Chapter 40 Silver
SILVER
Knock, knock.
I look up from the club finances spread across the desk and at the door. It’s a Friday afternoon, and as far as I know, nobody was supposed to be coming by.
Ozzie props the door open half a second later, sticking his tattooed head in, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Ex-wifey’s here to see you, Prez.”
I set down my pen and lean back in the chair. “Let her in.”
Ozzie falls back to make way for Rachel to step through.
Over twenty years of knowing her, the basics about Rachel will always be the same—long, straight ginger hair and freckles dappled across her nose and cheeks. A woolly cardigan draped over her shoulders like armor, swallowing up her waifish frame.
These days, as a teacher, she carries around a large sack of a purse that contains anything she’d ever need.
Her apple-green eyes scan the office with open distaste, like she’s worried she might catch something just from standing here.
Some things never change.
I stand up from the desk, immediately on alert. “Is everything alright with the kids? Tabby texted me earlier—said she got another A on her latest English assignment. Some essay on The Grapes of Wrath.”
Rachel waves a dismissive hand. “It’s not about the kids.”
My brow creases. “Alright. Then what’s it about?”
“I wanted to talk about what we’re doing.”
I slant my head, genuinely confused. “What we’re doing what?”
She’s staring at me with an expression I can’t read. It’s as if she’s searching for something. Waiting for some specific reaction out of me.
When it doesn’t come, she heaves a sigh, almost rolling her eyes. “We’ve been dancing around things for months now, Jack. Going from huge arguments to being fake cordial. It’s exhausting.”
“Speak English, Rachel. Be specific,” I say, rubbing at my temple. Suddenly, a headache is starting to form. “What’s this really about? What do you want?”
“Fine,” she huffs, rolling her eyes for real this time. “I’ve realized why you started dating that girl. And how I feel about it... is probably how you felt about Fred.”
I go still, somehow more confused than before she answered my question.
“I’m sorry, okay?” she continues. “For how it happened. How you caught us together. That I hadn’t told you I wanted a divorce before I slept with him.
That wasn’t fair to you. Even if you were so absent in our marriage.
I owed you honesty instead of seeing another man.
I guess… I guess a part of me wanted to see you hurt.
I wanted anger or jealousy out of you—some kind of reaction to know you still were in love with me. ”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it, the sound gruff and humorless.
“Ironically, Rachel, you doing that is what made me fall out of love with you. I wasn’t always as present as I should’ve been.
I know that now. Had you come to me about it—things could’ve been different. We could’ve worked on it.
“But you crossed a line that there was no fixing. It’s been over between us for years now. Almost three to be exact. There’s no reason to drudge up any of it because what’s done is done. I don’t give a fuck about you and Fred. Not anymore.”
She scoffs, shaking her head. “Of course you’d pretend you’re over it. Yet you’re dating the babysitter.”
“Let’s get one thing straight,” I say, taking a step toward her.
My tone one of warning. “Her name’s Solana, and you’ll refer to her as such.
We connected before she ever became your damn babysitter, Rachel.
That happened by chance. That’s what you don’t seem to get—me and Solana have got nothing to do with you and Fred. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Am I supposed to buy that? That you didn’t go out and find the most inappropriate girlfriend you could just to get under my skin?”
“No, I didn’t. Because I genuinely care about Solana. Our relationship is real. Just like ours was, once.”
Her brows knit close as her mouth opens as if to speak, but she comes up with nothing. She’s genuinely thrown by my response.
“Rachel, we’re divorced,” I go on simply. “I’ve moved on. I thought you had too. A part of me will always care about you—as the mother of my children. But otherwise, it’s over. For good. I’d like us to be a team in raising Jack and Tabby, but that’s about it. Alright?”
The surprise fades for a different emotion that flickers in her green eyes. It’s vulnerable and unexpected as she swallows tightly. Like maybe she’d finally had second thoughts about our divorce, wondering what would’ve happened if we’d tried harder.
I used to wonder those things too. Back when it first happened.
But it’s too late for that now. I’ve moved on from it, and if she hasn’t, she needs to too.
“I don’t know how much longer Fred and I will be together,” she admits quietly. “Things have been... tense. He’s pressuring me for marriage. For kids of his own, and I don’t know if I want to go there again.”
I don’t say anything. It’s not my place to comment on her relationship anymore.
She draws a deep, shuddering breath, straightening her shoulders. “But you’re right. Our marriage is done. There’s no going back.”
