by Nikki Paris
I shook my head. Damn. Ava still claimed me. Ava was still Sienna’s best friend. I felt the disappointment in my chest like a deflating balloon.
Sienna nodded, never breaking my gaze. What was she thinking? “So, you still haven’t told me why you’re here,” she said.
I’d only spoken the words aloud to a handful of people, and they always felt flat and foreign on my lips. I couldn’t bring myself to say them to Sienna. I liked the way she was looking at me now, eyes full of intrigue and excitement. I didn’t want those beautiful eyes to fill up with pity. I’d tell her about my dad another time.
“I’m just back to see family.” It wasn’t a complete lie.
Sienna’s face fell. “So you’re not going to be here for a long time? Just visiting?”
“I’ll probably be here for a couple of months.” Again, not a lie. My dad was going to be fine in a couple of months. He just needed more scans, and then the doctors would see that his brain tumor actually was removable.
A little bit of hope danced in her eyes. “Oh, so you’ll be here for the whole summer? Are you staying at your parents’ place?”
“No. There’s a lot of visiting aunts and uncles this summer. I got a little place down the street from here. But enough about me. You were singing up on a stage in front of people, Sienna.” I grinned at her and wanted to take her hand.
Sienna threw her head back and laughed. “I know, can you even believe it? I was horrified when you heard me play for the first time.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice like she was about to tell me a secret. “Now, I’ve let like fifty people hear me do covers. My music career is a slow build. I know you thought I’d be famous by now, so I’m sorry to disappoint you.” She shrugged and laughed.
I grinned at her. “I’m proud of you, Sienna.”
She laughed and said, “Thank you. I mean, it’s not anything mind-blowing, but it’s fun to sing for an audience, even if it’s only ten people.” Then she shook her head. “Of course, Ava’s the one that actually got famous. Little miss ‘I show people how to put on fake eyelashes and make $500k a year doing it.’ Of course, it would be Ava that got famous.”
I laughed and shook my head. I’d seen some of Ava’s make-up tutorial videos, as well as her massive crowd of followers. “You’ll be bigger than her. You do real shit, Sienna, and that means more to people.”
“I don’t want to be bigger than her. I just want…” Sienna looked down at her hands. She scoffed and said, “Ava always gets everything she wants.” Her eyes flashed up to meet mine, and I desperately wanted to know what she was thinking.
“Well, what do you want that Ava has?” I asked.
Sienna smiled and shook her head. “Nothing anymore.” She blew the hair out of her eyes. I always thought that was adorable back in high school. It turned out it was still adorable four years later.
“Let me buy you a drink, Sienna.” I smiled at her and let my eyes travel over every curve and angle of her beautiful face.
Sienna bit her pretty little lip and nodded. “Okay, Evan.”
“I’m assuming you don’t really like the cheap piss beer we drank in high school. What do you drink now?”
“Jack and Coke.”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move.” I rested my hand on her shoulder for a moment before I walked up to the bar. Electricity crackled through me when I felt her skin. Since when were shoulders so fucking sexy?
When I returned with our drinks, Sienna gave me a bright smile. “Okay, dude, are we getting drunk and talking all night, or is this a mature, quick chat over one or two drinks?”
I grinned and slid my chair closer to Sienna. “The first one. Definitely the first one.” I wanted to hear every tiny detail about Sienna’s life. I wanted to hear about college, her parents, her music, her fucking dog if she had one. Just the sound of her voice had me smiling more than I had in weeks. “Tell me everything that’s happened to you in the last four years.”
Sienna laughed out loud. “Everything?”
“Everything.”
“Okay, so I went to college here, at UCC, dated a few losers, and got a boring-ass job as an executive assistant for an educational software company.” Sienna shrugged and took a sip of her drink. “Oh, and I started playing covers at bars like two months ago.”
I shook my head and scooted my chair even closer to her. “You left out way too many details. Try again.”
Sienna laughed and shook her head. “My life is pretty sad and boring, Evan.”
My eyes traveled up and down her body. “Okay, you can leave out the details about all the guys you dated, but nothing about you has ever been boring.”
Sienna’s eyes flashed up to meet mine, and I held her gaze. Fuck. I wanted her. I rested my hand on her arm and heard her breath catch. Was I flirting too much? Did she want me, too?
Several rounds later, Sienna was laughing and practically sitting in my lap. She told me about her mom’s new art studio in New Mexico and how neither of her parents had shown up for her college graduation. She told me about the very first time she played in front of people and her painfully slow build of confidence. She didn’t have a dog, but she wanted one — a chocolate lab.
I was mesmerized by her lips while she spoke. I adored the way her eyes sparkled and crinkled at the corners when she laughed. Fuck, she was beautiful.
The more I drank, the harder it became to resist touching her. Before I knew it, I was lacing my fingers through hers and playing with her hair. She was leaning into me and touching my chest. There was some serious fire building between us.
At the end of the night, I almost kissed her while we waited for her Uber driver to show up. She was pressing her body into mine and gazing up at me with her gorgeous eyes, her lips slightly parted.
But I resisted. I wanted to be sober the first time I kissed Sienna Black. I wanted to remember every tiny detail.
