I laughed when I found Silas, in the same sexy T-shirt and shorts, holding a large box of donuts.
“I didn’t know what to bring, and there was a long line at this place when I parked, so I’m hoping that means the donuts are decent.”
He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me close after I shut the door.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said and brushed my lips with a soft kiss, narrowing his eyes as he backed away. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said, clearing my throat when my voice cracked. “Long day.” I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this.” I grabbed the box of donuts. “We haven’t ordered yet, and I’m not sure what you want?—”
Silas pressed his finger against my lips.
“I’ll ask you again. What’s wrong?” He squeezed the back of my neck. “Is it still okay to be here tonight?”
“Of course it is.” I smiled as he kneaded my neck.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t walk over to kiss you hello. I’m hoping we can find a way around this soon.”
“It’s fine. It is what it is for now, right? I understand. That’s why I texted to invite you instead of walking up to you.”
I eased back to head upstairs, but Silas stilled and gave a gentle shake of his head.
“My sister just told me a story about our mother and one of her boyfriends from when she was younger. She was fine, but I didn’t know my mother had brought her around one of the sleazy guys she was dating at the time. The only reason Taylor brought it up was because she said youweren’tlike any of those guys.” I smiled up at him. “And you’re wonderful, so yeah, you’re not.”
His shoulders jerked with a chuckle.
“I’m sorry you both had to go through all that.”
I nodded. “It just makes the thought of having to fight her to stay away that much more exhausting.”
“But you’re not fighting alone this time. So don’t think of it like that.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s head upstairs, and you can let me buy you both dinner.”
I exhaled a long gust of air, still not all the way relaxed but lighter. Since my grandmother had died, alone was how I’d rolled in life. Yes, I had Auden and my sister and some friends, but no one close enough to feel the pressure of what my daily life had always been and share it with me.
Maybe I couldn’t kiss him in public yet or claim him as mine other than behind a closed door, but in addition to all the butterflies that would take off in my stomach whenever we were together, he brought me a soul-deep relief I hadn’t known I’d craved so badly.
“Taylor,” I called up the stairs as Silas followed me. “Silas brought the good donuts.”
She met us at the door and held it open.
“Hi, Silas. Again,” she said, smiling as she took the box from me and headed into the kitchen. “I’m feeling barbecue chicken pizza and some kind of calzone. It was a long game.” She stretched her arms and let out a groan.
“I’m fine with whatever you both want as long as you let me pay.”
I leaned into Silas when he draped his arm around me. I wasn’t sure how to handle PDA in front of my sister, but she’d already seen his hand on my ass, so touching above the waist didn’t seem so wrong.
I hadn’t asked Taylor how she’d feel if he stayed over and hadn’t even asked Silas if he’d want to. But for now, we’d eat dinner, and I’d see where the night would take us, even though I was rooting for it to last into tomorrow morning.
“I’m glad those are the good donuts.” Silas yanked me closer and kissed my temple. “I guess I do have luck parking around here.”
“How many times have you been here?” Taylor asked.
“Only a couple,” I answered for her, trying for a quick change of subject. “I’ll order everything. You guys can go sit on the couch.”
I rushed into the kitchen and pulled up the takeout app on my phone. While I loved having Silas here, it was weird. Like a surreal fantasy to have him in my house sharing pizza with my sister and me rather than living in my head as a romantic dream I couldn’t have.
The restrictions on that dream were still the same, and like Silas, I hoped we’d find a way around it, even though I couldn’t think of anything.
After I finished ordering dinner, I headed to my room to change and left Silas and Taylor in the living room. I wasn’t sure where my anxiety was drawing from the most—thinking of my mother showing up unannounced again, or someone seeing Silas here and it getting back to everyone who wasn’t supposed to know.
