Page 108 of True Honey
“How do you feel about it?” I asked him, leaning over the counter to steal some of his breakfast.
“He’s nice to you,” August said.
“Yeah he is,” I agreed and gave his spoon back.
“He tries too hard sometimes but the manga he brought me back from New York is pretty cool,” he hummed, the way he was playing it off was nice. It felt nice to know that I wasn’t entirely screwing all of this up. “And he buys my favorite pop tarts,” August added.
“Oh is that all it took?” I shook my head and laughed.
“I’m happy here too, Mom.” He said and my breath caught, my chest sore instantly from the weight set there. “So if you like him and it makes you happy. Then it's a good thing.” August smiled but he shrugged, reaching out his hand to Red who slumped across the island like he owned it.
“So you aren’t mad?” I asked him.
“No,” he said, his fingers curling repeatedly across Red’s mangy fur.
“And if it doesn’t work out?” I pushed.
“You’re doing that thing you tell me not to do,” August said and I furrowed my brows at him. “Getting upset about problems that don’t exist.”
“Auggie,” I sighed. It was serious. If anything happened with Silas our life would be upended, all of the happiness we were feeling now would be pulled out from under us…just like that.
“Mom,” he mocked me, “stop making problems and just be happy.”
His tone was low and too authoritative for a son talking to his mother but it made me smile and I gave him a small nod.Just be happy.Easier said than done.
“There you are!” Silas rounded the corner in a huff, blasting into the office. His Hornets polo was crumpled, and his shorts were lopsided like he had thrown them on in the dark. “We need to go,” he said, giving a sweet smile to Susanna before turning to me. He had been like this for days after our impromptu road trip. Moving too fast, talking in circles. The Hornets had officially beaten Portland and I had hoped that it would ease his stress but the finals were here and he was even more strung out than before.
He was burning out and was too stubborn to admit that it could happen to him.
“Go where?” I laughed, filing a few papers away.
“Up to the cabin,” he said, like I should know what’s going on.
“I have to work today, we can't…” I turned and lowered my voice just for him, “run away again.”
“No,” Silas stopped me, “this isn't… I could have sworn I mentioned it.”
“I am definitely out of the loop,” I said looking to Susanna for help but she just kept working away at her desk.
“Cabin is important this weekend, promise. There’s a reason.” He looked at me, taking the stack of paper from my arms. “Susanna,” he nodded to her and she waved him off as he pulled me from the office.
“Is that?” I asked confused as we wandered out into the light. August was sitting in the backseat of a black SUV I’d never seen, headphones in and scrolling through his phone without a care in the world. Silas popped open the passenger door for me and held onto the frame with a serious look on his face.
“Schools out, you’re all packed. We’re going to the cabin. Get in the car, Drew.” Silas’s voice dropped lower. “Please.”
I looked at him for a moment, “this isn’t a ‘Harbor’s too loud’ moment?” I asked him.
“It’s a ‘I want to take my girlfriend and her son to my family's cabin for the weekend’ moment.” Silas’s smile was infectious and I couldn’t say no to him when he was in such a good mood so I climbed into the car and let him close the door. I reached back and patted August on the knee to get him to look at me.
“What did I tell you about riding in cars with strangers?” I teased when he pulled his headphones down.
“Don’t do it unless they promise money…” August joked.
“Seriously?” I laughed but drank in his soft expression.
“He wrestled Red into the kennel for this,” August said with a smile as Silas climbed into the car.
“I have the war wounds to prove it,” Silas grumbled, starting the engine.
