Page 62 of True Honey (The Hornets Nest #4)

SHORE

“ A re you sure you want to do this?” Drew’s brows pinched together as she fixed my tie. No matter how many times I tied it, she always fixed it.

It had been a month, the longest month of my life.

Immediately after the blowup, Charles' lawyers pushed for a quick resolution. He had held steady on his not guilty statement until the sentence was laid. Twelve years in prison, with a chance of parole after five. It wasn’t the best, but it was enough.

I had asked Josh the same thing that day.

“Are you sure?” I asked, as Josh shifted uncomfortably next to Dean who looked more like his bodyguard than boyfriend. Both had dressed in clean, new suits. Dean’s broad chest rose and fell at a steady, sturdy pace at Josh’s side who was pulling at the collar of his shirt.

“Stop asking me that fucking question, Silas.” Josh growled. “I’m here. I’m ready.”

“They’re going to show her picture in there,” I said to him and his eyes snapped to mine.

“They prepped me,” he reminded me harshly, “so stop.”

“Boys, stop fighting,” Mom’s voice broke through the buzzing of the busy court building. Ryan was standing behind her, his hair and beard trimmed and his suit pressed perfectly. I clenched my jaw and sighed. “Your tie is crooked,” she said to Josh and stepped forward.

I watched him breathe in once and hold it as Mom invaded his personal space with the utmost care and fixed it. She stepped back to admire him, reaching out to give Dean a pat on the cheek.

“You’re a good man,” she said to him and Dean finally cracked a smile.

“Are you ready for today?” I asked her and her smile faltered.

“If Josh is, I am.” She said, her eyes never leaving him.

“I am,” Josh answered her.

“I have to, I haven’t spoken to him since the trial ended and Mom said he’s making himself sick with guilt over what happened. If he dies and…” I trailed off. If Mom and Josh could be brave and face Charles. I could face Seymour.

“I’m just checking in,” she said, pushing up on her toes to kiss me. “Just be patient with him.”

“Since when are you a Seymour fan girl?” I teased her.

“I’m not, he’s sick. He deserves a little grace.” She argued gently.

Drew, after much deliberation and a little fighting, decided that she would go to therapy.

I had suggested Riona but she refused, wanting to keep their relationship at a base level for as long as August was still spending time with Daisy.

I helped her pick one from beneath the blankets on our bed.

A spot I had willingly gotten very familiar with in the week that followed our blow up.

I learned quickly that once she was in it, there was no getting out.

She just needed the quiet, the time to prove her own thoughts wrong and if need be, the space to restart.

I gave her what I could, and took over the role of August’s sole guardian.

He joined a summer workplace program at the shelter with Cosy, and Ella had lent him her bike to go to and from.

I was grateful for how much weight the rest of the Nest was willing to bear as we found our way through everything. Cael graduated Harbor with a smile on his face and Ryan cheering from the front row as he walked across the stage. Everything seemed to fall into place like it was always the plan.

Drew pressed her hand flat to my chest, done fussing with my tie.

“You should wear the other one, if Mom sees that she’ll have my head.” I said, brushing a knuckle over a tiny faded purple spot on her collarbone.

Drew looks down at the mark and smirks before running her hands over the white sundress she was wearing. “No,” she hummed. “I like this one.”

Opening my mouth to argue she lifted my hand to her lips and kissed it. She hadn’t meant the dress… fuck. She always knew exactly what button to press.

I knotted my hand into the back of her hair, bundling the red strands between my fingers and tipping her head back to steal a kiss from her stubborn, pretty lips. She tasted like sugar and the second she pulled away a tiny whine left my throat as I followed her to steal another.

“On second thought, let’s stay home.” I wrapped my arm around her waist as she turned to leave, pulling her back against my chest. My lips were quick to find her throat.

“Silas if we’re late I’m throwing you to the wolves,” she giggled and squirmed but it only made my grip tighter. My hand pressed down her stomach and inched into the soft fabric, pinching it in my fingers until I could feel the soft skin of her thigh.

“I’ll be quick,” I whined.

“You’re never quick,” she wiggled free, stepping back out of my reach and leaving me restless. “Deal with that and meet us outside.” She pointed to my hard on.

“Seriously?” I huffed as she giggled and left me standing in the closet alone.

“Do I really need to wear this?” August tugged at his tie, mirroring Josh’s action beside him.

Drew tilted her head to the side, no doubt thinking the same thing I was. How similar the two of them looked and acted without sharing a shred of DNA. She looked over her shoulder at me and all I could do was laugh.

“If I have to, you have to.” Josh grumbled. “You owe me,” he snapped at me.

“For what, Mom invited us both!” I tucked my hand into the pocket of my pants and wrapped the other one around Drew’s waist. “Let’s get this over with,” I muttered, leading her into the house behind Josh and Dean.

