was the shirt’s magic he needed. He paired it with his faded jeans, striped socks, black Converse and winning smile. Who could resist saying yes to prom with this version of Nate? Hopefully not Cami.
Nate ducked into a hardware shop two doors down from Sweet Thang’s, sharing his plan with the shop owner. Once that was squared away, he went to work setting everything up. By the time he dragged his bow across the strings of his violin, the sun had sunk behind the old buildings, casting a golden glow over the French Quarter. It was times like these that made the city’s magic tangible.
Closing his eyes, Nate let himself fall into his song. It was one he’d been working on for a while. It’d been incomplete until he met Camille. She was the missing ingredient the song needed. That was one of the many things Nate loved about his violin. He could pour his hopes and fears into it, and poetry came out—and poetry was meant to be shared.
Nate played louder and harder, until the city itself seemed to join in the song bleeding from his violin. The wind blew the chimes of the nearby palm readers. The clip-clop of the mule-drawn carriages provided the beat. And the steady buzzing of cicadas brought the bass. Nate loved that music could involve everyone, making individuals a part of something bigger for one perfect moment.
As the final note echoed down the narrow streets, Nate kept his eyes closed, cherishing the moment a bit longer while he steadied his breathing. When he opened his eyes, the view made his throat bob. Camille stood still as a statue in the street, her willowy silhouette illuminated by the streetlights. She was wearing a hot pink apron over her white t-shirt and black leathery leggings. Her long silver hair was braided over one shoulder. She looked like a bakery goddess and suddenly Nate wanted to lick powdered sugar off her for the rest of his life. Focus, Nate!
“What do ya say, Cami?” Nate asked pointing to the flickering tea lights he’d lit before starting to play. They were on the sidewalk in front of him and spelled out PROM with a question mark at the end.
She was either speechless or frozen, because she didn’t reply, or move for that matter. She just stood there, staring at Nate like he was a lunatic. Which, he might be. Because who threw together a prom-posal like this in a day for a girl he’d only known a few weeks? But Nate didn’t care. Especially not when it came to Camille. She made him feel alive. More alive than any of the other crazy things he’d done in pursuit of living since Tyler died. And somehow, Nate knew, taking Cami to prom was something he had to do.
“Sugar, if she won’t say yes, I will,” Ronnie called, poking his head out of Sweet Thang’s.
At that Camille moved, swatting Ronnie away while hissing something at him that Nate couldn’t hear. Ronnie retreated back into his bakery, but there wasn’t much point. The storefront was made up of a massive garage door that was always open since the shop dished out sweets 24/7.
Now that Cami had reanimated, Nate asked his question again. “Will you go to prom with me, Camille LaRue?”
“Nate . . . I-I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t really do that kinda stuff.”
Nate raised an eyebrow. “Were you raised by a reverend that believes rock n roll should be banned?” he asked quoting Footloose, which was secretly one of his favorite movies.
Camille smiled. She must’ve caught the reference, which made Nate like her even more. “No. I’m just not into that kind of stuff.”
“Are you into me?”
She bit her lip, but didn’t respond.
Better than a no, at least. Nate sighed. “Okay, okay. I get it. I need to do better.”
“No, Nate that’s not it. This . . . I don’t even have words for this,” she said watching the blazing candles melt puddles of wax onto the sidewalk. She’d stepped close enough that the light danced over her features like moonlight on water. “It’s not the way you asked, or you, it’s just . . . I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not really part of the popular crowd at NOAH.”
“I know. That’s part of the reason I like you so much.”
Surprise flickered in her gray-blue eyes. “It is?”
“That and you know all the best donut places in town.”
She laughed. “Seriously, Nate. Thank you. This was beautiful,” she said, reaching out to run a finger over his violin. They were standing toe to toe now. “I think prom would be a letdown after this.”
“Believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg for us, Cami.” His fingers met hers, sizzling with attraction on contact. Her eyes lingered on his for a moment and Nate felt electrified. Staring into Camille’s eyes was like dangling off the edge of the world.
As if on cue thunder rumbled in the not so distance, making Nate jump. The gentle breeze from earlier picked up.
“You be
tter come inside,” Camille said looking skyward. “Storms roll in quickly around here.”
Nate glanced at the threatening clouds, calculating how long it would take him to get home. Large drops were already starting to fall. He’d never make it to the Canal Street line without getting his gear soaked. And it wasn’t like he needed to be asked twice to hang out at Sweet Thang’s. The bakery had two things essential to Nate’s life—donuts and Cami.
Thanks to the rain, Nate, Camille and Ronnie had the bakery to themselves. Ronnie let Nate pick the toppings for a new donut he was concocting and Nate had nearly keeled over when he saw the rows upon rows of candies, cereals and other delicious toppings stored in the kitchen. It was a sugar freak’s dream come true.
Camille caught Nate drooling and smiled. “Impressive, huh?”
Nate grinned. “Not as impressive as your smile.”
“Oh my God. It’s sweet enough in here without your sappy one liners.”
“Ignore her, sugar,” Ronnie crooned. “I think it’s darling. You can flatter me with sweet nothings anytime.”
“Thanks, Ronnie,” Nate replied. “Glad to see someone appreciates my sense of humor.”
Camille stuck her tongue out and Nate’s heart melted a little bit more. She was beyond cute. She was kitten-in-a-basket-of-yarn adorable. And the more time Nate spent around her, the harder it was for him to not wrap her up in his arms and never let go. His attraction to her was borderline smothering, and Nate found himself looking for something to distract him from the suffocating feeling in his chest. Luckily, he didn’t have to look any further than Ronnie.
“So, Ronnie, I got to play twenty questions with Cami yesterday,” Nate said.
“Did ya now?” Ronnie’s cat-like green eyes darted to Camille. She glared back, communicating something unspoken. “Learn anything interesting?” Ronnie asked.
The Boyfriend Series Box Set (Books 1-6): YA Contemporary Romance Novels Page 42
