Page 148 of Silver Sweet
“Positive.” I start to smile seeing a soft, appreciative one across Ben’s face.
“Thanks, Tom.”
My lungs swell, and then a text vibrates the phone in my fist. I covertly check the message.
PHOENIX WOLFGANG
You have a sex dream about me, nepo baby? Why the change of speed all of a sudden?
My heart rate hasn’t slowed. I flick open the lighter and burn my thumb.Shit.“Meeting adjourned?” I ask my brothers, shaking out my hand. “Because I need to go take care of something.”
“Ominous,” Eliot frowns at me.
“Vague,” Charlie says with a head tilt.
“I doubt Tom is hiding anything,” Ben says seriously, advocating on my behalf. He’s honestly the best roommate.
“Thank you, Ben Pirrip,” I say. “I don’t have a duplicitous bone in my body.”
His smile grows. “I didn’t say that.”
He’s still the best.
Beckett rises off the floor. “If you’re texting Leo?—”
“What—no,” I cringe. “I’m offended you’d think I’d evenentertaina text from that prick after I promised you I wouldn’t.” I spin toward Charlie. “And you want to talk about being vague, dude? Why don’t you give usspecificson why you’re in such a foul mood?”
“I specifically hate this conversation. It is moving at such a sluggish rate, I want to shove a lead pencil in my ear canal. I would rather do that, actually.” He outstretches a hand. “You have a number two pencil on you,little brother?”
“No, I do not.” I shove my Zippo lighter in my pocket so he doesn’t get any other masochistic ideas. I can’t tell how serious Charlie is being, but I’m not taking any chances anymore.
“What’s going on?” Beckett asks me directly.
I sigh out. “Well, if you mustknow, I’ve been thinking that Eliot has been right all along. I shouldn’t hold back with Phoenix when passion sparks creativity. So I just green lit having sex with my drummer.”
Eliot has a massive grin. He starts applauding.
“Eliot has been right all along,” Charlie mocks. “Said no one with an IQ over a hundred.”
Being called an idiot by the genius of the family should not sting. I have heard way worse (and more creative) insults. “I am smart enough to know Eliot isn’talwayswrong, dude. It’s a statistical improbability.”
Beckett runs two tense fingers over his brow. “Phoenix is your fuckbuddy now?”
“I don’t…”No, he’s not.My face flames. Pissed just hearing the term “fuckbuddy” when that feels so…vapid. So stupidly surface-level in comparison to what we’ve been. Like, sure, we’re bandmates hooking up, but it didn’t just happen the moment we saw each other. I find the words to say, “He’s my drummer. I’mhis singer. We like being around each other. We like doing other things. It’s been good for the band.”
My phone vibrates again.
PHOENIX WOLFGANG
I’m going to call.
Shit. I text fast.
TOM CARRAWAY
I’ll call you. Give me a sec.
“You’re ready to do this with him?” Beckett asks me, knowing I have fortified walls that are hard to breach. I am highly selective for a reason. I don’t want to just fuck anyone and let anyone fuck me.
