Page 38 of True Honey (The Hornets Nest #4)

COURTNEY

“ H ow's this?” I spun in a small circle, and the bottom of the light blue sundress kicked up around my thighs. “I know it's a barbecue, but it’s a barbecue at your family's estate…I don’t want to be too casual…”

Silas looked up from buttoning his shirt, “it’s perfect, stop fussing.”

I stepped forward and shooed his hands away, correcting the button he missed by unbuttoning everything and starting again.

“Maybe you should take your own advice?” I smiled up at him sweetly.

It had been a nice few weeks of quiet, probably too nice and out of that serenity anxiety bred.

But I was doing my best to push it away and stay present with Silas, with August.

Silas huffed, “Sorry, I’m a little distracted.”

“Cael comes home tomorrow, the new series starts Tuesday and you have to call Tobias back about your father. You’ve been avoiding his calls,” I said, straightening out his shirt and stepping back to inspect it.

Silas stared at me.

“I pay attention, here.” I held out his keys and phone, he’d forgotten them the last four times he left the apartment and had to come back for them. He smiled at me and I felt a warmth spread across my chest. “It doesn’t help that your grandfather sprung today on you.”

“It doesn’t,” he agreed. “This week is going to be hard.”

“So let’s make the most of today?” I asked him.

“I think I can handle that,” he agreed, reaching out to wrap a hand around my waist. “With a little help,” he whispered and lifted my chin to meet his lips in a soft kiss. He pulled away, licking the taste of me off his lips and smiled. “If we’re late Mom will have my head. You ready? ”

“Just need to make sure August is settled, I’ll meet you outside?” I turned, grabbing my bag. I found August sitting at the counter listening intently to Dean as he tried to run him through his homework.

“Hey boys,” I said on approach. “How you doing?”

“I’m finally understanding what the hell all this means,” August swore.

“Language,” I scowled.

“They swear all the time, hell isn’t even that bad,” he argued and Dean threw his hands up in surrender, backing away from the island before he could get a scolding too.

“Thank you for teaching my son math and swear words,” I said with a soft smile, messing up August’s hair in my fingers.

“In my defense he already knew that one,” Dean said, a cheeky grin forming on his face. “Did I mention you look very pretty today?” He added, for brownie points.

“Thank you,” I said, kissing August on the head, “I have that work thing this afternoon, you’ll be okay with Dean?”

“He’s going to teach me how to make quesadillas and salsa,” August said without looking up from his homework.

“Ella is going to teach us ,” Dean said quickly, like I was going to accuse him of not being able to use the stove. I eyed him for a second before nodding.

“Have fun boys,” I said. I couldn’t exactly tell if August was in one of his I hate Mom moods or if he was just finally settling into a pace where he felt comfortable enough to relax.

And both had me worried. If it was just a mood, what had I done?

Did he know about Silas and I… and if it wasn’t, what happened when we had to leave? Disrupting him again felt like torture.

“What happened?” Silas asked, knocking me from my thoughts. I hadn’t even realized I’d walked to the garage and was standing in the doorway with my lip between my teeth until his voice echoed through the darkness.

“Nothing,” I straightened out and made my way down. He handed me my helmet, not taking no for an answer when I opened my mouth to protest about the bike.

“Just sit tight against me,” he said, helping me over the seat.

He settled down and reached around to grab my thigh, pulling me flush against his back.

“Tuck your dress between your thighs,” he instructed and I did it, “good, now forward more,” he said and I scooted impossibly close holding everything in place as I tangled my arms around him.

“See,” he hummed, proud of himself for being right.

The bike rumbled to life and I pressed my face against his back as he pulled from the garage.

He was getting cockier about his speed with me on the back, and at first I wasn’t sure I liked it but now, as he took a corner and our bodies moved together.

I kind of enjoyed the rush. For the twenty minutes we were on the bike we were untouchable by all the nonsense going on in our lives.

For that short time, it was just Silas and me.

He pulled up to his family's house and I sighed quietly, sad that it was over and he absolutely noticed. “Do you want me to circle the block?” he chuckled, lifting the helmet off his head and smoothing out his hair.

“No,” I whispered, doing the same. “Well kind of.”

“We can take the long way home.” He smiled at me and all the locks clicked back into place, keeping the anxiety at bay for a little while longer. “Most of the board members will be here today, don’t let them get to you. Remember that they’re assholes.”

“I’m sure that’s not true, you’re just sick of seeing their faces,” I said softly, “let me handle them today, just don’t leave me alone with your mother for too long. She terrifies me.”

Silas laughed, looking up at the house and then back to me with a more serious expression.

“When Ryan started with the team he used to do this thing after conversations and speeches. And I never quite figured out what he was doing so one day I asked Rae, his wife.” Silas smiled, his fingers nervously playing at the straps of his helmet.

