by Marie, Kay
I grin. “It was such a fucking rush. The guys who put the circuit together were impressed with how well I handled the car,” I gush.
“As they should be,” she states. “You’ve always been great with cars.”
“Thanks, Wren.”
“I’m only sorry I fell asleep and didn’t watch you win,” she admits.
I chuckle. “It’s okay. You didn’t miss much,” I assure her. I’m honestly glad she missed seeing me get chased by the cops. She would have lost her shit.
Wren shrugs. “Regardless, I’m really proud of you. You better tell me when you get invited to another circuit,” she demands. When not if.
“Of course,” I promise her. Wren has always been my biggest fan and my loudest cheerleader, even if it was something she didn’t always agree with. Mom used to be that way too until Pops had something to say about it. “So, tell me about Sienna. Y’all seem so different. How’d you even meet her?”
Tink brings our food out to us and walks away as soon as she knows we’re good.
“Mom and I were visiting before I moved down here. We were touring the campus and came across an announcement board. Sienna had an ad looking for a roommate and I called about it,” she explains to me.
“That’s pretty lucky,” I tell her.
“For me it was. For her, I was the fifth person to call about it. I was so nervous,” she admits. “In most cases, we are complete opposites, but we clicked instantly. Somehow, it’s worked all this time.”
“She seems like good people,” I tell her.
“She really is,” Wren says with a smile. While we finish our lunch, we talk about the classes Wren’s taking and she updates me on how our mom is doing, then we go our separate ways.
15
Sienna
Wren doesn’t get off work until 5 p.m. today. She told me to meet her at Shade’s house at six and we can eat around seven. Right now, I’m scavenging my closet for the perfect outfit. I choose skinny jeans with a black, flowy racerback tank top paired with rose gold, Greek-style sandals— cute, but casual. I put my hair in a low messy bun and put on a touch of makeup. A couple swipes of mascara, some blush, and a classic red matte lipstick and I’m good to go.
Once I’m ready, I grab my purse and head out the door. It only takes around twenty minutes to get to Shade’s house and I freak out the entire time. I’m back in high school and going on my first date. This definitely isn’t high school and this isn’t even a date. This is me, supporting my best friend as she introduces her boyfriend to her brother for the first time. All that my mind wants to concentrate on is seeing Shade. For the first time in my life, I’ve found a guy who gives me butterflies. I crave more of him and not in a sexual way. Though I do want more of that, I find myself wanting to know more about him. Things he likes and dislikes, everything, but I’m terrified.
After what happened to me when I was younger, I made a point to never get close enough to a guy to where he could get into my heart. I’ve also never slept with a guy more than once and I like it that way. Well, I did like it that way until I met Shade. Some people might think I’m a whore for only sleeping with a man once then moving on to the next. I always looked at it as I was protecting myself and said fuck what anyone else thinks.
I didn’t bother checking the time before I left the apartment. I arrive at Shade’s fifteen minutes early. I can’t sit in my car since I brought groceries with me. I climb out of my car, grab the groceries and head to the front door. The front door opens as I get close.
“You’re early.” Shade is smirking at me.
“I didn’t realize what time it was when I walked out the door,” I admit.
“That’s alright. Come on in. Let me take those.” He takes the bags out of my hands and gestures for me to walk inside. He closes the door behind me. “The kitchen is straight ahead.”
I walk into the kitchen and glance around. It’s a good-sized kitchen. Bigger than the one at the apartment. Shade sets the groceries on the counter and I start unloading them.
“What are you cooking for dinner,” he asks.
“Chicken fettuccine alfredo,” I reply. “Wren told me it was her favorite.” Shade is smirking at me. “What,” I ask.
“That’s my favorite, too,” he says. He glances at the groceries I unpacked. “There’s no alfredo sauce.”
“I know. I make it from scratch,” I tell him.
He gapes at me. “You’re fucking with me.”
