Chapter 16: Camille - Love On Time

The sun is setting, painting the sky in an array of orange, pink, and gold as the bridal party and immediate families gather in the main courtyard, practicing the precise order for tomorrow’s entrance ceremony. Everyone is already dressed in their semi-formal attire for the rehearsal dinner scheduled to follow immediately after. The groomsmen and bridesmaids are directed to walk separately down the aisle, and it takes everyone about three tries to nail down the timing and get perfectly in sync with the violinist.

The white canopy is already set up for tomorrow’s reception. Beneath the tent, rows of long wooden tables stretch across the space, beautifully arranged for tonight's dinner. They will be serving a variety of artisan pastas, fresh salads, toasted bruschetta, and bottles of red and white wine. The air is already thick with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted garlic and olive oil as the caterers hustle to finish setting up.

Everyone is mingling while I step away to find myself a glass of white wine and catch my breath for a few moments. I had to go heavy on the concealer to hide my puffy, bloodshot eyes. At least I'm not the only one wearing the evidence of an emotional night. Across the lawn, Drew's eyes mirror my own exactly. It’s been a few hours since we dug into the depths of our past, six years of pain and grief that we’ve both carried, laid out in the open. My heart is filled with a throbbing pain, aching for the two kids who lost their way. But standing here, watching my wine catch the last rays of the sun setting over the lake, I begin to realize something. It was always supposed to happen this way. He needed to figure out who he was without football, and, unfortunately, he had to do it entirely alone. Looking back, I was still only in high school and he was in college. There wouldn't have been much I could’ve done for him, but it’s him vanishing that has killed me all these years.

I’m leaning over the wooden rail, deep in thought, looking out over the rippling water when I hear soft footsteps approaching from behind.

“Hey.” Cooper's voice cuts out from behind me. “Needed a time out?”

A soft smile tugs at my lips as I look over my shoulder. “You know me so well.”

“I do,” he whispers, stepping up to rest his forearms on the rail beside me. He studies my face for a beat before his expression softens. “And I can see you're hurting.”

“I’m okay, really” I say, even though my eyes betray me. It isn't a lie, just a half-truth.

“I need to apologize to you, Cami.” He whispers.

My eyes snap to his. The confident, goofy, protective older brother I’ve always known is gone, replaced with a face of sorrow and regret.

“I wasn’t a good brother to you when everything happened,” Cooper says, his voice shaking slightly.

“Cooper, you don’t have to–”

“No, Cami, let me say this.” He cuts me off gently, looking out over the water.

“I saw you in pain, heartbroken, begging me to tell you what was going on with Drew, and I chose to leave you in the dark. I’m half the reason your heart stayed broken for so long.” He lets out a shaky sigh. “I guess I never fully realized the extent of your guys’ relationship. I didn't know how serious it was until that picture from the other night. The way he looked at you, way before you guys even started seeing each other. It’s the same way I look at Ivy.” His eyes turn glassy. “It was love.”

“He didn't love me, Cooper.” A small tear slides down my cheek, as I gently swipe it away.

Cooper lets out a soft chuckle. “He definitely did, Cam. And honestly? I’m pretty sure he still does.”

The admission makes my chest tighten. “I don't know what I'm supposed to do, I’m really scared. This week has brought back old feelings, but it’s also reopened old wounds.”

“Love isn't supposed to be easy, Cam. It’s scary and it’s hard.” Cooper says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But it's also beautiful, and undoubtedly worth it. I think you two should go for it.”

I laugh. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when you’d say those words to me.”

“Well, I’m a big ball of love today." he teases, a smile breaking through his seriousness as he loops his arm around my neck, pulling me into his side. “And I want my other two favorite people in the world to feel the same thing.”

“I love you,” I tell him, burying my face into his shoulder for a brief moment.

“I love you too, sis.”

My heart feels warm and full. We just stand there for a while, listening to muffled chatter in the distance. Not needing to fill the space with words.

“And, truthfully? I’m just really glad it's not Christian.” He adds out of nowhere. The sheer suddenness of it catches me off guard, and we both break out into breathless laughter, the last remnants of our tears entirely forgotten.