“Holy shit,” August swore.

“Language,” Drew hissed at him gently as his voice echoed in the foray.

Josh stifled a laugh and Dean got August’s attention to pull him into the living room. Seymour stood at the other end in the door of his office staring at me.

“Go,” Drew encouraged, patting me on the chest. “I love you.”

The sound of her saying that never got old. I wrapped my hand around hers feeling the ring in my palm and slowed down my breathing to match hers. “Don’t let August and Josh bully Dean,” I said, trying to keep calm and Drew shook her head, only letting go when I was ready.

I shoved my hands in my pocket and made my way into the office, Seymour shutting the door behind me.

“Before you take a chunk out of me Grandpa, I don’t regret my decision.” I leaned against one of the chairs as he circled slowly and sat down. He coughed for a second, bracing himself on the arm. He was looking worse every day and it wouldn’t be long before we were holding another funeral.

I was so unbelievably sick of death.

“Sit down,” he barked when he finally got finished with his coughing fit. I unbuttoned my jacket and sunk into the chair across from him. “The first time you walked that woman into my house you lied to me.”

“Grandpa,” I sighed.

“Don’t try to tell me you didn’t. I’m old, not stupid.” Seymour snapped. “It was clear that you had found Ms. Courtney in an attempt to fool me.”

I brushed my hand through my hair and nodded, “that’s correct but not the whole story.”

“I know. Your Mother figured the rest out before you left the drive way." He shook his head. Of course Mom had known, and the entire time. Her coming to the apartment, taking Drew to lunch… It had all been a show from the two of them.

"It was stupid of you to leave before that meeting.” He reached for his glass of water. It was the first time I’d ever seen him drink anything besides scotch in my entire life

I buckled down, pressing my heels into the floor and preparing for the fight.

“But I see you boy.” He said. “I see the love and I’m proud of you for holding on to it.”

Seymour had never been one to mince his words. He was honest, true and despite his addiction to hard liquor and cigars. He was a good man. I just wasn’t sure of his angle. Usually it was pretty clear but I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out.

“Okay Grandpa, you’re going to have to explain,” I leaned forward.

Seymour chuckled, “we are in this mess because your father never valued love.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “He always put money over it. I have to confess something Silas,” he said. “There was no deal.”

“What?” I balked.

“You are a hurricane, son. The quiet kind, that consumes constantly. You’re always moving, helping everyone, solving problems. I knew you’d jump at the chance to help if I asked, if I made it serious.” Seymour explained.

“So what… you aren’t dying?” I choked on every word.

“Of course I’m dying!” He laughed so hard it turned into a long, painful cough. “The shares have been in your name since the day I found out I was.” He got out once he finished. “They were never in jeopardy, your father is never getting out of jail. Harbor was never in trouble.”

I stood from the chair, circling it and pacing the room once before I came back and gripped the back of the chair. “If it wasn’t for the shares then why the hell—”

Seymour smiled at me. “You needed to slow down,” he said. “I know you think I’m some cranky asshole, but I did this because I wanted you to take the time to find someone who loved you for you and not because of this,” he looked around at the room, dripping in riches.

“Are you insane?” I sighed, staring at him in complete shock.

“Money isn’t what built this family, Silas.

Money isn’t what built the Hornets. And if I was going to trust you to take care of them then you need to learn that lesson the hard way.

” Seymour smiled. “You needed less distractions so you could find someone to take care of you, while you took care of everything else.”

“You did all of this to get me a girlfriend?” I scoffed.

“I did all of this because you were turning into your father and I wasn’t going to die with the fate of my legacy in the hands of a man slut.” Seymour coughed.

“Who taught you that term?” I groaned and straightened out, trying to work through the shock of what that lunatic old man had done. Tricked by a man halfway in the grave. Arlo was right. I’m an idiot.

“Joshua calls you that,” Seymour laughed painfully.

“I’m taking him out of the will,” I hissed only making him laugh more. ”Ok stop before you die please, Mom would never forgive me.” I handed him the glass of water.

Seymour opened his mouth to argue when there were footsteps down the hall.

A soft knock on the door echoed out before it popped open and Drew stepped inside.

It was like she knew it was her mark, timed perfectly with her bright smile and big heart.

The sun poured in around her from the big open window behind her and made her glow the warmest shade of gold.

“Dinner’s ready,” she said, looking between me and Seymour completely oblivious to her timing.

“We’ll be right there, darling,” Seymour said, rising from his seat. Drew nodded and backed from the room. “Do you get it now?” He asked me.

I was still staring at the door with a smile on my face and my heart racing from the sight of her.

“Yeah I get it.” God, did I ever.