“Time to go, Belladonna,” Silvie says calmly. “We’re done here.”
“No, we’re not done,” Belladonna snaps. “If you don’t fix this, I’ll ruin your life, just like you’ve ruined ours. Really, Silvie. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
Silvie looks at her with disgust. “Like what? What would you do, Belladonna?”
Belladonna’s mouth twists. “I’ll tell the tabloids. Everything. And I’ll tell them where you are.”
Summer glances at me and mouths, “Can I beat her ass?”
I shake my head.
Summer scowls and takes another sip of her drink.
“And all you’d be selling them are lies,” Silvie says coolly. “ I’ll sue you for that. You have no assets, but I’ll sue you for anything you have left. I’m an open book. I’ve made peace with what happened with you and Tyler. I have nothing you can throw in my face.”
Belladonna’s face gets red and hard. “You’ll be ruined. No one will take you seriously.”
“Maybe you just move on and get a life? Maybe a job?” Silvie offers.
“You’re going to pay,” she bites out. “I’m going to ruin you. I can promise you that.”
Then she turns and stomps out, her heels catching in the sand and making her trip.
Music continues, drinks are being poured, the Bees are nowforming a conga line out in the sand. And someone cheers on a drinking contest in the corner.
But nothing in this bar matters right now except my wife. She looks over at me, eyes bright, smile easy, like she didn’t just stand her ground and win. I’m proud of her. God help me. I’m in love with a woman who loves me loudly and I’d have her back about anything. And I’d let the whole world try her just to watch them prove her wrong.
Wilby shows up and slides into a chair next to Silvie and grins. “Ladies. What did I miss?”
Mia snorts and Summer raises her glass just as Wendy shakes her head like she’s still processing everything. Silvie smiles into her drink, flushed, eyes bright.
“Her sister was just here,” Summer says.
Wilby looks around and cringes. “I knew I smelled a rat when I came in.”
Silvie says, “Oh, you missed it. Apparently, she’s going to ruin me.”
“Not sorry to miss that,” Wilby says with a shudder.
“She’s a real treat and was asked to leave. What can I get you to drink?” I ask.
“Surprise me. You always make me something good,” he says. “I leave for a couple of hours and come back to craziness.”
I bring them all another round, and Silvie catches my hand when I leave to walk away. “Thank you.”
I lean down and kiss her softly. “You’re welcome.”
I turn to head back to the bar and hear Wilby say to Silvie, “When are we going back to New York?”
It dawns on me that she’ll be going back again. And I can’t go with her every time. My life is here in Coconut Beach. Hers is in New York. The thought hits me harder than I expect.
The night winds down and the music fades. The Bees drift out in pairs and laughter trails behind them.
Silvie kisses me before heading out. Her fingers squeeze mine and she says, “I’ll see you at home?”
“Text me when you get there, okay?” I tell her.
She nods and waves and I watch her go.
