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 had 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.