Sure, Pal ('69 #1) Page 9

  He paused and looked down at the pavement before meeting my gaze. “But fucking don’t let her bulldoze you, Sienna. You asked her not to tag you in the photo, and she did it anyway. She crossed a boundary, and I’m not okay with people treating you like that.”

  “I know.” I nodded. “She’s even more of a bulldozer now that she’s had a taste of fame. I need to be more firm with her.”

  Evan nodded. “You have to be firm with her, or I will.” He ran his hands through his hair and said, “I’m trying to be patient here, Sienna, and let you figure out what you want to say to her.” Evan lowered his voice and almost growled, “But if it weren’t for her, I’d have ripped that sexy dress off of you in a bathroom stall already.”

  My pussy throbbed, and I bit my lip. “Fuck, Evan,” I whispered.

  “Hey, guys!” Rob’s voice behind us made me jump. Had he heard any of that conversation?

  “Dude!” Evan and Rob exchanged a bro hug.

  “Hey, Rob!” I smiled at him and gave him a quick hug, too. I hadn’t seen Rob for at least a year. He went to the same college as Ava and I, but we didn’t spend much time around Rob after the infamous breakup.

  “Where’s Tensely tonight?” Evan asked. Tensely was Rob’s girlfriend.

  Rob shrugged. “Ava informed me that it was ‘the old gang only’ tonight. She said her connections would give us exactly four seats.”

  Ava hurried back over to us with a grin and her arms open wide. “Let’s go! I got us the best seats in the restaurant!”

  I snorted. “Why? Did you sleep with Jaelyn, too?”

  Ava shot me a dirty look. “Do you have a problem with the way I live my life, Si?”

  I grinned at her and said, “Maybe a little bit.”

  Ava rolled her beautiful eyes and poked me in the ribs. “Okay, people, let’s go! You’re gonna love this place!”

  We followed our server through the loud, crowded restaurant until we reached a table on a private balcony. The server, a girl that looked close to our age, nervously asked Ava for a selfie. Ava gushed, “Oh my god! Of course! You are so sweet!” She snapped a picture with the girl, giving her best #AvaMillsOfficial smile.

  “Ah! Thank you!” The server’s hands shook. “Um, my manager wanted me to tell you that everything you order tonight is on him, and he hopes you’ll enjoy yourself enough to let people know where you ate tonight!”

  “Aw! How kind! Tell him thank you!”

  Fucking Ava and her charmed life.

  “Wow.” Rob gaped at her. “You’re actually famous then, huh? I guess I didn’t realize it had gotten to be such a big deal.”

  Ava laughed. “Yeah! Crazy, right?” She looked over at Evan with a hunger in her eyes that begged him to be impressed by her.

  Evan didn’t return Ava’s stare but gazed out at the restaurant with vacant eyes.

  My heart rate picked up as I looked back and forth between Ava and Evan. Ava had her game turned on, but Evan wasn’t into her anymore. He wouldn’t fall for her show again, would he?

  Evan glanced up and caught my eye with a smile.

  No. Evan wouldn’t go for Ava again. I was stupid to be worrying about that.

  “So, what do you guys think?” Ava smiled and held out her hands.

  “This place is fucking awesome. Tensely would love it!” Rob looked around at the shiny white cubes covering the walls, all lit by different colored lights.

  Evan nodded. “Cool.”

  “Yeah, it’s amazing, Aves,” I added.

  Rob then turned to Evan. “Oh, dude, how did your dad’s scans go?”

  Everyone at the table froze, and Evan choked on his water.

  “Scans?” Ava said, her eyes filling with worry. “What scans? Is your dad okay, Evan?”

  Evan glared at Rob and then glanced over at Ava. “My dad…” he shook his head, “is sick.”

  Ava gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. “What? What’s wrong with him, babe?”

  Evan swallowed and stared down at his plate. Finally, he said, “Brain cancer.”

  I stared at my neon purple napkin against the bright white table and tried to make sense of the words that had just left Evan’s mouth. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears.

