Page 26 of Silver Tears

Vee snorts loudly and starts laughing. “Hilarious, brother. You wouldn’t know how to date even if I gave you a manual.”

Seb narrows his eyes at her. “Funny. Well, believe it or not, it’s true. Mills and I are a thing, and you all need to accept it and move on.”

Eliza steps forward, arms folded, and concentrates her attention on me. “Milly, is this true or some stupid prank of his?”

I smile. “Surprise!”

“Wow,” I hear Vee exclaim. “You seriously have a girlfriend? You know that means you can’t sleep around, brother?”

Seb fake laughs. “Yes, thank you. I’m fully aware. Look, this is happening guys, so could you be nice about it?” He clears his throat, and looking down at me, he smiles. “Mills is important to me, okay?”

“You heard him,” Rafe speaks up from where he’s been quietly watching and listening from his seat on the car bonnet. He gets to his feet and comes over and offers Seb his hand. “Congratulations man. Never thought I’d see that day, but honestly, I think this will be good for you.”

“Thanks, brother.” Seb grins, taking his friend’s hand in his, and they share a firm grip.

Eliza tilts her head watching me, and I shift, feeling uneasy under her gaze. “Does Day know?”

I chew on my lip and shake my head. Archer tips his head back and laughs. “Oh, this will be interesting.”

Eliza whacks him on the chest. “It’s not funny. Day will have a hernia.” She looks back at me. “This,” she waggles her finger between Seb and I, “seriously, I’m pleased for you both, but you should have told Damon first. Oh, and Seb, you hurt her and it’s not just Day and the whole Silver family you’ll have to deal with. It will be me as well.”

Seb salutes her, nodding his head. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Little Red, but you don’t need to worry.” He looks down at me and winks. “I think Mills and me are going to be okay.”

I smile up at him and sigh in fake contentment. Now I understand why girls fall for him. When he looks at you like that, it’s hard to believe it’s not real. “Shall we head inside?”

Vee snickers at my question. “Is that so you can avoid Damon in the car park?”

I grimace and offer her a knowing smile. “Maybe.”

Seb squeezes my shoulder softly and kisses my head again. “It’ll be fine, precious.”

“Oh god, this is just too fucking cute,” Eliza gushes to Archer, as she takes his hand, and they fall in step alongside us. “He calls her precious.”

“It’s fucking adorable,” Archer says in a deadpan tone and rolls his eyes.

“Oh,” Eliza clicks her fingers together, grinning. “We can go on triple dates now and everything and not have to put up with Seb bringing some random groupie along!” She winces and looks at me. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t mention his ex-flings.”

I bat her comment away with my hand. “It’s fine. It’s not like I’m under any illusions about his past.”

Eliza points at me with a determined look on her face. “We are so going for coffee soon. I need filling in on how this happened.”

I feel sick to my stomach at how excited Eliza is about us getting together. I feel like I am betraying a friend.

“Stop worrying,” Seb whispers in my ear.

If I had hoped to get into school unnoticed, I’m clearly a fool. Everyone clocks me with Seb, and I mean everyone. People stop whatever they are doing and stare, batting their friend’s arms and pointing over at us.

“Have you seen who he’s with? A Silver!” I hear one girl whisper to her open-mouthed friend as we pass by them.

“I never would have put those two together.” Another says from behind us.

“Ignore it,” Eliza says to me, nudging my shoulder. “You’ll get used to the notoriety eventually. It gets easier, I promise.”

I gulp, looking around at all the students staring at us. “You sure about that?”

“It will be fine, Mills,” Seb reassures me.

We head inside and Seb says farewell to the others and accompanies me to where the year eleven lockers are. A group of girls from my year are all gathered a few lockers down, chatting and catching up before class. They all fall silent when they see Seb with his arm around me.

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