Chapter 35 Solana
SOLANA
“I know you think I’m just some silly girl with stars in her eyes, Moonshine. But I’ve seen the real you. The man behind the swagger and the sweet talk.”
I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, trying to channel Magnolia’s fierce vulnerability. My script is propped up against the faucet, but I barely need it anymore—these lines are burned into my brain after weeks of rehearsals.
“And that man?” I continue, lifting my chin. “That man is worth fighting for. Even if the whole world says I’m a fool for loving him.”
Saturday is opening night.
It’s so close I can taste it, and I’m a nervous wreck.
I draw a breath and start the next line, but a knock at the front door cuts me off first.
My heart stutters in response.
After everything Silver and I have been through over the past couple months—severed heads on doorsteps, shootouts on the street, Kel attacking me in my own bedroom—I’ve learned not to take unexpected visitors lightly.
I set down my script and creep toward the front of the house, my pulse picking up speed. I peek through the window beside the door, then let out the breath I was holding.
It’s possibly one of the least threatening people who could turn up at Silver’s house.
Tabitha’s standing on the porch, shifting her weight from foot to foot, her school backpack slung over one shoulder. She looks nervous—almost as nervous as I feel as I realize I’ll have to speak to her for the first time since she found out I was dating her dad.
I unlock the door and open it, pasting a smile onto my face even though my heart is thumping wildly. What could she possibly want to say to me? Does she even know I’m here? Is she going to be angry like Rachel was?
“Hey, Tabby,” I say, trying to sound casual. “Your dad’s not home right now—he’s out on club business. But if you need access to your room or anything, you can totally come on in.”
Tabitha tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Actually, I was here to, um, talk to you. I was wondering if you have a second?”
I blink, caught off guard. “Oh. Um, yeah. Of course. Come on in.”
She steps inside, clutching a textbook to her chest while her bookbag swings along her back. She must’ve come straight here right after school.
“Can I get you a soda or something?” I offer, leading her toward the kitchen.
Then I catch myself and quickly add, “I mean, I know this is your dad’s house and you don’t need permission to raid the fridge, obviously.
I’m just trying to be a good host. Not that I’m the host. This isn’t my house. I just—sorry. Rambling.”
She cracks a small smile. “It’s cool. I get it.”
She sets her backpack down on one of the kitchen chairs and leans against the counter, fidgeting with the strap.
It occurs to me she’s about as nervous as I am. Ironically enough, this more than anything helps settle the nerves fluttering away inside my stomach.
“To be honest,” she admits, “my mom doesn’t even know I’m here. She’d be pretty pissed if she did.”
“Oh. Right. That makes sense.” I lean against the opposite counter to give her space. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I wanted to say I’m sorry. For telling my mom about what I saw that time I came over and found your lip gloss.
I kind of already knew it was yours. I recognized it from when you were babysitting Jack.
But I told her anyway, and I had no idea she’d blow up on you and Dad like that. Or fire you from the babysitting job.”
“Tabby, it’s not your fault,” I say. “At all. We were the ones sneaking around like we were guilty of something when we weren’t.”
Her brows raise in question, so I elaborate.
“Your dad and I have very real feelings for each other. I’m not sorry for dating him. But I am sorry for how you found out about it. That wasn’t fair to you.”
“I’m not mad. I mean, it’s kinda weird. Because you were my brother’s babysitter and everything,” she says with a half-shrug. “But I always liked you. I thought you were cool. Way better than my mom’s boyfriend Fred. He’s a real jerk.”
I can’t help but smile at that. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, then rolls her eyes. “He acts like he’s our dad or something, but he’s not. He’s just... so condescending and annoying.”
We’re quiet for a moment, letting it sink in that we’ve cleared the air. Then she clears her throat and probes a little further.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Um, sure.”
“Did you and my dad start dating because you were the babysitter? Like, is that how it happened?”
I shake my head immediately. “No. Not at all. Your dad was kind to me before he even knew I was the babysitter. Before I was even hired by your mom. We met through the club, and things just... grew from there.” I hold her gaze, hoping she’ll understand. “It wasn’t like that, I promise.”
