Page 79 of True Honey
“Ella is going to teachus,” Dean said quickly, like I was going to accuse him of not being able to use the stove. I eyed him for a second before nodding.
“Have fun boys,” I said. I couldn’t exactly tell if August was in one of hisI hate Mommoods or if he was just finally settling into a pace where he felt comfortable enough to relax. And both had me worried. If it was just a mood, what had I done? Did he know about Silas and I… and if it wasn’t, what happened when we had to leave? Disrupting him again felt like torture.
“What happened?” Silas asked, knocking me from my thoughts. I hadn’t even realized I’d walked to the garage and was standing in the doorway with my lip between my teeth until his voice echoed through the darkness.
“Nothing,” I straightened out and made my way down. He handed me my helmet, not taking no for an answer when I opened my mouth to protest about the bike.
“Just sit tight against me,” he said, helping me over the seat. He settled down and reached around to grab my thigh, pulling me flush against his back. “Tuckyour dress between your thighs,” he instructed and I did it, “good, now forward more,” he said and I scooted impossibly close holding everything in place as I tangled my arms around him. “See,” he hummed, proud of himself for being right.
The bike rumbled to life and I pressed my face against his back as he pulled from the garage. He was getting cockier about his speed with me on the back, and at first I wasn’t sure I liked it but now, as he took a corner and our bodies moved together. I kind of enjoyed the rush. For the twenty minutes we were on the bike we were untouchable by all the nonsense going on in our lives.
For that short time, it was just Silas and me.
He pulled up to his family's house and I sighed quietly, sad that it was over and he absolutely noticed. “Do you want me to circle the block?” he chuckled, lifting the helmet off his head and smoothing out his hair.
“No,” I whispered, doing the same. “Well kind of.”
“We can take the long way home.” He smiled at me and all the locks clicked back into place, keeping the anxiety at bay for a little while longer. “Most of the board members will be here today, don’t let them get to you. Remember that they’re assholes.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, you’re just sick of seeing their faces,” I said softly, “let me handle them today, just don’t leave me alone with your mother for too long. She terrifies me.”
Silas laughed, looking up at the house and then back to me with a more serious expression. “When Ryan started with the team he used to do this thing after conversations and speeches. And I never quite figured out what he was doing so one day I asked Rae, his wife.” Silas smiled, his fingers nervously playing at the straps of his helmet. “It was their code,” he explained. “The Lorraine I knew wasn’t quiet but I guess at some point she was and it was a way for them to communicate without so many words.”
“It’s that thing you all do?” I asked him.
“Yeah,” Silas confirmed, “so today if you need me.”
I tapped my chest twice. “And you’ll do it if you need me?”
His head tilted to the side but a soft smile formed on his face as he returned the gesture. “Exactly,” he said with a nod before taking my hand and leading me into the house.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but there were staff moving like bees inside the walls as he brought me back through the kitchen and out into the massive back yard. It was decorated in small tables scattered around and tons of florals that added to the already impressive nature backdrop.
“Wow,” I breathed out and Silas looked over at me with a nervous expression. “Drinks?”
“For you, I have a feeling staying sober is in my best interest today,” Silas laughed, already annoyed with the crowd. I could see it on his face as he took in some of the people that his grandfather had invited, there wasn’t a single one his eyes landed on that made his face soften. And I knew it because the second he found his mother, his eyes changed color and his jaw went slack.
He navigated the crowd, avoiding speaking to anyone until we were face to face with Sylwia. “Mom,” he gave her a kiss.
“It’s lovely to see you, Drew.” She offered me but her eyes were constantly moving.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, knowing the face of a woman with a hundred things on her mind.
“Oh,” Sylwia’s lips parted and her focus shifted back to me. “I’m waiting on a delivery of wine, do you think you could go find out where it might be?” She asked me, giving me the name and number of the person she was in contact with.
Silas watched me carefully as I wandered back into the house where it was quieter. I called the number, was given an answer and not five minutes later the driver was standing at the front door with a few cases of wine.
I was helping one of the staff line them up on the island when Seymour sauntered in, a drink in hand and a cautious look on his old face. He looked like he wanted to scold me for helping and not enjoying the party but when he opened his mouth he started to cough violently. His hand gripped the wall next to him and I crossed the kitchen, tucking my body against his and leading him through the kitchen to the lounge and into a chair.
“Do you need water?” I asked him and he held up his scotch glass but I ignored that and found him some water anyways. “This,” I said, taking the scotch away and setting it out of reach until he drank. “You shouldn’t be drinking that.” I said softly, offering him a napkin as he coughed some more.
“The scotch isn’t going to kill me any faster, girl,” he groaned when he was finished.
“It might, the way you drink it,” I said. Only smiling at him when he started to chuckle at my jab.
“Don’t tell Silas but I like you,” he said, waving his finger in the air. “You’ve got bite.”
“Not always,” I said.
