Page 38 of The Silent Count
Clearing my throat, I turn to the girls who are still staring at me, slack jawed. “Will you two excuse me for a second?”
They both offer memhmmswith the same low, flirty undertone.
I throw back the last swig of wine left in my glass before setting it down on the little bar cart Scarlett brought out to serve our drinks. With a steadying breath, I smooth down the bottom of the skin tight black dress I changed into before leaving work.
There’s no surprise when I look up to find Fortune already looking at me. He gives the guys a clipped nod to excuse himself before walking across the yard to meet me halfway.
“Can I talk to you inside right quick?” I ask, while grabbing his hand and dragging him behind me as I lead us to the back door. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight,” I whisper as we step foot inside.
“I sort of figured that out when you looked at me like I was a ghost when I walked in. All I know is that I got put in a group text with Scarlett and Abel this afternoon asking if I wanted to come to dinner tonight. I thought maybe you had told the girls about us already, and they wanted to vet me or something.”
He keeps a few feet of distance between us, but I see him putting his hands in his pockets only to take them out again a few seconds later, almost like he’s unsure if he’s allowed to touch me with people just outside the door.
“I actually just told them,” I laugh. “I didn’t plan to tell them this early, but they were starting to put the dots together themselves, and when you walked in, the look on my face sort of… gave the rest away.”
“Is that why they were standing there looking like Ghostface?”
“Yup.” I drag out the word and pop the p.
“I can leave if it’s going to make things awkward. You didn’t plan for me to be here, so I’d understand if you don’t want me intruding on your night.”
I take a step forward and drape my arms around his neck. A flash of uncertainty dances over his face, but when I soften against him, it disappears.
“Don’t be silly.” I lift onto my tiptoes and place a quick kiss against the corner of his mouth. “I want you to stay.”
He peers down at me with a smile that makes my heart stutter.
“If the girls already know, that means Abel and October are going to find out too, doesn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they told them before we even made it into the house.”
The two of us share a laugh before twisting our heads to look out the window. Both of the girls are standing there talking to the guys with widened eyes and flailing hands. The all-too-smug look Mae is wearing as she nods to October confirms to me she’s recounting her side of the story. I know for certain she’s making it a point to mention that she’s had suspicions about the two of us for a while.
I shake my head as I watch them. I should’ve known better than to ask them in the first place if they could keep a secret, because I already knew they wouldn’t last over five minutes.
“What’s the deal with these dinners, anyway? Was I supposed to bring something?” He asks timidly. I find it sweet how nervous he is. “I don’t really know the protocol with these kinds of events.”
“Well, the unfortunate news is that you won’t be able to hide in the corner tonight. In part because there aren’t enough people to hide from, and also because your usual partner in crime is the host’s boyfriend.”
Fortune nods, but the way his posture goes rigid gives away his nerves.
“Don’t worry. If you stick close to me, I’ll escort through the night.” I slide my hands down from his neck and give him two gentle pats on the chest. “It’s probably not as bad as you’ve chalked it up to be in your head. The last Friday night dinner we had, right before October got hurt, was a love fest between the four of them. I drank more wine than I should have to cope with it. It'll be nice to have someone else here to hang out with this time.”
“We can have our own flirty love fest. Put theirs to shame.”
“Gross.” I roll my eyes playfully. But there’s a secret side of me that’s excited to give my friends a taste of their own medicine.
* * *
The six ofus stack our plates full with Scarlett’s home cooked spare ribs and mashed potatoes, then go back for seconds. The guys went back for thirds… and I’m pretty sure I caught Abel sneak a fourth helping of potatoes from the corner of my eye at one point.
We laugh like old friends, and it hardly feels like Fortune is an outsider. Then again, Mae continuously pestering us with questions about our relationship leaves little time for lulls in the conversation. And unsurprisingly, when the discussions grow calm, October inevitably chimes in with some ridiculous story about growing up next to Mae and Scarlett to fill the silence.
As the hours get later, my eyes grow heavy, exhaustion from the day settling deep into my bones. My chest clenches when my phone buzzes and Fortune shoots me an amused smile from across the table.
Fortune:
I’ve got a new headline for you.
