Chapter 7: Camille - Love On Time

I wake up well-rested and ready to start the first day of wedding festivities. A big group of us have rented a bus to take us to a nearby vineyard for wine tasting, so I spend a few minutes picking out the perfect outfit. I settle on a navy blue babydoll dress with ruffles and a delicate floral print. Pulling my hair half-up in a loose claw clip, I let the rest fall over my bare shoulders. With an hour left before the bus arrives, I grab my crossbody bag, toss in my room key, lip gloss, and sunglasses before heading out the door in search of coffee.

The dining hall is quiet, still empty being this early in the morning. I choose a table near the massive double windows overlooking the lake. It’s another beautiful day with crystal clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. With hot coffee in hand, I pull out my phone and scroll through Instagram for a minute. The very first post on my feed is a picture Ivy uploaded last night. It’s a shot of her and Cooper lying on the lakeshore at sunset, captioned “4 more days” with a ring emoji. I smile and give my screen a quick double-tap.

“Mind if I join you?”

I look up to see Drew standing in front of my table, wearing jeans, a black fitted T-shirt, and a baseball hat. It’s a completely effortless look, but he pulls it off so well.

“Yeah, of course,” I say, putting my phone down on the wooden table, giving him my full attention.

“How’d you sleep?” He asks, pulling out the chair opposite me.

“Good.” I smile, taking a slow sip of my coffee. “All that sun yesterday really knocked me out.”

He chuckles, his eyes crinkling. “Yeah, it did me in pretty good too. You look really…” His words get cut off abruptly by my frantic Mother storming into the dining hall.

“Cami!” She shouts.

My brows furrow. What on earth is going on?

“I’ve been looking all over for you!” she pants, pausing at the edge of the table to catch her breath.

“Well, you found me,” I say cautiously, setting my mug down. “Is everything okay?”

“Don't be mad…” She says gently, bracing her hands out in front of her.

My eyes go wide with concern. “Mom, what did you do?”

“Grandma Betty showed up this morning.” She says, not getting to the point.

“Okay, great, and?”

“She showed up with no reservation,” Mom says, biting her lip nervously. “I gave her your room.”

“You did what?!” I burst out, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.

“I’m sorry! I panicked!” she pleads, throwing her hands up. “I was completely out of options!”

“This cannot be happening,” I mutter quietly, burying my face in my hands. “You know how important a quiet space is to me.”

My dad, Cooper, and Ivy all come sprinting through the double doors. It’s suddenly very obvious that the entire family split up into search parties to find me and break the bad news.

“Just come stay in our suite,” my dad offers, trying to be the peacemaker. “I think our living room couch pulls out into a bed.”

“Absolutely not! I won't be able to sleep with your loud CPAP machine and Mom's uncontrollable snoring.” I whine.

Ivy chimes in, thinking fast. “I can check with some of the other bridesmaids, but I know most of them are already sharing rooms.”

I rub my temples, trying to relieve the stress building behind my eyes.

“What about that guy Christian?” Mom says cheerfully. “He seemed really friendly the other night.”

The entire table turns to look at her, giving her a collective 'that is the single worst idea you’ve ever had' look.

“Nope, not happening.” Cooper shuts it down instantly, stretching his arms back behind his chair.

“Well, do you have a better idea, Cooper?” Mom asks sarcastically.

“You can stay with me.” The words are quiet, spoken in a calm whisper. Everyone goes silent, turning in Drew’s direction.

Drew clears his throat, quickly adding, “I have two beds in my room.”

“That's actually a really good solution,” Dad says.

“Perfect!” My mom beams, vibrating with relief.

Cooper sighs in defeat. “I guess if it's going to be anyone, I'd rather it be you.”

Beside him, Ivy is biting her lip, trying to keep back a smile from escaping.

“Can everyone stop agreeing so quickly!” I laugh nervously, hiding my burning, flushed cheeks behind my hands.

With only twenty-five minutes left until the bus arrives, I run back to my room and frantically throw my things together. There is absolutely no way I’m going to get this chaotic mess zipped back up, I could barely close the suitcase when it was perfectly organized.

Giving up, I start draping my dresses and blouses over my arms, hauling my open suitcase down the hall toward the elevator. His suite is on the floor directly above mine.

“Hey!” He smiles, stepping aside to let me pass, taking in my crazy attempt to carry everything around my shoulders. “Take the closet, I only have my tux in there.”

