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Chapter nineteen

Cecilia

Talk to me dirty.

Oh no... this is exactly what I was trying to avoid.

The minute I recognized Ford, I mean Greyson, I wanted to pull Silas away. It’s not that I didn’t want Silas to find out, I would’ve told him once we were in safer territory and alone. I just didn’t want him finding out like this because I knew he wouldn’t react well.

And I was right.

I notice the exact moment it all registers, his arm wrapped over my midsection tightens to the point of pain. I wiggle, trying to gain some breathing room, but the more I move, the more his hold strengthens.

I can feel the anger radiating from him, the way his heart beats harder, his breath becoming shaky. He’s losing it. I need to calm him—pull him away from this situation so that he can see clearly.

“Silas, you’re hurting me...” I say on a soft whimper, trying not to gain the attention of the other partygoers. But it’s futile, we’ve already attracted multiple observers. My soft cries finally get his attention, and he releases me.

I take a step to his side when his glare turns to me. “HIM!?” he hisses out, the fury in his voice making me flinch slightly. I don’t understand why he’s so mad, it was years ago and meant nothing.

He turns back to Greyson. “You knew! Didn’t you!?”

Greyson shoves his hands in his pockets as if he isn’t affected by Silas’s rage. “Relax, man. It was years ago.”

Silas takes a step in Greyson’s direction, getting in his face. “I don’t give a fuck if it was years ago! You fucking knew it was her and never said shit!” Silas is yelling now, losing control on his emotions. I need to do something. This is getting out of hand.

As I’m looking for a way to defuse this terrible outcome, Clay comes to our rescue. He steps between the two men, placing his back to Greyson and putting a palm up against Silas’s chest, pushing him back a step. “All right, let’s all calm down. No need to make a scene.”

I lay a hand over Silas’s biceps, hoping to pacify his anger. “Babe, why don’t we go grab a drink to cool off a bit, okay?”

“No. Fuck this.”

He pushes Clay’s hand away and shrugs my touch off him, not sparing me a glance as he heads out the patio doors into the night. Tears well in my eyes. I feel dismissed, and it hurts.

Clay takes me into a comforting hug, whispering into my hair, “Don’t take it personally, Silas just feels everything strongly. Give him some time to cool off, everything will be fine.”

I nod mindlessly against his chest, looking over at Greyson.

He studies my face for a second before looking down, shame and guilt written all over him while he walks away.

Clay lets go and peers down at me, offering me a sad smile and an arm rub before going back to his wife, who looks my way with compassion.

I brace my arms around myself, trying to keep my composure while feeling eyes on me. I want to run to Silas. I hate this situation we’re in, I don’t want us to fight. I just want to be in his arms and have him tell me everything is fine.

I know Clay told me to give him time, but I can’t wait. I need him, and even if Silas thinks he doesn’t in this moment, I know he needs me, too. Furthermore, it’s freezing outside, and he’s not dressed appropriately.

I head to the wicker basket by the doors and pull out one of the large warm blankets the Burkleys keep stored here for cold nights by the fire. Sliding the door open, I step out into the darkness and shut it behind me .

Silas is hunched over on the outdoor couch, elbows resting on his knees, head in his hands. I walk up to him, shaking out the blanket and placing it over his shoulders and back. I know he must be freezing.

“Cecilia, not now. Please, just go back inside.” He doesn’t even look up, but he knows it’s me, sensing my presence like I always sense his.

“No, I’m not going back in there without you.” I pull his hands away from his face and push his chest back, straddling his legs when his body hits the back of the couch.

“Minnie, please. I just need a minute alone.” His eyes are screwed shut like it pains him to look at me. My heart aches at the hurt in his voice. The single word, alone , feels like a stab to the chest.

“Stop. Don’t let your mind wander like that, Silas.

I understand you’re upset, but you’re blowing this all out of proportion.

Greyson means nothing to me. It was one night years ago, and I never really thought about it after that.

I didn’t dwell on it or try to reach out to him. It wasn’t like that.”

My hands cradle his face as I speak softly to him. “I don’t want him if that’s what you’re worried about. Seeing him doesn’t evoke anything in me, I only want you.” He may not be able to see the sincere expression I’m wearing, but I’m hoping he can feel it through my touch.

His eyes finally open and gaze into mine. He wraps his hands around my waist, dragging me closer to him, needing the comfort of my body against his. The only moment when we truly feel whole.

