Chapter 25
"I'm not sure it’s a good idea for me to be here when he shows up." I tell Rafe. We’re in the den again. My leg bounces, nervous energy rolling off me in waves. Silas is pissed. Rightfully so. I wouldn’t want to see me either.
Rafe is lounging in his usual chair like this is just another Tuesday. He shrugs, “He has to get over it at some point.”
But Silas doesn’t. Not with what he goes through. I know what that kind of pain does to him. It twists everything until you don't know where the wound ends and you begin. This wasn’t just some argument. I hurt him when I hurt her.
I drop my head into my hands. I don’t think I could live with it if he never speaks to me again. I’ve tried so damn hard to keep my friends close.
Rafe straightens suddenly, tilting his head. “Sounds like he’s here.”
I stay seated as he walks out of the room.
I’m not in a rush to watch this blow up in my face.
I finally rise and follow, dragging my feet toward the front door like I’m walking to my own execution.
Anything could happen. Silas could turn around and leave, pick a fight, or pretend like nothing happened at all.
…Yeah, no. Not that last one.
I step outside, hovering behind Rafe. Silas’ truck is crawling up the driveway. Morella slips out the front door and comes to stand beside me, with that bright, hopeful look she always wears when she wants peace.
Silas parks and he cuts the engine. He opens his door and, fuck, clutches his ribs like every breath is a battle. My stomach drops. Not again.
He leans into the truck and extends his hand.
I frown. “Wh—?”
A smaller hand grasps his, and out hops Liv, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. She smiles at him. He smiles back.
My mouth goes dry. “Oh shit,” I whisper.
“What the fuck,” Rafe mutters beside me.
Morella’s already halfway across the drive, eyes darting between them. “Is everything okay?” she asks, tone filled with concern.
“I’m fine,” Silas replies, voice tight. Liv brushes his arm gently and walks ahead, past all of us. She meets my eyes and gives me a small smile and slips inside without a word.
I turn my gaze back to Silas, who’s now bracing himself against the side of the truck. The bruises must be bad if he’s guarding his body like that. I start to step forward, but then hesitate. What if he doesn’t want me near him?
Rafe doesn’t hesitate. He’s already moving, but Silas lifts a hand.
“I’m good,” he says, breath uneven. “Just… taking it slow.”
I approach more carefully. “You’re definitely not good, man. What happened?”
For a second, when his eyes meet mine, there’s something sharp there. Anger. Hurt. But then it’s gone, wiped clean like it never existed.
“My dad,” he says simply. “Skipped class. I knew it was coming. I’m fine.”
Rafe’s fists clench. His whole body tightens like a wire pulled too far.
“One day,” he mutters, low and dangerous. “He’s going to get what’s coming to him.”
Silas ignores the threat and pushes himself upright, then claps a hand on Rafe’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about this morning.”
Rafe and I both freeze.
What?
He never apologizes. He deflects. Jokes. Pretends nothing happened. This, this is new.
“I flew off the handle at you and I shouldn’t have. I should’ve known you’d never put your hands on a girl.” Silas rubs the back of his neck, kicking at the ground like he’s a little embarrassed.
Then he turns to me. And the moment stretches like a held breath.
“I’ll, uh, go get some cold beers,” Rafe says, already backing toward the door.
“And maybe a pizza or two. Or three.” Silas calls after him with a crooked grin.
“Done!” Rafe shouts over his shoulder as he jogs up the front steps and into the house.
Then it’s just us. Silas looks back at me and takes a breath. “I’m sorry.”
The words hit like a sucker punch.
“I shouldn’t have flown off the handle like that,” he continues. “Liv explained what happened, and I should’ve given you the same grace I gave her to explain.”
He stares down at the gravel, shame painted across his face. “I just get so… barbaric when it comes to her. To think someone had hurt her, the way—” His voice cracks. “And to think one of my friends could’ve done it…”
His eyes flick up, and I see it. The hurt, deep and aching. When Silas is upset, his eyes shift, colors bleeding like storm clouds: from sage green to deep forest, the browns shimmering gold like wet amber. That’s how you know something really got to him.
“I understand,” I say softly.
But he shakes his head. “I’m not sure you do, man.” He runs a hand through his hair but winces at the motion. “The things I would do for that girl…”
I nod quietly.
His gaze cuts to me, sharper now. “The things I would do to that girl.”
A smirk creeps onto my face despite myself, and I let out a small laugh.
That’s when he narrows his eyes and really looks at me. His smile fades, shifting into something else.
“Or the way her sweet minty scent consumes your senses until you start to crave her like the sweetest treat you’ve never had.” I say closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I can still smell her faintly on his shirt.
“The sweets at school…” He starts, his face scrunched like he’s thinking real hard. “The cookies?” He asks with a grossed out look on his face.
“I just didn’t want to see her cry.” I responded.
“Friday, I could smell it. The scent that had been bothering me since she first started coming around.” I turned to face the truck, resting my arms on the hood.
“It was in the house so I went looking for it. I followed it to one of the upstairs bathrooms. It was so strong. When I exited the bathroom I bumped into her and almost knocked her over.” I drop my head, remembering every second.
“You realized it was her.” Silas says to me.
“Yeah. I grabbed on too tight. I couldn't control myself.” I take a deep breath and sigh. “I don’t just understand how you feel.”
He doesn’t interrupt. Just watches me.
“I know,” I say again, landing my gaze on him.
And then that grin is back, feral this time. Like a wolf who’s just scented something interesting in the wind.
“Well,” he says, voice low and amused, “this just got a whole lot more fun.”