“Are you sure? I don't want to hog up all your space.”

“Please do,” he laughs, shutting the door behind me. “Trust me, I don't have anywhere near as much stuff as you.”

“Thank you,” I say as I quickly hang my clothes up in the closet.

I finish unpacking at record speed and freshen up in the bathroom before we head downstairs to leave for the day.

When I step out of the bathroom, Drew is sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting for me. Something about him sitting there patiently makes my stomach flip. I take in the room around me, it's neatly kept. Only his camera gear lies out on the desk under the TV, and a notebook and pen sit on his nightstand. But it's his scent that really catches me, the blend of smoky vanilla and a hint of clean musk. It’s warm and familiar, making my chest ache with nostalgia.

“Drew, are you sure this is okay?” I ask hesitantly, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the opposite, empty bed. “I can call around to other hotels.”

“Cami, if it wasn't okay, I wouldn't have offered.” He matches the quiet tone in my voice. “Your family is here, so you are staying here.”

A soft smile spreads across my face, and the residual panic from an hour ago begins to fade.

“Okay, but if anything changes, will you promise to let me know?”

“I will.” He says softly, his eyes locking on mine. “But that won't happen.”

* * *

We arrive at a stunning 155-acre estate, with an endless sea of vibrant greenery and rows of grapevines stretching across the landscape. Ivy’s parents went all out, renting the entire upper deck overlooking the whole vineyard, with the lake looming beautifully in the distance. We have tiered tasting towers loaded with colorful flights of local wines and ciders, and a grazing table sits in the center, overflowing with fresh fruits, artisanal cheeses, and cured meats. It is heavenly.

I happily grab a glass of Riesling and drift away from the chatter toward the deck's wooden railing. Leaning against it, I take a slow sip and just absorb the view, letting the gentle breeze and the warmth of the sun wash over me. I’m going to need a few more of these to fully process what happened earlier. I’m going to be Drew’s roommate for the next few days. The thought of being in the same room, in pure darkness, only feet away from him, sends a thrill through my body. I take another sip of my wine, the crisp sweetness barely doing anything to cool the sudden heat rising to my cheeks.

I’m pulled out of my daze by the smooth, smoky melody of a live jazz band starting to play softly on the deck. The sound of a clarinet magnetically pulls me towards the musicians. It’s been years since I've pulled my clarinet out of the case.

I stand a few feet in front of the band, closing my eyes, letting my body sway slightly to the mellow rhythm, and picturing my fingers dancing across the exact keys. A pleasant warmth floods my chest, building from the music’s pure happiness and the slight buzz of the wine.

“Miss it, kiddo?” My dad asks, coming up from behind me, wrapping his arms around me in a familiar, comforting hug.

I lean my head against him, watching the band. “Sometimes.” I smile. “But I love just listening to it.”

“You were always so talented with the clarinet.” He grins, nostalgia rippling through him.

“Thanks, Dad.”

We stand together, quietly listening to the music. Both of us holding onto the sweet memory of the old days, back when Cooper and I still lived under the same roof as my parents. It’s wild how time can slip away without you realizing it.

“I’m really sorry about what happened earlier with your mom. She shouldn't have given your room away like that.” He says, as the song fades.

“It’s okay, I know you guys are dealing with a lot, trying to help take care of all the little wedding details.”

“Maybe it'll be good for you and Drew to spend some time together.”

I lift my head from his shoulder, turning slightly to find his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

He lets out a sigh, “I think the two of you have some unresolved conversations to have.”

“It was a long time ago, Dad,” I say, my voice cracking slightly as my eyes grow watery. I bring the wine glass back to my lips, hoping it'll prevent the tears from falling.

“Just think about it.” He says, smiling, giving me a tender kiss on my temple before stepping away.

I grab a glass of water, downing it before allowing myself a third glass of wine. I am strictly following my hydration rule to avoid a hangover tomorrow. The crowd on the deck has grown as more guests have shown up throughout the day. I recognize a few faces from our high school. Madison, Grace, and Hannah are off to the side talking with Alex, Christian, and Jonathan, another varsity football player who arrived this morning. A pit opens in my stomach, not that any of them were particularly cruel to me, but the memories of high school are sometimes hard to bear. Seeing some of these faces feels weird.