  That was why Evan was home. His badass, incredible dad, was sick. Holy shit. I slowly lifted my head and met Evan’s gaze across the table.

  Why hadn’t he told me?

  ◆◆◆

  After dinner, Ava caught my arm and whispered, “Come hang out and chat?”

  My stomach clenched. Did Ava already know about Evan and me? I gave her a tight smile and said, “Sure.” I should tell Ava tonight, but it seemed like such a small thing after Evan’s bombshell about his dad.

  The boys gave Ava and me both quick platonic hugs, and Evan whispered to me, “We’ll talk soon, okay?” before releasing me.

  I nodded and squeezed his hand before he walked away. I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through right now.

  “Okay, Si, Romcoms, wine, and chocolate ice cream tonight,” Ava announced.

  Fuck. Romcoms were the very last thing I wanted right now. Besides that, Ava didn’t even eat real chocolate ice cream. It was some weird, expensive low-calorie vegan shit. “I…”

  “Come on.” She looped her arm through mine. “We’re doing this. I need you right now. I’m so rattled over Evan’s sad news!” Tears welled up in her big blue eyes.

  She needed me? How had Ava managed to make this about her?

  Ava released my arm, wiped her tears, and headed for her car. “I’ll pick up ice cream. You bring wine.” God, she was small for a bulldozer.

  I rolled my eyes and headed for my car. I didn’t want to hang out with Ava tonight, but I’d been avoiding her for weeks already, and I needed her in a good mood when I told her I was seeing Evan.

  I drove to the grocery store and had a bottle of wine in hand when Ava called. “Hey,” I answered.

  “Are you on your way over yet?” Ava sighed into the phone. “I have the ice cream.”

  “Yep. I’m getting ready to check out now.” I walked through the aisles until I reached the check-out stand.

  “K, I might be talking crazy, but Evan looks good. Seeing him rekindled some old passion for me. Ugh, and my baby looked so heartbroken! I should be over at his place right now, making him feel better!” #AvaMillsOfficial laughed. “Oh my God, what do you think he would do if I showed up at his place? Is that romantic or crazy?”

  “Don’t.” My voice sounded too sharp. I bit my lip. There was no way I could sit in her living room and listen to her talk about Evan like he was hers. I couldn’t bear to hear her talk about his pain like she felt it, too. Shallow, bossy, self-centered Ava had never in her life felt anything as raw as Evan’s pain.

  I cleared my throat. “I’m drained, Aves. I don’t think I’m coming.”

  “Um. Duh. Just sleep on my couch then. I’ll see you in like twenty minutes.”

  Fucking bulldozer. “No, Ava.”

  I could feel her shock through the phone. “Seriously? Sienna, I just found out that Evan’s dad is terminally ill! The love of my goddamn life is going to lose his father, and you can’t show up for me? When the hell did you become so selfish?”

  “Ava…” I sighed into the phone. “I’ll see you later, k?” I hung up the phone, paid for the wine, and called Evan.

  18

  Evan

  I looked down at my phone and saw Sienna’s name. I wanted to talk to her, but not about my dad. I sighed and answered. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Her voice was soft. “Can I come over?”

  “Yeah. I’ll text you my address.”

  “See you soon.”

  When Sienna showed up at my door twenty minutes later, I hated the sadness in her eyes. She gave me a tiny smile and held up a bottle of Pinot Noir. “I brought wine.”

  I smiled. “Smart.” I backed away from the door to let her into my apartment. She set the bottle of wine on my kitchen tab
le and then looped her arms around my neck, kissing me softly.

  Sienna brushed the hair from my forehead and gazed into my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against hers. “Because I wanted to keep our happy bubble. It was the only place I wasn’t stressed and sad. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

  Sienna nodded and whispered. “I understand. You have nothing to be sorry about.” She pressed her lips gently to mine again. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

  I kissed her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “I don’t want to talk about it. I want to feel your body.”

  “Okay.” She kissed me again, gently sliding her hands up the front of my shirt.

