Chapter Eight

 

I leaned against my counter, watching Silas interact with the customers. He was so easygoing that it was impossible not to like him.

After nearly two weeks, we’d grown extremely close, and the more I looked at him, the more I realized, there was no way I could let him leave without telling him how I really felt about him, about us.

“Thank you for your service,” Mrs. White said, smiling at Silas like he was a giant lollipop.

He leaned down, kissed her hand, and made her blush as he told her it was his honor.

He’d spent almost an hour talking to Mr. Gentry about the war, and another hour with Mr. Tillis talking about planes. He seemed to fit in so perfectly, not just with my family, with me, but with my entire life.

“Can you grab the large bag of flour in the kitchen for Kayla,” I asked him once he was finally free.

“Sure thing, gorgeous.”

Kayla grinned as she watched me, watch him walk into the back. “You’re in love,” she teased.

I blushed instantly. My hand waved in her direction to shush her before he heard. I couldn’t deny it. It was true.

“Oh God, here comes Jimmy,” Kayla said, frowning in my direction.

He strutted through the front door like he owned the place with a huge grin on his face. “Hey, Juicy Lucy,” he called out just as Silas made his way from the back.

“Hey, Jimmy,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“I need something to make my junk smell good,” he said with a laugh.

“That’s impossible,” Kayla joked.

Silas gripped my arm as I started to walk to my counter. “Who’s that?” he asked.

“My ex. He’s an idiot, but harmless,” I insisted.

He loosened his grip and I walked over to my counter. Jimmy was picking up each product, sniffing it carefully, and then setting it back down. “It needs to be strong,” he laughed.

“Jimmy, none of this stuff is made for your junk,” I groaned.

“You remember what my junk smells like, right?” he asked.

I didn’t want to answer that. I looked to Silas, who was already looking disturbed. I offered a nervous smile and then turned back to Jimmy. I’d told Silas about him, about how crude and immature he was. It didn’t bother me so much, but knowing it was irritating Silas was hard to swallow.

“If you don’t remember, I can give ya a whiff, for old times’ sake,” Jimmy laughed.

A hand slammed down on the counter, hard and forcefully. The eagle tattoo on the wrist made it clear it was Silas’s without having to look up.

“You need to take your disrespectful mouth somewhere else before it gets smashed in, son,” Silas scorned.

“Woah. When did you get a rent-a-sailor for the shop?” Jimmy chuckled.

Silas’s chest puffed out, and his breathing picked up pace. I watched his nostrils flaring, and his eyes turning black, and I knew he was about to blow. “Silas!” I called out.

He glared at me and then turned his attention back to Jimmy. “What’s it gonna be?” he demanded.

“Jimmy, just—please leave,” I pleaded.

He smirked in my direction. “I’ll go. But only because you asked me too, Juicy Lucy,”

A couple little old ladies that were at Kayla’s counter walked out when Silas slammed his fist down. I was embarrassed, and infuriated. “Why did you cause a scene?” I asked as Jimmy left the store.

“He was being rude and disrespectful to you,” Silas demanded.

“I can handle him. You ran off customers with your outburst,” I scorned.

Silas huffed and took in a deep breath. “Wow. Okay, so it’s fine for someone to ask you to smell their junk?” he laughed angrily.

“Of course not, but you were being ridiculous,” I scoffed.

“Yeah. Whatever,” he laughed, and pulled away from my grip.

I watched him storm out of the shop, my heart breaking knowing he was angry and hurt.

“Why don’t you go after him?” Kayla suggested.

“I think I better let him cool off,” I replied.

Two hours passed and we were locking up. I still hadn’t seen Silas, and even though I sent a text, it wasn’t responded to.

“Good luck,” Kayla said as she waved to me getting in my car.

I felt that annoying lump in my throat as I pulled onto my long, dirt lane. Silas’s rental car was parked by my loft, but the trunk was popped open.

My heart sank deep into my chest as I parked beside his car. I peeked into the trunk as I walked toward my loft; one of his large canvas bags was already packed inside. I rushed inside to find Silas stuffing his last suitcase. He jerked the case sideways, zipping it with a swift motion. “You’re leaving?” I asked.

“I’m going to the hotel,” he snapped. “I think we need some time apart.”

He stood there, suitcase in hand, his eyes dark and unforgiving, and his lips tight. I watched his fist clench around the handle of his suitcase. It was obvious he was still fuming about Jimmy, and about me. Maybe I could’ve handled it differently, but it was my business. I’d never had anyone swoop in to rescue me. I was always able to handle my own conflicts. Why did it infuriate me so badly that Silas wanted to protect me?

I just stood there, speechless. I knew I needed to say something, but I wasn’t sure what. “You’re not going back home, are you?” I asked.

“I don’t have a home. But no. I’m not going back to work,” he snarled.

It had felt like home since Silas had been here. It was the best two weeks of my life. I knew this was what I wanted, that he was what I wanted. But he was so mad, I knew now wasn’t the time to tell him.

“Everything’s just been moving so fast,” he said calmly.

That was one thing I could agree with. Things were moving fast, lightning fast.

“I know what I want, Lucy. You’re the one who doesn’t,” he said softly.

My heart swelled in my chest. It felt like this was the moment. I was ready to tell him how I truly felt, how I’ve always felt.

“And I know what I don’t want. I don’t want a woman who allows another man to disrespect her in front of me,” he snapped.

And the moment was gone.

“I didn’t want to be here when you got back. I just came to get my things,” he said.

“Silas, wait,” I said, reaching for his arm as he passed me.

“I don’t wanna do this now, Lucy,” he said, pushing past me and out the front door.

I held myself together until I heard the door slam. My tears fell violently down my cheeks, sobs shook my chest, and my heart felt as though it would explode from the pain.

What just happened? Did Silas just break up with me?