Chapter Twenty-Three Sunlight and Croissants
When Simone woke up, the first thing she noticed was the weight against her chest. She looked down.
Camille was still asleep.Curled up against her like she hadn't moved all night.
One arm wrapped around Simone's waist. Her head resting just beneath Simone's chin.Carefully, she looked over at the clock on the nightstand.
Then back at Camille. Still asleep. Still holding onto her.The television turned itself off sometime during the night.
The room was quiet now. The only sound was Camille's steady.
Simone looked down at her again. Camille moved a little closer. Simone laughed under her breath.Camille didn't wake up. She just settled against her more comfortably. Honestly, she couldn't think of anywhere else she'd rather be.
Camille woke up slowly. At first, she didn't open her eyes.
She just laid there. Feeling more rested than she could remember feeling in a long time.Then she became aware of the arm around her waist. Simone.
She tilted her head back. Simone was already awake.
Looking at her."Good morning.""Good morning.
" Camille smiled.Camille looked at her for a second.
The smile on Simone's face never went away.
"What?" Simone asked.Camille shook her head.
"Nothing.""That's not true."A quiet laugh escaped her.
"No."She settled comfortably against her again.Then said softly,"This might be my favorite morning.
"Camille looked up at her."How did you sleep?
"Camille didn't even have to think about the answer.
"Better than I have in years.""Me too."For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Camille rested her head back against Simone's chest. Listening to her heartbeat and the sound of her breathing.Then she sighed.
"What?""Is it weird that I don't really want to get up?
" Camille smiled.Simone laughed."No." Simone laughed.
"No?" Camille looked up"No, because I don't really want too either.
""I could hold you all day."The words were spoken so casually.
"I may take you up on that offer."Simone started blushing.
Again.Camille laughed."There it is.""Stop.
""No."Simone covered her face with one hand.
Which only made Camille laugh harder."Okay.
" Simone said.Camille smiled."Okay what?
""How about breakfast in bed?""Really?"Simone looked at her.
"Is that what you want?" "Yes."The answer came instantly.
Then she smiled."But only if we stay like this.
"Simone looked down at her."How exactly are we supposed to eat?
"Camille thought about it for a second. Then laid back against Simones’s chest."We'll figure it out.
"The confidence in her voice made Simone laugh. They didn’t do much for the first few minutes.
Then Simone turned the TV on. Neither one in any hurry to start the day.
Eventually, Simone moved a little."Okay.
""Okay what?""Let’s order breakfast."Camille nodded.
Simone started to sit up. Camille's arm tightened around her waist. Simone stopped and looked down.
Camille looked right back at her."Where are you going?
"The question came out so naturally that Camille didn't even think about it.
Simone smiled."Just to get the room service menu.
""Oh.""The one in the sitting room."Camille blinked.
Simone was still smiling."I'll be right back.
"Finally, Camille let go and started laughing.Simone laughed too.
"What?"Camille covered her face."Oh my God.
""What?""I can't believe I just did that.
""You mean the part where you refused to let me leave?
"Camille groaned."Please stop talking."The smile on Simone's face only bigger.
Camille dropped back onto the pillows. Then covered her face with both hands.
"I've known you for twenty-three years."Another laugh.
"You left the room all the time."Simone was trying hard not to laugh.
Failing miserably. Camille peeked at her through her fingers.
"This is embarrassing.""Is it?""Yes."Simone shook her head.
"No."Camille gave her a look. Simone smiled.
"A little clingy?"Camille pointed at her.
"Don't." "I'll go get the menu."Camille groaned again as Simone walked toward the sitting room.
The second she was out of sight, Camille covered her face again.No, I did not just do that.She laughed into her hands.
Then she shook her head.What is wrong with me?
Not even a minute later, Simone appeared in the doorway.
Holding up the room service menu."I'm back.
"Camille rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
She reached for the remote and started to find something they could watch.
"That was fast.""I told you I'd be right back.
" Simone climbed back into bed.The menu still in her hand.
