Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

The moment we stepped into the reception hall, I froze.

I’d been so preoccupied in figuring out how exactly I was going to break up with Nathan that I had entirely forgotten that I was his plus one for the same exact wedding.

And now, we were standing face to face, yet again.

“Ellie.” He deadpanned. I knew he called me Ellie on purpose. Just to get a rise out of me.

But I refused to stoop to his childish level. I swallowed my instinct to rip into him and held my chin high—literally.

“Nathan.”

I couldn’t deny the swelling of anxiety in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t prepared to see him. Sure, we lived in the same city, but it wasn’t exactly like we ran in the same circles of friends. It had actually been one of the issues with our relationship. He never made an attempt to be friends with anyone in my life and none of his friends ever tried to include me.

I was finally thankful for that in thinking that my chances of running into him were rather slim.

Or so I thought.

Before the anxiety could make its way into my throat, I felt a warm hand encapsulate my lower back.

“Nathan, is it?” Silas’ deep and warm voice rang out behind me.

I tilted my head until I could see his face from the corner of my eyes. I caught a quick wink from him and felt my anxiety wash away.

Nathan scoffed. “It’s you.”

“Yep. It’s me.”

Nathan turned his attention back to me. “Are you seriously here to rub it in my face? You know, the invitation was for me, not you.” Nathan closed the gap between us. “You were my plus one.” His voice dropped, coming out as more of a growl.

I gulped.

“And now, she’s mine. So I suggest you back the fuck off.” Silas matched his tone but managed to sound far more confident than Nathan ever could.

“This has nothing to do with you.” Nathan snapped at Silas as he reached to grab my arm. “I need to talk to you.”

“No!” I yelped, yanking my arm back.

Silas instinctively eased me behind him, protecting me from Nathan. “Don’t you dare…” Silas’ teeth were clenched.

“Fuck off.” Nathan spat at Silas and tried to push around him.

“No, you don’t get to talk to her.”

“You don’t get to make that choice for her.”

“I’m not.” Silas’ tone was even and completely controlled, unlike Nathan’s. “She just told you no.”

“Come on, Silas.” I spoke up, wrapping my hand around his bicep to gently tug him away.

He wrapped his arm around my waist before placing a soft kiss on the top of my head. I froze in place for a moment, completely caught off guard.

“Just keep walking.” Silas whispered into my ear. “Play along.”

“Gladly.” I looked up at Silas and had to fight the urge to kiss him.

Although, it would fit with the theme of playing along…

I fought it back, though. That would be too much. Instead, I just ran my thumb along his bicep, casually caressing right where I knew Nathan could see.

Fuck that asshole.