I nod slowly. “No. There’s not.”
Rachel hikes her purse higher up her shoulder, pausing as she turns for the door as if another thought has occurred to her.
“Apologize to Solana for me,” she says. “For how I treated her. Jack and Tabby... they gush about her constantly. If… if they like her, then so do I.”
“I’ll let her know you said that.”
Rachel nods once, then walks out without another word.
I stand there for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway.
Things’ll never be perfect between me and Rachel. There’ll always be some bitterness between us. Some tension simmering beneath the surface. It’s a given when you’ve got the history we do, full of so much hurt on both sides.
You don’t spend two decades with somebody and walk away clean.
But what’s most important isn’t us anymore.
We’ve got two amazing kids we made together. They should be our priority regardless of how we feel about each other.
I’ve barely turned to walk back to the desk when there’s another tap on the ajar door.
Mace walks in first, followed by Logan, Cash, and Ozzie. The four of them file into the office like they’ve been waiting in the wings, which—knowing this crew—they probably were.
“Drama with the ex-wife?” Mace asks, right eyebrow cocked.
I almost grin. Instead I rest my hands on my waist and give a single shake of my head. “Me and Rachel finally seem to be on the same page.”
The men exchange glances.
“But time’ll tell for good,” I add.
Logan leans against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Saw her looking a little upset as she walked out to her car.”
Ozzie snorts. “How’s she the upset one when she’s the one that cheated?”
“Because that’s life,” I answer plainly. “People’s feelings don’t always make sense.”
“What’s next for you and Solana?” Cash asks. He’s crossed the room and sat down on the armrest of the office’s leather sofa.
This time, the grin does come to fruition.
It tugs at the corner of my mouth as I look over at the engaged man.
“What do you think? We’re gonna continue to be together.
We’ve got time. She’s my future, but she’s young.
I want to take it slow with her. Let her finish school, figure out who she wants to be. No rush.”
Logan nods approvingly. “Good call.”
Ozzie, never one to let a moment stay serious for too long, smirks. “Meanwhile, Mace and Logan over here are dealing with pregnant wives sending them on three a.m. runs to the drugstore for pickles and string cheese.”
“That was only once,” Mace grumbles, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Once so far, my friend,” Ozzie corrects. “You’ve still got five long months to go.”
“I had no clue pregnancy cravings start so damn early,” Mace mutters. “She’s barely showing and already has me running all over town for weird shit. She texted me earlier saying she wants bacon chili cheese dogs for dinner.”
Logan chuckles. “I’m already prepared from Teysha’s first pregnancy. Stocked up the fridge, freezer, and pantry with all her favorites just to be sure. Learned my lesson last time.”
“Smart man,” Cash says with a grin.
The conversation shifts as I return to my seat behind the desk. Mace’s gaze drops to the finance documents spread out in front of me—the same ones I was reviewing before Rachel showed up.
“Club business?” he asks.
“Always.” I tap the stack of papers. “This’ll be your problem soon enough. Once I step down in a few years.”
“I did the prez thing temporarily when you were in the middle of your divorce, remember?” Mace asks. “It’s how I met Sydney.”
“Yeah, I know—and you proved you were up to the task. You did a damn good job,” I explain. “Ghost’s got no interest in the crown.”
Logan shakes his head in confirmation, shooting his younger brother a subtly amused glance. I’m amused too as I hold Mace’s gaze and continue.
“You’ve always been prez material, Mace. Pretty sure everybody else would agree you make the most sense to take over.”
Cash and Ozzie are on the sidelines, arms crossed and nodding along too. I couldn’t be stating something more obvious.
Everybody really does agree on it, whether Mace realizes it or not.
“It’s always been something I’ve wanted,” he concedes. “Chalk it up to wanting to follow in Tom’s footsteps. Even if we never got along. But at the same time… after how much of a piece of shit he turned out to be... it’s complicated.”
I lean forward in my chair. “You’re a better man than your father ever was, Mace. You’re gonna lead this club the way your father should’ve led it. You’re not him. You never were.”
Ozzie claps Mace on the shoulder. “We’re here for you, brother. We’re your backup. Your right hands.”
“Always,” Logan agrees, as stoic and steady as ever.
Cash nods. “Whatever you need.”
I study the four of them, pride swelling inside my chest. These men are the next generation. The next generation that’ve come up after me and Tom.