* * *

We all head under the white canopy for dinner. Inside, the space feels warm and inviting; long tables stretch across the grass, with name cards marking each seat, all facing a small sweetheart table for the bride and groom.

I filter through the crowd, searching until I find my name card. My heart does a flip in my chest. Of course they put Drew right across from me.

I look over toward the front of the tent where Ivy is already settling into her seat. Catching my eye, she gives me that signature, knowing smirk. The last time Drew and I actually looked at each other, we were both in tears on a hotel bed, digging up six years of pain we thought we had long-buried. Now, we’re forced to sit face-to-face under the bright lights of a family dinner. Luckily, my parents and Jen are seated right next to us, their familiar presence providing a much-needed barrier for the tense awareness vibrating between the two of us.

“Cami, I heard you're still working at the library?” Jen asks from across the table, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

I take a long sip of my wine, trying to soften the tension in my shoulders a bit. “I am. I’m actually the head librarian now.”

“Oh, that is so perfect for you.” Jen smiles, leaning forward.

“You should see how much the kids adore her,” my mom chimes in proudly, gesturing with her fork. “She has almost every single kid in the city joining her classes and participating in her reading challenges. They get so into it. She’s completely transformed the place.”

A flush of embarrassment rises in my cheeks at my mom’s praise. I look down at my plate, offering a small smile as I track my finger along the stem of my wine glass. It’s funny how you can be a fully grown adult, but the second your mother starts bragging about you to your childhood neighbors, you’re suddenly eighteen again, feeling embarrassed.

“I believe it,” Jen adds, her eyes softening as she glances briefly toward Drew before looking back at me. “Even back in high school, you had all the neighborhood kids running to the library whenever you worked the front desk.”

Before anyone else can say anything, Cooper stands up, holding his wine glass in the air, gathering everyone's attention.

“Good evening, everyone. I just want to say a few quick words before the night wraps up.” Cooper starts, a smile breaking across his face as he looks down at Ivy.

“Firstly, I want to thank you all again for being here tonight and carving time out of your busy lives to join us this week. Looking around this room, I remember how each one of you has helped us get to this point.

To our parents, thank you for showing us what true love and commitment looks like. You’ve set an incredible example, one that I will strive to bring into our marriage every day.” Ivy reaches up and grabs his hand, small tears already welling in her eyes.

“I've been really digging deep this week into the meaning of love.” Cooper continues, capturing everyone’s attention in the room.

“And what I can tell you is this. Love isn't measured by time. For some reason, we are always putting conditions on love. That we have to be dating for a certain amount of time, that we have to have the right career lined up, or have to reach a certain age, before it’s okay to say 'I’m in love' or 'I’ve found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.' But love doesn't follow a timeline. Sometimes it finds you in a busy coffee shop, or it’s with the new girl moving in down the street.” He grins, looking down at Ivy, and a soft laughter ripples through the tables.

“Or,” Cooper’s voice drops, turning quieter, more deliberate, “It could be your childhood friend. The one that silently understood and saw you for who you truly are. Sometimes it arrives when you least expect it to, quietly growing for years before you recognize it.” As if pulled by an invisible string, I look up, finding Drew's eyes already on mine.

“Life might create distance, time might test you, or your life circumstances might make the road harder to follow. But if that love is there, it’s real, and it never truly disappears. So if you're lucky enough to find someone who makes you feel the way Ivy makes me feel, don't let time, fear, or excuses convince you to give up. Love doesn't happen on anyone else's schedule, it happens on yours. So here's to everyone in this room tonight. To old memories, new beginnings, and to tomorrow, the day I get to marry the love of my life.”

The entire crowd erupts into cheers and applause, and I don't think there is a single dry eye in the room. I quickly wipe away a stray tear tracking down my cheek, raising my arm to hide my face as I gulp down the rest of my wine, hopelessly trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

Ivy and Cooper begin making their way slowly through the crowd, laughing as they give tight hugs to everyone at each table. With the easy distraction, I slip out of my chair and head toward the bar for a refill. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Drew sneak out of the tent and into the pitch-black courtyard. My heart skips a beat. I’m just about to step over the grass to follow him out when Cooper and Ivy appear, intercepting me and pulling me into a warm group hug.

