Page 111 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
He growled. “I don’t care.”
“Of course you do. You’re being completely irrational! Who cares that your dad was a jerk? It wasn’t the first time. What’s this really about?” Before he could deny I was right, I held up a hand. “And don’t tell me it’s about your dad and me snapping at each other. You’re off the rails here, Silas. Something else has been festering for weeks. I’m going to venture a guess and say it’s the same thing causing your nightmares, but since you won’t talk to me, I’m not really fucking sure. Do you feel like telling me yet?”
His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared, but he didn’t answer.
“Fine.” I threw my hands in the air. “You want to get in a fight with your dad? Do it. But I’m not sticking around to watch.”
Flying past him, I went straight for my car. I’d been leaving the keys inside so that anyone could move it if it was in the way. Right now, I was really glad that I didn’t have to go inside before I made my escape. I had about thirty seconds before angry tears were going to come pouring out.
I was pissed at Elliot and Silas, but more than that, I was hurt. He was hiding something from me. He was upset and didn’t trust me enough to confide that in me. Paxon had been able to talk to me. Why couldn’t my own boyfriend?
I heard his footsteps behind me but I didn’t turn.
“You’re going to leave?”
“Yep.” I tossed the word over my shoulder.
“So that’s your answer? I’m pissed so you run away?”
My feet slid to a halt on the gravel and I spun around. “I’m not running away.”
He glared at me and sneered, “Sure feels like it. And I’d know, wouldn’t I?”
Ouch. That was the first time he’d ever thrown the past in my face.
How could he think I’d run away? I was giving him some space. I was taking some time to compose myself before we both ended up saying things we’d regret. How could he not see that?
I guess he really hadn’t forgiven me for the mistakes I’d made, after all.
Maybe it was foolish of me to think he ever would.
Silas
I stood in the middle of the gravel lot and watched Felicity’s car peel away from the barn in a cloud of dust.
“Hey, princess.”
Paxon was on the porch behind me. “What do you want?” I clipped. I was pissed about Dad, about Felicity, about everything, and he’d picked a bad time to come find me.
“Whoa.” He held up his hands. “Just wanted to invite you inside for a poker game, but since I see you’ve got other issues,” he pointed to where Felicity’s car was nearly out of sight, “I think I’d better offer you a beer or twelve instead.”
Beer. Beer would be good.
I turned and followed him inside, keeping my mouth shut when people asked me where Felicity had gone and walking straight to the cooler to pop the lid on a bottle of Bud Light. When I’d drained it down, I dug out number two.
“Easy,” Pax said at my side. “I think you’d better come sit in on this poker game before you stand here by the cooler and get yourself in even more trouble.”
I huffed. “Probably not a bad idea.” I wouldn’t mind getting passed-out drunk but I’d save that for after Felicity came back and dumped my ass.
An hour later, I was down a hundred and fifty bucks and would have an empty wallet when I went home to an empty bed.
“Fuck
,” I muttered, tossing my cards on the table. “I fold.”
“You’re in a shit mood tonight,” Jess said.
“There’s trouble in paradise,” Paxon informed the table.
