Page 35 of Saints & Sailors

Maybe I was looking at this the wrong way. Maybe I should’ve made an alliance with René. His son favored my father, and my father practically raised Dreux before me, his own offspring.

Where was the loyalty?

“René was never a nice guy, Saylor,” Scott went on. “When I moved here and picked up on it, I felt bad for Dreux. One day it was raining and he was sitting out on their porch, elbows on his knees, pouting, and I just figured I’d distract him.”

“How old was he?” I wanted to know.

“He had to be about six or seven.” Suddenly Scott was laughing at something I couldn’t register. “He used to be a scrawny little thing. I took him fishing once and I was damn near worried I’d step on him he was so small.”

I didn’t know why it did, but it annoyed the shit out of me hearing Dreux’s background with my father. Asshole Dad or not, he had his own father to bond with. Hell, the guy just got him a car.

I pushed away from the counter and stood from the stool. “I better go and get my things up off the floor. I told Cameron I would go and hang out with her later.”

“Oh, good, I’m happy you two are becoming close. I told you she was a great girl,” Scott said.

Ignoring him, I exited the room and crossed over to the living room to gather my school books.

I didn’t care.

Scott sensed something was wrong, but I insisted things were okay. He could be attentive when he wanted to be. As big and as empty as the house was when he wasn’t home, I couldn’t wait until he started working nights. It would make sneaking out or doing whatever I wanted easier.

“You sure I didn’t say anything to offend you?” Scott asked for the millionth time as we finished dinner. One thing about Scott, he was an amazing cook. The spicy chicken and rice he’d made had been to die for.

“No. I’m fine,” I told him.

“Well, maybe we could play a board game or something,” he said. “I found them under the cushions in the living room. Funny thing about that.”

Shit. “Listen, Scott⁠—”

Ding.

My cell phone alerted me to a new text message.

It was from a 706 number, the local area code.

706-555-7808

What type of pic are you willing to send me to go out tonight?

Bonham.

Me

A video of what it’s like to be castrated

Bonham

Interesting

Bonham

Now I can’t just mosey on up to your door since your dad hates me. So come outside in 10 min and the adventure begins, pirate

Seriously, did the whole town hate Bonham?

Scott was sitting across from me, waiting for my response, when I looked up from my phone.

“That’s Cameron, I better get going, we have plans,” I lied.