“Your speech was so beautiful, Cooper,” I say, smiling against his shoulder.

“Thanks, Cam.” He smiles proudly.

“Hey, I’m staying in the bridesmaids' suite tonight if you want to come join us.” Ivy chimes in, reaching down to squeeze my hand tightly.

I instinctively look over my shoulder, my gaze darting to the exact spot in the darkness where Drew just disappeared.

“Um…” I murmur, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I look back at my brother and sister-in-law. “I think I actually need to be elsewhere tonight.”

Ivy’s grin widens, her eyes flashing with pure excitement. “Yeah, you do!” she winks.

Cooper immediately lifts his hands, covering his ears with a groan. “Gross.”

“Not like that!” I laugh, reaching over to smack him hard on the arm.

“Better get used to it, babe.” Ivy teases, nudging Cooper with her shoulder.

Cooper lets out a long dramatic sigh, a genuine smile breaking through his pretend disgust. “And so it begins.”

I grab my freshly refilled wine glass and step into the warm courtyard, walking along the edge of the property, away from the music and laughter, until I spot him sitting on the lakeshore, gazing out over the water.

“Hey you,” I say softly, stepping into the sand and sitting down beside him. “Mind if I join you?”

A bright smile stretches across his features as he looks over at me. “Why did you saying ‘Hey you’ just send me back in time?”

“A lot of things this week have been sending me back in time,” I admit, taking a slow sip of my wine.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Like you coming to find me in a busy crowd, knowing exactly when I'm overwhelmed.”

“Like you're doing for me right now?” He smiles, the moonlight glinting in his eyes.

“It’s our unspoken bond, I suppose,” I say, a small tug pulling on my lips.

We sit quietly as we watch the water lap against the shore. The moon is bright, casting an iridescent glow over the water.

“What made you choose to travel?”

He lets out a long sigh. “In the beginning… It was to run away. I needed an escape. I made it halfway through my sophomore year at UCLA. Barely.” He lets out a low, humorless chuckle. “I couldn't be on that campus anymore, watching my dream continue without me. So I transferred back to online classes, packed a single bag, and booked a plane ticket to Colorado.”

I stay quiet, giving him my full attention as the missing pieces of the past few years fall into place. “My mom's sister lives out there, so I stayed with her for a while.” His voice cracks a bit under the weight of the memory. “I fell in love with the mountains and the smell of the cold, clean air. I felt like I could finally breathe again.” His eyes fix on the water. “I started hiking, just trying to rebuild the strength in my knee. I brought a camera and a journal with me on every trail, and I'd find a peaceful place to sit down and just write out exactly what I was feeling in the moment. It became my way of healing. I started smiling again, for the first time in two years.” My eyes start to water as a soft smile forms on my face, picturing a twenty-year-old Drew finding peace in the mountains.

“So, I built a small website,” Drew says, a hint of pride in his tone. “I would upload my photos and write out the scene to go with them. Eventually, a travel magazine stumbled across it and picked me up. They started sending me to different places all over the world to take pictures and write for them. It became a job that I genuinely love, and I felt like I found a piece of my happiness again.”

“I’m so happy for you, Drew,” I say, a single tear breaking free and sliding down my cheek.

“It’s been amazing, don't get me wrong,” he says, but his shoulders droop, the vulnerability of his confession stripping him bare. “But... I have nowhere to call home. And that makes it really hard.”

The admission fractures my heart. Without a word, I lean my head against his shoulder. He responds by wrapping his heavy arm around me and pulling me tightly into his side.

“No matter where I was in the world, when night fell, I would go out and find a spot. Preferably a roof,” he murmurs, smiling down into my hair. “I’d look up at the stars and the moon, and it was the only time I felt connected to home. I’d picture you looking up at the same dark sky, hoping you were doing the same.”