“Not at all. Cooking was something I had to learn at a young age. It came naturally to me and I ended up teaching myself all kinds of recipes,” I admit to him.
“It’s a good trait to have. When I moved out of my parents’ house to Arizona, I had to teach myself some things in the kitchen.” he laughs. “I’m still not very good at it.”
“Maybe if you play your cards right, I can teach you a trick or two,” I tease him.
“What are we talking about? Texas Hold ‘Em? Blackjack? I’m pretty good at all of them, so I’d say the odds are in my favor.” He winks at me.
I prop a hand on my hip. “You sure are a cocky bastard, ya know that?” I give him a flirty smile.
He takes a step so he’s right in my space. “Not cocky, confident.” He leans in to kiss me when the front door opens.
“Hey! We’re here,” Wren shouts. Shade jumps back and I focus on getting dinner started.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Shade calls out to her. I’m not looking forward to spending any more time with Zack, but I know this is important to Wren— which is the only reason I even agreed to this. I might actually cut Zack if he acts any bit the douchebag he was the other night. I probably won’t get the chance too with Shade here. The two of us might end up fighting over who gets to fuck Zack up. I giggle to myself and Shade gives me a questioning look. I shake my head, telling him it’s nothing, just as Wren and Zack walk in.
“Bubba, this is my boyfriend Zack,” Wren introduces them. “Zack, this is my brother, Shade.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zack says. Shade holds his hand out to shake Zack’s and Zack hesitates for a beat too long before taking Shade’s hand. I notice a hint of irritation in Shade’s eye.
“Yeah, you too.” Shade drops his hand.
“Oh my gosh! Are you making your chicken alfredo,” Wren asks, excitement lacing her voice.
“I am,” I reply.
“Sienna makes the best chicken alfredo,” Wren tells Zack.
“Will there be any salad,” Zack asks.
“Nope,” I respond, popping the p and not looking at Zack. That prick thinks he can control what Wren eats again, he’s got another thing coming.
“Do you need any help prepping,” Wren asks me.
“No, Shade already offered to help. Y’all go hang out in the living room,” I tell Wren.
“Sounds good. Just let us know when it’s ready.” She smiles at me before grabbing Zack’s arm and walking out of the kitchen. Shade is staring at me.
“What the hell was that about,” he asks when they’re out of earshot.
“What was what about,” I ask him, turning the stovetop on. While the pan is heating up, I prep the chicken. Shade moves next to me, leaning a hip against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. He’s so close I can feel the heat radiating off him.
“You telling Wren that I offered to help. Not that I mind. I’m just curious,” he tells me.
“I guess I really didn’t think about it,” I admit. He leans in toward my face with that sexy smirk of his, pausing mere inches away.
“Can I . . . oh,” Zack says walking into the kitchen. Shade straightens and I turn to face Zack. He’s got a sinister look in his eye. “I’m sorry. Was I interrupting something?”
“What do you need, Zack?” I turn back around to the stove.
“Does Wren know about the two of you,” he asks with disgust.
“There’s nothing to know because there was nothing happening.” Shade’s voice has a seriousness to it I have
n’t heard before. His words weren’t directed at me yet I still felt intimidated.
“Right,” Zack responds as if he doesn’t believe Shade. “Can I have a glass of water?”
Shade grabs a cup out of a cabinet, fills it with water and gives it to Zack. Once Zack leaves the kitchen Shade moves to my side again.
“I don’t like him,” he says in a soft voice as if Zack could still be listening. “Also, what the fuck was up with him asking about a salad?”
“He ordered a salad for Wren at dinner the other night. Said something about her needing to eat healthy or something,” I explain to him.
“So he controls what she eats?”
I shrug. “She didn’t seem bothered or surprised by it. Maybe she’s just conscious about what she eats in front of him. Some girls are like that.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know it sounds dumb. By the look on Shade’s face, he thinks so too.
“She’s never been conscious about that shit before. She’s never had a reason to be,” Shade says.
