Chapter 11 #2
“Okay, back to me.” Ace points at his chest. “So, after we left you losers, we went to Spearmint Rhino.”
“Isn’t that a strip club?” Archie asks.
“You bet your ass it is, big brother.” Ace grins wide.
“How the fuck did you get in? You’re not twenty-one yet,” Archie asks him.
“We have our ways.” Ace winks at Archie and then looks around him to Emma and smiles.
She just shakes her head and laughs. “Let me guess. The Griffith charm?”
“Don’t you know it?” Aston chimes in.
“Now, darlin’, that Griffith charm worked on you, didn’t it?” Archie pulls Emma into him and leans his head down to kiss her.
“Maybe a little.” She pinches her fingers together, smiling.
“Okay, so tell us more, but can you spare us the details of that little visit to the Peppermint Club?” Charlie laughs.
“Spearmint Rhino,” Aston corrects.
Ace pipes in, “Oh, come on. But that was one of the best parts of the night.” Ace holds his hands up. “You don’t want to know about how Honeyy, with two Y’s, gave Aston a lap dance, and he practically came in his pants?”
“Fuck off. I did not.” He shakes his head, but he’s smiling.
“Okay, maybe not, but, dude, it was so hot. I was mad jealous.”
“Anyway”—Aston shakes his head—“after that, we hit up a few more clubs, but I honestly don’t remember a whole lot.”
“Don’t worry, brother. I got pictures. I think,” he says, pulling out his phone. He barks out a laugh. “Aston, look at Ramirez trying to climb that horse statue.”
I’m listening, but I’m also watching my brother. He’s just calm and smiling. Watching the Griffith twins being, well, them.
Silas leans in subtly. “You doing okay?” he whispers.
I turn my face just enough so he can hear me. “Yeah.”
But I’m not, and he knows it.
His hand covers both of mine under the table, and he softly brushes the knuckles on one of my hands with his thumb.
The twins are still regaling us with tales of their night, and I’m half listening to what they’re saying until Ace yells out, startling me, so I look at him.
“Holy fucking shit!” He’s leaning forward in his chair, holding his phone with both hands.
“What?” Charlie tries to lean over Beck to see.
Ace looks up at me and Silas and points a finger at us. “I totally forgot. You guys got married last night!”
“What?!” Casey yells and looks over at us.
When I look back at Ace, he’s holding his phone out to my brother.
Oh God. What are they looking at?
Beck takes the phone from Ace.
This is not good.
Charlie leans into him and gasps, “Oh my fucking God, Brooke!”
“Okay, now, let’s tone it down a little.” Silas brings his hands to the table and holds them out in front of him.
“Tone it down?” Archie laughs. “Brother, you just blew shit up.”
“Brooke,” Beck says deeply.
I swallow. “Yes?”
I don’t know if I can do this right now. Not in front of everyone.
“Do you want to tell me why Arbuckle has you over his shoulder and you’re flashing your hand, which has a goddamn ring on it, looking like you just hit the jackpot in the casino?” He’s not yelling, but he’s definitely not happy.
“Linson, maybe we should talk about it somewhere more private.” Silas wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I watch my brother track the movement.
“Oh, you do, do you?” Beck tilts his head and raises his brows.
“Okay, so let’s back up a second.” Charlie takes the phone from my brother. “Silas, I knew you liked her, but this? Is it a joke?”
Silas shakes his head. “Fuck no, it’s not a joke.”
“At what point in the night did this happen?” She holds the phone out toward us, and everyone at the table leans in to see it closer.
Kill me now.
I cover my face with my hands and lean on my elbows on the table.
“Oh fuck. She does have a ring,” Casey whispers.
Silas puts a hand on my back. “Uh, well, we got married after the Ferris wheel. But this particular moment, we had just gotten to the Bellagio and happened to run into Dumb and Dumber here.” He waves a finger between Ace and Aston.
“You motherfucker. I told you to keep an eye on her, not fucking marry her!” Beck smacks the table.
“You know what? I feel like this is a conversation the family should have first, so maybe let’s just enjoy breakfast and celebrate your win yesterday,” Emma chimes in, trying to calm down the tension.
“I agree.” Chelsea nods.
I look around the table, and there’s a mix of shock and fake smiles aimed at us.
Beck’s chair scrapes across the floor, and he stands and starts to walk away.
Charlie jumps up at the same time I do. “I got him, B,” she says with an apologetic smile, then hands Ace his phone.
Archie is leaning toward Ace. “You’re such a dumbass.”
Someone clears his throat.
“Well, I guess we have a few things to celebrate then, huh?” Bo laughs, trying to change the tone. “A national championship, my and Chelsea’s engagement, and apparently Brooke and Silas’s nuptials.”
“Yes,” everyone awkwardly says at once.
Noelle gets up from her seat and walks over to mine. “Congratulations, Brooke,” she says, hugging me from behind.
I tilt my head toward hers. “Thanks.”
“Okay, so once again for those of us who are still a little drunk,” Aston asks. “I knew you had a thing for her, but dude, this is real?”
“It’s real,” Silas says assuredly.
“I had no idea you guys were even, like, a thing,” Archie says.
“Baby, it appears that this is a shock to everyone.” Emma leans over and kisses Archie’s cheek.
“Okay, well”—Casey slaps a hand on Silas’s shoulder—“just know, if you hurt her, you’ll have more than Beck to worry about.” He squeezes. “But, hey, congrats!”
“I’d never hurt her,” Silas says.
The waitress comes over to us before anyone can say anything else and takes our orders.
When she asks me what I want, I don’t answer, my nerves too jumbled, so Silas orders something for me.
Bo directs the conversation back to Ace and Aston, and they continue to tell us about their night while we wait for our food. I don’t hear any of it over the pounding in my head.
Silas reaches in his pocket and pulls out my phone. “Do you want to call him or text him?”
I nod, taking the phone from his hand. “Thank you.”
“Remember, I’m right here. I won’t leave you to handle this on your own.” He kisses the side of my head.
I pick at my food when it arrives, and then my phone buzzes.
Beck: Come to room 1456. Dad’s on his way over.
I might actually start crying.
Brooke: Okay, be there in a few.
“Beck?” Silas asks.
“Yeah, he wants me to come up.” I show him my phone.
“Then let’s go.” Silas pulls out his wallet to get money out.
“You guys leavin’?” Archie asks.
“Beck just texted,” I say as I stand.
Silas stands with me, holding my chair.
“You two go take care of that. Breakfast is on me,” Archie says.
“Thanks, Arch,” I say softly.
Silas nods to him. “Appreciate it, man.”
“Not a problem.” He leans back in his chair.
We wave behind us as we start to leave the dining room.
Silas wraps an arm around my shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Cupcake. I’ll be right there with you.”
I nod, but I can’t answer because I’m not sure him being there with me right now is a good idea.