Page 11 of Beni

For several years, August had gone a natural route with her corkscrew head of curls. Sometimes, she still did when she wanted to give her roots a break from the intensity of braiding.

“Maybe,” August said lowly, although her tone remained firm, “but I like the braids, Ian.”

He dropped his hand instantly.

August dragged in a quick breath.

“Well, I do miss them.”

August said nothing.

“Enjoy your trip to Chicago,” he added, finally taking a step back, “and I will see you as soon as you are back.”

Right.

Ian’s little visit reminded her that this trip to Chicago was more than just the spread in the magazine, and visiting her old friend. Like the job offer she had been given a year ago that she hadn’t entertained. She was sure as hell entertaining it now.

August practically bounced on the balls of her heels after ringing the ornate doorbell wrapped in brass on the front doors of a three-level Melrose home. The expected windiness of Chicago wasn’t that bad, so she didn’t mind standing there on the porch while she waited for the doors to open.

Even before she saw the cloudy, dark form take shape in the frosted glass of the French doors, she could hear her friend behind it. Camilla’s loud footsteps pounded down the entryway hall of her home, and then the squealing started.

It didn’t matter that they were now in their twenties.

Or that Cam was married.

The fact they were grown ass women, essentially, with jobs, lives, and all the other good stuff that came along with adulthood didn’t factor in to their excitement to be together at all. And she was grateful for that because more than anything, sometimes August just needed to relax. Say screw all the adult responsibility, throw caution to the wind, and have a little fun.

Cam was perfect for that.

When the two of them were together, it reminded her of being seventeen again, having crazy weekends with her best friend, and sitting hungover in church because of it.

Good times.

The cream-painted doors were thrown open in a rush, no grace to it. Camilla darted out before August even had time to appreciate the silk wrap dress her friend wore, never mind the man who darkened the doorway behind her.

She didn’t mind, though.

Camilla’s arms locked around her neck, and squeezed tight enough to take her breath away. August hugged her friend right back, their squeals lighting up the porch, and surely drawing attention from any neighbors that happened to be outside of their houses currently.

She wished she cared.

Pulling back, Camilla grinned wide enough to show off perfect white teeth. Her pixie-like appearance was only aided by her light skin tone and small features, and white-blonde hair that was currently streaked at the roots with a deep purple shade. The contrast between the two women, August with her nearly six-foot in height, and Camilla in all her small, pixie glory couldn’t be denied.

And yet, they were a perfect match.

Best friends ‘til the very end.

Always.

“Oh, my God, I missed you so much,” Camilla said.

August blinked away the tears that had clouded her eyes. “Yeah, me, too.”

Behind her friend, Cam’s husband lingered in the opened doorway of their home. Tommaso didn’t step in on the girls’ moment. He never did. It was one of the things August liked best about him. Despite the fact that this had been the man to finally settle her wild friend down into married life—or as settled as Cam could be—never mind convincing her to move all the way to Chicago to be with him, August liked Tom.

He was a good man.

Good to Cam.