“I’m not worried about that, I’m just mad that he’s known for several weeks and he never mentioned anything to me, even though I knew something was up with him. He made me look like an idiot every time I told him things about you that he probably already knew.” Silas sighs and shakes his head.

“He’s supposed to be one of my best friends, yet he lied to my face repeatedly every time I’d ask him what was wrong.

When he could’ve simply told me the truth from the start or anytime I questioned him.

Yeah, I would’ve been upset at first, but it wouldn’t have felt like this.

Like a betrayal.” He looks down, no longer able to maintain eye contact.

He’s really hurt about this, and I just want to make it all go away.

Still holding onto his face, I bring his lips to mine, kissing them tenderly.

“I’m sorry you’re feeling this way, and I’m sorry he didn’t tell you sooner.

Maybe he had a reason not to tell you right away?

I know it’s still not right, and if I had known sooner who he was, I would’ve told you. I hope you know that?”

“I know, baby. I believe you.” He kisses me back, arms circling my waist tighter, merging our bodies into one. My arms go around his neck as our tongues explore one another.

When we finally break apart breathlessly, he drops his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry I pushed you away in there and for hurting you. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“I forgive you. Are we okay now?”

“We’ll always be okay,” he says, pecking my lips.

I pull away and smile, feeling instantly better. I came out here to soothe him, yet he’s the one who soothed me. “Are you ready to head back in now? Or do you need more time?” Please say yes, my fingers are frozen from the cold.

“Yeah, let’s go back inside, I can’t feel my toes anymore.” He stands with me still in his arms while I wrap my legs around his waist for support.

“Oh, thank God!” I say on a deep sigh.

Silas laughs into my neck, peppering kisses to my sensitive flesh. “What’s the matter? Was my Minnie getting cold?”

“I literally can’t feel my thighs anymore, or my butt.”

“Hmm, this one?” he asks, his hand coming up the back of my skirt to squeeze my ass in the process.

I wiggle in his arms, trying to remove his cold hand from my exposed skin. “Stop it, Silas! Your hands are freezing!”

Joyful laughter falls from me as he touches every inch of my skin. We get to the doors, and he sets me on the ground in front of him. I go to open the door when Silas takes me by the waist once more.

Bringing his chest to my back, he lowers his head to kiss the crook of my neck as he whispers against my skin, “It’s you and me. Right, baby?”

I turn my head to kiss him and whisper back, “Always you and me.”

We return to the party, where everyone seems to have moved on from the commotion, and head over to the kitchen island where our friends are perched. Emma stands between two guys dressed as football players, who seem completely enamored with her.

“Back to being the happy couple?” she says when we join the circle.

“Yeah,” Silas answers with a smile, then looks to Clay and Morgan. “Sorry about that earlier, I lost my cool.”

“It’s fine, Sy. I know if we had been the ones in that situation, this one would’ve lost his mind, too.” Morg chuckles, pointing at her husband.

“I talked to Ford. He feels like shit for what he did. You two need to sort this out,” Clay tells Silas with a stern look.

“Yeah, yeah. We will, just not right now. I’m still too pissed off for that.”

“Look, I don’t care when you do it, just keep your emotions off the ice and we’ll be fine. You two are friends, and it would be stupid to end that over some silly history,” Clay says.

“I know.” Silas’s jaw clenches slightly. I wrap my arms around his waist and instantly feel him relax.

“So what’s the inspiration behind everyone’s costume?” Emma asks, changing the subject, which I appreciate immensely. “I mean, you two are adorable! I wish I had a boyfriend to do couples costume with.” She points at Morgan and Clay.

“I can do couples costume with you next year,” one of the football players tells her, a sly twinkle in his eyes. This one has wavy, dirty blond hair, whereas football player number two has cropped brown hair.

“What the hell? We always do our costumes together,” player two states. I giggle at their interaction .

Player one turns my way and extends his hand. “Hi, we haven’t been introduced, I’m Gabe Ellis, goalie.” I let go of Silas and shake his hand.

Then his friend, who stretches his out, mimics Gabe. “Noah Adler, defenseman.”

“It’s nice to meet you both, I’m Cecilia, this one’s girlfriend,” I reply, leaning back into my man.

“Oh, we know. Everyone in the locker room knows who you are. This guy can’t shut up about you,” Noah says with a smirk directed at Silas.

“All right, that’s enough. No sharing locker-room secrets,” Silas interjects, trying to silence his friends, which only makes everyone laugh.