Page 95 of Silver Linings
Fairbanks doesn’t know I met and fumbled my first chance encounter with Silver that very first day the world tipped on its axis, pitching us toward each other and spinning my plans out of control. The fact that she lives here and awarded me a do-over was pure fate.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around because, well, because my girlfriend lives here.” Fuck, that feels good to say out loud. I reach my hand out to shake his, and he reluctantly grips mineback. “I hope it won’t be awkward.” Giving his hand one final shake, I make my way out of his office.
I quickly gather the few things I had in my office storeroom, shoving my sketchbook of designs, the one specifically housing the mock ups for Kena’s hutch, into the bag of clothes I stored there for a quick change.
I walk through the lobby, Tony giving me a salute, but I laugh and pull him into a hug. “I’ll see you soon Tony.”
Mrs. Evans is lurking in the corner. “I warned you to stay away from that girl. I told you I would make you sorry.”
I face her head on. “I’m not. Sorry, that is.”
She scoffs derisively in my direction. “I tried to warn you. She’s a tramp, nothing but trouble. You’re just one of many?—”
I bridge the few feet standing between us, and she yields a step. “If you can’t see her for what and who she is, then I feel bad for you. But you don’t deserve her. Hell, I probably don’t either. But the difference is, I get to try every day, and you’ll be here, trying to make everyone around you miserable when the only person you’re hurting is yourself, Joyce. I would wish you peace, but quite frankly, I hope you stub your toe on the corner of your bed every day for the way you’ve treated her.” Mrs. Evans goes to argue, and I can sense Tony to our right trying not to laugh. “But I’ll see you soon. I suggest you be nicer the next time you see my girl, or I might have to let Fairbanks know about that stolen—what was it again, Tony?”
“Scotch.” Mirth lines his answer.
“Ah, yes. Scotch.”
I don’t wait for a response before I step out of the building into the crisp mid-November air and head towards my apartment. I want to go back to the store and help, but I know Silver will question why I’m there, not at work. I don’t want to tell her I lost my job the night before the biggest day of her life. She doesn’t need that distraction right now.
I spend the rest of my free afternoon finishing up the sketches I have for Kena before shooting some pictures over to the number he gave me. The money I make from this one project will help to sustain me for at least a month, so I want to make sure I get it right for him.
The rest of the night slogs by while I do the most menial tasks to stay busy, wishing I was at the bookstore. I debate shooting Silver a quick text to check in, make sure she and the girls don’t need anything, but decide against it, not wanting to distract her.
I do a quick home workout to pass the rest of the evening, shower, then hop in bed so I can be up early tomorrow to pick up coffee and breakfast for everyone.
Before I know it, sleep takes me under, and I fall into a dream about a beautiful girl with hair the color of the moon and eyes as bright as the sea.
I shoot out of bed to a loud trilling that abruptly stops.
Reaching over and grabbing my phone, I note two things. First, it’s three in the morning, and second, there are two missed calls from my mom.
That can’t be right.
The ringing picks up again, the bright light and shrill sound splitting my head in two.
“Mom?” My voice is hoarse with sleep as I answer the phone.
Sobbing runs through the line and straight to my heart, waking me up faster than a bucket of cold water over my head.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“It’s—” Sobs wrack her body, making it impossible for her to speak. “It’s Laurel, sweetie.”
My heart stops cold in my chest.
“She’s in the hospital.”I can’t feel my toes. “She was in an accident. It’s bad, the doctor said… Hen, please get here.”
All the trauma from losing my brother comes rushing to the surface like a tidal wave, drowning out everything and crushing me with terror. My body goes completely numb, and my mind drains, painfully blank.
“I’m coming,” I say before she tells me the hospital and we hang up.
Panic starts to claw its way up my throat, choking me on all my regrets. I left on bad terms. I’ve barely spoken to her or the rest of my family since I left. What kind of brother does that? What if she dies, and I never get to tell her I love her again, or that she was the reason I stayed in Seattle as long as I did after Maddox died? I would live the rest of my life in penitence.
I don’t have a single thought in my head other than my little sister lying still in a hospital bed. That thought alone spurs me into action, scrambling for my wallet and a hoodie, not even stopping to change out of my sweatpants. I run out the door and hail a cab to the airport, purchasing a flight on my phone before slipping the device into my pants. I’m too distracted in my terrified state to notice when it falls back out onto the taxi seat, before throwing myself out the door and onto the first plane out to Seattle.
twenty-eight
