“Clearly, we’re both terrible at this.”
“What, life?” I snap my eyes up to his as my ears turn hot. “Oops. Sorry. Just me on that one.”
“God, I missed your sass,” Silas says.
I sigh, sinking into the booth as I finally take a bite of syrupy, fruity goodness, nearly moaning as the maple, buttermilk, and berries explode on my tongue. I realize too late my eyes have closed and those sounds actually escaped. When I blink, Silas is staring at my lips, his gaze tracking the tip of my tongue as I lick away the excess syrup and strawberry from the fork.
When I do the whole thing again, he finally glances away, shifting in his seat. “You’re fanning the flame, Kates,” he says. “And trying to change the subject.”
“I’m fine.”
“Worst four-letter word in the world.”
“I quit. So, what?”
“So, what?” he asks, his voice cracking slightly as frustration seeps out. He glances around before softening his tone. “You have a bum ankle, you quit your job, and you didn’t tell your overprotective brothers. What are you hiding from?”
It’s my turn to look away.
I don’t want to talk about it. About how I allowed some jerk to get the upper hand.
“It just…I needed a change.”
His gray eyes study me, searching for a crack in my armor. “Is it wrong that I want you to be honest with me, even though I have no right to ask?”
“Silas.” I damn near whimper his name, unable to handle the weight of his gaze. How many times can I beat myself up before it actually sticks?
“I can’t bear to see you hurting.”
“Ditto.”
He shakes his head, those dirty blond curls ruffling in the process. “Did you get hurt before or after you quit? Workman’s comp?”
Sinking against the back of the booth again, I shake my head. Suddenly, food doesn’t sound as appetizing. “Got hurt roughly seven minutes after I told my boss where he could stick it. Then the escalator tried to eat my toe. Heard the pop before I felt it, then called Jett.”
“Explains why you didn’t tell Noah. Does it need surgery?”
“God, I hope not. I have an appointment with an ortho on Tuesday.”
He nods. “Okay. I’ll get our team ortho’s info from Liam. His group is the best of the best.”
“No handouts, Silas. Seriously,” I say. “I’m good with the one urgent care referred me to.” Am I lying through my teeth? You bet your ass I am. Based on the arched brow from the swoony athlete across from me, he knows it, too.
I’m saved by the bell—or ring, I guess—as his phone lights up with Aubrey’s smiling face. I snag it off the table before he can grab it and swipe my thumb across the screen to accept the video call. When her face appears, some of the worry that’s been building since finding out they’ve been struggling eases.
“Hey, baby girl,” I say, making sure the only emotion she can see is my joy.
“Kates!” The view on the screen tumbles, and a thump sounds before her round, rosy face appears again. “What are you doing with Bubba’s phone? You’re here?”
It takes everything in me not to glance at the hulking man across from me, but I can feel his eyes on me.
“If by here, you mean Steele Valley, then yeah, hon. I’m here. Coming with your brother to pick you up in just a little bit and everything. How’s that sound?”
“This weekend just gets better and better,” she squeals, and both Silas and I laugh along with her excited giggles.
I glance up, expecting Silas’s eyes to be on the screen. Instead, his eyes are locked on me, some terrifyingly beautiful emotion on his face. My views on parenthood are skewed—I get that—but the look on Silas’s face as he watches me talk to his little sister, his kid, like it’s the best thing he’s ever seen? Oof. There goes my heart skipping another beat.
“Your head is doing that funny tilt thing it does when you’re staring at Bubba, Kate. Are you giving him googly eyes again?”