Tabitha breathes out a sigh of relief. “Okay. Good. I just wish my mom wasn’t so judgmental about everything. She’s convinced Dad is only dating you to get some kind of revenge on her. Which is stupid.”
“Yeah,” I agree softly. “It is. Your Dad isn’t like that. He still cares about you and Jack—and your mom—so much.”
“Yeah, I know. He’s taken forever to move on… even if I always knew he would eventually,” she says, straightening up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Anyway, this conversation is just between us, okay? I don’t want my mom finding out I came here.”
“Of course,” I say. “Our secret.”
She heads for the door, and I follow her. But before she reaches it, I’m the one who takes a chance and asks a question.
“Hey, Tabby?”
She turns back. “Yeah?”
“I was wondering if maybe... next time it’s your dad’s weekend to have you and Jack... maybe we could all go out together? For pizza or tacos or something? Only if you’d want to, obviously. No pressure. If you both prefer I stay away for the weekend you’re here, I get it.”
Her face lights up with a genuine smile. “That would be fun, actually. Isn’t your play this upcoming Saturday?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“That’s when Dad has us. Maybe he can bring me and Jack to watch it,” she suggests. “Then we can go for pizza after?”
“I’d like that,” I say, matching her smile. “A lot.”
“Cool. It’s a plan, then. Jack’ll be so excited. He loved you as his babysitter. Said you were the most fun to play his dumb video games with.”
She waves goodbye and slips out the door, heading down the porch steps toward the street. I watch her go, leaning against the doorframe.
As dark and complicated as things have been, there are moments like this that remind me we can rebuild from what’s happened.
Maybe the worst really is behind us…
Hours later, I step out of the bathroom after my nighttime grooming routine—face washed and glazing from moisturizer, teeth brushed, and hair wrapped in a silk bonnet—to find Silver already in bed.
He’s propped up against the headboard, the comforter peeled back, his broad chest in full view (he always sleeps shirtless). Even with the bandage still wrapped around his thigh and his cane propped against the nightstand, he’s sexy and masculine.
He looks like my fantasy.
I pad over to the bed in my baggy nightshirt, a grin tugging at my lips.
“You know,” I tease as I crawl onto the mattress beside him, “with that cane, I really do feel like I’m dating an older man.”
Silver makes a low, growly noise in his chest—the same kind that sends a shiver down my spine—and reaches for me. His large hands grip my waist and pull me toward him. Before I can say another word or even begin to protest, his mouth is on mine.
The kiss is hot and hungry, his lips claiming mine with a possessiveness that makes me forget the rest of my train of thought. His fingers dig into my hips as he angles my head just right, deepening the kiss ’til I’m breathless.
He tastes like the mint toothpaste he brushed his teeth with, and I’m sure I do too. I melt into him, my hands sliding up his bare chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath my palms.
When he finally pulls away, we’re both breathing harder than before.
“I’m old enough to spank you if need be,” he rumbles, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. “Don’t forget that.”
I giggle, nipping at his lower lip. “Sounds more like a reward than a punishment.”
He groans, and then we’re kissing again—playful this time, trading pecks and teasing bites. His hands roam under my nightshirt, warm against my bare skin. I arch into him instinctively, right away seeking more of his touch.
We’re so silly at times, which would probably surprise most people. Silver lets his fingers tickle the sides of my stomach, and I squirm into him, nipping at his jaw as I hold in the laughter.
It’s just one of the many ways we’ve learned to be affectionate with each other. Tangled up in bed making games out of how much we enjoy each other’s touch.
Eventually, we settle down, my head resting on his chest, his arm wrapped securely around me.
“Tabby came by earlier,” I confess, letting my fingers run over his sparse chest hairs.
Silver cocks a brow, glancing down at me. “Yeah? That’s news to me. What’d she want?”
I summarize the conversation, telling him about the apology about the lip gloss and how she said she always thought I was cool. When I get to the part about pizza and the play, a slow grin spreads across his face.
“She wants to come to opening night,” I say. “With Jack. And then maybe we can all go out for pizza after.”
Silver is quiet for a moment, considering the proposal. “Might reignite a feud with Rachel,” he admits.
