Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Silas studied me for a beat before he leaned in and clasped the back of my head in one large hand, hauling me in for another kiss. This one was real. It took complete ownership of me and left me panting in its absence.
“Right,” he grunted. “Now it’ll be a good day.”
He turned to leave but then stopped and spun back around. “Can we… can we talk about…?” He stopped and cleared his throat before lowering his voice. “I have some papers…”
“Papers?” My stomach twisted. Was Silas implying he wanted to talk about the divorce? Get the paperwork started? Was he really bringing that up here? Now? After that kiss?
He shook his head. “It’s not important. It can keep till after the exhibition. See you later.”
Foster passed him in the doorway and turned to call out a greeting as Silas left. When Silas only responded with a wave of his hand over his shoulder, Foster turned and frowned at me. “What’s going on with him?”
I shrugged and tried not to worry about Silas’s strange mood and the allusion to papers. “Dunno. Busy, I guess. He has a lot to do with his real job back home.”
Foster’s eyes narrowed at me in warning before he furtively looked around. “Back home at your house,” he said loudly.
I realized my slipup. “Yeah, ’course. Anyway, come sit and let’s eat. The AdventureSmash team is meeting me at the office at ten.”
As Foster went over last-minute details, I had a hard time concentrating. Now that the exhibition weekend was here, it meant the end of Silas’s time in Majestic as well. He’d promised to stay until after the three-day event, which meant we had four more days together.
Four days in which I would be running flat out, without a spare minute to spend with him.
“Are you even listening?”
Foster’s words snapped me back into the moment. “Shit, sorry. Yeah. Whatever you think is best.”
His forehead creased. “You okay?” He looked back toward the door, even though Silas had been gone for a while now. “Something going on with the husband?”
Foster knew me too well to believe a lie, so I shrugged.
His frown deepened. “What’s the problem?”
I gritted my teeth and tested the words out loud. “I’m in love with him.”
“Yes. And?”
My best friend was an insufferable ass. Had he been able to tell? And did that mean everyone could tell? “And that wasn’t part of the deal,” I hissed, low enough not to be overheard. “He’s leaving, and then what? I’m supposed to just… get over it?” My voice wobbled on the last part as my fear made itself known.
“Or,” he drawled. “Or you could talk to him. Ask him if there’s any chance of a real future there.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He would no more want to settle here in Majestic than… than…” I tried to think of something Silas absolutely detested. “Buy a billionaire a ticket to space, or… eat strawberry ice cream, or… pet a cat backwards, or—”
Foster held up a hand. “I get it. But I think that’s up to him to decide, don’t you? Why not at least tell him how you feel? What if he felt the same way but decided not to tell you because he assumed you’d never leave Majestic?”
His words caught me by surprise. “Oh.”
“Mph. Anyway, have the conversation. Work through it together. But maybe wait until after the exhibition. Right now, you need to stay focused on this weekend.”
I nodded. “I know. Of course. It’s just that… I’ve been so excited for it ever since AdventureSmash selected us for it, and now… I’m practically dreading it. As soon as it’s over, I might lose—”
“Waylon, can I talk to you?”
I glanced over to see Eden approaching from behind me. “Uh, sure?”
Foster tossed a twenty on the table and stood up before clamping a hand on my shoulder and meeting my eye. “I was wrong, then. Do it today. Maybe then you can enjoy yourself this weekend.”
I dipped my head in acknowledgment, even though I wasn’t sure if he was right or not. Foster said his farewells to everyone around us and headed out the door, the equipment on his duty belt catching the morning sun as he turned toward his vehicle.
Eden slid into the seat he’d vacated. “I’ve been worried about you,” she said in a soft voice.
I glanced across the table at her. “Me? Why?”
She reached out and placed a hand over mine. “I’ve seen you around with Silas. It’s… strange. And I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it.”
“About me being with a guy?”
“Well, yeah, kind of. That’s part of it. But also, it was really fast. I mean, you have to admit it seems weird. How could you have possibly met and married someone in the same weekend? Is it… I hate to ask, but is this some kind of joke? Is it real?”