Page 219 of Silver Sweet
I glance over at Eliot while he cuts his goose with a knife and fork.
He won’t want Audrey in the dorms. He’ll want her with us. He’s always tried to be the glue that binds us all together.
I think the glue is Beckett. He’s the only one who repairs without damage. The only one who knows how to hold all of us as one.
I think he’s going to decide everything in the end.
Or maybe it’s just a comfort to myself—knowing I have a calm, reasonable brother that can steer through storms.
Ben has relaxed a lot.He even gives me an appreciative look when he settles back in the dining room with everyone. Our parents implore us not to let new challenges tear us apart but bring us closer instead.
Then Mom raises her wine. “Any other opening remarks?” she asks at the same time my phone buzzes by my plate.
I check my messages beneath the table.
PHOENIX WOLFGANG
Jealous you’re not at my tea party? How’s yours going?
My body almost relaxes at the text. I respond quickly.
TOM CARRAWAY
Not a tea party. And…fine. Kind of tense. Abnormal. How are you?
PHOENIX WOLFGANG
Currently destroying your apartment with silly string.
Holy shit,thisnight. I contain a groan.
TOM CARRAWAY
Seriously?
PHOENIX WOLFGANG
Seriously.
“Anyone else?” Mom asks.
Eliot punches me lightly in the arm. I jolt away from my phone. “Who’s next?” I ask.
“We’ve all gone, brother,” he says.
Fuck, I missed everyone’s remarks. They must’ve been condensed tonight. I couldn’t have been texting for more than five minutes.
I’m last, and I glance at my parents at either end of the table. “I have a boyfriend,” I announce. No theatrics. No standing on my chair. This is just a normal release into the air, but its pure existence is the fireworks.
It never needed anything extra.
Mom’s lips rise behind her goblet of wine.
Dad’s grin stretches wider. “We know.”
My jaw drops. “Wait, how?” I narrow accusatory eyes at my siblings. “Who told them?”
They all claim innocence before Mom says, “Phoenix called you his boyfriend when we first met him.”
