Page 57 of A Sinner's Saint

“You can sit. Here, open mine first,” Cammi says while passing me her gift.

I take the box and tug on the red ribbon before removing the lid. I look inside and see three crystals sitting on tissue paper.

“There white chalcedony crystals. They are supposed to help with nightmares and give you a more peaceful sleep. You can put them under your pillow.”

I look up at her. She got me crystals to help me sleep. I don’t believe for one second a few pretty stones are going to take away my nightmares. But the fact she thought of something like this—the fact she wanted to help me—has emotions clogging up my throat. “You got me something for my nightmares?”

“It’s stupid. I can keep them. I just thought… if I can’t be there to help you, then maybe these could.” Cammi reaches for the box.

“Cammi, it’s not stupid,” I tell her while tugging the gift closer to my chest. “Ask me.” I look her dead in the eye. It’s not going to be good for either of us, but I really need to kiss her right now.

Cammi’s eyes widen before she says, “Vin, kiss me like I’m yours. Kiss me like it’s the first time.”

I drop the box I have for her on the bed and cup her face with my palms. “You forgot thelast time.” She always used to ask me to kiss her like it was the first andlasttime.

“I don’t want there to be a last time,” Cammi whispers as my lips press against hers.

My tongue slides into her mouth.Fuck, I’ve missed this.I feel like I’ve just come home after a really long time away. So does my cock. One touch and I’m hard as a fucking rock.

I pull back from the kiss way too soon. I see the want in Cammi’s eyes. I don’t want to go there. I know things aren’t returning to the way they were, and I don’t want her to think I came here for a fucking booty call.

“Open yours,” I tell her, picking up the box and handing it to her.

Cammi pops the lid and runs her fingers over the white gold bracelet. She smiles as she fingers the single charm in the centre. “It’s the Eiffel Tower,” she says, slowly removing the bracelet from the cushioning. “I love it.”

“It’s a start,” I tell her. “I’m going to make sure it’s filled with all the places in the world you’ve seen.”

Cammi frowns. “But I haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower.”

I pull out the envelope that contains two first-class tickets to France for New Year’s week. “This is the second part of your gift.”

Cammi opens the envelope and gasps. “Tickets to France? We’re going to Paris?” she squeals.

“You’regoing to Paris,” I tell her.

“But there’s two tickets. You don’t want to come to Paris with me?” she asks.

“I want to go everywhere with you, Cammi, but I’m not going on this trip. I want you to take whoever you want. A friend, your mum, your aunt.”

“Okay, I want to take my best friend. Hold on, let me message them to see if they’re free,” she says, setting the tickets down and picking up her phone.

Seconds later, my pocket pings with an incoming text. I pull out my own phone and stare at the screen.

Cammi:

Some fool got me tickets to Paris for Christmas. You wanna come with me?

“Fool, huh?” I ask her with one brow raised.

“Well, if you think I’m taking anyone else with me, then you most certainly are a fool. We are going to Paris, Vin!” she says with so much excitement in her voice.

“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” I tell her. “I’m sending mixed messages and that’s not fair to you. I want you to be happy, Cammi. I really do. I just can’t give you everything you want, everything you deserve.”

“Why do I feel like you’re breaking up with me all over again?”

I can see the way her lower lip is wobbling as she tries to hold back tears. “I’m not. We’re friends. Always will be.”

“A friend wouldn’t let another friend go to Paris alone,” she whispers.

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