Cami

Camille and Nate dripped all the way back to the stairs where he’d first carried her kicking and screaming into the river. He still hadn’t let go of her hand, and secretly, she hoped he wouldn’t. She couldn’t stop giggling. Camille couldn’t believe she’d done something so wild. A few tourists even gave them hi-fives as they walked by. She couldn’t remember that last time she’d felt so bright and alive.

“I’m pretty sure we’re on YouTube right now,” Nate said, grinning spectacularly.

Camille bumped him with her shoulder. “You’re a bad influence.”

“Just you wait.”

When they got back to the bench, Camille let out a sigh of relief. Her camera and purse were still under it with Nate’s shirt, shoes and half eaten bag of beignets. She set her sopping boots on the ground and picked up her Polaroid camera.

“Come on,” she said, tugging Nate toward the stairs.

“Are we going again?”

“No, just come here.”

Camille led Nate back to the partially submerged stairs. They stood in murky river water and she faced him, moving closer until their bare toes were touching. Cami aimed the camera down and clicked a shot. They waited, nearly chest to chest, for the image to appear.

“I want one,” Nate said, his breath tickling her cheek.

She moved a bit closer and snapped another picture. They sat down on the stairs, stretching out in the sunshine. Both of them comfortably silent, listening to the roar of the river and the call of the sea birds.

“I miss the water,” Nate said after a while.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s different here. In California, the ocean is everywhere. It’s like the whole state has this constant breathing sound from the push and pull of the waves.”

Camille’s heart squeezed at the longing in his voice. “Do you miss California?”

She watched his throat bob as he swallowed hard, nodding once.

“I’ve never been. Will you tell me about it?” she asked.

Nate’s face lit up as he talked about growing up in California, and Camille found herself imagining him wandering the sun drenched beaches he’d grown up exploring with Tyler. She could practically see the two of them surfing waves, tearing up skate parks, eating snow cones on the pier, playing music with their garage band.

Everything he told her was like a vibrant spark, stoking an ember to life inside her. Being like this with Nate was dangerous. He was all golden skin and coiled muscles stretched over smooth, hard lines. She followed the path of his torso to where his wet jeans hung low on his hips. His stomach was smooth and flat. He was thin, but muscles rippled below his skin. They funneled into a V that led beyond the waist of his pants. And Camille couldn’t keep her eyes from wandering there.

A shirtless Nate was like a summer heat wave. The kind that made the humid air hazy when it rose from the street. That kind of simmering heat was hazardous. It made you see things that weren’t really there. And that’s what Nate did to Cami. He made her see all the things she wanted but couldn’t have.

Nate

Nate grabbed Camille’s camera while she was soaking up the sun next to him. She looked so beautiful lying on the bank with her eyes closed, her mouth quirked into a slight smirk as she listened to him talk. The sun made her pale skin glow with an almost angelic quality. He aimed the camera and captured the photo. The click startled her, and Nate clicked one more photo, catching Cami’s gorgeous gray-blue eyes wide with surprise.

“Hey,” she protested, sitting up and snatching the camera back. “No photos while I look like a drowned rat!”

“You look gorgeous, as always,” he said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

Miraculously, Camille kept her head above water during their swim. Smart, since the water was pretty gross. Nate had been careful to make sure he didn’t swallow any. But even if he caught the stomach flu it would’ve been worth it to see Camille smile like she had when they’d climbed out of the Mississippi, howling with laughter. Her smile was even brighter than the one he’d seen in the family portrait on her wall.

Nate grinned to himself. Mission accomplished.

“What are you so smiley about?” Camille asked.

“Nothing. Just wondering what else we can cross off that list of yours.”

“Oh no. I draw the line at one bucket list adventure a day.”

“How ‘bout something that’s not on the list?”

“Like what?”

Nate plucked a wildflower from the bank and tucked it behind her ear. “Come to prom with me, Cami.”

He watched her eyelids flutter as color warmed her pale cheeks. “Nate . . .”

“I know, I know. Just don’t say no yet, okay?”

She hesitated, but after a moment nodded, a shy smile playing at her lips. “Okay.”

Nate’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected her to agree. He could work with okay. He kissed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Home. I told your dad I wouldn’t keep you out late.”

Camille looked down at her damp clothes. “I can’t go home like this.”

“I have an idea.”