Page 17 of Silver Tears

This god-damn bus! I’m in a rush to get home and shower before college. I’m stuck behind a bus that seems to stop at every bus stop along the way. I’m tapping the steering wheel, willing the passengers to get off quicker when something curious snags my attention. It’s the pastel pink hair I notice first. If Milly Silver was hoping to sneak off a bus coming into the Bay at seven-thirty in the morning, she may want to rethink that cute hair colour. The need to know what little Mill’s has been up to replaces my rush to get home. I’ve been covering the night shift at the warehouse, looking after Phil. Well, looking after him is perhaps the wrong word. That evil fucker is finally paying the price for what he’s done to my non-blood family. I put my indicator on and remain where I am as the bus pulls away. I watch as she glances cautiously left and right up the street. She pulls up the hood of her jacket and with her head down; she walks toward her home.

I move off, crawling at a safe distance so she doesn’t notice. My interest peaks even more when she crosses the road and walks in the opposite direction to her own house. Her legs look amazing in the HB pleated short skirt, especially with those sexy little socks she wears. I bite my lip, enjoying the chance to watch her without her knowing. Her cute little arse is hidden under that skirt. I’m curious what colour knickers she’s wearing. Unable to stay away any longer, I pick up speed and come up alongside of her.

“Good morning, Mills.”

“Fuck!” She jumps back and the can of pop she’s holding drops to the floor, its contents spilling all over the grey paving stones.

“You’re awfully jumpy,” I comment, leaning my head down to see her. “Hop in. I’ll replace that can with an iced coffee.”

“Do you always creep up on people like this?” She glowers at me as she wipes her hand down her skirt, and I follow it with avid interest.

“I’m merely driving home, and I noticed you got off the bus from Droyton. Care to share your secrets with me, Mills?”

She flinches at the word secrets and my interest peaks. Her reaction tells me she doesn’t want anyone to know where she’s been.

“I’m fine walking,” she informs me as she carries on determinedly, not even looking my way. I suspect she is immune to my infallible flirting skills. “Now run along and leave me alone.”

I chuckle. “But where is the fun in that? I much prefer making you uncomfortable. So, come on, where did you get to last night? Let me guess, you’re hooking up with a teacher and he made you get the bus home?”

Her green eyes finally land on me, frowning. “Why are you so concerned about where I have been? Do you see me harassing you about why you are driving home this early in the morning? No doubt you rolled out of some girl’s bed whose name you don’t remember!”

I pout and look hurt. “Mills, you wound me with your words. I was working, actually.”

She scoffs and shakes her head. “You, work? Hilarious.”

“Aces business,” I reply, ignoring her jibe. “Your house is that way, you know?” I gesture with my head to the right of me and she mutters something under her breath.

Sighing, she stops walking and turns to face my car, her hands on her hips and her full attention on me. “That’s because I’m not going home. I’m going to Ruby’s.”

I grin and nod my head. “Oh, I get it. Daddy dearest thinks you stayed at Ruby’s last night.” I tut at her, earning myself a frosty stare. “So, where were you last night, Mills, when you were supposed to be at Ruby’s?”

She snorts, looking away, but I don’t miss the flicker of guilt that appears on her face.

“It looks an awful lot like you’re doing the walk of shame.” I grin, giving her a knowing wink.

“Thankfully, not all of us are players who are out every night bedding different people,” Milly snipes, as she starts walking again. I continue to drive alongside her, fully enjoying torturing her with my presence.

“Look, your secrets are safe with me. So, you got lucky last night. I get it. You're nursing your broken heart with a string of one-night stands.”

“For the love of God! Go away!” she hisses, waving her hands dramatically in the air.

I can’t help but laugh. Something about pushing little Milly’s buttons excites me to no end. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Jump in and I’ll run you to wherever it is you’re heading. No more questions, I promise,” I tell her, crossing my heart with my fingers.

She looks down at her watch and back up at me. She is at war with herself over what to do. “I’ll get in your stupid car, but only because I’m in a hurry.”

“Say sorry,” I order her when she gets in and buckles up. She looks up at me, her brow wrinkled. “Sorry for what?”

“You hurt my car’s feelings by calling it stupid.”

She rolls her eyes at me and damn if it doesn’t make my dick twitch in my pants. “It’s a car. It doesn’t have feelings. Do you ever take anything seriously?”

I bob my head side to side as if I’m contemplating her question. “Left or right?”

“Right,” she replies, waiting for the answer to her question.

“I take my duty to the women of the Bay seriously.”

“For God’s sake.” She shakes her head and turns away from me to look out the window. “Left at the end of the road and its number twenty-three.”

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