“You thought about me?” I whisper against his chest, butterflies of nostalgia flutter through my stomach.

“Every single day.”

I lift my head from his shoulder and find his eyes. “I never stopped thinking about you either,” I whisper.

He smiles, gently swiping his thumb against my cheek, slowly lacing his fingers deep into my hair. Our breathing becomes shallow, the distance between us evaporating as we both start to lean in for a kiss. Before our lips can touch, loud screaming and laughter rip across the shore. The whole bridal party goes diving into the lake. Taken by surprise, we both start laughing at the absurdity. Drew springs to his feet, flashing a carefree grin as he holds his hand out to me. I grab it, and without a second thought, the two of us launch ourselves straight across the sand, plunging into the water after them. The chill of the water shocks my system. August is much too late in the season to be jumping into a lake at night. But the thrill and adrenaline take over my body.

All around us, people are laughing, shouting, and playfully splashing each other under the bright moon. My dress is soaked, clinging to my skin, but I barely feel the chill. Not when Drew’s hands find my hips, his strong arms wrapping securely around my waist and pulling me flush against his chest.

* * *

I am violently shivering as the cool air of the suite hits my soaking wet body when we finally stumble back into our room. Drew rushes to the bathroom and turns the shower dial to hot.

“Get in the shower, Cami.” He says, laughing.

“What about you?” I say through my chattering teeth.

“Cami, your lips are turning purple. I’m going to be just fine.”

I slip into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I reach around to the back of my dress, in search of the zipper, but the wet fabric is clinging tightly to my skin. Come on, I wrestle with it, trying to pull it down, but it refuses to budge. Shit. I slowly open the bathroom door, desperate for help, and find a half-naked Drew searching his suitcase for dry clothes. He turns to me when he hears the door creak open. My eyes immediately fall to his bare, broad chest, and his boxers clinging tightly around his waist.

“Um…My dress is stuck.” I swallow, the numbing chill in my body is replaced by a rush of heat. “Do you mind unzipping me?”

Without a word, he slowly gets up and walks over to me as I turn my back to him, moving my hair out of the way. With gentle, deliberate movements, he takes his time pulling the zipper down to where it ends just below my waist. My eyes flutter closed as my bare back is revealed to him. He carefully runs his fingertips up my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He loops his fingers around the straps of my dress, pulling them down. I draw in a deep breath as my dress falls to the floor, leaving me in only my underwear. He gently removes his hands from my arms, pressing his lips to my shoulders, leaving a trail of hot, wet kisses all the way up my neck. My body tightens beneath his touch, and a small whimper escapes from me. I turn to face him, watching him take in my body. Our lips go crashing together. He grabs me by the waist, slowly leading us deeper into the bathroom without breaking our kiss. The tiny room is filled with steam from the hot water running behind the shower curtain. He pulls us both into the shower, still half naked, the thin fabric between us is the only remaining barrier. The scorch of the hot water drums heavily on my shoulders, vibrating my body with heat. My heart pounds against my ribs, and I'm sure he can feel it against his. Drew deepens our kiss, opening his mouth to mine, savoring the way our lips move together. My fingers lightly trail the skin around his waistband, gliding around to his lower back. I squeeze, pulling him even closer to me. He draws in a sharp inhale against my lips at the movement, and I feel every hard ridge of his body pressed to mine, sending a pulse to my lower belly.

The water eventually turns cold, signaling the end of our moment. We slowly draw back from each other. He smiles down at me, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me close to his chest. I laugh into his shoulder, in disbelief that this is actually happening.

I quickly dry off, my skin flushed red from the hot water, and pull on my pajamas. I open the bathroom door to find Drew already crawling into his bed. I walk over to where he’s lying down, eyeing the spot next to him, biting my lip as I hope for an invitation. He smiles, grabbing my waist and pulling me down next to him. I snuggle into the covers, scooting in close to him. His smoky vanilla and musk scent clings to the bedding, putting my mind and body at ease. He pulls me into his bare chest, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Goodnight.” He whispers.

“The best night,” I say, just as sleep begins to take over.