Page 30 of Silver Player

“Why don’t you tell him what else you said?” I interject, pushing the issue I see as most relevant. Sadie turns on me, stabbing me with a glare similar to the one my sister would give me when she was upset with me.

“What else did she say?” Billy asks me, and I look over at him. I shouldn’t get involved, although I just poked the sixteen-year-old bear. I nod in her direction, and Billy turns back to Sadie. “What did you say?” he questions her, and I smile despite the seriousness of this conversation.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sadie says. She attempts to rush past Billy up the staircase, only there isn’t enough space between his body and the railing. Billy’s quick to grab her wrist, stopping her in place next to him. His eyes focus on his thick fingers around her thin wrist, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Sadie’s staring at the place he’s holding as well, and a strange heaviness falls around us.

“Tell me what else you said.” His voice isn’t demanding although his command holds authority.

“I said my family rules this town, and I can say what I want to say.”

Billy’s head shoots up to Sadie’s, and for a moment, I think he’s fighting another chuckle, but he stays focused on her face.

“Sadie, I’m not going to lie and say being a Harrington isn’t a big deal. I love my family, but we aren’t anything special other than to each other. I’m assuming you know your uncle—” Billy pauses and swallows hard. “—he runs this town as mayor, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. He’s still just my kid brother.”

Sadie doesn’t say anything, and I’m not certain the impact of what Billy’s trying to impart is making sense to her. She can’t be throwing out the name. Then again, when will he tell his family? Does he want her to disappear? The question instantly comes to mind, and I chastise myself for thinking such a thing.

“As for being a Harrington, well, I’d like to tell my family first before announcing to the whole town who you are. Do you understand me?”

Sadie nods, but the pinch in her face suggests she might not. She tugs at her arm, and Billy releases her. She stampedes the remaining steps, thundering up the wood, and Billy turns to watch her retreat. When she enters my apartment and shuts the door, he turns back to me.

“I expected her to slam it like Mati.” He chuckles without humor. “She’s got a little fire in her like my sister.”

It’s a sweet comparison. I’m younger than the youngest Harrington by a few years, so I don’t know her well, but she and her brother work together at the pub. If appearances could speak, I’d say they seem rather close as siblings.

“What are you doing here?” I wonder aloud. Billy presses off the step and towers over me before taking them down to the sidewalk.

“Thought I’d step it up, like you suggested.” He smirks, and I hate to admit it’s a darn enticing look on him. “Also, about last night—”

I wave a hand to dismiss any discussion and begin to apologize. I might have overacted, but he interrupts me.

“I’m sor—”

“I overstepped,” he emphasizes, “and it won’t ever happen again.”

With that, he hands me a piece of paper with a phone number and tips his head like a Southern gentleman missing his cowboy hat.

12

The best things come in threes

[Billy]

“What is the meaning of this?” a female voice squawks through the phone.

“Who is this?” I respond although I have a good sense of who’s calling me, and with that particular tone, it can only be one woman.

“It’s Roxanne. And what’s the meaning of these papers?”

I exhale through the phone. “I’m filing for custody.”

The word tastes bitter on my tongue, and I feel a little sick from the formality, but Jordan recommended it. Silence that weighs like a ton of bricks on my chest follows my statement. I scrub at my sternum.

“Roxanne.”

“How could you do this? This trumps my petition for guardianship.” Her voice is so small, my heart falls to the pit of my stomach. I hear her swallow through the phone. Is she crying?

“I’m her dad. Her biological father.” I use the legal jargon. “I have financial responsibilities toward this girl, and it’s only fair. I can’t expect you to bear the burden.”

“Sadie isn’t some girl, and she isn’t a burden to me.” Roxie sniffs.