  I took her hands in mine and backed slowly down the hallway to my bedroom. I sat on the edge of my bed and watched Sienna slip out of her dress. The room was dark, and I could only see her silhouette. I reached out and ran my hands down the silky soft skin of her abdomen.

  She felt perfect. She was like the antidote to the poison of my stress and worry.

  I lay back on my bed, and Sienna curled up next to me, resting her head on my chest. “Do you want more?” she whispered.

  “Yes.” I ran my fingers up and down her bare back. “It’s pretty safe to assume that I always want to sleep with you.”

  Sienna slid her body on top of mine and kissed me softly. “You’ll tell me if you’re not in the mood then? I don’t ever want to push things if you’re in a bad headspace.”

  “Sienna, always fuck me, okay?”

  She gave me a tiny smile. “Okay, one more question: Do you want it sweet and soft or rough and wild?”

  I smiled back at her and ran my fingers through her long, dark hair. “Show me sweet and soft tonight.”

  Sienna sat up, straddling me, and unhooked her bra. She undressed me and then ran soft kisses from my neck to my cock. She took me in her mouth in a slow, sensual rhythm that made me groan.

  Then, when I was about to come, she straddled me again, guiding me into her sweet, warm center. Sienna leaned forward to kiss me, then gazed into my eyes, rolling her hips in a completely mind-numbing way.

  This wasn’t just a hot fuck. Sienna was making love to me, and shit, she was good at sweet and soft. I thoroughly enjoyed fucking her into the headboard, but this was somehow even better. It felt even more intimate and almost healing.

  After I came, she sprawled on top of me, keeping me inside her. “Evan,” she whispered and wove her fingers into my hair. “I won’t make you talk, but I’m here for whatever you need.”

  I kissed her forehead and pulled her more tightly against my body.

  It sounded like rain was starting to fall outside, and Sienna smiled with her eyes sparkling. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  I smiled back at her and nodded. We dressed and headed out to the quiet street without an umbrella. Sienna stood on the sidewalk and turned her face up to the rain. “All the bad stuff is washing away, Evan. Just for a minute.”

  I took her hand and turned my face up to the rain, too. I felt the warm summer rain soaking my clothes, and for a single minute, she was right.

  I wrapped my arms around her from behind and breathed in her scent. “Evan?” she said. “Will you call me when you guys get the results from your dad’s scan?”

  I sighed and kissed her wet cheek. “I can’t keep you in our happy bubble?”

  “We can still have a happy bubble.” She turned to face me, her hair dripping from the rain. “How about this? If we’re in bed, we’re in the bubble. We can pretend that nothing exists in the world but us.” Sienna kissed me softly. “But everywhere else, I want to be there for you completely.”

  “Fuck Rob and his big mouth.”

  Sienna frowned. “You would have had to tell me eventually. I completely understand why you didn’t, but if this is real, then I was going to find out.”

  “I know. This is real, Sienna.” I took her hand, and we walked back to my apartment.

  Back in my kitchen, I picked up the bottle of wine that Sienna brought and grabbed two glasses. I filled them and then sank into a chair at my small round table. Sienna sat across from me, watching me with worry in her eyes.

  “What are you going to do about your soccer contract in the fall?” She asked.

  I shrugged and sipped my wine. “I’ll probably give it up.” I honestly hadn’t given it a single thought since I’d been home. I wasn’t even stoked about the contract before my dad’s diagnosis. It was a part of my “life plan.” I hadn’t stopped to think about if I genuinely wanted it.

  Now, I had no fucking clue what I wanted. My world was turned upside-down and inside out. Sienna was the one and only thing that made sense.

  She watched me across the table, slowly sipping her wine, then she said perfect words. “I’ll help you figure out your dream and your path when you’re ready.”

  I gave her a sad smile. Could she see how completely lost I was? A part of me hated how clearly she saw me, but most of me loved it.

  “I love you,” I said.

  “I love you, too.”

  19

  Sienna

  Almost two weeks later, I still hadn’t told Ava about Evan and me. At first, it was because it seemed so small and petty, and Evan’s dad was all I could think about. Then, I told myself it was because I hadn’t seen Ava, and this conversation needed to be face-to-face.

