Page 23 of Silver Tears

I glare at him, wishing an enormous hole would open in the ground beneath his feet and swallow him up. “No one will believe it.”

He ponders my comment. “I guess it will be hard for them to believe I’ve lowered myself to take a Silver as mine, but stranger things have happened.”

I jab him in the chest with my finger. “No, no one will believe that I would ever date you.”

He catches my finger between his, holding it prisoner. “I know you’re good at acting. My sister was singing your praises after drama club the other night. I expect an Oscar winning performance, Mills.” He lets go of my finger and I tuck it back into my hand, clenching a fist.

“Why me?”

He replies with a casual shrug. “Why not you? Besides, I’m in the mood to ruffle some feathers.” He winks at me and grins. My stupid stomach flips. He’s a privileged fucker. I can’t let him get to me.

“So how is this ‘fake dating’ going to work? We can’t rock up here tomorrow holding hands and looking all loved up. We need a back story.”

He taps his chin. “You have a point. I’ll pick you up at six tonight. We’ll go for waffles and come up with our plan.”

“I’m working tonight.”

“Again?” he asks me with a raised eyebrow. “You sure work a lot for someone who doesn’t need to work.”

I bristle. “I work to help my mum and brother. To put food in the cupboards and ensure I pay the bills.”

His signature smirk softens at my words. “You seriously spend all your earnings on them?”

I wrap my arms across my middle, feeling exposed, and scuff the ground with my shoes. “Not all of it, but yeah. He’s my little brother. I don’t want him to grow up with memories of being cold and hungry.”

I feel unwrapped under his scrutiny. For a few seconds, he simply stares at me with a puzzled look on his face. “What time do you finish? I’ll pick you up and we’ll go get fast food and talk in my car.”

“Seven.”

He pulls open the store cupboard door. He sticks his head out to check if the coast is clear before he steps aside and holds it open for me. “Okay, I’ll see you tonight at seven, girlfriend.”

I shiver at the word. How in all that is holy have I ended up with the title of Seb Collings’ girlfriend? Life is about to get all kinds of crazy.

* * *

I’m distracted throughout my shift. I get two orders wrong and have to apologise to Brianna with the excuse that I’m tired because of studying. Truth is, I can’t get Seb Collings and this whole situation out of my head. It’s clear Seb is a heartbreaker. I’ve heard the rumours. I’ve experienced those panty-melting smiles and winks. If I’m to survive this in one piece, I mustn’t let myself fall. As much as I hate to admit it, Seb Collings is the full package. Yes, he’s arrogant, selfish, a player, and spoilt, but he’s also undeniably gorgeous with his messy blond curls. That body of his looks like it’s been chiselled by the Gods. He’s also funny and charming. On the flip side, though, he can be cruel, demanding, and unforgiving. It’s a dangerous and heady mix for a broken heart. I need to remember that despite all the above; he’s an Ace. His family and their society have done their best to run my father out of town. They have blocked every planning or licence application. Not because he doesn’t deserve them, but because he’s new money and he doesn’t ‘fit’ with what they find acceptable. There are two sides to this Bay, and despite all our wealth, we Silver’s will always be on the other side. To the Aces society, that is where we belong, and you know what? I’m okay with that. We grew up on the west side of the Bay and the people are good, hardworking, and look after each other. I’m not ashamed of where I come from. Can Seb Collings honestly say the same?

I clock off at seven and head into the back and take off my apron. I pull my hair out of the tight bun and run my fingers through it. Checking my shifts for next week with my boss, Ben, before I head back through to the front. He’s here. Sitting at the counter, all smiles, charming Brianna. She flutters her eyelashes at him and listens avidly to his every word.

“Are we going?” I ask in a deadpan tone that has them both looking at me.

Seb scans my body. I’m still in the pale pink and white stripe dress. He winks at me. “Hey, beautiful. You hungry?”

“Always,” I reply, honestly. Food, especially desserts, is my second favourite pastime after books.

Brianna looks at me with wide eyes as she clocks that he’s here for me. “You’re a dark horse, Milly Silver.”

“Me? I’m an open book,” I say with a bob of my shoulders. This earns me a knowing look from Seb. Seb is the one person right now who knows more about my life than anyone else, and that is a scary prospect. I walk around to where he sits, and he springs up off the stool. Reaching out, he takes my hand in his. He raises it to his lips and kisses it, all the while not taking his eyes from mine. “Let’s go eat, precious.”

I grimace, my cheeks flaming red when I notice a table of kids from my old school. Great! Word will be out about who I’m with before you know it.

“I’m not your precious,” I hiss quietly so only he can hear my words. He responds with a throaty chuckle, holding the cafe door open for me. He drives an Audi, top of the range. The type of car kids from my old school could only dream about.

“I need to be home for nine. I have homework to do,” I inform him as I buckle in.

“Don’t worry, my sexy little nerd, I’ll have you home safe and sound for nine.”

* * *

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