Eddie’s indignant roar sounds somewhere from the crowd. Moses starts striding straight toward us.
Solana’s risen from her spot at the old ladies’ table, eyes as wide as silver dollars.
Rachel’s chest heaves as she draws ragged, angry breaths and glares at me with pure hatred. “Don’t you dare deny it! These pictures were sent to me!”
She’s holding up her phone, where through an anonymous text chain, she’s been messaged a string of photos that clearly show me and Solana at various times.
The two of us parked in my truck. The two of us heading inside my house. Trading kisses next to my bike.
There’s even one shot at a distance from the afternoon I took her out for ice cream.
Heat creeps up my neck before I can think how to respond. Though it doesn’t matter much—Rachel rants on, hurling more accusations.
“Tabby mentioned she smelled perfume on you. She said she saw some lip gloss at your house. All while you pretended to be watching movies alone on a Friday night. So you know what I did? I checked the babysitter’s journal myself!” Rachel digs a notebook out from her purse and brandishes it like a weapon.
It practically is given the situation; it possesses the same level of damage.
“I read for myself how you’ve been fucking this girl for weeks! She wrote all about it, Jack!” she screams. “She’s half your age. She’s the kid’s babysitter and recovering from trauma. What kind of sick man seduces a girl like her?”
It’s the same question I’ve been asking myself, now broadcast for everybody to hear. Both Big Eddie and Moses finally shove their way through the crowd, coming up to join the confrontation with no attempt to hide their rage.
I’d expect no less from Solana’s male relatives. Truth be told, I’d probably react the same way if I were in their shoes.
But it doesn’t change the fact that we’ve ruined Cash’s proposal. The entire barbecue has turned into some scandal, and I’m not about to go into detail about how Solana and me ended up growing close in the first place (much of it her personal story to tell).
“Rachel, lower your voice,” I say, my tone surprisingly even-keeled. “Let’s go somewhere else and talk about this.”
“No!” she shrieks. “You don’t get to silence me, Jack! This is about you getting payback, isn’t it? I’m with Fred, so you decide to fuck the babysitter? Some twisted, perverted way to get back at me and hurt the kids?”
“You have no clue what the fuck you’re talking about,” I snap, my own anger rising to meet hers. “Not everything I do is about you, Rachel. You’re not the center of the universe.”
“Then why her? Why pick the babysitter? A girl half your age? Only a few years older than Tabby? You disgust me!”
“Hold up,” Moses growls, interjecting himself. “Your babysitter? My baby sister the babysitter?”
Solana tries to step forward, wringing her hands. “Moses, it’s none of your business?—”
“The fuck it is my business!” Moses roars, turning on me with murder in his gaze. “Silver, what the fuck are you doing with my sister?”
I hold up my hands, trying to defuse the situation even though I know it’s probably pointless. “Solana and I have grown close recently. But this is our private life, nobody else’s.”
I glance around the patio, meeting the eyes of everybody watching this train wreck unfold. Cash still has the ring box in his hand, Korine forgotten beside him. Mace looks confused, eyes hard and narrowed. Logan’s shaking his head. And Tom...Tom stands silent in his corner, his expression completely unreadable, simply watching everything implode.
“It’s my business because she’s my niece!” Eddie barks.
Before I can address him, his massive fist connects with my face.
The blow staggers me backward, pain exploding through my jaw. I taste copper immediately, blood filling my mouth from where my teeth cut into my cheek.
“Uncle Eddie, stop!” Solana screams, jumping between us as Eddie raises his fist for another swing.
I push my tongue around my mouth, checking for loose teeth while spitting blood onto the concrete. My jaw throbs but everything’s still attached. I flex it experimentally, then look Eddie dead in the eyes.
“That first hit was free,” I warn, my own hands balled. “Because you’re pissed and she’s your niece and I get that. But you better get a handle on yourself or I’ll handle you for you.”
“Is that a threat?” Moses starts toward me, ready to back up his uncle.
“Stop it—both of you!” Solana screams. “You barely pay attention to me. You’re never home, never ask how I’m doing, never notice when I’m falling apart. Silver was theonlyone there for me, and I’m falling for him! My feelings are real and it doesn’t matter what either of you think! I’m an adult and I can make my own life choices!”
