Page 166 of Silver Sweet

I shake my head at Jere. He begins to frown, but our attention veers when Sheela says, “It’s the best marketing, really. Lean into all the fan theories that you’re together. Keep flirting?—”

“We aren’t flirting,” Tom denies. “We don’t want people at our shows just to see if we’ll kiss. We want them there for the music.”

Sheela drums her lips. “Good point, but really, you want to sell out shows. Why they’re there doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“It does matter,” I say before Tom can, and I profess, “The music is all that fucking matters.”I cannot nuke his dream.

Tom stiffens but says, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The rest of the car ride is silent.

39

TOM COBALT

“You literally cannot be here,” I tell my carrot-orange-haired, diabolical little sister inmykitchen. The fact that Audrey is in New York and not tucked innocently away in her bed in Philadelphia is a major fucking snag in tonight’s birthday itinerary.

Mybirthday. The greatest day of the entire year. The day I can make everything about me and no one calls me out for it.

“I amliterallystanding right before your eyes,” Audrey pushes back.

Eliot squeezes my shoulder. “Okay, breathe, brother.” I do feel faint. But actually—no.Audrey isn’t going to ruin any part of today for me. She exists to terrorize me, and I exist to torment her, but she does not have the power to destroy all I’ve worked hard for.

The universe knows I can handle ultimate chaos. It’s why many monumental things are coinciding on April 21.

I turn twenty-two.

I’m throwing a party to remember in apartment 2166.

My sister showed up out of the blue.

AndSilver Sweetjust went live on all streaming platforms.

The label purposefully chose my birthday to drop the album. I thought it was smart. More eyes will be on my socials today. Including my own. I keep checking reactions. Mostly positive…I think.

Hard to tell.

People are talking more about Phoenix being gay and also his physical demeanor during Good Morning Manhattan. Specifically, his manspreading. Which, yes, very hot, but also,please listen to the album, thank you.

Audrey perches her hands defiantly on her hips. “You’re really this upset to see me?”

“Only in this context, Audrey Virginia.” I lace my fingers on my head, trying not to externally freak. The last time she was in New York, she OD’d onfentanylat a frat party.Granted, it was because one of Ben’s ex-frat brothers told her it’d been Tylenol.

I like that she acts like that moment in time didn’t puncture, let alone scratch. I like believing that nothing could bring her down. The real issue is that Ben has takenextremeblame for our sister almost dying that night.

He wants to protect her, and having Audrey atthisparty might make Ben panic. My birthday is not going to be the day Ben spirals out of control.

Nope.

No.

I can’t tell if Audrey is in party-crashing attire. She always looks ready for an event: nails polished, hair blown out in perfect waves, dress steamed, and heels on. Right now, she wears a pink puffy-sleeved, princessy dress, and the long hem skates the tops of her white high heels.

She tilts her chin. “Can’t I just wish you a happy birthday, Tom?”

“I would’ve accepted an overly complimentaryhappy birthdayover the phone—and only because this party is forlegal adults, which I expressed to you and gave you mysincerestapology.” I point at her. “Which you accepted.” I whirl to Eliot. “Did she not?” He was on the phone mitigating this whole back and forth weeks ago.