Page 49 of True Honey (The Hornets Nest #4)

SHORE

I thought that the cutest expression Drew made was when she was jealous but I was wrong. The sun poured in through the row of rectangle windows that ran along the wall of my room and bathed her in ethereal light that made her look like an angel.

She was pressed against the pillow, her red hair messy around her peaceful face.

I could trace the few freckles and sun spots that painted her skin, across her cheek and around her jaw.

Last night was different, it felt like I had finally gotten through to her.

Something had broken down inside of her and she finally let me in.

I understood her fear, the hesitation surrounding actually feeling her emotions toward me.

There were zero assurances but the word of a man that had started a fake relationship with her signing a piece of paper.

Asking her to lie to everyone, all so she’d have a place to live.

Playing it back in my thoughts it sounded even worse.

But Drew had knocked the wind out of me and I didn’t care. I let her.

I almost wanted her too.

For years I walked around taking care of everyone else but she had shown up and within weeks had become the first person to really stop and see me.

I was well taken care of in every aspect of life, wealthy financially and in my relationships, but crumbling mentally under the pressure of solving every problem. Especially the ones I didn’t create.

I was falling apart under the mountain of issues from my father and worse, my grandfather's prideful neglect to see his son was a piece of shit. I wasn’t aware of how bad it’d become until Drew came into the picture.

She lit up every dark corner with light and even though she had monsters of her own, she took the time to help me get rid of mine.

I was determined to help her do the same.

It was going to take more work than previously thought, but I was willing to put in the hours.

Last night she stayed present, her eyes on me, her mind focused on us.

She didn’t slip away from me and I had hoped that she felt safer to try again without so much convincing but I wouldn’t know until we crossed that bridge.

She stirred a little in her sleep like she could hear me thinking about her.

“Your phone is ringing, Silas,” she said in a mumbly, adorable voice and I clued back into reality to the sound of birds chirping from my side table.

“Sorry,” I said, kissing her forehead and reaching over her to grab it.

Harbor Correctional flashed across the screen and I sighed, muting it.

That asshole would ruin a perfect morning.

“Why didn’t you answer?” She asked, prying her eyes open. I inhaled her sleepy beauty to calm the anger that simmered over the interruption. I thought about lying to her, telling her that it was nothing…

“It was my father.”

Drew was more awake at the confession, “at nine am? What if something's wrong?”

How do I look a woman so soft and empathic in the eye and tell her I just don’t give a shit if there is?

“He’s calling because I’m not on the visitor list for the weekend, I have to go to New York for a meeting and don’t have the time to listen to him whine about how hard his life has been,” I said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

In reality I didn’t want to do anything but lay in bed with her.

I especially don't want to waist what time I do have thinking about him. “Hey,” I paused, having a great idea. “Why don’t you come with me?”

Instantly she retreated into her shell.

“There will be a dinner or two, it would be nice to have you join me for,” I said, “and not because it’s good for the board to see us together, but because I need you there.

” Attempting to convince her before she argued was a new strategy that seemed to be working.

She narrowed her green eyes on me and I could feel her thinking of excuses.

I picked up my phone, scrolling to the group chat and choosing Shithead , letting it ring twice before a grumpy Cael picked up on the other end. I turned on the speakerphone so Drew could hear.

“What are you doing this weekend?” I asked before he could even say hello.

“Snorting coke, maybe go on a binger, hire some hooke—”

He was cut off by a loud slap. I heard him mumble on the other end before the phone switched hands.

“Morning Si,” Ella’s voice was a much more welcome sound.

“I forgot you guys had an appointment,” I said, “sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s fine, Cael was whining more than working out,” she grumbled. “What’s going on this weekend?”

“I have to go to New York and I want to take Drew with me.” I explained. Drew watched me carefully, still not remotely convinced and Cael’s stupid outburst hadn’t helped.

“I’m actually horribly offended that you called Cael to look after Auggie before me.” She barked something unintelligible at Cael who had started to laugh.

“Lapse in judgement,” I said softly, “Friday evening to Sunday evening?”

“Arlo’s going to be so grouchy about this,” Cael finally piped up.

“Luckily Arlo’s not the boss,” Ella said sweetly, “of course that’s okay. If it makes Drew feel better we can call every night.”

“I’ll also be around,” the voice was a surprise to my ears.

“Ryan?” I questioned, “why the hell are you there?”

“I took Cael for breakfast,” he said, sensing my hesitation when I didn’t respond right away he continued, “I’ll check in on them this weekend. Make sure everyone still has their heads and all ten fingers.”

It spoke volumes that he was willing to go up to the Nest to keep an eye on them. I could tell that it also soothed Drew’s rampant worry, her anxiety taking control as she picked at her nails and kept her eyes on the pillow. She was doing a terrible job at hiding her concern.

