Page 221 of Silver Sweet

“You broke the rules,” Dad says simply. “It doesn’t matter your intent. Or even whether you were searching for answers.”

“Come on,” I complain. “I was texting my boyfriend.”

Mom folds her napkin on the table. I swear she’s smiling.Good signs. Until she says, “You could be texting your husband, and you’d still be kicked out. The rules do not change. Nocellphones in use during the game.” She points a talon at the door. “Out.”

“All right. I’m going. Fuck all of you.” I flip them off on my way through the door, just as I hear Eliot ask, “Who painted the 1877 oil painting ‘Paris Street; Rainy Day?’”

“Gustave Caillebotte,” Charlie answers without pause.

As soon as I leave, my stomach aches because I hate that I’m missing it.

50

TOM COBALT

Being kicked out of dinner gives me a better reason to go home early and mitigate the silly string situation. But when I arrive at the apartment, there is no situation.

Harriet and Phoenix are sitting on the couch together, all evidence of debauchery cleaned away. Spotless kitchen counters. Floors vacuumed. I can’t deny…I’m bummed.

“Tell me you took pictures,” I demand.

“Good criminals don’t keep evidence, Thomas.” Harriet tilts the laptop on her knees to Phoenix. “These seats?”

I look between them. “What is going on?”

“Paramore tickets went live. We just got out of the queue,” Harriet says.

Phoenix raises his brows, then skims the length of me. “You okay, nepo baby? You look like you’re about to self-destruct.”

“Yeah.Yeah.It’s been a night. And you two are now concert-going friends. My brain is overloaded, dude.”

Phoenix frowns deeper. “Want to talk about it or is this a secret tea party thing?”

“I’m honestly not sure.” I let out a shaky breath. “Probably have to wait for the dust to settle.”

Phoenix gives me a consoling look before he points to the laptop. “Those four,” he tells Harriet before rising to meet me. He cups my face, just to kiss me, and I hold his left hand at our sides while I smile against his soft lips.

It’s a short kiss, but it feels like it lasts forever. My pulse still races when he pulls back—then it suddenly registers what he said to Harriet.

Those four.

“Four seats?” My eyes widen. “Is this a double da?—?”

“I would rather sleep on spikes,” Harriet cuts me off. “You’re invited by proxy because you happen to be the boyfriend of my partner in crime.”

Her partner in crime.

“You performed one act of silly string—that you didn’t even document—and all of a sudden you’re a criminal mastermind?”

Harriet flips me off.

I flip her off.

She closes the laptop and shoves it in her bookbag. “It’s done. And the tickets are for next year.”

“If you’re even with Ben by then.”

“Tom.” Phoenix frowns. “What the fuck, man?”