Then she looked at Camille."Miss me?"Camille looked up and smiled.
"Maybe."Simone laughed."Maybe?"Camille didn't answer.
Instead, she took the menu from Simone's hand.
The answer was obvious. Camille rested against Simone while they looked through the options.
"Oh my God."Simone knew."What?"Camille pointed at the menu.
"They have chocolate croissants." Simone laughed.
"Of course that's the first thing you found.
"Camille ignored her."They also have cinnamon rolls.
""Cam.""I'm just saying."Simone shook her head, still smiling.
"Order whatever you want."Camille looked up.
"Anything?""Anything."A few minutes later, the order was placed.
Croissants, chocolate pastries, cappuccinos, french toast.More food than either of them actually needed.
Neither seemed concerned about that. The television played quietly in the background.About home.
About high school. About the ridiculous amount of money Simone had spent on museum tickets.A knock at the door interrupted them.
Camille sat up."The food."Simone laughed.
"The food.""Go get it."Simone laughed and climbed out of bed.
A few moments later she returned pushing a cart loaded with food.
"Oh my God." "Yeah.""There is so much food.
""You did this."Camille smiled."No regrets.
"The smell of coffee and warm pastries filled the room.
And just like that, their lazy morning in bed officially became breakfast.A few minutes later, both of their plates were full.
The cart had been moved closer to the bed.
The television continued playing quietly in the background while they settled against the pillows.Camille reached for a croissant.
"Good?"Camille closed her eyes dramatically after the first bite.
"Oh my God."Simone laughed."That good?"Camille pointed the pastry at her.
"Don't speak to me right now."That only made Simone laugh harder.
For a while they ate, stealing bites from each other's plates.Talking about random things.
Enjoying the morning. Eventually, Camille took a sip of her cappuccino then looked over at Simone.
"So."Simone sighed."What?""Where are we going shopping?
" A smile appeared."Saint-Germain."Camille nodded.
"Okay.""And after that?"Simone pointed her fork at her.
"No."Camille laughed."I didn't even ask anything yet.
""Yes, you did.""I did not.""You were about to.
"Camille smiled into her coffee. The fact that Simone knew her so well was becoming a problem.
"Maybe."Camille sighed dramatically."You never let me have any fun.
"Simone nearly choked on her coffee."Never?
""Never."The look Simone gave her made Camille laugh.
Then she tried again."What should I wear tonight?
""I don’t know.""What kind of restaurant is it?
" "I don’t know.""Will I need heels?""I don’t know.
"Simone paused."Actually, yes."Camille's eyes widened.
"Aha!""You slipped.""I did not.""You did.
""I didn't."Camille pointed at her."You said heels.
"Simone groaned.A victorious smile spread across Camille's face.
"That's one clue.""That's all you're getting.
"Camille laughed. Then took another bite of her croissant.
For a few minutes, she was suspiciously quiet.Simone narrowed her eyes.
"What now?""Nothing.""Camille.""I was just thinking.
" "That's what worries me, no thinking."Camille laughed so hard she nearly spilled her coffee.
Breakfast turned into another attempt to uncover a surprise Simone had no intention of revealing.Eventually, breakfast ended.
The plates were mostly empty. The cappuccinos were long gone.
Camille was still lying on Simone's side.
"Okay.""What?""We should probably get dressed.
"Camille groaned."No."Simone laughed."Yes.
""We live here now.""We do not.""We could.
""You'd miss your patients."Camille thought about it.
"Probably.""Probably?""Eventually."For a minute, they simply looked at each other.
Smiling.Then Simone reached over and moved some hair away from Camille's face.
"Come on."Camille narrowed her eyes. "You're lucky I like you.
"The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
"Oh?" Simone said.Camille rolled her eyes.
She already knew what was coming. Simone looked at her.
"Oh, you like me?"Camille covered her face.
"Simone.""You said it.""I know."Camille started blushing.
Simone crossed her arms, smiling. Because after twenty-three years, it felt pretty good hearing Camille say that.