Chapter Nineteen Im Right Here
Camille was looking at her, but Simone couldn't hold eye contact. She looked away."Simone?""Yeah."But she still didn't look at her. Camille stepped closer.
"Hey." Slowly, she reached up. Her fingers brushing Simone's chin. Gently lifting her face until she was looking at her.
"What's wrong?""You know what's wrong.""Tell me anyway.
"For a second, Simone said nothing. Then finally, "I'm scared.
"Camille's expression softened."Of what?
"Simone looked away again."This."She gestured vaguely between them.
"Us."The word came out barely above a whisper.
"I'm scared I ruined everything."Camille's heart broke a little.
"Our friendship."Without hesitation."You didn't."Simone looked at her. "You didn't ruin anything.""Cam, "
"I'm right here." Because she was. She was still there, standing in front of her, looking at her. She was still listening. Still showing her, she cares.
Simone opened her mouth to speak. But before she could, Camille stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her.For a second, Simone froze.
She wasn’t expecting it. Simone hugged her back.
She nearly broke down. "I'm sorry, Camille.
"Camille tightened her arms around her."Don't be.
"A few moments passed before they finally pulled apart.
Not completely. Just enough to look at each other.
"We're going to figure this out.""We are?
"Camille smiled softly."Yeah.""You didn't lose me.
"For the first time since standing in front of the Mona Lisa, Simone felt like she could finally breathe.For a moment, neither of them moved.
They simply stood there. Looking at each other.
The fear that had been sitting on Simone's chest for hours had finally started to loosen.Then her phone buzzed in her pocket.
A reminder.Dinner Reservation - 7:00 PMShe looked at Camille and held up the screen.
"Dinner."Camille looked at it. Then nodded.
"Oh." A small smile appeared on Simone's face.
"We don't have to go."Camille looked at her.
"I want to.""You do?""Yeah."The answer came easily, without any hesitation.
"I do.""Besides.""What?"She laughed softly.
"We should probably finish looking around this museum.
"Simone smiled."Probably.""Yeah if not, we're going to stand in the same spot talking until they kick us out.
"For the first time in what felt like forever, Simone laughed.
A real laugh. Camille stepped back and held out her hand.Simone looked down at it.
Then back up at her. Camille raised an eyebrow.
"Are you going to take it?"Simone couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah."She slipped her hand into Camille's and they started walking again.
They found themselves looking at more paintings.
Neither of them paid much attention.Not really.
They were both still processing the last 40 minutes.
Simone spotted a small café near one of the museum corridors.She looked over at Camille.
"You want a snack?""Oh my God, yes. I'm starving.
"Simone laughed."Come on."Together they headed toward the café.
A few minutes later, they stood at the counter looking over the menu.Camille pointed to an item on the menu.
"Flatbread."Simone looked over."You didn't even read the rest.""I don't need to.
"Simone shook her head."Fair enough."They placed their order.
Two flatbreads. Two drinks. Then they carried everything over to a small table near the window.The flatbread was good.
The drinks were cold. Camille looked across the table.
Simone was finally smiling again.A small smile, but a real one.
"Can I tell you something?""Always."Camille looked at her drink for a second.
"I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with me for three days.
"Simone set down her drink."What do you mean?
" Camille shook her head."I don't know. Actually, maybe I do.
"Camille looked at her for a second before she spoke.
Simone waited. Then she said it."I've been looking at you.
"Camille laughed softly."Not normal looking.
"She shook her head."The painting class.
"Simone looked down, which only made Camille smile more.
"The hotel.""The plane.""The museum."Every example made Simone's face a little redder.
"I kept noticing things."Camille's voice softened.
"The way you look at me.""The way you smile when you think I'm not paying attention.
""The way you always seem to know what I need before I say anything.
"Simone couldn't speak. Not because she didn't have words.
But because she had too many."And I couldn't figure out why it suddenly felt different.
"Neither of them looked away.Then quietly:"I think that's why I've been asking so many questions.
" Simone looked up."Then there’s that." Camille said smiling.
"What?"Camille laughed."You've been blushing since we got here.
"Simone rolled her eyes."Oh my God.""You have.
"Camille leaned back in her chair."Every time I look at you.
"Simone covered part of her face with her hand.
Which only made Camille laugh harder."It's so cute.
""Please stop.""No."Simone shook her head.
"And you're blushing again.""Cam.""I'm just making observations.
""You're a doctor. You're supposed to help people.
""I am helping."Simone laughed, even though she tried not to.
"How exactly?"Camille grinned. "I'm helping you accept that your entire face turns red.
"The kind that made both of them smile. For a little while they talked.
The conversation moved easily between jokes and moments of honesty.Eventually, Simone looked at the time.
She looked back at Camille."We should probably head back.
"Camille raised an eyebrow."Already?""We still have dinner.
""Oh, yeah" A smile."Dinner."Simone laughed.
"Yes, dinner."Simone stood first. Then she looked down at Camille.
Together, they made their way through the museum.Past rooms neither of them was really paying attention to anymore.
Every now and then, Camille would point something out.Simone would look.
Or at least pretend to. Most of the time she was still distracted.
Just not by fear anymore. By Camille.Eventually, they reached the main hall.
People moved around them in every direction.
Camille squeezed Simone's hand gently.They kept walking to the exit.
Near the curb, their Escalade waited. The driver spotted them and stepped forward to open the door.Camille looked over at Simone.
"This was a good day."Simone smiled back.
"Yeah." It was. More than either of them could have imagined. Hand in hand, they walked toward the car. Near the curb, their Escalade waited.
The driver spotted them and stepped forward to open the door.
Camille looked over at Simone."This was a good day.
"Simone smiled back."Yeah."It had been.More than either of them could have imagined.
Together, they climbed into the backseat.
The door closed behind them.And as the car pulled away from The Louvre, neither of them said much.
For once, the silence felt comfortable.Camille looked out the window.
Every now and then she smiled at herself.
Lost in thought. Beside her, Simone couldn't stop looking at her.Because she didn't have to hide anymore.
A few days ago, the thought would have terrified her.
Now it just felt nice.Simone leaned back against the seat.
All of it replayed in her mind. She actually did it.
After twenty-three years and countless excuses.After all the fear.
She had finally told her. Camille was still looking out the window.
Still smiling. Still there.For the first time in a very long time, she wasn't wondering what might have happened if she'd told Camille.She knew.
The car continued through the streets of Paris.
Carrying them back toward the hotel. Toward dinner. Toward whatever came next.