Page 70 of Silver Tears

He nods. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I was trying to protect you and your brother.”

“I know.” And I do. I know he only did it because he cared enough. How do I go back to the Bay today and leave my brother here in this shit? How do I go back to our big house and fancy school and carry on and pretend it’s all okay?

“I’ll have him put a guy outside the house. He’ll watch the situation and if Charlie is in danger, he’ll get him out of there. Plus, we’ve got Peggy. You know he can go over there anytime.”

I nod my head. “I hate this.”

“I know, precious,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. “I know you’ve always said it wasn’t an option, but if you told your dad.”

“No.”

“But, if—”

“No. No one would dare say my mum’s name in his presence. What she did destroyed him. He wouldn’t care and more than that, he would feel betrayed. I’m his perfect girl. The one who never lets him down.” I chew on the inside of my cheek as I fight back my emotions.

Seb leans away from me, and he tips my chin up with his finger. There’s nowhere for me to hide now.

“No one is perfect, Mills, and your dad shouldn’t expect you to be. I’ve grown up in a fucked-up world of money and power and greed and no one is perfect. We’re all flawed.”

I study him, furrowing my brow. “And what’s your flaw?”

He smirks and winks. “Well, of course, I don’t have any. That’s a given.”

I narrow my eyes and elbow him in the ribs.

“Such violence.” He chuckles, grabbing my hands and pinning them in-between us with one hand. “Joking aside. I have many flaws, Mills. I’m just good at hiding them.”

A flicker of pain crosses his face. It’s so brief it would be easy to miss, but I saw it. He releases my hand and clearing his throat; he turns away from me, moving towards the door. I reach out and grab his hand and he pauses but doesn’t turn back around to face me.

“You can share your flaws with me anytime. You know more about me than those closest to me now. We can keep each other’s secrets.”

He’s silent for a beat before he gently squeezes my hand. “Come on, let’s go say goodnight to Chops and get you home.”

I’ve never seen Seb look sad or uncertain and it makes me want to peel back his layers of bravado and humour and discover what lies underneath. I want to scratch beneath the surface and know the real Sebastian Collings.

SEB

“Where were you all weekend again?” Eliza asks me as I hold a bag of Maltesers just out of her reach. “I miss you hanging with us.” She pouts, attempting a dive for the bag.

I chuckle, dodging her, and place the bag behind my back. “Aw, Little Red, you missing me? It’s understandable.” I shrug. “I mean, I am the only one to bring the laughter and fun to this little party of five.”

Eliza sticks her tongue out at me. “You know you and Mills can hang with us. We’re all cool about her.”

I grimace. She thinks I don’t want Mills around our group. It couldn’t be further from the truth. I’d love to have Mills hang with us all. She fits right in. Like she’s always belonged. “You know what it’s like, Little Red, when you’re in a new relationship and you just want alone time.”

I don’t see her until she has me pushed against the locker, her pink hair hanging over her face. “You!”

“Hey, Mills.” I grin, holding up my hands in surrender. “Let me guess, you’re missing me too.”

Milly scowls at me. Okay, she’s pissed, but I’m not sure why she’s pissed at me.

“A word. Now!” she orders, pointing to the empty classroom beside where we’re standing. She turns her back on me and marches in there like a woman on a mission.

Archer whistles as we all watch her leave. “Looks like someone’s in trouble.”

I shrug my shoulders and pop a Malteser into my mouth as I stroll casually towards the empty room. When I enter inside and close the door, she’s pacing up and down, clutching a scrunched-up piece of paper in her hand.

“Mills, you want to stop and tell me what’s got you so angry?” I ask her as my eyes tail her as she walks back and forth.

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