Chapter 5
. . .
Vesper
One minute, I’m trying to blend pink and orange for a sunset landscape, and the next, I’m waking up in my bed with the sunrise seeping through my blinds.
All I have between that time is a brief recollection of pencils clattering to the floor in the living room and an all-encompassing pine cologne as I was carried to bed.
Silas.
I shoot up, and the duvet that was strewn across the couch last night pools in my lap.
I’m alone in bed, but when did he leave? And why did I pass out so hard? All I had was one glass of wine.
Throwing the duvet back, I pad across to my dresser, wearing the black leggings and jersey I wore to the game.
I’m still wearing makeup, although my hair is down and around my shoulders; the hair tie I used to pull it out of my face last night remains next to my phone, which has been plugged in to charge.
I pick it up, check for messages, and find multiple from the girls group chat with June, Drew, and her younger sister, Marley. The first is from June with a picture attached of her standing in a dressing room, taking a selfie.
June
Opinions, please. Is this too revealing for a bridesmaid dress?
Drew
Do you want my honest thoughts?
June
Unfiltered.
Drew
Will would hate it.
June
Will can shove his head in a blender; he isn’t wearing it.
Drew
LOL. You have such a way with words, JJ.
June
Listen, no man will ever tell me what I can wear. Not unless he would like said item shoved up his ass.
Drew
Agreed, although I don’t think your brother would ever try and do that.
June
So, why won’t he like it? The thigh slit just about covers my underwear.
Drew
Because you look so freaking hot in it.
June
Stop ittt. I’m actually blushing.
Drew
Buy the dress.
June
But you weren’t going for a pink wedding.
Drew
I don’t care. That sweetheart neckline on you is criminal.
Marley
I second Drew. Buy the damn dress, JJ.
June
The dress is in the bag. It only cost $3,000, but my brother can pay for it. He earns more than the net worth of a small town.
June
Anyone heard from Vesper?
Drew
Not since she left the players’ bar with Silas …
June
Ooh … so my instincts last night were right.
Me
I know these text messages were sent, like, an hour ago, but I’m going to jump in here and say that unless your instincts told you that I’d be spending the night coloring before falling asleep on my couch with The Devil Wears Prada playing in the background, then you’re wrong.
P.S. The dress is insane.
June
That doesn’t change the way that the Rogues captain was looking at you.
Drew
No comment. Vesper already knows my thoughts when it comes to her and Silas.
June
Vesper … are you into Silas Stanton?! I can’t say that I blame you. That forearm tattoo alone is hotter than hell.
Closing out the text thread—because I’m not about to admit how hot Silas’s only tattoo actually is—I pull my robe from the hook on the back of my bedroom door and step out into the hallway.
There’s no sound coming from the rest of the apartment, and as I move into the living space, there’s no sign of Silas, aside from a handwritten note left on the coffee table.
Hey, Ves.
It’s just after five a.m., and you’re still asleep.
You crashed pretty hard last night, so I carried you to bed and tidied up your pencils. Some needed sharpening, so I did that too.
I’m heading to the gym for a while, but I’ll message you afterward.
Silas
P.S. It was good to see you smile last night, and you’re right; coloring does make you happy.
P.P.S. I’m pleased my pathetic attempt at coloring amused you. I think I’ll stick to hockey.
Setting my cell down on the coffee table, I pull open the drawer where I keep my coloring books and find the one I was using last night.
Oh my God, he used my sticky notes to label each of the illustrations he liked the most. I skip toward the back and see Silas left another note, asking me to color this one next.
It’s probably the simplest drawing in the book, but I could definitely make the scales on the mermaid’s tail something special.
I slide the book back into the drawer and open my pencil case. He didn’t just sharpen some of my pencils; he did them all.
A smile aches in my cheeks as I pick up my phone and type out another text message.
Me
I have some questions.
A response comes through almost immediately.
Silas
Good timing. I just finished in the gym. Fire away.
I take a seat on the couch, fingers flying over my phone’s keyboard.
Me
Where did you sleep last night?
Silas
On the couch.
Me
I didn’t leave you any blankets.
Silas
I found some in the closet.
Me
Where are they now?
Silas
Back in the closet.
Me
LOL. A well-trained man. Now, there’s something you don’t see every day.
Silas
It’s not about being well trained or a gentleman. It’s about being respectful.
Something about Silas’s last message has me biting down on my bottom lip.
Silas
Next question.
Me
Why the mermaid?
Silas
You’ll do a great job of it, and when I next stop by, I can take a look and give you a score out of ten.
Me
When you next stop by. That’s pretty presumptuous, wouldn’t you say?
Silas
Yep. Any other questions, Knockout?
Me
Yeah, what’s with the nickname?
Silas
Multiple reasons.
Me
Which are?
Silas
God, Ves, let a guy have some secrets.
Is Silas Stanton flirting with me? No way.
Me
Final question. Was Kane gone when you went downstairs?
Silas
No. He was still asleep.
Me
Fuck. So, he’s still there now?
Silas
No.
Not after I called security and reported a suspicious-looking dude asleep in his car with a bottle of bourbon. I parked around the corner and waited ten minutes before he was escorted out of the garage.
Me
I don’t know what to say, other than thank you. And I hope he sobered up before he drove.
Silas
He was. Security wouldn’t have let him drive away if he was still under the influence. They told me they’d be sure of that.
I close my eyes and swallow thickly, knowing this idea could backfire spectacularly but somehow not really giving a crap either.
I don’t want to lose Silas from my life, even if I’m cutting his asshole brother out of it.
Decent people are hard to come by in this world, and what he did for me last night was so damn sweet.
Me
I know you guys have strict dietary regimens and everything, but would you be down to maybe share a pizza and repeat last night again sometime? It would give you the perfect opportunity to grade my mermaid.
Silas
There’s something inherently wrong about the way that last sentence sounds.
Me
No, Silas. That is just your filthy mind.
Silas
Tomorrow night? We leave for an away series in Buffalo the next day.
I’m ready to back out and scrap the whole idea when my attention snags on the kitchen. He wiped down all the counters and put away the olives too.
Me
Lucky for you, I’m not working tomorrow. Bring the pizza, and you’ve got yourself a deal.
Silas
Should I just go ahead and guess your favorite toppings?
Me
Yeah, and I can grade your choices.
Silas
In the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should be honest. I already know them.
Italian base, green peppers, red onions, spicy ground beef, extra sun-dried tomatoes, extra cheese, and jalapenos because you are a massive freak and like your pizza hot.
Me
I’m the freak? Says the one who can remember my pizza order a whole year after we last ordered one with Kane.
Silas
One: Pizza is important. Two: I notice everything, Vesper. More than you know.
Any more questions before I hit the showers?
Annnd now I’m thinking about my ex’s brother naked.
Me
No.
Silas
Good. Now go and color that mermaid. You have less than thirty-six hours before grading commences.