Saturday arrives with Moses dragging me to another Steel Kings event at the Steel Saloon.
“You need to get out more,” he says, which is rich coming from someone who disappears for days at a time.
The patio is decorated with lights and streamers, which seems excessive for a regular party. Especially considering it’s amotorcycle club.
Apparently today’s event is an extra-special occasion.
I settle at the table with the old ladies, half listening to their conversation.
“Why are we having another barbecue?” Korine asks, looking confused. “It’s not even warm enough for this.”
Teysha shoots her a knowing smile. “Oh, you’ll see. Just wait.”
“Teysha, can you even hold water?” Zoe scolds, laughing lightly.
Teysha shrugs, still smiling as she bounces baby Chloe on her knee. “Nope, never could. Probably never will. Ask Logan—I’m the worst liar.”
“So you do know?” Korine asks. She glances over at Sydney who’s sitting on her other side. “You’re behind this, aren’t you? You and Cash.”
“I plead the fifth,” Sydney says ambiguously.
Their effortless friendship makes me ache for the same. I’d thought Shay and Yvette were my friends, but it turned out they were using me for some cruel joke. Their loyalty was with Kel and Kel only.
It’s even worse that everywhere I look, I’m surrounded by love—Mick and Korine’s mother, Sunny, flirt by the buffet table, both sixty-somethings obviously crushing on each other. Zoe joins Ozzie at his DJ setup to dance together, the two of them laughing as they try to outdo each other’s moves. Logan wanders over and plays with his daughter while Teysha watches with heart eyes.
Everyone has someone except me.
My gaze drifts across the patio and finds Silver talking with Mace and Tito. We’ve avoided any contact or acknowledgment at all today, opting to be even more discreet than usual.
As if sensing my stare, he looks up and our eyes lock. My heart flutters like a trapped bird, a familiar spark of electricity crackling between us even from twenty feet away.
Cash steps into the middle of the patio and breaks the moment. “Can I have everybody’s attention?”
The patio quiets down, many glancing over with curiosity. Korine looks most confused of all, eyes rounding as he takes her hand and pulls her up to stand with him.
“Kori, it’s no secret you’re my best friend,” he begins with a small, handsome smile. “You have been since we were, what, six years old? You’ve been there through everything—the good, the bad, the absolutely batshit insane times.”
A few people in the crowd chuckle. I glance over at Korine’s mom and notice how she wipes at her eyes as if they’ve gone misty. Mick slides an arm around her shoulders in comfort.
Cash’s speech continues.
“You’ve seen me at my worst, and you somehow still love me,” he says. “I can’t imagine my life without?—”
“HOW COULD YOU?!”
Everyone turns as Rachel storms onto the patio, her face twisted red with fury, the same shade as her hair. She marches straight to Silver, and before anyone can react, her hand slams into his cheek in an abrupt, hard slap across the face.
“How could you, Jack?” she screams. “How could you sleep with the babysitter?!”
25
SILVER
I standat the edge of the patio watching Cash prepare to propose to Korine, trying to summon happiness for my brother while my own heart feels hollow.
Club events have become torture in recent weeks, each one a reminder of everything I’m hiding and everything I’m losing.
First in regard to Tom’s return and reclaiming of the prez role.
