Chapter 23
Oakley Kate
I’d hoped the ride to Stumps would be quiet, but I should’ve known better with my brother behind the wheel. We don’t even make it out of the rink parking lot before he’s asking how my talk with Silas went. Instead of giving him an answer, I ask a question that’s been bugging me instead.
“If you knew what was happening, why didn’t you say something?”
“Because he asked me not to,” he says as he pulls onto the highway.
“Since when has that ever stopped you from butting into people’s lives?”
“Since it had the possibility of upending yours. Although, I guess I didn’t need to worry too much about that,” he says with a pointed look.
I wince. He’s still salty that no one told him about me quitting. I think I’ll keep the full reasoning to myself a little longer. Maybe forever.
“I could’ve hinted that something was up with him,” Noah continues, “but he really didn’t want you to know. And Mom had to swear to secrecy when she started watching Aubrey for him.”
The truth settles heavy in my chest. Maybe he didn’t want me to know, but I do now. And I can’t just sit back and watch him fall apart.
“I’m going to do it,” I say finally. “I’ll be homebound for a little while, but it sounds like that’ll work out fine.”
“I knew you would. How do you feel about it?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’d never not help Silas, you know?”
He nods slowly, licking his lips like he’s weighing his words. “I do know. I also know you and he have history. I guess what I’m asking is, are you sure you can handle sharing the same space day in and day out?”
I’m shaking my head before he even finishes. “I walked away, Noah. And as much as I still love him—and I will only admit that to myself—I walked away because it was the right thing to do. I refuse to let my issues hold him back from being exactly who he is.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I lift my hand to stop him.
“And it’s none of my brother’s business why. Just trust me, okay? I did what I thought was best. I still think it was for the best. Please don’t meddle.”
His lips twitch, fighting a smirk. “No meddling. Promise.”
“Thank you.”
He shoots me a quick side glance, grin spreading. “But for the record? I’m all for the two of you finding your way back together.”
As we pull in front of Stumps, the scent of fried food and barbecue sauce hits me through the vents, and my stomach growls as I mentally scan through my food options. The parking lot is already packed—typical for a Friday lunch crowd—but I spot Silas’s truck parked a few spaces down.
Of course, he beat us here.
Noah catches me looking and smirks. “You gonna pretend you didn’t just search for his truck, or should I give you a second to fix your hair?”
“Don’t start,” I warn, fighting a smile. “I’m here for lunch, not a date.”
“Sure, Kates,” he says, dragging out the nickname with way too much amusement.
Rolling my eyes, I grab my crutches from behind the seat and swing my door open. The heat hits instantly, sticky Georgia humidity making it feel even hotter than it is. I square my shoulders, take a breath, and follow my brother to the door.
And even though I tell myself it’s just lunch, my pulse kicks up when I see Silas waiting inside, the internal desire for this to be more firmly planted in my mind. His head is bent toward Aubrey as she chatters animatedly, that familiar grin tugging at his lips as he takes in every word.
Like he can feel my gaze on him, he looks up, and suddenly, I’m not sure of my own name.
Yeah. Just lunch.