“Maybe,” I agree.
“But it’s not as if she hasn’t been doing what she wants with Fred,” he goes on, folding an arm under his head. “Besides, the kids are old enough to know what’s going on. I don’t want to hide our relationship anymore. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
I lean up and kiss him, filled with the gratitude and affection swelling in my chest. When I pull back, I press my palm to his cheek. “Did you take your pain meds? For your thigh?”
“I appreciate how concerned you get about me, baby. Yeah, I took them.”
I kiss him again. “I want you back to your strong, healthy self. No more limping around with that old man cane.”
“I will be soon enough. Got a pretty good girlfriend taking care of me.”
“You’ve taken care of me too, you know,” I remind him softly. “Helping me through everything I’ve gone through. Still helping me today. Making sure I go to my therapy sessions.”
Silver’s arm tightens around me, and he brushes his lips against my brow. “I’ll always be there for you, Solana. You’re not getting rid of me.”
I smirk against his chest, snuggling closer. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He reaches over and clicks off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. I close my eyes, nodding off within minutes in his arms.
My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.
Backstage is pure chaos. The cast is in full costume, makeup done, hair styled, everyone buzzing with an electric mix of excitement and terror.
Standard for opening night of a play we’ve been working on for weeks, but times five.
Mr. Davies zips back and forth like a man possessed, clipboard in hand, yelling orders at everyone in sight.
“Someone fix that backdrop! It’s crooked! Lighting crew, where’s my spotlight? I said warm tones, not jaundice! And for the love of god, someone get Derek a breath mint!”
I smooth down the front of my costume, a periwinkle button down dress that makes me feel like I’ve stepped straight out of the 1940s South. My hair is done in similar fashion—or as close as you can style butterfly locs to mirror an omelet fold hairstyle.
Derek appears beside me, tugging nervously at his suspenders. “Good luck out there,” he says, his voice a little shaky.
“Thanks.” I manage a tight smile. “You too.”
He grimaces. “I just hope I remember all my lines.”
“Yeah,” I say dryly. “I hope you do too. For both our sakes.”
He releases a nervous laugh, then wanders off to take his place, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts.
I can’t resist.
I creep toward the heavy velvet curtain and peek through the gap, scanning the audience as they settle into their seats. The theater is filling up nicely—way more people than I expected.
My stomach does a flip.
Then I spot them.
Front row, right in the center. Silver is sitting with Tabby on one side and Jack on the other.
Jack is already munching on a bucket of popcorn, his legs swinging beneath his seat.
Tabby has her phone out, filming what looks like a short reel or TikTok, her lips moving as she narrates something to the camera.
But Silver—he’s already looking right at me. As if he was waiting for me to peek out. As if he knew I would.
He winks reassuringly and melts away most of my nerves. A few butterflies are still present, but they’re not so frantic anymore.
…because he’s here. My biggest supporter. The man who believes in me even when I struggle to believe in myself.
I can do this.
I step back from the curtain, a genuine smile spreading across my face. Around me, the cast for the opening scene is lining up, everyone finding their marks. Mr. Davies is still barking orders, but his voice fades into background noise as I center myself.
I’ve got this. I’ve worked too hard to let anything ruin tonight.
This is what I’ve always wanted—to be an actress and star in a production.
“There she is.”
Any excitement I’ve built for the moment I walk onto stage dissipates.
I turn at the sound of Shay’s voice as she and Yvette approach from the wings. They’re dressed like they’re here for a night out partying, not a community theater production, wearing tight dresses, full glam makeup, and matching expressions of malicious delight.
My worst nightmare, materializing right before I’m supposed to go on stage.
I try to ignore them, turning my back on them, but Shay steps into my path. Her dark eyes glitter with cruel satisfaction.
“Hold up fast, Lana,” she says. “We wanted to drop by and show you what we’ve been up to.”
Yvette holds up her phone, the screen facing me. Showing me images from the night I’ve tried to move on from. “We finally managed to get into Spencer’s cloud.”
“Is that why you made him and Kel disappear?” Shay asks. “Because they had these on you?”