“It was their code,” he explained. “The Lorraine I knew wasn’t quiet but I guess at some point she was and it was a way for them to communicate without so many words. ”

“It’s that thing you all do?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” Silas confirmed, “so today if you need me.”

I tapped my chest twice. “And you’ll do it if you need me? ”

His head tilted to the side but a soft smile formed on his face as he returned the gesture. “Exactly,” he said with a nod before taking my hand and leading me into the house.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but there were staff moving like bees inside the walls as he brought me back through the kitchen and out into the massive back yard. It was decorated in small tables scattered around and tons of florals that added to the already impressive nature backdrop.

“Wow,” I breathed out and Silas looked over at me with a nervous expression. “Drinks?”

“For you, I have a feeling staying sober is in my best interest today,” Silas laughed, already annoyed with the crowd.

I could see it on his face as he took in some of the people that his grandfather had invited, there wasn’t a single one his eyes landed on that made his face soften.

And I knew it because the second he found his mother, his eyes changed color and his jaw went slack.

He navigated the crowd, avoiding speaking to anyone until we were face to face with Sylwia. “Mom,” he gave her a kiss.

“It’s lovely to see you, Drew.” She offered me but her eyes were constantly moving.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, knowing the face of a woman with a hundred things on her mind.

“Oh,” Sylwia’s lips parted and her focus shifted back to me. “I’m waiting on a delivery of wine, do you think you could go find out where it might be?” She asked me, giving me the name and number of the person she was in contact with.

Silas watched me carefully as I wandered back into the house where it was quieter. I called the number, was given an answer and not five minutes later the driver was standing at the front door with a few cases of wine.

I was helping one of the staff line them up on the island when Seymour sauntered in, a drink in hand and a cautious look on his old face.

He looked like he wanted to scold me for helping and not enjoying the party but when he opened his mouth he started to cough violently.

His hand gripped the wall next to him and I crossed the kitchen, tucking my body against his and leading him through the kitchen to the lounge and into a chair.

“Do you need water?” I asked him and he held up his scotch glass but I ignored that and found him some water anyways. “This,” I said, taking the scotch away and setting it out of reach until he drank. “You shouldn’t be drinking that.” I said softly, offering him a napkin as he coughed some more.

“The scotch isn’t going to kill me any faster, girl,” he groaned when he was finished.

“It might, the way you drink it,” I said. Only smiling at him when he started to chuckle at my jab.

“Don’t tell Silas but I like you,” he said, waving his finger in the air. “You’ve got bite.”

“Not always,” I said.

“Oh if you're talking about that disastrous dinner party, don’t you let those relics get to you. They have no idea how the world works anymore,” Seymour said before coughing some more. It was pretty clear he was declining in his health faster than any of them were prepared for.

“I could have handled it better,” I offered politely and handed him some more water.

“Handled, what better?” Seymour scoffed, “I’ve never seen Darby so silent after you shut him down.”

I laughed gently, “I think Mr. William needed to remember where he came from.”

“See there’s that bite!” Seymour pointed, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re good for him, he’s too soft.”

“Oh I don’t think so,” I argued gently. “I think he’s just juggling a lot right now. Taking care of too many people.”

“It’s nearly impossible to get him to stop,” Seymour cleared his throat. “It’s like he’s trying to erase all the sins of his father.”

“He is.” I nodded.

“There you two are,” Silas’s voice travelled over the lounge as he appeared from the opposite end. “Mom thought you died somewhere in the house and we were going to find a body,” he said crossing the space.

“If I’m dying in this house I’m doing it butt naked and face down in a pile of scotch Silas.” Seymour joked, and I laughed but Silas just sighed. “Maybe you can teach Silas about the power of dark humor.” He coughed again.

“I’m glad you both think this is funny.” Silas kneeled in front of his grandfather. “Have you been going to every doctor's appointment?”

“Your mother never lets me miss one,” he groaned.

“Entertain her caution.” Silas urged.

“There’s no stopping what’s coming,” he said to him and I watched Silas’s expression flicker with sadness before it hardened again. “She can’t fix this and neither can you.”

“No we can’t but it doesn’t make it any less hard on her.” Silas warned, on him , was said silently.

“Heard,” Seymour coughed. “Now, help a dying man up so he can spend the evening entertaining party guests with a pretty girl on his arm.”

The last thing I wanted to do was be paraded around again but I could see the worry that laced Silas’s features and knew that it was something I needed to do, not for Seymour.

But for Silas. He needed something to be taken off his plate and if I could bear the load of his sick Grandfather for just the night, I would.

For him. After some coercion from the armchair, Seymour managed to get to his feet and I offered my hand to him, tucking it into his elbow.

He held his hand out for the scotch but I handed him the water instead.

“Tell them you’ve switched to vodka.” I smiled at him.

Seymour laughed wildly but took the glass from me. As we started toward the backyard I could feel Silas’s eyes on my back. I looked over my shoulder at him as we turned the corner and watched as he quietly pressed two fingers to his heart.

Thank you.