Page 4 of Love Bleeds Red
Layne’s too busy fiddling with her hair supplies to do anything but snort. I know when to relent, and right now, if I want any peace tonight I need to give her a tidbit. She pats the edge of her bed and I sit, pulling the scrunchie from my hair.
“Damn girl, your hair got long.” She runs the brush through my tangles, not as gently as I’d like. “Okay, you know I have no patience. Who’s the guy? It’s gotta be someone from back home.”
She snags a particularly bad knot and I wince. “I can do the brushing.” I try to grab the brush from her but she pulls it away. “This reminds me of being in kindergarten when my mom would do tight French braids because she was terrified of me coming home with lice.”
“Sounds traumatic,” Layne deadpans. “I had a bowl cut for kindergarten, so I win.”
“Oof.” I wince. “Yeah, that’s pretty bad.”
“Stop stalling,” she says. “The guy?”
With an exaggerated eye-roll, I grab my phone and swipe open my photo app. I have one picture of us from the summer. It’s not the best, but Leon’s smiling. A real smile that reaches his hazel eyes.
“This is him.” I show her my screen and she lets her hand drop, taking my hair with it. “Ow! Okay, I’m taking over the brushing.”
She grabs the phone, and zooms in on the photo. “This is the guy? This hot man right here?” Her voice could set a world record for highest octave.
“Yeah, that’s Leon.” I shake my head, holding back a laugh from how flabbergasted she looks. “What?”
“Bails, this is the hottest man I’ve ever seen holy fuck how could you have kept him from me?”
“Take a breath,” I say.
“I literally cannot. Tell me everything. Who is he? How? Why? What? Did you bang? Of course you banged. Was it good? Girl, I need details.”
What can I say without giving away too much? But really, she’s just Layne. It’s not like she knows Jasper or anyone from back home. And it’ll feel good to talk about him. It’s been kind of lonely holding in the fact that I fell in love this summer.
I tilt my head and pretend I’m thinking for an extra minute. Seeing her squirm is too much fun. When she threatens death by straightening iron, I finally give in and tell her the shortened version of my summer with Leon.
The best summer of my life.
We’re huddledunder my umbrella, narrowly avoiding puddles until we reach the pharmacy. Layne bolts over to the makeup section, while I read the signs to find the over the counter meds. My headaches have only gotten worse in the hour it took us to get ready. Layne’s screeching about Leon probably didn’t help.
The place is crowded, considering the weather. Not just other students lingering around the snack aisles, but locals as well. Couples and families, and a few people still in work clothes. I guess everyone’s looking for a wild time. Nothing says Friday night excitement like moderately priced laundry detergent and tampons.
I adjust my too short dress, one of Layne’s, and forge ahead, ignoring the stares from a group of guys I’ve seen on campus.
When I reach the med aisle, I scan the shelves for the cheapest ibuprofen they have. A notification sound from mypurse distracts me. My stomach does a little flip of anticipation before I even look at the screen.
Leon: I’m so sorry I didn’t text you earlier… stuck in a study group all day. How’s my gorgeous firefly doing tonight?
I’m grinning like a fool in the middle of the aisle but I couldn’t care less. God, I miss him.
Me: Oh you know, taking full advantage of the college experience.
I snap a selfie and hit send.
Leon: Are those constipation medicines? I don’t know if we’ve reached that level of honesty yet, love.
Oh my God. I look up and yup, I’m standing right in front of a big bottle that says Bowel Buddy. Kill me now.
Leon: I’m joking. I think after the hot wing incident, we’ve surpassed all levels of intimacy. Also, you look stunning. Did the pharmacy require formal attire?
I’m about to type a response when someone bumps into my shoulder and I drop my phone.
“Shoot, I’m so clumsy,” the man says in a slightly accented voice. He has slicked back light hair and stinks of overpowering cologne.
I wave him off and carefully bend to pick up my phone so my entire ass isn’t on display, but he beats me to it. “Here, let me.”