  Finally, the fear and worry of losing my best friend for good started to set in.

  But I had to tell her. Evan needed me to be one hundred percent there for him, and I couldn’t do that until every ounce of nagging guilt about being with my best friend’s ex disappeared.

  Evan hadn’t said a word about Ava, but he’d also just found out that his dad’s tumor was growing. And as his dad got sicker, he didn’t say much of anything.

  Besides, he shouldn’t have to ask me to choose him.

  I pulled out my phone as I left work and typed out a text to Ava. Hey girl, we need to have a serious talk, like soon. Let me know when you’re free. My heart raced, and I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans before I finally let out a shaky breath and pressed send.

  The next time I saw Ava, I was going to tell her. I was going to be honest and tell her that I’d had a crush on Evan before she even moved in down the street. I was going to tell her about what was happening between us now. I would look Ava in the eye and tell her that I loved Evan, and let the cards fall where they may.

  ◆◆◆

  Ava never answered my text, but she showed up at my coffee shop gig that night. She sat in the front row and cheered the loudest for me after every song. Ava grabbed me for a hug and a selfie after the show. This time, she got my express permission before tagging me in the photo.

  In the weeks that followed her first tagged photo of me, my number of followers had grown from 353 to 5,789, and my weekend evenings were booked solid with shows for the next three months.

  “See?” Ava smiled at me. “I’ve got your back, Si. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to quit your soul-sucking job at that software company. I know you didn’t go to school for four years to be somebody’s office bitch.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Ava rolled her eyes back at me. “Look! She held up her phone. You just got like 200 more followers! And people at the show tonight were tagging you!” She read a tagged post to me. “@Siennasings is my new favorite artist! Her voice is like sweet, smoky gold! #Singmetosleep #inlove #starstruck.”

  Ava cocked a single eyebrow. “Don’t try to tell me that doesn’t feel good! You’re getting the recognition you deserve! And seriously, girl, I know you like to hide in the shadows, and your parents raised you to have shit self-esteem, blah blah blah, but GIRL! You deserve the spotlight!”

  “I—”

  “K, Si, I gotta head out, but you were dy-na-mite tonight! Love you.” Ava cut me off and pulled me in for one more hug. The overpowering scent of her Black Opium perfume engulfed m
e. Then she tossed her pretty blonde hair over her shoulder, gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and walked out the door.

  I sighed. She didn’t even give me the chance to ask if she’d gotten my text.

  I glanced down at my phone and winced when I read Ava’s post about me. Look at my sexy as hell bestie! She sings like an ANGEL! Go follow her, and then listen to her music NOW! The post already had 10k likes.

  She was a loving bulldozer…

  Shit.

  I could feel my resolve to tell her about Evan crumbling. But what if she really was okay with it? She’d flirted with him a little at the group dinner a couple of weeks ago, but she flirted with anything that had a six-pack and a chiseled jaw.

  A handful of other “fans” stopped me for pictures, and then I started packing up my guitar. My phone buzzed in my back pocket, but I didn’t check it. It was probably notifications from the likes pouring in on Ava’s tagged photo of me. When it buzzed three more times, I sighed and pulled it out.

  I loved your show tonight.

  You look fucking beautiful.

  Sienna, pick up your phone and look at my messages.

  I’m outside.

  I glanced up to see Evan watching me from the window with a little smile. My heart lurched. I knew his dad had more scans today, and I knew there wouldn’t be any good news.

  I rushed out of the front door of the coffee shop and flung my arms around his neck. I nuzzled into his chest and said, “I didn’t even see you. Were you in the back?”

  He ran his hands up and down my arms. “Yeah. I slipped in after the show already started. I figured Ava would be here, and I’m not in the mood to talk to her.”

  My heart lurched again. I had to tell Ava I was seeing him. I was hurting him even more by keeping us a secret. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

  I gazed into his beautiful blue eyes. “How are you holding up?”