12
Sienna
I woke up to a text notification at half past noon. When I saw Evan’s name on my phone, a warm feeling spread through my entire body. I would never forget the lightning that struck when I looked out from the stage and saw him standing there, smiling at me. What were the chances?
I read his text with a smile on my face. How are you feeling? I already threw up, and my head is full of cement.
I laughed out loud and replied, I’m fine, dude. You need to learn how to hold your liquor.
Sienna… you only had seven drinks. I fucking doubled that.
I grinned. That was a stupid thing to do.
It was. Can I see you today? Even though I feel like shit, I’m still thinking about your smile.
Butterflies rushed through my stomach. Evan and I were flirting hard last night, but we were both half-drunk. Now, he was sober and hung-over and still flirting with me. It was a bad idea to see him again, wasn’t it? Ava, my best friend, still occasionally referred to him as the love of her life.
But Ava could have any guy she wanted. She did have any guy she wanted. She always had some gorgeous model-looking guy hanging all over her. She couldn’t possibly still want Evan. Could I maybe, just maybe, have him now? Had enough time passed that it would be okay for me to act on my intense feelings for him?
Fuck it. I’d already played the role of perfect, stupidly loyal best friend in high school. Now, I deserved to be happy, and Evan made me so crazy happy. Ava would understand. We were all adults now.
I replied to Evan’s text. Are you flirting with me, Evan Cox?
His reply made me blush. Was I not completely obvious last night? I was laying it on pretty thick, Sienna. I was in to you in high school. I thought about you all through college, and I am actively pursuing you now. Is that clear?
I bit my lip and grinned. Yes, you can see me today. What time?
Is right now too soon? Could we meet for lunch?
I might have let out a stupid, girly Ava-worthy squeal before jumping out of bed and rushing to get ready.
Evan and I a
greed to meet at a little café close to my apartment. I got there first and secured a shaded table for us out on the patio.
I swear to God, my mouth started watering when Evan walked into the restaurant. He looked so damn sexy in a light blue polo that stretched across his broad chest and dark gray shorts that showed off his soccer player calves. He wore sunglasses— probably to curb his hangover headache— but they fantastically tied his look together. He was a full-on fucking man now.
“Hey!” I stood and waved as he approached.
Evan smiled and wrapped me in a tight hug. “You look beautiful.”
I laughed out loud. “Do I? I got ready in twenty minutes because I was so excited to see you!”
Evan shook his head with a smile, and we both sat. He slid off his sunglasses, and his deep blue eyes traveled up and down my body. “Sienna, you don’t even have to try to look beautiful.”
I bit my lip. “Well, thank you. You look good, too.”
He reached across the table and took my hand. “I’m glad you wanted to see me. I was afraid my text was too forward.”
“Not at all.”
Evan smiled, and then his smile melted away as he asked, “Does Ava know I’m in town?”
I shook my head, pushing away the guilt that tried to sneak up on me. “I kind of want to be a little selfish and keep you all to myself for a minute.”
Evan grinned. “It’s about damn time you were a little selfish, Sienna.”
It was, wasn’t it? I’d always tried to play the good daughter, good student, good friend. It landed me a mediocre life, full of hardly anything that I actually wanted.
Then there was Ava, my fantastically selfish best friend that had everything she wanted. Ava was able to drop out of college halfway through our sophomore year because her beauty channel was exploding. Now, she made enough money for a gorgeous house right on Lake Washington and had a new swoon-worthy boyfriend every other week.
Sometimes being selfish paid off.
I smiled at Evan. “Well, I hope you like the new, selfish me.”
“I’m betting on it.”
“The selfish me wants to—”
“Hello! Are you two ready to order?” A pretty blonde waitress smiled at us and waited politely.
After we ordered, and the waitress walked away, Evan grinned at me and asked, “What were you going to say?”
I was going to say I wanted to bring him back to my apartment and fuck him, but I’d lost my nerve. Selfish, confident me was a work in progress. I’d only started pursuing my own dreams a few months ago.
If I got everything I wanted all at once, my head might explode. I should slow my roll.
“Nothing.” I cleared my throat and hoped to god I wasn’t blushing.
Evan raised a single eyebrow. “You sure?”
I nodded and gulped my water. “So, I feel like I drunkenly talked about myself way too much last night.”
“Not possible.” Evan’s gaze gave me chills. He was so confident now — like I said, a real fucking man. It was beyond hot.
I smiled and shook my head. “Tell me more about why you’re here and how long you’re here and everything! I need to know exactly how long I get to spend time with you.”
A strange look filled Evan’s eyes, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Uh… I think I’m just here for the summer.”
“You think?” I asked and cocked my head to the side. “You don’t know?” Evan was definitely acting weird. This was the second time he’d skated over his reason for being home.
The waitress brought our food, interrupting our conversation, and saving Evan from answering. After she left, he gave me a flirty grin that made my mind numb. “When’s your next show?”
“I have another short one tonight, actually. It’s a good weekend.”
“It is a good weekend.” Evan’s flirty smile was literally killing me. “What time is the show? I want to come.”
