Page 36 of Silver Player

Maybe it’s the memories in the music or the strength of the beer empowering me to turn on her. “What exactly does ‘girls like us’ mean, Cora, because there’s no way you and I are in the same category, not even the same stratosphere.”

Cora stares back at me wide-eyed with shock.

“Why, I didn’t mean—” she squeaks, laying on her thickest Southern accent, despite the volume of the tune, but I interrupt her.

“Yes, you did, because you’re always mean,” I mock in my best Southern retort. “Cora, we aren’t in high school, and I’m not that fat, quiet girl you loved to pick on, so whatever you’re trying to imply, I’m over it. I don’t need to worry about not getting the man of my dreams at thirteen or forty-one. I’m happy with me.” I stand taller, and out of the corner of my eye, I feel someone watching us. I turn to find Billy with his hands on his hips, and Clyde standing slightly behind him.

“Cat fight,” someone hisses near us, and Billy snaps out of his reverie.

“Ladies,” Billy sweet-talks, “what’s going on here?” Cora simpers by pouting her lips and batting her eyes as if she couldn’t possibly be doing anything wrong. The flirt with Billy Harrington is so thick I could drink it like the beer in my cup, but that flavor would only be bitter. This reminds me of the flavor in my hand, and I guzzle a few gulps to calm my racing heart. I can’t believe I stood up to Corabelle Conrad.

“I meant no offense, Roxanne,” she states lacking apology and then turns to Billy. “Roxanne and I were just reliving our glory days, reminiscing about boy band crushes.”

I’m about to tell Billy Cora is reminding me I was a heavy-set teen, but it’s all so childish, I just don’t mention it. Instead, I consider the woman his brother introduced to him and how Billy held her, like he was feeling her against him. Sleek. Pretty. Worldly looking. I can’t compete with the women Billy hits on. I don’t want to compete. There’s no competition here.

It’s all a reminder I’m never going to be what Billy wants in a woman, and I’m fine with that, just fine.

I turn away from him, ignoring Cora, and watch as Tommy introduces Gage Everly of Collision. Oh. My. Cougar heart. Speaking of thirteen, he’s probably that many years younger than I am, but he’s extremely good looking with chin-length chocolate hair and eyes as deep as candy. He opens his mouth to sing, and my panties melt almost as much as they did for Lawson.

“Hey,” Billy shouts from my side, tugging at my arm to turn me to him. “I wanted to—”

“Let’s dance,” Clyde bellows over Billy, slipping an arm around my waist and reaching for Grace’s hand. He tugs us both before the stage and breaks into the most awkward dance I’ve ever seen. I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help it when Clyde wiggles his brows and exaggerates his hips. He’s got the white man’s overbite going along with motorcycle handlebar motions. His large body is clearing space, and Grace and I laugh good naturedly at his display. He doesn’t care that he’s making a fool of himself in front of the stage and before the crowd, and it’s a good reminder not to worry what others think, especially the likes of Corabelle Conrad…or Billy Harrington.

14

Fired up

[Billy]

Damn that Clyde, he’s fired, I think as I stalk back to the bar. We’re too busy for me not to tend tonight although I’m also trying to mingle and gauge what customers think of our newest blends. Giant has just as much riding on tonight as I do because word of mouth is still everything in business. Five-star reviews on food and drink apps could bring in new visitors, not to mention have people asking for the beer in liquor stores close to their homes.

I hate how Roxanne dismissed me.

I hate more so how I treated her.

Old habits die hard especially when it comes to that woman, and her comment about reading stung.

I’ve been keeping my eye on her all night, noticing she sticks to the periphery of the party. Her self-consciousness shows in the way she keeps brushing her hair behind her ear and looking down when people speak to her, but she doesn’t see what I see. She’s freaking gorgeous among this crowd. Those exotic gray eyes shift darker in the dim light and her hair glows with the mixture of varying whites. She’s different from other women I’ve been attracted to in the past, and it’s making her stand out even more in my eyes.

She’d been hanging by the bar, and I liked having her near even though I hadn’t had a chance to really speak to her. I find silent comfort in her, like when she’s hanging around when I’m with Sadie. She’s pulling herself back, giving Sadie and me more space when I come over. I can’t really help Sadie with her homework, but she tells me what she’s learning, what she likes, and how she’s a little more advanced than what they’re teaching her in school. I bought her a new laptop and upgraded their internet, so Sadie has better access to research. Of course, Roxie admonished me for the gift.

“Don’t be trying to buy her love.”

“I’m not buying her love. I’m encouraging her to discover things on a deeper level.”

That woman, I groan as I return behind the bar, looking up immediately to find her in the crowd. Why am I always searching her out?

Once the band began, and Denton Chance had his moment with my sister, Mati, I stalked after Roxanne, ready to apologize for how I behaved earlier. I’m snapping at her under the stress of the evening, and she doesn’t deserve it, even if what she said about reading was a little mean. My eyes find Roxanne near Grace as Clyde dances like a fool in front of the stage. She’s laughing at him—or rather with him—as he grabs her hand and twirls her under his arm. She looks like she’s having a good time, and the jealousy strikes hard.

I pass out more beers and collect more tickets and return to the high of accomplishing my own thing for a few minutes until Clyde makes his way behind the bar, sweaty and chuckling.

“What are you playing at, man?” I snap, which instantly sobers Clyde’s mood.

“What do you mean?”

“Dancing with Roxie when I was trying to talk to her.” I hand two more cups to a waiting customer, nodding my thank you when they hand me a tip.

“Oh, was talking what you planned to do? I figured you were ready to tell her more about your wood and how she wasn’t worthy.” This snaps my attention to Clyde, and I overfill the cup I’m pouring.