Chapter Eleven Something About Her #2
Behind her, Simone was doing the same thing.
The room was quiet except for the occasional sound of a drawer opening.Camille pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater before laying them on the bed.
When she turned around, Simone was standing near the bed trying to decide between two shirts.Camille watched for a second.
"That one."Simone looked up."What one?""The black one.
"Simone held it up."This one?"Camille nodded.
"Yeah."Simone smiled."Thank you, fashion expert.
"Camille rolled her eyes."I'm serious. The other one is ugly.
""The other one is not ugly.""It kind of is.
"Simone laughed and tossed the other shirt at Camille.
Camille smiled to herself and turned back to her clothes.A few minutes later she sat on the edge of the bed to put her shoes on.
Simone walked past her toward the mirror.Camille looked up.Why do I keep doing that?
She tied her shoe. Looked up again. Simone was fixing her watch.
Nothing unusual. But Camille couldn't stop looking.She wasn't trying to look.
At least that's what she told herself. But somehow her eyes kept finding Simone.The way she tucked her hair behind her ear.
The little crease between her eyebrows when she was concentrating.The way she tilted her head while looking at the earrings in her hand.How have I never noticed that before?
"Gold or silver?"Camille didn't answer. She was still looking at her.
"Camille?"Simone glanced over."Camille."Camille blinked.
"What?"Simone laughed."I asked if I should wear the gold ones or the silver ones.
""Oh."Camille looked at the earrings."The gold ones.
"Simone smiled."That's what I was thinking.
"Camille nodded and quickly looked back down at her shoe.
A few minutes later Simone grabbed her bag and looked over.
"Ready?"Camille nodded."Ready."Simone smiled.
"Let's go explore Paris."Together they headed for the door.
Simone held it open and waited for her to walk through first."Thank you.
""You're welcome."They stepped into the hallway and walked to the elevators and went down to the lobby.
The hotel was quieter than it was yesterday.A few guests walked past, but otherwise it was peaceful.
Camille at Simone, again. Then looked away.What is wrong with you?
She couldn't explain it. She just kept noticing things.
The way Simone walked. The way she smiled at others.The way she always seemed completely comfortable wherever she was.
"Did you bring your phone?"Camille looked over.
"Huh?"Simone laughed."Your phone.""Oh."Camille checked her bag.
"Yeah."Simone smiled and shook her head.
"You okay? You seem distracted."Camille felt her face get warm.
"Yeah, I’m good." Her voice was calm, and the smile on her face said more than words could.
"You sure?""Yes, I’m just really starting to understand this trip.
"Simone smiled. They stepped out of the hotel and onto the sidewalk.The streets were alive but not crowded.
People sat outside cafés with coffee cups in their hands.
A woman walked past with a bouquet of fresh flowers tucked under her arm.The smell of coffee, pastries, and spring air seemed to drift through every street.
It was beautiful. Paris in the spring.And they were here together.
Camille looked around, taking it all in.
"So, how did you sleep?" Simone asked.Camille smiled.
"I slept good. That bed is so comfortable.
"Simone laughed. Camille looked over at her.
"What about you? How'd you sleep?""Pretty good actually.
"Simone paused."That is until you woke me up.
"They both started laughing. They walked for another minute before Camille looked around.
"So where are we going?""Oh."Simone pulled her phone out.
"I looked up a park this morning." Camille laughed.
"Of course you did.""It's close.""How close?
""Like ten minutes."Camille nodded."Perfect.
"Simone slipped her phone back into her pocket.
"Then we can find breakfast after."The morning was cool.
People were already out with coffee in their hands, heading to work or walking their dogs.For the first time since arriving in Paris, there was nowhere they had to be.And honestly?
Camille kind of liked that. After a short walk, they finally reached the park.It was beautiful.People sat on benches drinking coffee.
A few joggers passed by. The trees swayed lightly in the breeze while birds hopped around the grass searching for crumbs.Near the entrance, a small coffee cart sat beneath the trees.Simone pointed toward it.
"Would you like some coffee?"Camille looked over.
"Yeah."Then she smiled."Are you getting some too?
"Simone smiled back. "Yes.""Okay."Together they walked over.As Camille looked around the park, Simone found herself looking at her.
She's different today. She couldn't explain it.Maybe it was the way Camille kept smiling.
But whatever it was, Simone noticed it.They reached the cart and Simone ordered two coffees to go.
A few minutes later she handed one to Camille.
"Thank you.""You're welcome."Simone took a sip of her coffee and nodded toward the path ahead.
"Shall we?"Camille smiled."Yes, we shall.
"Without even thinking about it, Camille slipped her arm through Simone's.
Then started walking. Simone nearly forgot how to breathe.Camille didn't seem to notice.
She kept walking, sipping her coffee as if she'd done nothing at all.A few seconds later she looked up.
She saw Simone staring at her."Oh."She looked down at their linked arms."I'm sorry.
"Simone shook her head."It's okay."Camille slowly pulled her arm back.
"I didn't even realize I did that."Simone smiled.
"You do that all the time."Camille looked away.
"Yeah."But there was nothing normal about it. Sure, Camille had linked arms with her before. Friends did that.But this time, it didn’t seem casual.
It had seemed instinctive. Like Camille wanted to be close to her.They walked for another few minutes before Camille looked around and smiled.
"This is nice.""The park. The walk." Camille smiled.
"I like this."She looked down at her coffee.
"I don't remember the last time I felt this calm.
Or this happy."Simone looked at her for a moment.
"That's what I was hoping for."Camille looked over.
"What?""I wanted you to feel better."Simone looked ahead as they walked.
"Forget about everything back home for a little while.
""The divorce. The stress. All of it."Camille was quiet for a second.
Then she smiled."Thank you." Simone looked over.
"For what?""For thinking about me."Camille shook her head.
"Really, Simone. This was a lot."She looked around the park.
"The hotel. Paris. Everything."Then she smiled.
"But it's amazing too."Camille looked at her.
"I'm really excited about what's next."Simone smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah?"Camille stopped walking. Simone stopped too.
Camille turned to face her."Yes."Her smile softened.
"I am."Simone tightened her grip on her coffee cup.
For a moment they just stood there. Face to face.
Coffee in hand. Neither looking away."Okay," Simone said quietly.Camille smiled. "Okay."
A second later they started walking again. A few steps later, Camille slipped her arm through Simone's again.This time she didn't pull away. She stepped a little closer instead. Simone looked down at their arms. Trying very hard to keep herself together.
Because if Camille kept doing things like that, Paris was going to be a lot harder than she expected.They spent the next hour wandering through the park.
Sometimes they talked. Sometimes they didn't. Neither seemed to mind.They stopped to watch a man painting near a fountain.
Sat on a bench for a while. Laughed at a dog that refused to leave its owner alone.Nothing extraordinary happened.
And somehow, it became one of Camille's favorite parts of the trip.
They started walking again.Camille looked ahead, then over at Simone.
For a moment, she simply watched her. The smile on her face.
The way she carried herself.The way she always seemed to know exactly what Camille needed.
Camille looked away before Simone could catch her.Paris was beautiful.
The hotel was incredible. The city was everything she'd hoped it would be.