“Me too…” It slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. Evan was sending me into a hyper-sexualized frenzy today. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.
“What?” Evan gave me a confused look.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Oh my god. Nothing. Pretend I didn’t say that.”
Understanding filled Evan’s eyes, and he gave me a wicked grin across the table. “Holy shit, Sienna. Was that a sex joke?”
I shrugged and bit my lip.
Evan glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was near and then lowered his voice. “Fuck. You just made me hard.” He let out a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. I watched them, wondering how they’d feel buried in my hair. “We’re not kids anymore, are we?” He laughed and rubbed his jaw. “Okay, Sienna, if I come to your show tonight, will you invite me back to your place after?”
My heart pounded in my throat. “Yes. I make amazing coffee…”
Evan’s breathtaking blue eyes flicked up and down my body, settling on my breasts. “Oh, I bet you do.”
Holy fuck. I was going to have to change my underwear.
Evan leaned back and took a bite of the pasta he ordered. “What time is your show?”
“9:30.”
He nodded. “Okay. I have a family thing right after this lunch, and then I’m working a shift at Emiliano’s, but I’m off at 9. I should be able to get there by 9:30.”
I wondered why he even bothered getting a job or why he rented an apartment for only a few months. Was something going on with his family? I opened my mouth to ask, and then my phone rang.
Ava.
Shit.
I hadn’t seen her for a few weeks. I’d honestly been avoiding her because I didn’t want to tell her that I’d been playing shows. And as of last night, I was also avoiding telling her that Evan was in town. I was a shit best friend.
“Do you need to answer that?” Evan asked, taking another bite.
I smiled and shook my head, silencing the call. “It’s Ava. I’ll call her later.”
Evan sighed. “Is she still a huge part of your life? Am I going to have to see her again?”
I bit my lip. “She is. Is that a… dealbreaker?”
Evan’s eyes turned serious. “No. Is that a dealbreaker for you?”
It should have been. “No. I don’t want to think about that right now, though.”
Evan smiled. “Fair enough.”
“Are you feeling better from your hangover now?” I asked.
Evan laughed. “A little. Food helps.” He lifted his glass. “And water.”
“Absolutely!” I laughed.
“Damn, I missed your laugh.” Evan reached across the table and took my hand in his. He lifted it to his lips, pressing a small kiss against my fingers. It sent butterflies rushing through my stomach. “It feels too perfect that I ran into you again last night. You’re exactly what I need right now.”
“I guess that makes us pretty lucky.” My voice was soft, and I ran my fingers along his palm and down his wrist.
Evan sighed and said. “Sienna fucking Black.” Then his phone rang, startling us out of our moment. “Sorry, it’s my mom. Do you mind if I take this?”
“Not at all.”
Evan released my hand and walked a few paces away from me to answer the call. His easy expression immediately turned stressed, and I wondered again if something was going on with his family.
When he returned to the table, he wore a tight, fake smile. “My family thing got moved up. I’m so sorry, Sienna. Can I still come to your show tonight?”
“Yeah! Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Uh, yeah.” He turned to walk away, and I was confused by his cold body language after all the flirty sexually-charged things we’d just been saying.
Evan stopped and headed back toward me, shaking his head. “I’m an idiot.” He pulled me to a standing position and gently brushed his lips against mine. Then he pulled my body up against his and parted his lips slightly before kissing me nearly breathless. Then he rested his forehead agains
t mine, brushing my cheeks with his thumbs. “I’ll see you tonight, yeah?”
I nodded and watched him walk away with my head spinning. I reached up and touched my lips with a soft smile. I was sure that half of the people in the restaurant were now staring at me, but I didn’t even care.
My first kiss with Evan had completely blown me away, like I always knew it would.
Maybe this was finally our chance. Were the stars finally fucking aligning and giving me everything I’d ever wanted?
13
Sienna
Evan walked into the bar as I started singing Come Away With Me. I didn’t see him until I was halfway through the song — it was more like I felt him. And when I met his gaze, the same warm confidence that I felt when I played for him four years ago surged through me.
I finished my thirty-minute set, and the second I stepped off the stage, Evan pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was hot enough to melt me, and it erased all earlier doubt that had filled my head. I wanted Evan. This was fucking happening tonight. Selfish, confident Sienna was getting what she wanted, finally.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” I whispered in his ear.
Evan brushed his lips against mine and gripped my hips. “We better. I’ve been hard for you since you started dirty talking at lunch.”
I smirked at him and said, “I’ve been wet for you since high school.”
Evan groaned, and his eyes filled with desire. “Go. Start walking before I fucking rip your clothes off and fuck you right here.”
I grabbed his hand with my heart racing out of control, and we hurried out of the bar. We only made it about ten steps before Evan pressed me into the brick wall outside, kissing me like he wanted to devour me. I could feel his hard cock pressing against me through our clothing, and mad butterflies rushed through my stomach.
I bit my lip and slid my hands into the back pockets of his shorts, enjoying the feeling of his tight ass. “You better keep walking, or I’ll fuck you right here on the sidewalk,” I said, my voice low and right in his ear.
