Page 134 of Saints & Sailors

In the background, the police cruiser’s door shut and the officer was soon driving away, taking Aidan downtown. Even with him gone, the heaviness of the situation lingered at what could’ve been had Cameron not intervened.

“He said I ruined his life and he wanted to ruin mine,” I said. “He wanted to hurt me.” I choked up and clung to Dreux.

Never in my life had I gone through something like this. Where someone wanted to break me irrevocably.

I wasn’t sure if I could ever get over it.

With Dreux’s arms around me, I went over to the ambulance with Cameron and rode over to the local hospital to be examined.

Bonham and the Camburns met us there. Guilt hung in Bonham’s eyes the moment he saw Cameron and me. I wanted to tell him it wasn’t his fault, that he couldn’t be responsible for his brother’s actions, but we were whisked away to be looked at.

After my scratches and bruises were bandaged and I was given fluids to flush the drugs out of my system, I sat on a medical bed leaning into Scott for support. Dreux sat in the chair across the room, not leaving my side for a moment.

“Whatever you want to do, I’m with you,” Scott said as he stroked my arm.

Rick and René wanted to know if I was going to press charges. The thought made what happened all too real. A part of me wanted to go to bed and forget about it. But I knew better. Knew that in some cases people like this went on to do it again and possibly do worse.

“There’s no pressure to make a decision right away,” Dreux spoke up. “Take your time, Rick and my dad are on your side.”

The sound of a FaceTime call went off and Scott pulled his phone from his pocket. He held it up and my mother’s name and image were filling his screen.

Scott answered and right away I noticed the airport in my mother’s background. She was on her way.

My shoulders lifted and I felt lighter knowing she was coming.

Her eyes were glossy and red. One look at me was all it took for her to cover her mouth and shake her head.

“It’s okay, Maddie, our girl is safe,” Scott said as he held me closer. “She’s incredibly strong.”

According to Rick, Aidan was going to need stitches from where I kicked him. The thought brought a smile to my face.

“Did they get him?” my mother wanted to know.

“He’s at the police station,” I said.

My mother swiped at her nose and nodded vigorously. “He can rot.” She tried to smile as she gazed at me, but she failed as her face crumbled in grief. “I’ll be there before you wake up in the morning. I promise.”

“Thank you.” I choked up and blinked, trying to keep calm. “Because I really need you, Mom.”

At the sight of me nearing a breakdown, Dreux came over and rested a hand on my shoulder.

With my father on my right and my boyfriend on my left, I felt safe beyond measure and it was all I could ask for.

Al’s was crowded and the energy was lively that Friday night. Almost everyone I knew showed up to watch P. Floyd play. To my right, surrounding one table was Angela, my mother, and René. To my left, a few of Scott’s coworkers were seated and enjoying themselves. At my table, I was under Dreux’s arm on one side while Cameron and Bonham were on the other. Even Vanity and Zion came out.

We were three songs in and I really loved the sound of their lead vocalist Jacob as he sang “Wish You Were Here.” Together they sounded as amazing as the real Pink Floyd.

“Dude, your dad’s such a badass!” Bonham yelled my way as he leaned across the table.

Looking on as Scott played bass effortlessly, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

Yeah. My father was the coolest.

A peek at the table next to us and my mother all but had cartoon hearts in her eyes.

She was totally into him, and as I caught Scott stealing glances her way, it was more than obvious he was into her.

My parents were dating and it sounded funny to say, but I couldn’t have been happier for either of them. I loved Scott for my mother, and I was happy she was giving him a second chance.