Page 18 of Silver Secrets

Gunner slid up behind her, Sage strapped to his chest in a baby carrier. “You go get ready to race with the girls. I’ll make sure everyone is registered and out on the course by the time that gun goes off.”

“Are you sure?”

“Stop being so?—”

“Stubborn. I know.” Lily pressed a kiss to her husband’s cheek. “Alright, ladies, let’s go before I start missing these two too much and decide I don’t want to leave.”

Mae made a fake gagging sound, and Lily laughed as her arm hooked through Sloane’s. They walked for a few minutes around the other tents, but Sloane felt Lily’s eyes lingering on her face the entire time.

“You going to tell me what’s wrong?” Her friend finally asked.

“What?” Sloane’s head snapped up, only then realizing that Mae wasn’t with them. “Where did Mae go?”

“She went off to help Stone with something.” Lily’s eyes rolled.

“I’m pretty sure everyone knows what those two are up to at this point.”

“Everyone except Hawk. I think that’s her main worry.”

Sloane shook her head. “But I don’t want to talk about Mae right now. I know something is bothering you. Spill.”

“I can’t. It’s about a… client. I got lost in the research this morning and didn’t keep track of time. I know how important this is to you, Lily. And I’m sorry.”

“Oh, knock it off! I don’t care that you were a few minutes late. I care that you seem to be drawing back into yourself. The Sloane I first met when I got here was less reserved than you’ve been lately. I just want to know if I can help.”

“I’m fine. I promise.”

Hawk’s voice boomed from a nearby bullhorn. “Ladies and Gentleman, please make your way over to the starting line! Our charity race to raise money for the new health clinic in town will be starting in five minutes!”

Lily laughed. “I need to make sure Gunner takes that away from him after the run begins. I’m almost certain he’ll use it in one way or another to flirt with someone here.”

* * *

“Courtney, did you end up messaging Elias to come?”

She nodded, taking a sip from her water bottle. “I did. He said he’d be here, but I didn’t see him around.”

The women were standing at the back of the pack, waiting for the start of the race. Fortunately, the guys weren’t racing. Sloane had a feeling she'd pass out if they were setting the pace.

“Was there any other messaging going on or was it strictly… boring?”

Sloane snorted.

“I mean, there was some flirtatious back and forth. I really like him, but I think he’s holding back. I can’t tell if it’s a me thing, or a him thing.”

“Okay, so we really need him to show up to suss out the situation. I love this so much. I’m gonna need you to spill all the details and we can figure out how to play this.”

“Mae! Maybe Courtney doesn’t want to share all the details with us?—”

The race gun went off, startling the hell out of Sloane. She jolted back, her hand flying to cover her heart.

“Oh, right. I’m doing that no-filter thing. Sorry, Courtney.” Apparently none of her other friends had been taken by surprise. She used the slow jogging pace of the race starting to calm her already overworked heart down.

“No, it’s fine! I love having friends to talk this all over with. It’s been lonely coming back to Silver Springs now that my family isn’t here.”

“Oh, you grew up here?” Mae asked. “How did I not know that? I thought you were a transplant like all of us!”

“Yeah, I did. There was an accident and… Well, it was hard for my parents to stay once my brother died. We were ten years apart but god, he was such a cute kid.”

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