Page 84 of Saints & Sailors

Dreux sat back and shrugged. “I was in my feelings over my ex, so she’s a little protective.”

Tabitha. It was understandable Angela didn’t like her for cheating on her son, but she couldn’t hold a grudge against all of us.

Not that I wanted Dreux or anything.

“Besides,” Dreux went on, looking down at me. “Just a head’s up, Scott’s not going to be too happy when it comes to Bonham either.”

Right, because according to Bonham, my father hated him. I had to find out why. I was sure in time I could convince Scott he wasn’t a complete menace.

I ran my finger along the material of my ripped jeans, playing with a loose thread. “We’re just going to be friends, but I’m sure Scott’s going to have some thoughts about it.”

“Just friends, huh?” Dreux repeated curiously.

I looked up at him and shrugged, not wanting to out Bonham and the crush he held for Cameron. “Yeah.”

A horn went off and my cell phone buzzed, pulling me away from Dreux as I realized Cameron was pulling up in front of Scott’s house in her dad’s SUV and she’d sent me a text. I spotted Vanity riding shotgun.

“Girls’ night?” Dreux wondered as he spotted the duo.

I stood from the swing, prepared to go. “Yeah. I figured she could use the pick me up.”

Dreux seemed to agree. He soon leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees and appearing thoughtful as he peered down at the porch for a moment. When he returned to me, he almost seemed kinda shy as a timid smile crossed his face. “Should we trade numbers…in case you ever need a ride or anything?”

He was asking for my number. I tried to play it cool because it only made sense since he was my ride to school and work.

But it felt like more.

Goose bumps pebbled across my skin at the idea and I willed my heart to calm the fuck down in my chest.

We quickly exchanged numbers and I tried to be nonchalant as I waved goodbye. Dreux merely smiled and nodded my way, his phone clutched in his hand, and Taylor still singing in the background. As I trekked down the porch steps to leave, I couldn’t help but think how the moment was perfect.

Cameron drove to her house where I met her mother, who was an older version of her from her looks, to her friendly and bubbly personality. Her father, Larry, was home watching something in their family room as we passed by on the way up to Cameron’s room.

Her mother was baking cookies for us and her father was drinking a beer and watching something on Netflix. There was something so homey and nice about it. Of course, Cameron was the girl she was with a homelife like this. It must’ve been nice to come home to parents who were happily in love, supportive, and accepting.

In Cameron’s room, she shut the door behind us, and I took my time studying the four walls of her personal space. Vanity made herself comfortable as she took off her shoes and plopped down on Cameron’s full-sized bed and began scrolling through her phone.

Pictures of Cameron and Aidan were on her desk and wall, and it was easy to track their journey from childhood friends to high school sweethearts. In one photo that caught my attention, Cameron and Aidan must’ve been in middle school; they were standing side by side in someone’s backyard. Cameron wore a baby blue dress and Aidan was in khakis and a short-sleeved button-down as he stood next to Cameron smiling at the camera. As cute as the photo was, I couldn’t help but notice Bonham in the background. The three of them were in a yard, at what looked like a barbecue, and behind Cameron and Aidan, Bonham stood with his arms crossed staring blankly at the camera. His hair brushed his shoulders and he was in a Black Sabbath shirt. Totally fitting.

There were a lot of photos of Cameron and Aidan, and every one looked storybook. No wonder it was hard for her to walk away. She’d spent most of her life with him, to the point it was surely expected of her to grow up and marry the guy.

“I need to take those down, I guess.” Cameron came up beside me where I stood looking at her wall of photos. She peered at them and frowned.

“Take your time,” I encouraged. “I’m sure it’s not easy since you guys practically grew up together.”

She nodded, and still she looked on at her past with a touch of sadness in her eye.

“No more pity parties,” Vanity announced as she stood from the bed. She gestured to Cameron and then to herself. “Especially over loser ass men.”

“I know,” Cameron said bitterly.

“Maybe we could put some music on?” I suggested to change the subject. “That always clears my head.”

“What do you wanna listen to?” Cameron went and flopped herself down on her stomach as she began thumbing through her phone.

I was too taken aback to cringe or blush as the musician came to mind. “You got folklore by Taylor Swift?”

“Of course,” Cameron said as she was quick to gather her phone and look through her catalogue.