Chapter Twenty Dinner For Two
A couple of hours later, Simone sat alone in the living room of the suite. Dinner was in thirty minutes. She was already dressed. Ready. Waiting.Unfortunately, waiting gave her entirely too much time to think. The museum replayed in her head for what felt like the hundredth time.You didn't lose me.
The words Simone didn’t think she would hear . But now, a new problem has taken its place. Dinner.The bedroom door opened. Simone looked up and forgot whatever she was thinking about. Camille stepped into the living room.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
They simply looked at each other. The room was quiet.Camille smiled first. Then Simone.
The kind of smiles that said more than words ever could.
Finally, Simone shook her head softly."Wow.
"Simone looked at her again. Really looked at her.
"You look, "She paused, trying to think of the right words.
"Amazing."Camille started to blush."I was going to say the same thing about you.
"Slowly, she held out her hand. She slipped her hand into Simone's.
Then quietly, almost like she couldn't help herself, she added:"Beautiful.
"A few minutes later, they finally made their way toward the door.
Hand in hand and either of them seemed interested in letting go.As they stepped into the hallway, Camille looked over.
"Where are we going?"Simone laughed."You don't know?
""No.""I made the reservation months ago.
"Camille's eyes widened."Months?" "Months.
""Okay, now I really want to know."Simone grinned.
"We're going to Le Train Bleu."Camille stopped walking.
"The famous one?""That's the one."Camille smiled.
"Simone.""What?""That's amazing.""I made the reservation months ago.
" Simone said as she smiled at Camille. Together they made their way toward the elevator.
A few moments later, the doors closed behind them.The elevator slowly descended.
Then Camille glanced over."Okay."Simone smiled.
"What?"Camille looked down for a second.
"I'm a little nervous to ask this."Simone stepped closer.
"Camille."Camille looked up."You can ask me anything.
" That seemed to help. Camille smiled then asked,"Is this a date?
"Simone stared at her for a second. Then smiled.
"Do you want it to be a date?"Camille laughed.
Of course she'd answer a question with a question.
Then Camille tilted her head."You'll have to ask me to find out.
"Simone was completely speechless. The elevator kept going down and Simone couldn't think of a single thing to say.The elevator doors slid open.
Camille smiled and stepped out first. Simone followed.A few steps later, Camille reached over and took her hand.
Together they made their way through the lobby.Outside, the evening air was cool.
Near the curb, their driver was already waiting.
The moment he spotted them, he stepped forward and opened the rear door.
"Good evening.""Good evening," Simone replied.Camille smiled and climbed inside first. Simone slid in beside her.
The car pulled away from the hotel and into the Paris evening.For a few minutes, neither of them said much.
The city moved past outside the windows.Beautiful.
But Simone barely noticed any of it. Because every few seconds, she thought about what Camille said inside the elevator.To Camille's question.Is this a date? Then,You'll have to ask me to find out.
Simone looked out the window smiling. Beside her, Camille couldn't stop smiling either. She wasn’t looking at the city, or the traffic. She was looking at Simone. Simone looked over and saw that Camille was already looking at her.
This time, Camille didn't look away. Simone did.
"What?" Simone asked.Camille smiled."You really do look beautiful tonight.
"Simone looked back at her."Thank you.""You're welcome.
"Camille was still watching her. A little too long.
Long enough that Simone felt it then moved in her seat.
"You okay over there?"Camille asked.Simone adjusted, clearly not okay.
"Yeah."Camille smiled."You sure?"Simone looked at her and shook her head.
"No."That got Camille's attention."No?"Simone leaned back.
"You know what you're doing."Camille's smile got bigger.
"Do I?""Yeah."She lowered her voice."I think you do.
"Now, Camille was the one caught off guard.
Not because of what Simone said. Because of how she said it.
The confidence.The fact that she didn't look away.
And to her surprise, she liked it. Camille looked over.
Simone was staring out the window again.Thinking.
Probably overthinking."You know."Simone glanced over.
"What?""I think this is the most nervous I've ever seen you.
"Simone laughed softly."I'm not nervous.
""That's a lie.""It is not."Camille smiled.
"Simone.""What?""I've watched you cater weddings for five hundred people.
"That earned a laugh."You run an entire business.
"Simone shook her head. "Your point?""My point is I've seen you handle last-minute disasters, difficult clients, staff problems, and somehow stay calm through all of it.
"Camille leaned back."But this?"A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"This has you completely messed up."Simone laughed.
A real laugh. Because Camille wasn't wrong.
"Maybe."Then Simone looked over."Camille?
"Camille turned toward her."Yeah?"For the first time since getting into the car, Simone looked genuinely nervous again.
Not scared, just vulnerable."Can I take you on a date?
"Without hesitation, Camille answered."Yes.
"The answer came so quickly it almost caught Simone off guard.
"Yeah?""Yeah."For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Then Simone smiled. The kind Camille had always loved.
"Okay."Then Simone asked, "Can tonight be the first one?
"The question was simple. But it meant everything.
"Yes, I'd like that."The restaurant was getting closer.
A few minutes later, the car slowed to a stop.
Camille looked out the window.The restaurant was even more beautiful than she expected.
Warm lights glowed through the large windows.
People moved in and out of the entrance.The entire place felt elegant.
Special. Before she could say anything, Simone's hand tightened slightly around hers.Camille looked over.
Simone smiled."Nervous?"Camille laughed.
"A little.""Me too."That made Camille relax.
Because if Simone was admitting she was nervous, then she must have been nervous.
The driver opened the door.They stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Still holding hands. Together they made their way toward the entrance.The host greeted them.
"Good evening.""Good evening," Simone replied.The host smiled.
"Reservation?""Simone Carter."The host checked the reservation list then looked up with a smile.
"Right this way." Camille looked at Simone. A reservation made months ago. Long before any of this. Long before the museum. Before the confession.
The host led them through the restaurant.
Past tables. Past couples enjoying dinner.
Until they reached a table near the window.The host stepped aside.
"Enjoy your evening.""Thank you."Simone pulled out Camille's chair.Camille smiled.
"Thank you.""You're welcome."Once Camille was seated, Simone took the seat across from her.
A few moments after they were seated, a server approached the table.
"Good evening.""Good evening," Simone replied.The server placed two menus in front of them.
"Can I start off with something to drink?
"Simone looked at Camille.Camille smiled.
"Wine?"Simone smiled back."Wine."The server nodded. "Two glasses?"
"Yes, please." After taking their drink order, the server placed a basket of warm breadsticks in the center of the table.