“I know, that’s the same thing that went through my head,” I agree with him. I can see the wheels turning in Shade’s head. We don’t talk much the rest of the time I cook.
16
Shade
Zack is fucking zero for two right now. Strike one was him hesitating to shake my hand when Wren introduced us. He looked almost disgusted when I held my hand out to shake his. Disrespectful little fuck. I don’t know what he was thinking when he asked if Wren knew about Sienna and me. Did he think he would have some kind of blackmail or something? I should have talked to Wren about it yesterday. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Strike two is him thinking he can control anything my sister does or says.
When Sienna told me he ordered for Wren the other night, the first thing to pop into my head is how my Pops was, and probably still is, with my Mom. It makes me wonder what Wren witnessed between the two of them after I left. Once Sienna is finished cooking dinner, I help her get the table set.
“It’s time to eat!” Sienna calls to Wren and Zack.
“Open those legs and I’ll eat till I die,” I whisper in her ear. She turns to face me and there’s a fire in her eyes.
“Oh my gosh, Sienna! It smells amazing,” Wren says, walking into the kitchen. Sienna sobers up at that.
“Thank you. Sit, enjoy,” Sienna replies. Wren and Zack both take their seats. “Wren and Shade would either of you like something to drink?”
“I’ll get it. You sit down,” I tell her. She nods her head once and sits in the chair closer to Zack, leaving a spot for me next to her and Wren. I would have happily let her sit by Wren to keep her from having to sit by Zack. “What would you like? Tea, water, soda?”
“Water for me please,” Wren tells me.
“Make that two,” Sienna says. I grab waters for all three of us and bring them to the table. Zack is the first one to take food. He passes the pasta to Wren, giving her a stern look. She takes a small scoop and when the bread comes around, she takes the smallest piece.
“Are you feeling okay, Wren? That’s not very much food,” I say to her. She looks to Zack before answering me.
“Um, yeah. I’m okay. I’m not very hungry,” she tells me.
“I call bullshit. This is your favorite meal,” I say. “You were saying how Sienna’s alfredo is the best and you’re not even gonna eat much?”
“She said she isn’t very hungry,” Zack says harshly. I glare at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Wren fold in on herself and Sienna is more alert.
“I know what she said and I know my sister. This isn’t like her,” I say it to Zack, but I’m looking at Wren.
“And how would you know what she’s like? You’ve hardly been present in her life for the past six years,” Zack states.
I freeze, bringing my eyes to his. “Who the fuck are you to comment about my relationship with my sister?” I snarl at him.
Sienna places her hand on my arm, attempting to calm me. It isn’t until she touches me that I realize how tight I have my fists clenched.
“You can’t say it’s not true, Shade,” Wren says quietly.
“That’s how you feel,” I ask her. “And instead of talking to me, your brother, about it, you talk to this clown?”
“This clown is my boyfriend. He’s been there for me more in the past six months than you have in the past six years,” Wren spits out. I’ve never heard her talk with so much venom in her voice before.
“Would you rather I comment on whatever it is the two of you have been hiding,” Zack asks gesturing between Sienna and I. Sienna yanks her hand back to her lap. Wren looks between us, eyes wide as saucers.
“Is he . . .” Wren starts to say.
“This isn’t the time or place, Wren,” Sienna says to her.
“Are you sleeping with my brother?” Wren snaps.
“Is this what you wanted? To drive a wedge between Wren and those closest to her?” The rage building up is something I haven’t felt since the last time I was around my Pops.
“I’d say you’re doing a fine job of that on your own.” he sneers at me. Wren stands from the table, Sienna mirrors her.
“Wren, please,” Sienna says.
“Don’t.” She puts her hand up stopping her.
“Wren, hear us out, please,” I say to her.
Zack stands and moves to her side. “TJ lucked out with you choosing some criminal over him. You’re nowhere close to being good enough for him,” Zack says to Sienna, then looks to me. “Keep your Savage whore. Wren will be just fine without the two of you.”
