Silver - By Kailin Gow Page 0,41
just a teenage girl, and not Sophie Edge. Like how they’ve been murmuring about some of the company you keep.” He gave the door Fal on had left through a pointed look. “They say it proves you aren’t old enough to have the right kind of judgment, yet. That you aren’t ready to lead the society.”
That was what people in the Preservation Society were saying? Briony hadn’t heard any of it. Then again, beyond Pete, Percy, Jil , Maisy and Steve, she hadn’t seen any of them recently, either. No doubt her general silence had something to do with it too. By not doing anything to take charge, she had made it easy for the ones who didn’t know her to think that she couldn’t.
“What do you think, Pete?” Briony asked. “You were in the army with George, weren’t you? It can’t be easy, being told that someone like me is supposed to be taking charge now.”
Pete shrugged, flipping a few burgers over. “Me, I’ve seen men who have been commanding years who don’t have the sense they were born with. I’ve seen kids just a little older than you who knew exactly what they were doing.
Al right, so I think you don’t exactly have the best taste in men, but I figure that there are probably worse choices for a leader until we get Sophie back. That idiot nephew of mine, for instance.”
Briony couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Percy in charge of anything.
“That’s better,” Pete said. “Now get on with you.
There are customers waiting for their food.”
There were, and Briony hurried to catch up. As she did, she did her best to push thoughts of Fal on from her mind. That wasn’t easy. Particularly not after what he had said. He had assumed that Kevin would be making some kind of move on her tonight. As much as Briony wanted to dismiss it as just his jealousy, was he right? Kevin was moving in, so would he try to push things further in spite of what he had said before?
Most of Briony didn’t believe that he would, but there was stil a nagging edge of doubt at the back of her mind.
She had seen how close they had come back at Kevin’s cabin. She could remember every detail of it. Of him.
Wouldn’t it be so easy for things to go there again?
Would it be so bad if they did? Some mischievous corner of Briony asked the rest of her. After all, if you want him, and he wants you…
Briony shook her head to clear it. She didn’t need that kind of encouragement. She needed to remind herself that she would be strong. That she would wait until she was ready, not just until she gave in to what they felt. Maybe she should reconsider letting him move in? No, Kevin was right.
Briony needed someone else around in case Pietre came back. And not just for that. With Jake coming and going so unpredictably, it was rapidly turning into a very lonely place to be.
Besides, Briony wouldn’t let Fal on put doubts into her mind like this. He might not trust her with his brother, but that didn’t mean Briony couldn’t trust herself.
Kevin arrived just as he had promised, bringing his truck around to the front of the diner just as Briony’s shift there finished. He was dressed in slacks and a nice button down shirt that showed just enough of the muscles beneath it to make Briony hop in eagerly, kissing him by way of a welcome.
“Wel , that’s certainly a good start to the evening.”
Briony nodded her agreement. “So, where are you taking me? Um… I don’t need to go home and change, do I?”
“No. You’re beautiful as you are.”
Al right, so Briony had changed out of her waitress’
uniform, but she was stil only in a dark sweater, jeans, and comfortable shoes. Beautiful probably wasn’t the word she would have chosen to describe it.
“You are, Briony,” Kevin assured her, obviously spotting the uncertainty on her face. “You’re beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.” He smiled. “Besides, our reservation is in ten minutes, so there isn’t time.”
He drove, and as he did so, Briony realized that they were heading to the lake. She might have guessed at a picnic or something similar, if Kevin hadn’t already mentioned a reservation. He stopped the pick up at the start of one of the piers, where a smal seafood restaurant sat, and got out. Briony joined him.
“What do you think?”