Before I can look away, their circle shifts. Christian catches my eye and sweetly waves me over, gesturing for me to join them. I inhale a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wine glass. Better to just rip off the band-aid. Remember who you are, I remind myself, smoothing out the ruffles in my dress.

“Hey!” Christian says as I walk up to the group, casually pulling me against his side with a hand resting around my waist as if it belongs there. “You guys remember Camille, right? Drew's little sister.”

“Oh my God, hey Camille. I hardly recognized you, you look incredible.” Grace smiles, leaning in for a brief hug.

“Thank you, It’s really nice to see you guys.” I smile, taking a sip of my wine to ground myself. “Thanks for coming out for the wedding. Cooper is really happy to have you all here,” I say, having no idea whether it’s true or not.

“Drew!” Madison and Hannah say in unison, their eyes suddenly darting past my shoulder. They step forward, eager to embrace him. Hannah’s hand lingers on his bicep.

“How long has it been?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at him.

“A long time.” He says, giving them all a polite, practiced smile. Then, his eyes lock onto mine, and the erratic nerves in my system seem to settle. I watch his gaze track Christian's hand all the way down to where it still rests casually on my hip. Drew brings his beer bottle back to his lips, taking a long, slow swig. I had honestly forgotten Christian’s arm was even there, but under Drew's intense stare, I immediately take a small step out of Christian’s hold.

“Are you going out tomorrow night for the joint bachelor and bachelorette party?” Madison asks Drew.

“Yeah, I'll be there.”

“What about you, Camille? Do you plan on coming?” Grace asks sweetly.

“I doubt it.” Hannah quietly chuckles.

“Yes, I plan on being there.” I give a confident smile, not letting silly side comments get to me.

“Oh yeah, Camille Benson is finally coming out to party! This will be fun.” Christian teases loudly.

The girls let out a collective giggle, and I start to feel the heat rising on the back of my neck. Alex nudges Christian in the ribs, giving him a silent warning to cool it.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, guys,” I say, perfectly unbothered. “I’ll see you all tomorrow!”

I turn away, desperately needing to find a quiet place to catch my breath.

“Cami?” Drew’s voice calls from behind. I stop and turn around, my chest rising and falling as I try to catch my breath.

“Can I show you something?”

I nod slowly, following him down the steps of the upper deck, leaving the noisy party in full swing behind us. We walk a short distance, taking a winding path toward the lake. That's when I see it: a huge lavender garden, overflowing with bright lilac-colored stems. The aroma is incredibly sweet and relaxing. I take a long breath and exhale slowly, feeling my body release all the anxiety that's been strumming in my veins.

“Thank you” is all I say.

“You're welcome, I figured you were ready to find a calming place to take a minute.” He says gently, “Want me to leave you to it?”

“No.” I reach out, my fingers wrapping tightly around his wrist. Drew's eyes fall to the point of contact. “Stay… please.”

“Of course.” He whispers.

We find a secluded wooden bench tucked away in the middle of the garden, and I'm thankful for Drew’s ability to sit comfortably in silence with me.

“I can't believe Cooper is getting married,” I say, starting up a conversation.

“I guess he was right from the very beginning,” Drew says, a smile breaking across his face at the memory. “The same day he saw Ivy moving onto our street, he told me he was going to marry her.”

A genuine smile crosses my face. “They really are soulmates.”

“When you know, you know.” He adds, “I’m just glad he ended up with someone like Ivy.”

“I agree, imagine if he somehow ended up with Emily.” I laugh, shaking my head.

He scoffs, “I would have stood up and objected at the altar.”

We look at each other, a shared, knowing smile passing between us. “You and me both,” I laugh, the last of my tension completely evaporating into the sweet lavender air.

We finally make our way back up the wooden steps, leaving the secret sanctuary of the lavender garden behind us. On the deck, the party is winding down, and everyone is currently scrambling to crowd into a massive huddle for a group picture.

“Drew! Cami! Come on, get in here!” Cooper shouts over the noise, waving us over to the center of the frame.

We slide into the cluster of wedding guests and find a spot near the edge. Just as the photographer calls for everyone to look at the lens, I feel Drew’s hand graze down my bare forearm. A trail of goosebumps breaks out in its wake. His palm settles securely around my waist, pulling me backward against his chest for the photo. Without a second thought, I scoot even closer to him, molding my back to his frame, fully embracing his touch. Christian had held me earlier, but as the camera flashes, a quiet truth settles deep in my chest. Drew's are the only hands I want around my waist today.