Chapter Twenty-Seven The Promise
After a few more steps, Simone stopped. There were people talking and cars moving in the distance.
But none of it told her where they were.A second later, she felt Simone step behind her.
Then her hands settled on Camille’s waist.Camille smiled and her heart was already racing.
Simone leaned closer. Her voice warm against her ear. "Are you ready?"Camille laughed."Yes."
Without another word, Simone reached up. Carefully loosening the blindfold. The fabric slipped away.And for a moment, Camille forgot how to breathe. The towering structure stretching endlessly into the Paris sky.
The Eiffel Tower. Shining the night. Camille just stared.
Slowly, she looked around. Then back at the tower.Like she needed to make sure it was real.
"Simone"Her voice was barely above a whisper.
She turned, looking at Simone."What are we doing here?
""We have dinner reservations.""What?"Simone pointed upward.
"Le Jules Verne."Camille's mouth fell open.
"How?"Simone laughed."I booked it months ago.
""Months?""Months."Camille stared at her.
Then, before Simone could say anything else, Camille stepped closer throwing her arms around Simone's neck.Pulling her close.
The force of it made Simone laugh. Her arms wrapping around Camille's waist.Camille pulled back just enough to look at her.
Simone smiled. Then shrugged."Surprise."
For a second, Camille just looked at her. She wasn't sure which sight was more beautiful. The Eiffel Tower. Or Simone. A few minutes later, they entered the restaurant.Camille was still looking around. Still trying to process where she was. The elegant dining room. The soft lighting.
The breathtaking views of Paris stretching beyond the windows.
It felt unreal.A hostess greeted them warmly.
After confirming the reservation, she led them through the restaurant.Camille's hand remained firmly in Simone's.
As if she was afraid she might wake up. Finally, they reached their table.
A beautiful spot overlooking the city.The view alone was enough to leave Camille speechless.
"Oh my God."Simone smiled."Good?"Camille laughed.
"Good?"She looked back out at Paris."Simone, this is incredible.
"The hostess pulled out their chairs before wishing them a wonderful evening and stepping away.
For a moment, Camille sat there.Then she looked at Simone.
Still smiling."You've completely ruined normal dates for me.
"That earned a laugh."Good."Camille shook her head.
Then she reached for the menu. Only for Simone to stop her.Suspicious, Camille narrowed her eyes.
"What?""I have another surprise." Camille dropped her head.
"No."Simone laughed."Yes.""How do you still have surprises?
""I planned ahead."Camille looked back up.
"Clearly."Then she leaned forward slightly.
"I had a special menu prepared."Camille blinked.
"What? How?"Simone nodded."A few months ago, when I booked everything.
"For a second, Camille just stared."I remembered everything you said you wanted to try.
"Camille's mouth fell open."Simone.""The appetizers.
""The main courses.""No." Camille said shaking her head.
"The champagne.""Simone." "And three different desserts.
"Now Camille was laughing."Three?""You couldn't decide remember?
"Which somehow made it worse. Because it was true.
Months ago, Camille had spent twenty minutes debating desserts.Simone remembered all of them.
"You remembered."Simone looked at her like there had never been any chance she wouldn't."Of course I did.
"That meant more than the Eiffel Tower ever could.
Camille looked at her for a moment. Then quietly asked,"Why me?
"She genuinely wanted to know. After all these years.
After everything. Why her?Simone was quiet for a second.
Not because she didn't have an answer. Because she had too many.Finally, she smiled.
"Because you're you."Camille laughed softly.
"That's not an answer.""It is."Simone looked at her.
"The woman who loves with her whole heart.
""The woman who cares so much about other people that sometimes she forgets about herself.
"Camille looked down, knowing there was some truth to that.
"You walk into a room and somehow make people feel better.
""You always have."She looked at Camille again.
"You made me feel better.""It wasn't one thing, it was everything.
""The conversations.""Our friendship.""The way you showed up.
""The way I never had to wonder if you cared about me.
""I grew with you."A small smile appeared.
"I've known you through every version of yourself.
""And I loved every one.""Not because you were perfect.
""Because you were you."Then Simone leaned forward.
"I can't imagine my life without you in it."Camille was speechless, she didn’t know what to say. Instead, she reached out and held onto Simone’s hand, trying not to cry.
But it was all over her face. Dinner came one by one.
First the appetizers, then the main courses They talked as they ate.
About the food, about life, about home.Whatever felt right in the moment.
Some conversations lasted only a few minutes before drifting into something else.
Others ended in laughter. And before either of them realized it, their plates were nearly empty. Eventually, they found themselves standing near the windows overlooking Paris. The city stretched endlessly below them.
Lights glittering in every direction. For a while, neither spoke.
They just admired the view. Then Simone reached into her purse.Camille noticed.
"What are you doing?""I have one more thing.
"Camille laughed."Of course you do."Simone pulled out a small box.Camille's eyes got wide.
"Simone.""It's not what you're thinking.
"That only made Camille laugh. Slowly, Simone opened it.
Inside rested a silver necklace. Simple but elegant.A small "C" surrounded by a heart.
"Simone,""I saw it months ago."Camille looked up.
"And I couldn't stop thinking about you.
"Very carefully, Simone lifted the necklace from the box.
"Can I?"Camille turned around. Lifting her hair.
Simone stepped closer fastening it around her neck.
When she finished, Camille lowered her hair.Then turned back toward her.
Simone looked down at the necklace. Then back to her face.
"You look beautiful."Camille laughed quietly.
"You've said that all night.""Because it's true.
"For a moment, they simply stood there. Looking at each other.
Simone's hand lifted. Her fingers were warm against Camille’s skin.Simone smiled, then leaned in slowly Giving her every chance to change her mind.
Camille never did.Everything seemed to lead here, Camille's hand found Simone's.
Keeping her close. The kiss deepened naturally.Not hurried.When they finally pulled apart, neither of them could hide their smiles.
Camille laughed, a little breathless."That was worth the wait.
"Simone smiled."Yeah."Then she leaned in slightly.
"Definitely."Neither of them wanted the night to end but standing there together, neither felt sad about it.
Hand in hand, they made their way through the restaurant.Past the tables.
Past the windows. Toward the elevator. Camille looked back.
At the place she would probably remember for the rest of her life.Then she smiled and looked forward.
Because the truth was, the best part of the night wasn't the restaurant.Or the view.
Or even the surprise. It was who she'd shared it with.
The elevator doors opened. They stepped inside.Then Camille looked over at Simone.
"So."Simone smiled."So?"Camille tilted her head.
"What's the first thing we do when we get home?
"Simone smiled, then she stepped closer, holding onto Camille's waist. Simone looked at her for a moment.Then said,"I take you on a second date.
"Camille laughed. The kind of laugh that came from somewhere deep.The elevator doors began to close.
And the last thing Simone saw before they disappeared from view, Was Camille smiling at her.
Like she already knew the answer was yes.The End.