“You have some fucking nerve coming into my house and not only disrespecting me and my club but trying to control my sister and disrespect Sienna. I oughta put you six fucking feet under,” I growl out at him. Sienna puts a hand on my arm to keep me from going after Zack.
“Wren, let’s go,” Zack says to her. She hesitates, starting at Sienna and me for a beat. “Come with me now or we’re done.”
Wren turns and walks out of the room, shaking her head. Zack shoots daggers at us with his glare before following Wren. He’ll get what’s coming to him soon enough. If I go after him now, Wren will be more pissed off than she already is. I turn to Sienna as she drops back into her chair, tears welling in her eyes.
“Sienna.”
She lifts her head up to look at me and tears fall down her cheek. “I knew this was a bad idea,” she says.
“Knew what was a bad idea,” I ask. I’m ninety percent sure she’s talking about us, but I’m hoping she’ll say the dinner.
“You and me.” My whole body tenses up. Tears are streaming down her face now.
“No, we’re not,” I state. She stands and starts gathering the dishes. I reach out for her hand and she freezes. I wait a minute before I pull her onto my lap. With a finger under her chin, I lift her face so I’m looking into her whiskey eyes. “I know people like Zack. My Pops was just like him. He had to be in control of everyone and everything around him, on top of being an alcoholic. Zack came here tonight with plans of driving a wedge between Wren and I. Doing it to you and she was just a bonus for him.”
“So, what do we do,” she asks. This is a side of Sienna I didn’t expect to see so soon— a softer side. I gotta admit, I like it just as much as her fiery side. I brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“We give her a day or two to calm down. Then one of us can reach out to her,” I tell her. Her sad eyes cut straight to my heart. I want to do whatever I can to put a smile back on her beautiful face.
“I should go home,” she says. She’s avoiding making eye contact with me.
“Stay,” I tell her. She snaps her eyes to mine. I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her. “I mean it. Wren knows now, so why not?”
“Okay, but we should really get this food put away,” she says.
I give a light laugh and nod. “Good idea,” I agree with her.
After we get everything cleaned and put away, we make our way into the living room. I sit
on the couch and pull her next to me. Before I turn the TV on, I lift her chin up so she’s looking at me. “Everything is gonna be okay, I promise.”
17
Sienna
Dinner was a nightmare. I should have been prepared for something like that to happen. In the years that I’ve known Wren, we’ve never gotten into a fight or an argument that lead us to not talking to each other. I can’t change anything that has already happened. I’ll give her a day or two to cool off, like Shade suggested, then go from there. He’s scrolling through a list of things to watch on Netflix when he stops and turns to me.
“This might not be the best time to bring this up, but we never talked the other night,” he reminds me.
“I guess I can’t avoid that forever, huh,” I ask.
“Nope.” He shakes his head.
I sigh. “What do you want to talk about?”
"Why don't you do relationships," he asks me.
"We've barely known each other a week. Are you sure you want to have that deep of a conversation already?" I pull my legs onto the couch and sit crisscross, facing Shade.
He shrugs. "I don't see why not. Would it help if I admitted something about myself first," he bargains. Would it help?
"Yeah, maybe," I tell him. When I start to think about it, I realize I don't even know his name. "But first, tell me your real name."
"It's River," he says.
"River," I try it out on my tongue. "I like that." He smiles at me like he likes hearing me say it.
"So, I told you before that my Pops was controlling and an alcoholic. He's a high functioning alcoholic, so most people would never notice if he was drunk. He had his signs and I learned them quick. What I didn't tell you, and what Wren doesn't know, is he used to use me as his personal punching bag," he admits to me. "He wouldn't ever touch me if Wren or my Mom were home, so when they asked, I would tell them I got in a fight with someone from school. Then when he got tired of them fussing over me all the time, he got smarter about it and wouldn't leave marks where they could see."
