Page 75 of Saints & Sailors

Meadow Grove, what are you doing to me?

Up ahead of me as I neared my locker, I found Bonham waiting on me.

“I could love you forever, darlin’,” Bonham mused as he approached me with open arms.

“What’d I do?” I asked suspiciously.

That devilish grin curled across Bonham’s lips. “I overheard my baby bro and Cameron breaking up.”

“Oh, that? What’s that got to do with me?” I went up to my locker and dialed in my com, prepared to grab my books for my morning classes.

“Princess was crediting you for the confidence to do it. She was saying how you’re the type of girl who wouldn’t be ashamed about buying tampons in front of her boyfriend, or something.”

I wasn’t. There’d been a few times I’d gone on a run to the store with one of the boys and none of them freaked out because, you know, it was a natural part of the female body.

“She said you helped her realize her strength,” Bonham concluded as he leaned against a locker and folded his arms. The smile on his face illuminated his entire being. God, he was so handsome.

“I’m happy I could help,” I said.

Bonham stared down at the ground. “That you did.”

I was friendlier with Bonham, but still, I felt like I owed Cameron more. “Okay, before you go jumping on her, do me a favor and let her breathe and relax. She needs time before jumping into something new. If she’s ready for that.”

Bonham’s attention lifted to me. “You really think I should go for my brother’s ex?”

Maybe it was fucked up, but hell, I was an underdog too, and I couldn’t help but root for the guy. “She could be the one.”

Bonham grimaced, shaking his head in doubt. “Ain’t like I’m her one.”

I slugged his shoulder. “You’re an amazing guy, Bon. I just know it. Despite your shitty rep, there’s good in you.”

“How so?”

Because you never ratted out Dreux to the police. “Because I know I don’t have to lecture you on how to treat Cameron. I know that you’d treat her right because that’s who you are. When I was drunk and unsteady, you made sure to be my anchor, and more than that, you never took advantage of me. Trust me, that counts for something.”

Bonham’s insecurity about Cameron made me believe he deserved a shot more than anything. His brother was the town’s prince, and yet he was being a total dickhead about Cameron’s refusal to have sex. Bonham was a much better shot. I was sure of it.

“How’s tutoring going?” I wanted to know as I grabbed my books and shut my locker.

“Great, actually,” Bonham said as he fell in step beside me. “She didn’t want to help at first, mostly because she thought I was going to goof off. I can tell I’m surprising her by how serious I’m taking it.”

“See, you’re slowly getting there. Right now, take it easy and show her what a great guy you are and be her friend.”

Bonham’s response was a smirk.

I could tell Bonham wasn’t convinced Cameron would take him seriously, but only time would tell.

Who knew, maybe opposites really did attract.

The salon was already in full swing by the time I came in to work after school.

No one but Josephine greeted me, while the others instantly pointed me to either the ringing phone or an item from the back that they needed. The steady buzz of business filled the air, making the music barely audible.

I fell in step quickly, rushing here and there as commanded with each new order barked out at me. Manual labor was for the birds, but something about Angela had me not questioning or backtalking her.

My first two hours blew by in a blur of gossip, buzzing hairdryers, nail drills, and ringing phones. The smell of hair products permeated the room, but it was no match for the plug-ins in the free outlets. A fruity scent hung about, making me want candy.

“You know Jacqueline’s single again,” Ms. Josephine said to Angela, a sneaky look in her eye.