Page 98 of Saints & Sailors

“We’ve been missing you like crazy and worried,” Danny continued as I separated from Jack. “Finally, we grew a pair and begged your mom to let us know where you were and if we could see you.”

I was happy my mother relented and let them know where I was. I knew she was only looking out for me in wanting to protect me from them, but they were my friends and I’d missed them badly.

“Can I help you?” There was no missing the sudden bite in Danny’s voice as he was glaring past me.

The energy shifted to a fierce charge in the air.

I turned around, finding Dreux standing behind us. His eyes drifted to where Danny was tucking me under his arm protectively.

“Oh, this is my friend, Dreux,” I explained as I got back to Danny.

Right away, I could feel the burn of Dreux’s gaze on me, but I ignored it.

Things were…complicated. We’d made out twice now. That second time in my bedroom cemented something neither of us had yet to speak on. He’d been on top of me, between my legs—heavy, he was so much bigger than me. Hot, the heat of his skin burned through my clothes. Hard, there was no denying how turned on he was. I could vividly remember rolling my hips against him and the moan he released as he gripped me closer.

Dreux had gotten off of me before things went too far. He came and laid beside me, and we stayed like that listening to music. He didn’t scoot away. Didn’t put space between us.

Friends didn’t behave like this.

But this wasn’t the time for the distinction to be examined.

“Dreux, these are my best friends from home,” I went on before gesturing to each one. “Danny, Ian, and Jack. They’re more like my brothers than anything.”

I finished talking and no one budged to greet each other or shake hands. Danny hadn’t stopped glaring because Dreux hadn’t stopped. Ian and Jack, while less menacing, both stood by Danny’s side ready for whatever.

What the hell was going on?

Dreux came out of it first. He came closer, extending his hand to Danny. “Dreux. Nice to meet you.”

Danny studied his hand before loosening up and shaking with him. “Danny.”

Ian and Jack came around next, and though it was still awkward, the tension had lessened a degree.

I understood why the boys were on edge, but Dreux was throwing me off.

“Can I talk to you for a second, Saylor?” he asked me.

I walked with him down the sidewalk, managing to steal glances over my shoulder to see that the boys hadn’t moved and were watching us.

“I guess you’re going to be too busy for work?” Dreux asked me first.

The shop. Angela. I hadn’t missed a day since this whole manual labor as punishment started, but I couldn’t leave the boys hanging after they’d made the trip to see me.

“I guess not,” I agreed. “I’ll call in. I haven’t seen my friends in⁠—”

“I got you,” Dreux offered. He took a moment to look back at the guys before returning to me. “Like brothers, huh?”

“Yeah. They were my only real friends back in LA. Being here without them has been hard. No one gets me like they do,” I said as I stared down at my sneakers. “I thought they hated me.”

“You fucked up, but I’m sure they’ll forgive you,” Dreux said.

It seemed like they already had.

Dreux came back to me. “Next Thursday is my birthday. My dad wants us to go and have dinner…as a ‘family.’ ” He made a face at the thought as he shook his head. “I was thinking of cutting that day. Maybe we could finally go to the Pier.”

It wouldn’t take much convincing to get me to ditch school. I was honestly surprised Dreux was the one suggesting it. “I’m down.”

Dreux lightened up, giving me a small smile. “I’ll let you get back to your other friends.”