Page 23 of Deeper

“Who is this?” I had to know.

Holliston got back to stocking plain-colored T-shirts. “Teddy Sykes.”

Jesus, there was no escaping the madness.

“Ah,” I let out.

“Okay, judge me, but I’m a proud Whatter, always have been, always will be.” Holliston’s cheeks were bruising pink as she blushed at this fact.

“Girl, you good. Tori’s been obsessed with them for years. Who’s your favorite member?”

Holliston made a face. “Uh, duh, Teddy.” She soon fished her cell phone from her back pocket and held it out, emphasizing its case. I came closer and peered at the glossy image of Teddy. He was at a microphone, his messy, unruly golden-brown hair with sun-streaked blond highlights was up in a bun as his brown eyes were peering out at the crowd. The crease in his forehead as he seemed lost in thought, made him look handsome admittedly. He was in a large gray T-shirt with the sleeves cuffed. One of his toned arms had an impressive sleeve of tattoos.

“Wow.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not one of those fans with the weird fantasies about Teddy and Vernon. After Teddy, I love Oliver the most. I support all the boys really.” Holliston placed her phone back into her pocket. “I almost went to that Zander show the other night, but in hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t. The jerk didn’t even show up.”

“Yeah, Tori and I went,” I said.

Holliston shook her head. “Well, screw him, right?”

“He probably had a reason.” Maybe. Hopefully.

Holliston paused, appearing thoughtful. “I don’t know, he and Teddy have this weird beef going on so I’m Team Teddy, and maybe I’m biased on my annoyance towards anything Zander does because of it. He’s a good musician, but he doesn’t seem to want it like the others.”

“In his defense”—God, you’re defending him now, Bia—“they’ve been working since they were sixteen or seventeen.”

Zander’s career was a mystery really, and maybeIwas now biased after going to bed with him.

Another song by who was surely Teddy Sykes came on, and by the repeated use of the worddarlingin the chorus, I could only assume that was what the song was called.

“I wishhewould come to LA soon,” Holliston said. “I’d for sure go to that show.”

“Maybe he will.” I took my place behind the counter and pitched Roderick’s note in the trash.

Holliston sighed. “He likes perfect girls.”

I frowned. “Then he would love you.”

Holliston and I’d only been coworkers for a couple of years, but from what I knew, she was the epitome of a sweet girl. She was sunshine. A rare, bright, and gentle soul.

She was the one who was always calm and never got upset with the rudest of customers. When one of our coworkers called off, Holliston would offer to stay behind to fill their shift or would almost always come in.

Holly saw the best in people, which was probably why she had an on-again, off-again relationship with her asshole of a boyfriend Jake.He was just like Rod in the being-only-there-when-convenient department. Poor Holliston didn’t see it though.

“Thank you, Bia.” Holliston gave me a friendly smile before going back to work.

I busied myself with running the register and helping stock all new items, all the while sneaking peeks at the roses on the counter.

When I got off at five, I debated over bringing them home or leaving them. I shouldn’t have cared. It wasn’t an apology. Even if I knew it was bait, I was almost willing to let the gesture touch me.

In the end, I gathered the flowers and drove home, going and setting them on the tiny table in my kitchen.

They were pretty. Maybe I would call him. Or maybe I shouldn’t have.

Knocking at my door pulled me from making the decision altogether.

Maybe it was Tori, coming over to hang out. After Monday’s evening crying myself to sleep, I’d take any—

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