"Oh actually I have this funny looking mole just under my nut—"

"Cael keep your pants on," Ella snapped and I heard Cael laughing in the background as she scolded him .

“Thank you, Ryan.” I cleared my throat, “that would be wonderful.”

I flicked my finger under her chin to force her to look at me.

I knew leaving would be hard for her, she’d clearly never been away from August for long but we both needed a second to just be together without hiding it.

I needed a chance to prove to her that I wasn’t faking, no joking, that I wanted this, I wanted her.

That I needed her.

“Okay,” she whispered, barely audible but it was the best sound she could have made.

All I had to do was keep reminding her that it was good.

We were good.

“I still feel like I’m forgetting something.

” Drew looked over her shoulder into the backseat of the SUV and scowled.

She had been more distant than usual all week and I had just been counting down the days until I got her alone.

I knew she was fussing over her own thoughts again because her nails were bitten to the bed of her fingers and she was unable to sit still for more than thirty seconds.

She had pulled her hair up, let it down, and pulled it back up again all before I pulled out of the city.

“You aren’t, you triple checked before we even left the Nest.” I took her wrist gently and pulled her hand into my lap. I pressed my palm flat against hers and inhaled slowly, begging her to follow suit. Calm down. Breathe.

About half an hour later, it comes out. “It’s August, I’m forgetting, Auggie.”

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest as she figured it out.

“I shouldn’t have left him there alone,” she said, staring out the window.

“He’s not alone,” I reminded her. “He’s at home. He’s with the people I trust the most. ”

“And here I am running away from him to have a relaxing weekend away with my secret boyfriend…” She huffed under her breath. “I think this qualifies me for the worst mom of the year award.”

I chuckled, “you’ve never been a bad mom, Drew. I don’t think you’d be capable of that.”

“It’s not funny Silas! He knows I left him,” her voice strained. “And he knows I left him for you.”

“There was no leaving,” I said, trying to reassure her.

“We’re returning. And I’m going to quote your son here, but…

He’s thirteen.” That got a small smile from her, a lazy one that I’d never seen before but definitely wanted to see more often.

“If anything he’s babysitting Cael, and they’re both completely distracted.

I set up the telescope for them before we left. ”

“You did?” Drew looked up from her lap at me.

“I promised him I would,” I said and felt the air shift as another suffocating knot loosened in the rope wrapped around the box that she kept her trust in.

She didn’t say anything else but her shoulders relaxed a little.

“I told him we’d bring him back some books so before we leave we have to stop at a store. ”

“He likes you,” she said quietly.

“He tolerates me." I glance at her again, taking in how nervous she looks, "for you.”

“Same thing with Auggie,” she let a quiet laugh go. “Thank you for trying though. I see you trying and it’s been awhile since anyone did that for him other than me.”

“I think that’s true for both of you,” I said.

Drew didn’t respond, whether or not she believed me wasn’t for me to question.

She was quiet the rest of the drive and I didn’t push for conversation.

If she wanted to talk to me she would. I could tell she was still mulling over what I said, tangled with her own insecurities.

It was going to take a lot more than just words.

I led her to the top floor of the hotel, shamelessly I had upgraded my room to impress her once I knew she’d be joining me.

I scanned the card and let her into the massive space.

There was a king size bed centered on the west wall and a nice couch, and sitting area to our right as well as a huge, pristine spa-like en-suite that was the size of my entire apartment at the Nest.

“This is…” Drew inhaled slowly, her eyes taking in everything as I set down our bags. She wandered through, pulling back the curtains on the room to expose the expensive view of New York city. I listened as her breath caught and she crossed her arms over her chest nervously.

“Just a room,” I finished her sentence, coming up behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her back against my chest, burying my nose in her hair. “I have meetings tomorrow,” I whispered, “but I booked you a day at the spa downstairs.”

“Silas you didn’t.” She tried to spin in my arms, trying to argue face to face but I held her tightly, not letting her turn even an inch.

“I did, and you can have whatever you want. All day. We’re switching places, you’re going to do something selfish and I’m going to do something brave,” I said to her.

“What’s brave about you going to meetings?” I could hear the pout in her voice.

“The meetings are with the prosecution, the lawyers working to keep my father in jail. We’re going over my testimony and the defense's possible questions for the trial,” I said to her and felt her body tense. I wasn’t scared of it, but she didn’t need to know that.

“Okay,” she conceded like I knew she would. Her conscience not allowing her to let me do something scary or selfish on my own.

“That’s my girl,” I whispered in her ear and placed a kiss on her neck, digging my fingers into her skin. I would show her one day at a time that she deserved the world, even if it meant fighting against her intrusive thoughts every step of the way.

Drew was worth it.