Frozen, I replay those words back in my head.
What. The. Fuck.
I look around the table, speechless.
“Holy shit.” Olly’s eyes are wider than the dinner plates on the table. “Did you just hear what I think I heard?”
My heart is pounding, and I can barely hear anything but the sound of blood pumping in my ears.
“Get out of my sight!” Krud yells at Winston before our sweaty coach pops out from behind the curtains. “Sorry for the disruption, ladies and gentlemen! We’ll be kicking off our silent auction soon, so get those pocketbooks ready.”
I shake my head, disgusted, because knowing my luck, this won’t change a damn thing.
Alex clears his throat. “So... Rodriguez. That’s you, right?” He motions toward me.
I hold up my drink. Take a drink. “Yup. Cheers.”
Damn, I wish I could talk to Sienna tonight. She’d make sense of this for me. Help me figure out what to do.
All of a sudden, I understand that old eighties movie where the guy stands beneath that girl’s window with a boom box.
Would Sienna talk to me if I just showed up out of the blue?
People are getting up and leaving even though Krud is begging them to be seated.
“It’s been a pleasure meeting y’all.” I get up, hoping I can book it out of here, but the exits are getting backed up.
When I get near the door, one of the security guards eyeballs me. He’s wearing a black suit and is wired up like he’s Secret Service. He brings his wrist to his mouth and turns toward the wall, but I can still hear him.
“Eagle and Osprey are on the move. Sparrow has checked in for the night. Over and out.”
I finally make it out to my Rover when I remember how Melvin calls Sienna his little sparrow. I smile at the memory. I’d never think of her as something so diminutive. At the same time, I understand that protective thing he has for her. I’m glad my girl has someone looking out for her.
As I’m pulling out of the parking lot, I think about Fowler and that look on his face when I opened the door to Sienna’s house. That dumbass had better not make a move on her. She’s mine.
Or at least I hope she will be again.
I grip the steering wheel and head for home even though every bone in my body is telling me to head to Maggie’s house and stand under Sienna’s window and beg the woman to give me another chance.
I’m at a light when I freeze.
That wasn’t a butterfly on that bracelet Fowler held out to me.
Somewhere in my brain, the puzzle fits together.
I pull a U-turn that has the traffic behind me honking, but I don’t give a shit.
Maybe I’m wrong about this. I fucking hope I am, but I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t know for sure.
57
SIENNA
My dad texts again, but I shut off my new phone. I’m still upset with him, and I’d rather have my pubes waxed than drive down to Austin tomorrow to have brunch with him and Penelope. I would’ve met up if it had just been him, but it’s hard to see him with her.
A twisted part of me feels like he traded in me and my mom for a young wife, and now he’s going to start a whole new family.
Um. That’s some sick shit. I make a mental note to schedule a virtual therapy session this week. If I ever want to leave this house, I’ll have to make an effort soon.
I took up the dean’s offer to work remotely for a while. I heard my dad is doing the rounds at the school, and I don’t want any part of that. He wants the accolades for donating money, which is fine. It’s his money, but if it were mine, I’d make anonymous donations.
The light flickers, and I still. After a second, it comes back on. This place is a case study in creepy houses. Everything creaks, and the corridors are eerie as hell at night. Don’t get me started on the basement. If I go down there again, I’m pretty sure I’ll be having nightmares. Of course, that’s where the washer and dryer are. I’m holding out until I don’t have a stitch to wear before I venture down there again.
And unfortunately, Maggie’s not here, so I’ll be creeped out until she returns home.
I’m sprawled out on the shag carpet in the living room trying to study, but I have to admit I’m not getting a lot done. I’m mostly feeling sorry for myself that I’m not with Ben at the booster banquet tonight. Everyone’s all dressed up. I bet Ben looks so hot in a suit.
For a long, agonizing moment, it’s hard to breathe. I miss him so much. I’m constantly questioning myself about breaking up with him, but then I remind myself if he really wanted this, really wanted me, he’d try harder.
Maybe it was dumb to test him like that. Not that I set out to test him that night after practice, but I got frazzled when I saw him with Cherry, and his lack of effort felt like he was telling me something without saying it. And I don’t want to be that girl who can’t take a hint.
A sound on the front porch has me breathing a sigh of relief. “Maggie! Is that you?” I shout. “Thank God you’re home.”
I laugh as I jog to the front door. I flip open the lock, swing the door open, and let out a scream.
“Holy shit, you scared me,” I yell at Derek as I press my hand to my chest.
“Hey, Sienna. Sorry about that.” His breath smells boozy. No shocker there.
He’s dressed up, probably for that banquet. “What’s going on?” I try to peer past him, wondering if he brought Cal. Those two have always been connected at the hip.
Ugh, I am not prepared to talk to Cal tonight. I literally have nothing to say to that man. I don’t have anything to say to Derek either. Not only did he know Cal was cheating on me, he ran interference on his behalf. And I used to think he was such a sweet guy.
“Can I come in?” Derek looks me up and down in a way I’m definitely not comfortable with.
I glance behind me at the creepy house, wishing that Maggie was here. “What’s up?” I block the door and cross my arms over my chest.
But he’s easily twice my size, and when he steps closer, I’m keenly aware I’m alone here.
“I was, uh, I was wondering if this bracelet was yours,” he slurs. “Found it in our couch. You know that one you love with the big cushions.” He laughs awkwardly before he reaches into his pant pocket and dangles my sparrow bracelet in front of me.
A smile lights my face. “Yes! That’s mine. Thank you!” I don’t remember wearing it to Cal’s house, but I guess I did.
I try to take it from him, but he yanks it away. Except his coordination is off, and he almost drops it before he tucks it in his pocket.
“Does that at least get me a drink with you? Or are you gonna let me stand out here all night?”
I frown, not liking how he’s going about this. “It’s pretty late. I was going to turn in soon. Maybe another time?”
Never. I’ll never meet up with Derek, but I’m here by myself, and I have no idea when Maggie will be home. And duh, Sienna, this is a great reason why you should not be shutting off your phone—because now it’ll take forever to start it and make a call. Lesson learned.
It’s a dark night with a new moon. There’s no one out walking their dog or going for a jog. And the streetlight on the corner is out.