Page 82 of True Honey
Pain riddled and fighting for his life he had seen the need.
He shook his hair out like a dog in Clementine’s face who squealed and backed up about ten steps from him before jogging forward and jumping into the puddle at his feet. Water flung up around them and coated them in tan mud. I sighed, I was going to have to take him to the hospital tomorrow and get his cast changed. There was no way it wasn’t soaked beneath that garbage bag, but the smile on his face told me it could wait.
Arlo looked over at me, rain dripping down his face and nodded,this is what it was about it.This was who I was fighting for. I nodded back and joined in on their playing until a set of headlights came up the drive and Drew got out with a bewildered look on her face.
“What are you guys doing?” She asked.
“Jumping in puddles.” August announced over the sound of rain and the music that roared from the porch. “You should try it,” he smiled, he was coveredhead to toe in mud and water, staring at his mother like she was the insane one for not immediately agreeing.
“You’re going to get sick,” she said to him, but she was overruled by a loud chorus of boos and jeers from everyone. I thought for a second it might harden her, or embarrass her but she looked over at me for help and I just shrugged.
“It’s therapeutic,” I said to her with a smile.
She closed her door and chucked her purse on the porch, pulling off her hoodie and returning to the downpour to stand next to me with a small sigh.
“What now?” She whispered to me as everyone went back to jumping around and playing. I didn’t give her verbal instructions, instead I jumped forward into the puddle just ahead of her and splashed dirty water up over her clean jeans. She inhaled a sharp breath as the cold water hit her skin, a scowl forming on her lips but her eyes were lit up like a fire as she took her turn to jump in a nearby puddle.
Her laughter was loud and infectious, bubbling up from her chest with each splash, step and hop. Eventually she was muddy like the rest of us, spinning August around in circles and singing alongside Ella to songs she recognized from Cael’s party CD.
At one point August made eye contact with me and I could see the warning flash across his expression as Drew rang out the bottom of her hair between her hands. I wanted to say to him,don’t worry kid, I’ll make sure she keeps singing.But instead I tapped my fingers to my chest, a gesture that meant nothing to him but everything to me.
“Silas Andrew Shore,” my mother's voice stirred me from sleep. I sat straight up, the blankets falling around my waist as I checked the bed for Drew. I was so exhausted that I had fallen asleep and not moved the entire night which meant Ihadn’t gone in search of comfort from her. “Where is your fiancée?” she asked, her head turning to the side.
Shit.
“She wasn’t feeling well last night, so she slept in the guest room so she wouldn’t get me sick before the next series.” I lied as quickly as I could. “Why are you here?” I mimicked her movements as she stomped across my bedroom completely ignoring the outrageous crossing of boundaries she was committing. “Mom,” I barked and she stopped digging through things.
“Why are none of her things in here?” She asked me, “isn’t this the guest room? Why is she inyourroom alone?”
“I don’t know! I’m half awake! Why are you at the Nest so early?” I rolled my eyes, “visiting someone special?” I huffed pushing out of bed.
“It’s noon, Silas.” She glared at me. “And you’re being cagey.”
“Her things didn’t fit in this closet with all my things, so she took the master closet and the ensuite to get ready in the mornings, she sleeps in here normally. Thank god she wasn’t in here when you decided to make a surprise visit to your grown son’s bedroom.” I groaned, grabbing my keys and a shirt from the dresser.
“Are you done with your hissy fit?” She asked me.
“Are you done snooping?” I countered, opening the bedroom door. “Out,” I said to her and she huffed, turning in her heels and leaving.
“I came over to take Drew for lunch, there’s wedding plans we need to discuss. If she’s going to be part of this family, I’m having a party.” She declared.
“Is a party really the smartest idea right now?” I arched a brow at her. “Dad’s trial starts soon and I barely have any free time to do anything, let alone plan a wedding and be involved in it.”
“It’s the perfect time, it shows urgency and commitment to the board members. A man not planning his wedding is suspicious, Silas,” she said, narrowing her eyes on me.
The fact that she was right woke me up. Not planning or picking a date left room for them to ask questions, to dismantle the credibility of the relationship.
“Fine.” I agreed, “stay here.” I warned, knocking on Drew’s door before I cracked the door open and locked it behind me. The shower was running, and Icould hear the soft sounds of Drew humming a song I didn’t recognize. It made me smile, sinking into the acoustics of her happiness. It took me a second to invade her privacy but I stepped inside and closed that door behind me too.
“Drew,” I said softly, causing her to yelp from the surprise. “Sorry,” I said, as she stepped around the fogged up glass. My jaw clenched at the sight of her damp skin and soft morning smile. “Hi.” I whispered to her and the smile grew.
“Are you okay?” She asked, “you don’t usually come in here…” I cut her off with a kiss, wrapping my hand around the base of her throat and gently willing her closer as I stole the air from her lungs.
When I let her go, I stepped back to get control of my emotions before explaining to her why exactly I bombarded her. “My mother is in the kitchen, she wants to take you to lunch,” I said.
“What?” Drew stuttered. I pulled my keys from the pocket of my shorts, taking her engagement ring off them and setting it on the counter where she could see it. Her eyes flickered from the diamond to my face with dread. “She’s going to eat me alive, Silas.”
“No she won’t,” I assured her, “she just wants to plan a wedding. So we’re going to let her and it will be fine.”
