Page 117 of Saints & Sailors

Awkwardly, I stood between the two of them. My whole relationship with Kevin had been under wraps. I’d never introduced my mother to a boy before. She hardly liked my friends; I knew for certain she’d never approve of my type of guy. But that was before Dreux.

Still, I found myself shy and nervous. It was the most normal thing in the world, and I was just getting used to that.

“I actually have to work. Can you drop me off at the salon?” I asked my mother.

“Sure.” She turned, prepared to get in behind the wheel. “It was nice being introduced, Dreux.”

Dreux walked me over to the passenger side. He rested his arm against the roof behind me as he hovered close. He touched my face, smiling down at me. “Enjoy your mom.”

She was leaving Sunday, and I probably was going to spend the whole weekend catching up as much as I could. I loved that he was supportive and not bummed.

I leaned up on my toes, wanting a quick kiss. Dreux snaked his arm around me, kissing me like he’d miss me. His lips brushed mine until they were open. I tilted my head back as the kiss deepened into something more.

“See you there,” Dreux promised before he let me go. He opened my door for me and I climbed into my seat.

I was a giddy mess as he shut the door and took off for the student parking lot.

“Well, that’s certainly new,” my mother teased as she started up the Jetta.

All I could do was blush the whole way over to Angela’s salon.

“Can’t believe you got a job. My baby’s growing up. I’m proud of you,” my mother said as she pulled into the strip of shops where Angela’s was located.

“It was Scott’s idea. I got in trouble when I first got here, so he worked out a deal with Dreux’s mom,” I explained as she parked.

“Still, I’m glad you’re sticking with it.”

It was a new experience in a new environment, but I liked it. The stylists and their clients told the funniest stories or the juiciest gossip. And it was always mesmerizing watching them create art with hair. Once they’d held a potluck where I got to gorge on the best foods—between Miss Josephine’s taco salad, Chanda’s banana pudding with shortbread cookies, and Angela’s perfectly seasoned chicken wings, I was in heaven. Vanity even came in once and it was nice to have a friend to talk to while she waited.

We got out of the Jetta just as Dreux pulled in next to us. My mother waved to him before following me over to Angela’s.

She was inside talking to Miss Josephine as she styled and cut her client’s purple hair.

At the sound of the front bell going off, Angela turned and noticed our arrival. She did a double-take at the sight of my mother. “Hello.”

“Hi!” Miss Josephine said chipperly as she continued to work her magic.

“That’s Miss Josephine, and this is Angela,” I told my mother as I pointed to each woman. “This is my mom. She’s in town to visit me for the weekend.”

“It’s nice to meet you. You’ve got a great girl, there,” Miss Josephine spoke up. She offered my mother one of her warm smiles, already welcoming her into the fold.

My mother waved as she stepped more into the shop, never one to be shy. “Thank you. I’m Madeline.”

Angela came over and shook her hand. “It’s to meet you, Madeline. It’s been a pleasure having Saylor working here at the shop. I’m not sure it’s ever been so organized. You and Scott have done a wonderful job with her.”

My eyes doubled. I wasn’t sure she liked me most days, or even wanted me here, let alone admired what I brought to help out.

My mother tugged me close. “You can thank her dad for that. He’s done a great job with her down here.”

“Oh, Scott’s amazing,” Angela agreed. “My son, Dreux, loves him.” She turned to me. “Why don’t you enjoy this weekend with your mom, Saylor?”

“I couldn’t,” I rushed to say. “I mean, I can’t just take off work every time I have guests come see me.”

I’d already inconvenienced her when the boys came to visit the week before. I didn’t want to cross any lines.

Something like respect crossed Angela’s face. “That’s very mature, but I insist. You’re off next week from school and I already planned to utilize you.”

She was giving me the weekend to spend time with my mother. She didn’t have to, but she was. “Thank you, Angela.” I looked to my mother and got back to Angela. “Can I talk to you for a second?”