Chapter Twenty-Two Safe With You
A couple of hours later, Simone sat in bed with her laptop balanced across her legs.
She wasn't really working or reading.Or doing much of anything.
Every few minutes she found herself staring at the same page while her mind wandered somewhere else.Usually back to dinner.
Back to Camille. Back to everything she'd said.
The bathroom door opened. Simone looked up.Camille stepped out wearing an oversized T-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts, her hair pulled back and her face free of makeup.Camille noticed Simone looking.
"What?""Nothing."Camille laughed."That's not true.
"Simone closed her laptop."No. It's not.
"Camille shook her head, smiling as she walked toward her bed.
For a moment she just stood there. Looking at Simone.Then she climbed beneath the covers and settled onto her side.
Simone set her laptop on the nightstand.Then she looked over.
Camille was already looking at her. Neither looked away.
For a second, neither seemed to know what to say.Simone grabbed the remote and turned on the television.
Then Camille spoke."What are we doing tomorrow?
"Simone leaned back against the headboard.
"Shopping."Camille laughed."No way.""Yes way.
""Simone.""A whole day of shopping."Camille sat up dramatically.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."The smile on Simone's face only grew.
Then she added, "And after that, I have a special surprise for you.
"Camille's eyes narrowed."A surprise?""Yep.
"Camille laid back onto her side to face her, interested.
"Ohhh."Simone pointed at her."Don't.""Don't what?
""Don't even think about it."Camille smiled.
A little too innocent. The kind of smile that meant she was absolutely thinking about it.
"I'm not telling you anything."Camille moved a little closer.
"Just a hint.""No.""A tiny hint.""No.""A really tiny hint.
"Simone laughed."No."Camille sighed dramatically and flopped back onto her pillow.
"Worth a shot.""It wasn't." "It was."They both laughed.
And just like that, the room felt warm again.
Like maybe neither of them wanted the night to end quite yet.The television continued playing quietly in the background.
Neither of them was really watching it.She looked over.
Camille was already looking at her."Did you enjoy tonight?
" Simone askedCamille smiled."Yeah."The answer came easily.
"I really did."Then she asked,"Did you?"Simone laughed softly.
"Of course I did."Camille smiled."You did?
""Camille." Simone shook her head."I've been waiting to take you on a date for so long.
""I think I've been waiting too." Camille said.Simone looked down.
Smiling before she could stop herself."You're blushing.
""No, I'm not.""You are and I like it." Simone covered part of her face with her hand.
"Please stop.""No."That only made Camille tease her more.
For a moment, they simply smiled at each other.
Then Simone shook her head."I still can't believe you liked me.
""Really?""Really."Camille looked at her like the answer should have been obvious.
"Simone.""What?""How could someone not like you?
"Simone smiled."You're kind."Simone rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious."Camille pointed at her."You're kind.
You're funny. You're ridiculously talented.
""Camille.""Hush."Camille shook her head.
"You built an entire business by yourself.
"Simone looked down."You take care of everybody.
" Camille's voice softened."Even when nobody asks you to.
""You're loyal.""You're the first person I call when something good happens.
""And the first person I call when everything falls apart.
"Camille smiled."You make people feel safe.
"Then quietly"You've always made me feel safe.
"Simone didn't know what to say.Camille moved a little closer.
Close enough that Simone could see the smile on her face.Simone looked at her, and before Simone could think of a response, Camille leaned forward.
Slowly.And kissed her on the cheek. Simone completely froze.
Her eyes closed. She still felt it, even after Camille pulled back.When Simone opened her eyes again, Camille was smiling.
A little shy. A little amused. And entirely too pleased with herself.Simone stared at her.
Still processing. Still trying to remember how words worked.
Camille giggled.Then back onto her pillow.
She started to watch tv again. But not long after, as she was getting tired, she looked over at Simone.
"Can I ask you something?"Simone nodded.
"Okay."Camille smiled. The smile made Simone suspicious.
Then, quietly she asked,"Can you hold me tonight?
" Simone just looked at her. Camille waited for her to answer.
"Simone?""Huh?""Would you hold me tonight?
"Simone didn’t say anything, she just nodded.
And apparently that was all Camille needed.
Because she wasted no time.A second later she was moving across the bed and laying on Simone's chest. Simone's arms wrapped around her.
Holding her close.The television continued playing quietly in the background.
And despite everything that had happened that day, The confession, the dinner, the revelations.
This was the moment that felt the most significant.Because for the first time in more than two decades, neither of them was wondering where they stood.They were exactly where they wanted to be.
Camille rested comfortably against Simone's chest while Simone's hand moved slowly across her back.Gentle.Steady.The television played quietly in the background.Outside, Paris glittered beyond the windows.Inside the room, everything felt warm.Safe.After a few moments, Camille smiled to herself.
"What?"Simone asked softly.Camille laughed.
"Nothing." "That's never true."A smile spread across Camille's face.Then she settled a little closer.The movement wasn't dramatic.Just enough.Just enough to make Simone's heart stumble for a second.Camille sighed contentedly.
"You know,"Simone looked down."What?""You've always been the person I called.
"“The one I always looked for.""The person I wanted around when things got hard.
"Camille paused for a second,"I think that's why this doesn't feel scary.
""I know it probably should, but it doesn't."What Camille said was simple, but those words hit harder than anything else she'd said that night.
"And I've always felt safe with you."Simone honestly couldn't think of anything to say.
So, she did the one thing she felt was right at that moment.She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.
Simone's hand is still moving slowly across her back.Finally, she spoke.
"You're important to me." Camille looked up.
"I know."Simone shook her head."No."Her voice was quiet.
Certain."I mean it."Camille looked up at her.
Simone smiled."You're important to me.""And I plan on showing you that.
"Camille moved a little closer if that was even possible.
Then she wrapped her arm around Simone's waist and held on just a little tighter.
"So do I."After that, neither of them said much.
The television continued playing quietly.
Occasionally one of them would point something out on the screen.Most of the time they simply stayed exactly where they were.
Comfortable and content. Eventually, Simone looked down.
"Camille?"Camille didn’t answer."Cam?"Nothing.
Simone looked a little closer. Then she laughed at herself.
Camille was asleep.Curled against her chest. One hand still resting over her heart.
For a moment, Simone simply looked at her.The woman she'd loved for more than half her life.
The woman she'd crossed an ocean to tell the truth to.
That woman was now sleeping peacefully in her arms.She looked down at Camille one more time. And whispered to herself.
"It was so worth it." Her hand gently brushed across Camille's back. Careful not to wake her. Simone closed her eyes. First time in a while, she felt completely at peace.