Ben stood abruptly. "I'll help her."
Shane watched Ben intercept Charlie at the edge of the patio. Ben reached for the tray at the same moment Charlie adjusted her grip. Their hands touched. Even from across the patio, Shane saw the electricity arc between them.
They froze. Just for a second. Staring at each other.
"I've got it," Charlie said. Her voice was steady but her cheeks were flushed.
"I know. Just trying to help."
Charlie dropped her gaze, then looked at him through her lashes. "Thanks, Ben."
"Any t-t-time." Ben's old stutter—the one that only surfaced now when he was nervous or exhausted—slipped out.
He looked mortified. Instead of taking the tray, he turned quickly and walked back to the table. Charlie stood there for a moment, hurt flickering across her face before she carried the tray inside.
Ben sat down heavily and reached for the flask.
"You ever gonna ask her out?" Elias asked.
"Nope."
"That's healthy," Waylon said dryly.
"Shut up." Ben took a long drink and passed the flask along.
Shane caught Gabe's eye. They'd all seen it—the way Ben and Charlie circled each other, never quite connecting. It was painful to watch.
But before Shane could say anything, the sound of an expensive engine cut through the music. A sleek black Mercedes pulled into the parking lot, and Shane's entire body went rigid.
He knew that car.
"Oh shit," Waylon muttered.
Yvonne Foti stepped out of the driver's side, and for a moment she just stood there, clutching a bouquet of flowers, staring at the party like she wasn't sure she had the right to be here.
Then her gaze settled on Shane, and she started walking toward him.
“Would you look at the time?” Elias said as he stood.
Waylon shot up next to him. “Gettin’ late.”
"We should—" Gabe started.
"Go inside," Ben finished.
“What?” Bear asked, still sitting with his back to the parking lot. “What’s—” Ben bumped him and jerked his head. Bear turned, took one look at Yvonne, and stood surprisingly quickly for such a huge guy.
“Gotta go check on Ellie and Star,” he mumbled as he followed the others to the entrance. Shane watched his brothers disappear into Riversong, leaving Shane standing alone as his mother approached.
"Yeah, thanks, guys," Shane called after them. At least Waylon had left Shane his flask.
Yvonne stopped a few feet away, holding the flowers like a shield. "I'm sorry to crash the party. I just... I wanted you to know."
Shane kept his voice carefully neutral. "Know what?"
"I'm leaving your father. I filed for divorce."
Shane's chest loosened. "Good."
